Flathead catfish are bottom-dwelling beasts that swim throughout rivers and lakes. Opportunistic feeders, flathead catfish will munch on anything from oysters to live bluegills.
I found certified records for flathead catfish in 36 out of 50 states in the US. After looking over the weights, I’ve never wanted to catfish more.
The Native Range of Flathead Catfish In America
Red – Flathead Non-Native Range
PC: USGS
Documented State Record Flathead Catfish
| State | Weight | Angler | Lake | Year |
| Alabama | 80 lbs | Rick Conner | Alabama River | 1986 |
| Alaska | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Arizona | 76 lb 9 oz | Eddie Wilcoxson | Bartlett Lake | 2013 |
| Arkansas | 80 lbs | Wesley White | Arkansas River | 1989 |
| California | 72 lbs 14 oz | Billy Joe Potter | Colorado River | 2003 |
| Colorado | 30 lbs 10 oz | Michael Flock | Lake Pueblo | 2017 |
| Connecticut | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Delaware | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Florida | 69 lbs 14oz | Lavon Nowling | Yellow River | 2020 |
| Georgia | 83 lbs | Carl Sawyer | Altamaha River | 2006 |
| Hawaii | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Idaho | 58 lb 8 oz | J. Newberry/K. McCormick | Brownlee Reservoir | 1994 |
| Illinois | 81 lbs 7 oz | James Klauzer | Sangchris Lake | 2015 |
| Indiana | 79 lbs 8 oz | Glen T. Simpson | White River | 1966 |
| Iowa | 81 lbs | Joe Baze | Ellis Lake | 1958 |
| Kansas | 123 lbs | Ken Paulie | Elk City Reservoir | 1998 |
| Kentucky | 97 lbs | Esker Carroll | Green River | 1956 |
| Louisiana | 95 lbs | Roland Lasseigne | Wax Lake | 2007 |
| Maine | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Maryland | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Massachusetts | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Michigan | 52 lbs | Dale Blakely | Barron Lake | 2014 |
| Minnesota | 70 lbs | N/A | St. Croix River | 1970 |
| Mississippi | 77 lbs 7 oz | Matt Bingham | Mississippi River | 2012 |
| Missouri | 100 lbs | Mathew McConkey | Missouri River | 2015 |
| Montana | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Nebraska | 100 lbs 8 oz | Reece French | Missouri River | 2018 |
| Nevada | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| New Hampshire | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| New Jersey | 5 lbs 8 oz | Delaware River | N/A | N/A |
| New Mexico | 78 lbs | Jim Wilson | Elephant Butte Lake | 1979 |
| New York | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| North Carolina | 78 lbs | Brian Newberger | Cape Fear River | 2005 |
| North Dakota | 29 lbs 6 oz | N/A | Heart River | 1985 |
| Ohio | 76 lbs 8 oz | Richard Affolter | Clendening Lake | 1979 |
| Oklahoma | 78 lbs 8 oz | Richard Williams | El Reno City Lake | 2010 |
| Oregon | 42 lbs | Joshua Kralicek | Snake River | 1994 |
| Pennsylvania | 56 lbs | Jonathan Pierce | Schuylkill River | 2019 |
| Rhode Island | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| South Carolina | 84 lbs 9 oz | Paul Daniels | Cooper River | 2018 |
| South Dakota | 63 lbs 8 oz | Davin Holland | James River | 2019 |
| Tennessee | 85 lbs. 15 oz | Larry Kaylor | Hiwassee River | 1993 |
| Texas | 98 lbs 8 oz | James Laster | Palestine Lake | 1998 |
| Utah | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Vermont | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Virginia | 68 lbs. 12 oz. | Jeffrey E. Dill | Lake Smith | 2018 |
| Washington | 22 lbs 11 oz | C. L. McCary | Snake River | 1981 |
| West Virginia | 38 lbs 8 oz | L.L. McClung | Little Kanawha River | 1956 |
| Wisconsin | 74 lbs 5 oz | N/A | Mississippi River | 2001 |
| Wyoming | 22 lbs 7 oz | Dallas Stanton | North Platte River | 2004 |