Flathead Catfish in Louisiana
LDWF limits, the LOWA record and Louisiana water for flathead catfish.
- 100 a daylimit
- 95.0 lbrecord
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Louisiana flathead catfish at a glance
LDWF lists flathead catfish in its 2026 freshwater limits as “Catfish (blue, channel and flathead)”. It reads 100 daily in the aggregate. an angler may possess up to 25 undersized catfish of the three species combined.; blue catfish: 12″ mll; channel catfish: 11″ mll; flathead catfish: 14″ mll; season: open year-round.
The LOWA rank-one rod and reel fish weighed 95.0 lb, from Wax Lake in 2007, caught by Roland Lasseigne. Among the 18 waters linked to it are Atchafalaya Basin, Toledo Bend Reservoir and Grand Lake. Its rule shifts on 1 water, among them Caddo Lake, Sabine River and Toledo Bend Reservoir.
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| Pamphlet row | Waters | Daily limit and size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catfish (blue, channel and flathead) | All state waters EXCEPT Caddo Lake, Sabine River and Toledo Bend Reservoir | 100 daily in the aggregate. An angler may possess up to 25 undersized catfish of the three species combined.; Blue Catfish: 12" MLL; Channel Catfish: 11" MLL; Flathead Catfish: 14" MLL | Open year-round |
Possession: Twice the daily creel limit (pamphlet p.16: possession limit is twice the daily bag limit unless otherwise stated)
Limits and seasons as printed in the 2026 Louisiana Recreational Fishing Regulations (LDWF pamphlet, updated September 21, 2026), page 20 (pamphlet PDF); confirmed on the LDWF freshwater finfish page October 28, 2026.
Where LDWF changes the flathead catfish limit
| Water | Where | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Caddo Lake, Sabine River and Toledo Bend Reservoir | Whole water | Flathead Catfish: 18" MLL; 10 daily |
Rules as printed in the 2026 Louisiana Recreational Fishing Regulations (LDWF pamphlet, updated September 21, 2026), pages 18 to 21 (pamphlet PDF); second read on the LDWF freshwater page October 28, 2026.
flathead catfish in the LOWA record book
| Division | Method | Weight | Angler | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| freshwater | Rod & Reel | 95.0 lb | Roland Lasseigne | Wax Lake | July 2007 |
Other heavy flathead catfish from the list
- 66.0 lb, Harley RakesRed River, July 1998
- 61.0 lb, Michael S LeeLake Providence, July 2016
- 56.38 lb, John BiscoeRed River, April 2019
- 52.04 lb, Michael L. GuimbellotRed River, Feb 2000
Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association (LOWA), LOWA "Louisiana State Fish Records Official Copy", records current through the record awarded September 25, 2026 (PDF created 2026-09-25); read October 28, 2026.
Sportsman's Paradise water for flathead catfish
Still water with flathead catfish
- Atchafalaya Basin833,000 acres
- Toledo Bend Reservoir181,600 acres
- Grand Lake44,000 acres
- Lake Bistineau17,200 acres
- D'Arbonne Lake15,000 acres
- Lake Salvador15,000 acres
- Lake Des Allemands12,000 acres
- Red River Pool 510,800 acres
- Lake Cataouatche8,000 acres
- Lake Arthur4,131 acres
- Lake Bruin2,842 acres
- Anacoco Lake2,600 acres
- Lake Boeuf2,000 acres
- Kepler Creek Lake1,925 acres
- Bundick Lake1,750 acres
Moving water with flathead catfish
- Calcasieu RiverVernon Parish
- Calcasieu Ship ChannelCameron Parish
- Sabine RiverBeauregard Parish
LDWF popular-species text on management-plan lakes, LOWA record waters, LDWF stocking releases and Get Out & Fish! sites; biggest waters first.
Fish sharing a pamphlet line with flathead catfish
- Blue Catfishfreshwater
- Channel Catfishfreshwater
Pictures of fishing water by Flathead Catfish
Photo: George Bannister, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Richard Byrd, CC BY 2.0
Photo: michael_miceli, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Jill Spence, CC BY-SA 4.0
Where Louisiana flathead catfish bite, in short answers
Which LDWF rule sets the flathead catfish bag?
It is 100 daily in the aggregate. An angler may possess up to 25 undersized catfish of the three species combined.; Blue Catfish: 12" MLL; Channel Catfish: 11" MLL; Flathead Catfish: 14" MLL, with the season open year-round.
What does the Louisiana flathead catfish record weigh?
Roland Lasseigne landed it on Wax Lake in 2007: 95.0 lb (rod and reel).
Which Louisiana waters hold flathead catfish?
18 water pages list it, led by Atchafalaya Basin, Toledo Bend Reservoir and Grand Lake.
Do LDWF stocking tables mention flathead catfish?
The LDWF release tables read here leave it out.
Does any water have a flathead catfish exception?
It differs on 1 water, for example Caddo Lake, Sabine River and Toledo Bend Reservoir.
What dates apply to Louisiana flathead catfish?
The pamphlet season is Open year-round.
What does a Louisiana license for flathead catfish cost?
Louisiana anglers 18 and older carry a Basic Fishing License: $17 a year for residents and $68 for nonresidents.
How do I claim a Louisiana flathead catfish record?
LOWA keeps Louisiana fish records, and LDWF biologists verify the species.
Head out for Louisiana flathead catfish
Choose a lake, bayou or bay above.