Channel Catfish in Virginia
channel catfish under the 2026 Virginia rules.
- 20 a daybag
- 32 lbs.record
Pick for channel catfishPiscifun LumiCat II catfish rod48% OFFSale $114.99 Photo of the species, not a Virginia water: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0
What Virginia rules say about channel catfish
Find channel catfish in the digest table on the "Channel, White, and Flathead" line. The digest's creel entry: 20 per day. Size, per the digest: No length limits.
A 32 lbs. fish from Lake Chesdin (1980) heads the DWR list for channel catfish. Start with Buggs Island Lake (Kerr Reservoir), Smith Mountain Lake and Lake Gaston: 122 Virginia water pages list channel catfish. Water exceptions in the digest touch it on 1 water, such as All rivers below the fall line.
Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), Catfishes (Ictaluridae).
Statewide creel and length limits as printed (page updated August 17, 2026), 2026 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia digest (eRegulations, linked from the Virginia DWR regulations page), read November 6, 2026.
For the channel catfish herePiscifun Chaos XS round baitcaster36% OFFSale $57.99 How many channel catfish a Virginia angler may keep
| Where it applies | Row as printed | Creel | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| statewide | Channel, White, and Flathead | 20 per day | No length limits |
Statewide creel and length limits as printed (page updated August 17, 2026), 2026 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia digest (eRegulations, linked from the Virginia DWR regulations page), read November 6, 2026.
Digest exceptions naming channel catfish
| Water as printed | Group | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| All rivers below the fall line | No daily limit |
Water-specific exceptions as printed, 2026 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia digest (eRegulations, linked from the Virginia DWR regulations page), read November 6, 2026.
The Virginia state record channel catfish
| Weight as printed | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 32 lbs. | Lake Chesdin | 4-28-1980 (retired category) |
| 31 lbs. 8 oz. | Rappahannock River | 10-2-1992 |
State Record Freshwater Fish as of 9-2-2025 (keeper: Virginia DWR (State Record Freshwater Fish list as of 9-2-2025); angler names left off here), read November 6, 2026.
Virginia water pages carrying channel catfish
- Buggs Island Lake (Kerr Reservoir)48,900 acres, Mecklenburg County
- Smith Mountain Lake20,600 acres, Franklin County
- Lake Gaston20,300 acres, Brunswick County
- Lake Anna9,600 acres, Louisa County
- South Holston Reservoir7,580 acres, Washington County
- Claytor Lake4,363 acres, Pulaski County
- Leesville Reservoir3,400 acres, Bedford County
- Lake Chesdin3,100 acres, Dinwiddie County
- Philpott Lake2,880 acres, Franklin County
- Lake Moomaw2,530 acres, Bath County
- Occoquan Reservoir2,100 acres, Fairfax County
- Flannagan Reservoir1,143 acres, Dickenson County
- Briery Creek Lake845 acres, Prince Edward County
- Sandy River Reservoir740 acres, Prince Edward County
- Beaverdam Swamp Reservoir635 acres, Gloucester County
- Lake Mooney520 acres, Stafford County
- Sandy Bottom Park Pond465 acres, City of Hampton
- Rivanna Reservoir450 acres, Albemarle County
- Hunting Run Reservoir420 acres, Spotsylvania County
- Banister Lake400 acres, Halifax County
- Fort Pickett Lakes384 acres, Dinwiddie County
- Lake Culpeper255 acres, Culpeper County
- Burke Lake218 acres, Fairfax County
- Great Creek Watershed Lake212 acres, Brunswick County
Virginia DWR Public Fishing Lakes layer (outline, motor rule, region number), read November 6, 2026.
Other Virginia fish near channel catfish
- Blue Catfish20 a day
- Flathead Catfish20 a day
- White Catfish20 a day
- Alabama Bassno daily cap
- Alewifeno possession
- American Eel25 a day
- American Shadno possession
- Black Crappie25 a day
Piscifun reels for a Virginia day on Virginia channel catfish
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Ridge-ringed reservoirs and creek bends near Channel Catfish, photographed
Photo: Virginia State Parks, CC BY 2.0
Photo: ted, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Blake Patterson, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Virginia State Parks, CC BY 2.0
Old Dominion Channel Catfish, asked at the ramp
What is the statewide channel catfish creel in Virginia?
Creel 20 per day, length No length limits, statewide.
Does DWR list a record channel catfish?
It weighed 32 lbs.; Lake Chesdin, 1980.
Which Virginia pages here mention channel catfish?
122 Virginia pages, Buggs Island Lake (Kerr Reservoir), Smith Mountain Lake and Lake Gaston first.
Where does the channel catfish rule change in Virginia?
The digest alters it on 1 water, All rivers below the fall line for example.
Were channel catfish stocked in Virginia recently?
The schedule leaves it out.
Which Virginia license covers channel catfish?
A Virginia freshwater license is $23 a year for residents and $47 for nonresidents 16 and older.
Which family do channel catfish belong to in Virginia?
Ictalurus punctatus; family Catfishes (Ictaluridae), per the DWR species profile.
On which Virginia dates can channel catfish be fished license-free?
Virginia DWR set Free Fishing Days for June 5–7, 2026: no freshwater fishing license needed, all other rules apply. Size and creel rules stay in force.
Pick a Virginia water for channel catfish
Each water page lists its DWR ramps, piers and digest lines.