Flathead Catfish in Washington
Where flathead catfish live in Washington, with the rules.
- No min. size. Nolimit
- 22.80 lbsrecord
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A Washington profile of flathead catfish
Find flathead catfish in the Evergreen State freshwater table at the entry "Crappie, Northern Pikeminnow, Peamouth Chub, Perch, Suckers, Sunfish, Catfish (Except Channel), Rock Bass, Striped Bass". What it says, quoted: No min. size. No daily limit.
The record book shows 22.80 lbs from Snake River (1981), caught by C. L. McCary. 1 Washington water pages here list the fish, Snake River first. Taxonomists file it as Pylodictis olivaris.
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| Pamphlet row | Waters | Limit as printed | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crappie, Northern Pikeminnow, Peamouth Chub, Perch, Suckers, Sunfish, Catfish (E | all freshwater | No min. size. No daily limit. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 |
Limits and seasons as printed in the 2026-2027 Washington Sport Fishing Rules (WDFW pamphlet, in effect July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027), PDF page 27 (pamphlet PDF; eRegulations statewide freshwater page), read October 31, 2026.
The biggest Washington flathead catfish on file
| Listing | Weight | Angler | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flathead Catfish | 22.80 lbs | C. L. McCary | Snake River | June 28, 1981 |
WDFW sport fish records, read October 31, 2026; record list.
Washington pages listing flathead catfish
River pages naming flathead catfish
- Snake RiverWhitman County
WDFW Fish Washington and high lake layer species lists, WDFW SWIFD distribution, record waters and 2026 trout plants; largest waters first.
Washington cousins of flathead catfish
- Black Bullheadfreshwater
- Blue Catfishfreshwater
- Brown Bullheadfreshwater
- Channel Catfishfreshwater
- White Catfishfreshwater
- Yellow Bullheadfreshwater
The shoreline country around Flathead Catfish, in pictures
Photo: Jeff Gunn, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Michael Cornelius, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Bernd Thaller, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Chris Ballance, CC BY 2.0
Evergreen State flathead catfish, asked and answered
How many flathead catfish may I keep in Washington?
Statewide: No min. size. No daily limit.
From which water did the Washington record flathead catfish come?
WDFW lists 22.80 lbs, Snake River, 1981, C. L. McCary.
What Washington water is a good bet for flathead catfish?
Start with Snake River among 1 pages.
Are flathead catfish part of the WDFW plants report?
No 2026 WDFW trout plant names it.
Is the flathead catfish rule the same everywhere in Washington?
No Special Rule lists it.
Is flathead catfish open all year in Washington?
Season as printed: Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31. Emergency rules can change it in season.
Which WDFW license lets me fish for flathead catfish?
Anglers 16 and older need a Washington Freshwater license ($39.95 resident, $115.85 nonresident for 2026-27) or a Combination license; salmon, steelhead and sturgeon also take a catch record card.
Who keeps the Washington record for flathead catfish?
WDFW does; marine fish are verified only at the Region 4 or Region 6 offices or Olympia headquarters.
Find flathead catfish within a drive
Each water listed has a Washington page.