🌡️ Preferred water temp
21–29°C (70–84°F).
⏰ Best time to catch
Warm summer nights, especially after dark below dams or in deep river holes.
Habitat
Slow rivers and warm bays with deep holes; a scent feeder that turns on after dark.
Season by season
Spring
River holes below dams warm first — cut bait on bottom as flows settle.
Summer
Night fishing on flats next to deep holes; set rods with stink or cut bait.
Fall
Regroups in deeper wintering holes; slower but still willing.
Winter
Sluggish in the deepest holes; rarely pursued.
What to throw
Cut bait, chicken liver, worms and stink baits on slip-sinker rigs; circle hooks help.
Popular Channel Catfish lakes
Lake Superior
Lake Huron
Lake Ontario
Lake Simcoe
Lake Couchiching
Sturgeon Lake
Cedar Lake
Bright Lake
Lake Doré
Dalrymple Lake
Six Mile Lake
Calabogie Lake
Open the map and filter by Channel Catfish to see every Ontario waterbody where it's been recorded, with depth, regulations and live conditions for each one.