Catfish Lakes in Twin Cities Metro Area

Two nice eating size catfish caught at Silver Lake in Columbia Heights in 2007.

Map and list of catfish lake locations in the Twin Cities Metro Area.

Minnesota DNR Fisheries has been stocking channel catfish into several metro area lakes since 1997. Most of the fish stocked as yearlings (usually 5 to 7 inches long), but some lakes are stocked with adults. Channel catfish are fast growing, and will reach catchable size in a year or two. They can grow to well over ten pounds, but fish in the 1 to 3 pound range are most common in the stocked lakes. Make sure to read the fishing regulations for catfish, beginning in 2003 the possession limits changed. The new regulation states that you can only keep 5 catfish per day, and of these 5, only one can be over 24 inches long and only two can be flathead catfish.

Channel catfish

Channel catfish can be distinguished from bullheads by their forked tail and gray color. Bullheads (three species are found in Minnesota) have more rounded tails, and their color usually varies from black to blotchy brown. Bullheads usually do not grow to more than about 12 inches, whereas catfish can exceed 24 inches.

Black bullhead

Channel catfish are easy to catch if you use the right techniques. They are omnivorous feeders, meaning that they eat almost anything that tastes good (to them). Live bait such as worms and minnows work well. Many catfish anglers use "stink baits" - these can be purchased at bait stores. Other popular baits are chicken livers, cheese, and shrimp. They can also be caught on lures like spinners and plugs. Try fishing around cover such as docks or trees in the water.

Channel catfish are a very popular table fish. They have firm, tasty meat, and can be prepared in dozens of ways. Catfish do not have scales, so preparation is usually a matter of skinning, and removing the meat (or cooking it on the bone). Try your favorite fish recipe with catfish, or look on-line and in cookbooks for other ideas. Be sure to follow fish consumption advisories when eating fish. Check with the MN Department of Health for lake specific information. You can also access this information through the DNR LakeFinder.

If you are looking for other places to go catfishing, try the rivers. Channel catfish are primarily a river fish. They can be found in all the major rivers in the twin cities area. Be sure to follow current regulations and consumption advisories.