Best catfish lakes in the South: 12 lakes to fish
The best catfish lakes in the South: Kentucky Lake, Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Okeechobee and more, with where to start and how the fish move through the.
Catfish are the most forgiving fish in fresh water: they bite day and night, in warm water and cold. These lakes in the South hold good numbers. Here are 12 lakes where catfish are on record, with where to start on each.
The lakes
| Lake | State | Also holds |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Lake | Kentucky | largemouth bass, crappie, smallmouth bass |
| Lake Pontchartrain | Louisiana | white bass, largemouth bass |
| Lake Okeechobee | Florida | largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill |
| Lake Thurmond (Clarks Hill) | Georgia | striped bass, largemouth bass, crappie |
| Lake Guntersville | Alabama | largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill |
| Lake Amistad | Texas | largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, striped bass |
| Sam Rayburn Reservoir | Texas | largemouth bass, crappie, white bass |
| Toledo Bend Reservoir | Texas | largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill |
| Lake Barkley | Kentucky | largemouth bass, crappie, white bass |
| Lake Texoma | Oklahoma | striped bass, largemouth bass, crappie |
| Lake Murray | South Carolina | striped bass, largemouth bass, crappie |
| Kerr Lake | Virginia | largemouth bass, crappie, striped bass |
1. Kentucky Lake, Kentucky
At some 160,000 acres, Kentucky Lake is a huge piece of water. Catfish, largemouth bass, crappie and smallmouth bass are the draw. The deepest water is around 75 ft.
Kentucky Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
2. Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana
At some 403,000 acres, Lake Pontchartrain is a huge piece of water. Expect catfish, white bass and largemouth bass. At about 65 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. On the 3-D map the bed has a wind-blown bank and an upper arm: good places to start.
Lake Pontchartrain today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
3. Lake Okeechobee, Florida
At 467,000 acres, Lake Okeechobee is a huge piece of water. Expect catfish, largemouth bass, crappie and bluegill. The deepest water is around 12 ft. Its bed shows a sheltered cove and an upper arm worth a first look.
Lake Okeechobee today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
4. Lake Thurmond (Clarks Hill), Georgia
At 71,100 acres, Lake Thurmond (Clarks Hill) is a huge piece of water. It holds catfish, striped bass, largemouth bass and crappie. At about 180 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look.
Lake Thurmond (Clarks Hill) today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
5. Lake Guntersville, Alabama
Lake Guntersville spreads over 69,000 acres of water. The fish here are catfish, largemouth bass, crappie and bluegill. It goes down to about 60 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and an upper arm worth a first look.
Lake Guntersville today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
6. Lake Amistad, Texas
Lake Amistad spreads over 64,900 acres. Expect catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and striped bass. The deepest water is around 217 ft.
Lake Amistad today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
7. Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Texas
At 114,000 acres, Sam Rayburn Reservoir is a huge piece of water. Expect catfish, largemouth bass, crappie and white bass. At about 80 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Its bed shows three steep ledges and a wind-blown bank worth a first look.
Sam Rayburn Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
8. Toledo Bend Reservoir, Texas
At 186,000 acres of water, Toledo Bend Reservoir is a huge piece of water. Expect catfish, largemouth bass, crappie and bluegill. The deepest water is around 110 ft. Its bed shows two point drop-offs and an upper arm worth a first look.
Toledo Bend Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
9. Lake Barkley, Kentucky
Lake Barkley covers 57,900 acres. It holds catfish, largemouth bass, crappie and white bass. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look.
Lake Barkley today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
10. Lake Texoma, Oklahoma
At some 89,000 acres, Lake Texoma is a huge piece of water. Expect catfish, striped bass, largemouth bass and crappie. Its bed shows two sheltered coves and a wind-blown bank worth a first look.
Lake Texoma today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
11. Lake Murray, South Carolina
Lake Murray spreads over 50,000 acres of water. It holds catfish, striped bass, largemouth bass and crappie. It goes down to about 190 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start.
Lake Murray today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
12. Kerr Lake, Virginia
At some 50,000 acres, Kerr Lake is a huge piece of water. Expect catfish, largemouth bass, crappie and striped bass. At about 100 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start.
Kerr Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
Catfish through the year in the South
Use these as a starting point and let the water temperature decide: the lake pages show it every morning.
- Spring: Waking up. Channels and creek mouths, especially after rain.
- Summer: Active. Evenings and nights are best.
- Fall: Active. Evenings and nights are best.
- Winter: Waking up. Channels and creek mouths, especially after rain.
Questions
What is the best catfish lake in the South?
Kentucky Lake in Kentucky is our first pick; Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Okeechobee are close behind.
When is the best time to fish for catfish?
Waking up. Channels and creek mouths, especially after rain. Active. Evenings and nights are best.
Your lake every morning
Water temperature, level, wind and bite times on your phone.
