Virginia regulations
Channel Catfish Regulations in Virginia 2026
Virginia Channel Catfish regulations as of 2026-05-08: Status Permitted; Status Permitted; Status Permitted. Sourced from DWR.
Rules (100)
AbelOpen
- Status
- Permitted
AccotinkOpen
- Status
- Permitted
All Rivers Below The Fall LineOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No daily limit
AnnaOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Status
- Permitted
AppomattoxOpen
- Status
- Permitted
ArrowheadOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Augusta County Rec PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Bealer’s Ferry PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Beaverdam Cr.Open
- Status
- Permitted
Braley PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
BrieryOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Buggs IslandOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Carroll County
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
ChesdinOpen
- Status
- Permitted
ChickahominyOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Chickahominy RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
ClaytorOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Status
- Permitted
Clearbrook Forest Service LakesOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Clifton Forge ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Clinch RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Clinch River In Russell County
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
Clinch River In Scott County
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
Clinch River In Wise County
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
Coles Run ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
CookOpen
- Status
- Permitted
DanOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Dan RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
just west of Danville
Dickenson County
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
Douthat Forest Service LakesOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Dry RunOpen
- Status
- Permitted
ElkhornOpen
- Status
- Permitted
FlannaganOpen
- Status
- Permitted
FrederickOpen
- Status
- Permitted
GastonOpen
- Status
- Permitted
GatewoodOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Germantown LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Giles County
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
Grayson County
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
Hone QuarryOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Hunting Run ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Huntsman LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
James River (Upper)Open
- Status
- Permitted
Lake Anna State Park PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Lake ChesdinOpen
- Status
- Permitted
State Record: 32 lbs. on 4-28-1980
Lake MooneyOpen
- Status
- Permitted
LauraOpen
- Status
- Permitted
LaurelOpen
- Status
- Permitted
LexingtonOpen
- Status
- Permitted
LincolnshireOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Locust ShadeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Lovill’s CreekOpen
- Status
- Permitted
MattaponiOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Maury RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Montgomery County
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
MoomawOpen
- Status
- Permitted
MottsOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Mtn. Run Ni ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
NewOpen
- Status
- Permitted
New RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Newman LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
North Fork Holston RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
North Fork PoundOpen
- Status
- Permitted
North Fork Shenandoah RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
North LandingOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Norton ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Nottoway RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
below Rt. 630 Bridge, more common
Old Cossey PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
PamunkeyOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Pulaski County
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
RappahannockOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Rappahannock RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
State Record: 31 lbs. 8 oz. on 10-2-1992
ShenandoahOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Status
- Permitted
Shenandoah River (Main Stem)Open
- Status
- Permitted
SherandoOpen
- Status
- Permitted
SilverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
SkidmoreOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Slate LickOpen
- Status
- Permitted
South HolstonOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Status
- Permitted
South Holston Reservoir
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Max size
- 34"
- Slot max
- 34"
Only 1 catfish over 34 inches
StauntonOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Tams City ParkOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Tidal Waters (Below Fall Line, See Page 12)Open
- Status
- Permitted
Tidal Waters (Below Fall Line)Open
- Status
- Permitted
Bowfin and catfish may be taken in tidal waters (below Fall Line, see page 12)
TomahawkOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Urban Fishing WatersOpen
- Status
- Open
- Daily bag
- 4 fish/day
NO CLOSED SEASON
Virginia Department Of Wildlife Resources LakesOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Virginia Power Rec. PondsOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Western Branch ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
WilkinsOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Willis RobertsonOpen
- Status
- Permitted
WittenOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Woodrow Wilson PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Wythe County
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
Channel Catfish on famous Virginia waters
Dedicated rule pages for Channel Catfish on the most-targeted destinations in Virginia.
Also known as
Channel Catfish is also called Catfish. Anglers in different regions use different names for the same fish, and the rules on this page apply to all of them in Virginia.
Frequently asked questions
When is Channel Catfish season in Virginia?
Channel Catfish season in Virginia is set by DWR. Some zones may have specific open windows; see the rule table above.
What is the size limit for Channel Catfish in Virginia?
Virginia does not publish a state-wide minimum size for Channel Catfish. Check zone-specific rules above.
What is the daily bag limit for Channel Catfish in Virginia?
Daily bag limit for Channel Catfish in Virginia is 20 fish/day in South Holston Reservoir, per DWR.
Official sources cited
- https://www.eregulations.com/assets/docs/guides/26VAFW_LR_2026-01-14-181617_afxs.pdf
- https://www.eregulations.com/assets/docs/resources/VA/26VAFW_LR.pdf
Reference only. Regulations change frequently, often mid-season. Always verify with DWR before keeping a catch. Last verified .