RIVER FISH · Deep pools & heavy cover
Flathead catfish
Pylodictis olivaris
A broad-headed, mottled catfish built for ambushing live prey around deep pools, logs and other submerged cover.
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Meet the fish
- Habitat
- Large rivers, streams and lakes, especially deep sluggish pools with hard bottom, wood or other structure.
- On the menu
- Adults are strongly fish-eating predators; younger fish also take crayfish and other aquatic animals.
- Size context
- A large-bodied catfish that can reach trophy sizes; growth and typical size vary greatly among river systems.
- Range & local context
- Native to much of the Mississippi, Missouri and Gulf-drainage region and introduced into many waters outside that range.
Living with the river
Water & habitat
Depth, woody cover, bottom structure and current refuges matter as much as discharge. A high or low gauge reading does not locate flatheads inside a pool.
Seasonal life
Adults use shallower water more often in warm periods and move toward deeper habitat in winter; spawning timing varies by latitude.
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Before you go
Native status differs by watershed. Flathead catfish are invasive in some introduced drainages, so follow the rules and management guidance for the exact river.
Use the linked agencies and the relevant river guide for current regulations, closures and consumption advisories. A species profile is not a fishing license or a statement that harvest is allowed.
Editorial review: . Regional size examples are labeled; maximum lengths are not typical sizes.
More river fish
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