Hello...I will be getting back into catfishing soon and wanted to pose a question here. Since holding a cane pole at around 8 years old and up till now, I basically had always fish these kitty's for food not for sport. I see a lot people here catching big ones and turning them loose, now, I understand the sport and maintaining the population of good cats.

I guess, this has never been or had never crossed my path before until now but wanted to ask everyone's opinion on what is the best size to keep for the freezer?

To me.. It depends on how empty the freezer is.. I can't tell much difference from a 20lb cat to a 6, other than texture. I throw back over 10 because I have plenty of fillets in the freezer.

A lot of us on the forum fish Lake Lewisville, and on that lake TPW has tried to help the population of big catfish out on that lake and make it a slot limit, kind of like they have done on the Black Bass on several lakes,

Anything from 30"-45" has to be turned back and you can keep anything under 30" and 1 fish over 45" per day up to 25 fish per person,

The 30" fish will average about 10 lbs and most of the fishermen here usually don't deep anything over 10 lbs,

Not every lake is a slot lake, Lewisville, Waco, & Richland Chaimbers are, the rest of the lakes don't have a slot limit, so it is up to you to make up your mind on them what you want to keep,

The one hand rule is applied in my boat.....if can't get one hand around the fish he's a throw back.....usually that's about 6lbs or so.

I love fishing a lot more than I love eating fish, so most of em go back. I like thin fillets, so usually keep 2-3 pound catfish if any at all.

The 3.5-5lb variety is my personal favorite to take a knife to. They're easy to handle and my knife makes short work of them. That's blues and Channels I'm speaking of. Rarely see a flathead so I don't really have an answer on them.

I like team madmac's "keeper" gauge!

Thanks for all the advice...Hmmmmnnn I think I will go with madmac's gauge as well. Thanks Guy's!

4 - 8 lbs...I hate filleting them little 12/13 inch ones for a teaspoon of a fillet.........

12-13 inchers and fried whole and crispy

i like bigguns fer eatin'

much rather clean one 40# than 20 2#'ers

Best eaters for me are the ones that you knock off the heads and fry hole.
All over 10 pounds in my boat will get to do battle another day.

I like the 5,7,9's......

2-6 lbs for me.