Flathead & Ol’ Blue logo with two anglers and two catfishFlathead & Ol’ Blue

East Texas roots · Freshwater skills

First, know the fish.

Big pictures. Features you can recognize. Start here with seven familiar freshwater species, then take the next lesson to your own water.

Compare the whole fish. Color alone can fool you. These reference illustrations are not shown at the same scale.

Flathead catfish: Broad head. Shallow tail notch.
Catfish

Flathead catfish

Broad head. Shallow tail notch.

See the identifying features →
Blue catfish: Straight anal-fin edge. Deeply forked tail.
Catfish

Blue catfish

Straight anal-fin edge. Deeply forked tail.

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Channel catfish: Rounded anal-fin edge. Often spotted.
Catfish

Channel catfish

Rounded anal-fin edge. Often spotted.

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Largemouth bass: The closed jaw extends behind the eye.
Bass

Largemouth bass

The closed jaw extends behind the eye.

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Black crappie: Scattered markings. Seven or eight dorsal spines.
Crappie

Black crappie

Scattered markings. Seven or eight dorsal spines.

See the identifying features →
White crappie: Vertical bars. No more than six dorsal spines.
Crappie

White crappie

Vertical bars. No more than six dorsal spines.

See the identifying features →
Bluegill: Small mouth. Dark spot near the rear dorsal fin.
Bream

Bluegill

Small mouth. Dark spot near the rear dorsal fin.

See the identifying features →

Illustrations by Duane Raver / USFWS (public domain; bass via USGS). Each fish page links the original image and its TPWD identification reference. Checked September 6, 2026.

Choose a fishing lesson →Print the three-catfish comparison →
Cypress trees and open water at Caddo Lake
Cypress habitat at Caddo Lake. Photo: USFWS (public domain).

The identification skills travel. Fishing rules do not: check the state, exact waterbody, season and allowed gear before your trip.