Old Lake Cottage
Northern Madtom fishing in Canada
Noturus stigmosus
- Documented at
- 2 waters
- Primary species at
- 0 waters
- Ideal water temp
- 20°C
- Active range
- 13–26°C
Best northern madtom waters today
Scored for 2026-09-14 from live weather, water temperature and this species’ own thermal range.
How to fish for northern madtom
Northern madtom are a small, at-risk catfish of clean, moderate-to-large rivers, sheltering under stones and debris by day and feeding on invertebrates at night. They're sensitive to siltation and river degradation, which has made them a species of conservation concern, so their presence points to reasonably healthy river habitat. Like other madtoms they carry mildly venomous pectoral spines. They aren't an angling target - they're a forage fish and an indicator of decent river quality. On a location page, a northern madtom record signals cleaner river habitat and a species of conservation concern rather than something to fish for.