Catfish Fishing in Ohio

There are many species of catfish and even more ways to catch them. Adults range in size from less than a pound to hundreds of pounds. They can be found in all types of water including ponds, streams, lakes and rivers. There are even species which spend a limited amount of time on dry land. Big giant catfish put up a very noble fight once hooked.

Catfish Fishing Lakes In Ohio

Major lakes in Ohio, including Alum Creek Lake, Atwood Lake, Berlin Lake, Buckeye Lake, Caesar Creek Lake, Charles Mill Lake, Clendening Reservoir, East Fork Lake, Grand Lake St Marys, Hoover Reservoir, Indian Lake, Lake Erie, Lake Milton, Meander Creek Reservoir, Mosquito Lake, Piedmont Reservoir, Pymatuning Lake, Rocky Fork Lake, Salt Fork Lake, Seneca Lake, Tappan Reservoir and West Branch Lake are excellent places to find healthy populations of catfish.

Catfish can also be found in rivers, ponds and smaller lakes. LaDue Reservoir produced the Ohio state record channel catfish and the OH state record flathead catfish was taken out of Clendening Lake.

Most catfish are considered bottom feeders to one extent or another. They will generally eat anything that can get in their mouth. Their strongest sense is smell which they use to locate potential food sources. Capitalizing on this sense is the primary weapon in your search for these creatures. Aggressive catfish have been caught on most types of fast moving bass lures so don't under estimate their ability to catch live bait.

Channel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus

Flathead Catfish
Pylodictis olivaris

Catfish Bait

Catfish Organizations & Resources

Catfish Conservation Group
Catfish Conservation
U.S. Catfish Anglers Tournaments
Planet Catfish

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Check out catfish information in other areas using the list of states to the left.

All About Fishing for Catfish in Ohio.

58 lbs - 0 oz

37 lbs - 10 oz

65 - 90 Degrees

Prefers slightly stained to murky water with mild current and sand or rock bottom.

123 lbs - 0 oz

76 lbs - 8 oz

75 - 84 Degrees

Prefers streams or large bodies of slightly stained to murky water with moderate current and hard bottom.