Catfishing is extremely popular in Ohio due to the abundance of productive bodies of water. With the state's upcoming free fishing weekend, knowing some tips on how to catch the "big cats" of the fishing world could help your trip be more successful.
A good place to start in anything is at the beginning. If you're not sure where the best rivers, streams, reservoirs or lakes are, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Stream Fishes of Ohio Field Guide is a place to overview some of the waterways throughout the state.
One popular location to find channel catfish is the Kokosing Lake Wildlife Area in Knox County, 1.5 miles northwest of Fredericktown and five miles northeast of Chesterville. Channel catfish are more active at night when they are looking for food, but they can also be found during the day in deep waters.
Channel cats can be found in large streams, rivers and lakes as they prefer deep waters, and they are generally stocked from farm ponds. One farm pond that stocks these fish into local areas is the Hebron State Fish Hatchery in Licking County north of Buckeye Lake.
The Ohio River is a great spot if you are looking for blue catfish. These fish can be found in North America in very large rivers with swift currents. In Ohio, the prime spot for blue catfish is between Portsmouth downstream to Cincinnati. They can grow to be 30–40 inches long and 20–40 pounds.
Other places that are rife with catfish include Lake Erie, Seneca Lake and Wolf Run Lake.
Now that you know where to go, it is important to know what to use as bait and how to catch the fish.
Anyone who knows fishing knows that when it comes to catfish, the stinkier the better.
"Any bait that lets out a strong odor has a good chance of pulling some results," Old School Fishing Secrets said on its website. The site also offers a quiz to help customize some good bait for each person.
Depending on if you are using fake bait or dead minnows or frogs, it is best to let the bait marinate in something stinky for a day or two before going on. When using dead or live bait, dipping it in honey or vanilla can attract catfish. Even letting a dead frog sit out in the sun for a day and start to decay can help catch more fish.
Old School Fishing Secrets noted it is important to remember to be prepared, as catfish are known to break fishing line. The site also recommends that when you begin, spend 15–20 minutes fishing in one stop; and if you do not get a bite, move on.
"Make sure you choose a rod, reel and tackle setup that will hold up to a big fight," Old School Fishing Secrets said. "I recommend a medium to heavy-weight graphite rod. Fast action. Combine this with a baitcasting reel, and you've got a winner."
