If you ask Courtney Ashcraft, fourth-generation owner of Old Dutchman Bait Shop in Westerville, there's no doubt which fish is stealing the show this summer.
With tournament buzz, big catches and packed bait shops, it's clear that catfishing in Ohio is having a standout season.
“Summer catfish season has been great,” Ashcraft told the Mount Vernon News. “There's been a lot of big blues caught this year, a lot a big channel.”
Hoover Reservoir is known for producing some of Ohio’s largest blue catfish, and Ashcraft says she’s seen a clear trend in where anglers are going and what they’re using.
“Over here, I'm out here by Hoover, so generally for catfish, they go up towards the north end of the lake,” she said. “Oxbow Road is a really good place to go. Twin Bridges is a decent place to for cat fish.”
Ashcraft also noted a noticeable shift in demand.
“Catfishermen, this year I've had an increase in a bunch of my rig stuff—so you're talking about the little floating rigs that keep your bait up off the bottom,” she said. “I have seen an increase in catfishermen in general this year. I feel like I've had significantly more catfish traffic than anything else.”
When it comes to bait, Ashcraft says the summer season brings out the big stuff.
Summer nights offer the best chances to hook big catfish, as they feed in shallow waters near drop-offs and cover.
Using scented baits is key—such as chicken liver, nightcrawlers, cut shad and shrimp–given catfish’s highly sensitive sense of smell.
"In summer catfishing, anglers use a whole lot of big live bait, goldfish, live bluegill, that type of stuff, versus more cut bait in the wintertime, because it's easier to access some of the bait fish out here,” she said. “They catch their own bait for the spark. I carry all the cut bait here, shad, skipjack, chicken liver.”
Closer to home in Knox County, catfishing has also been strong this summer.
The region boasts standout spots like Knox Lake, Alum Creek and the Kokosing River, all supported by regular fish stocking and habitat management by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).
Knox Lake is especially noted for flathead and channel catfish, with submerged logs and drop-offs creating the perfect structure for big fish.
The Kokosing River, with convenient access points at Riverside Park and Memorial Park, offers additional opportunities for channel and bullhead catfish, especially in summer when the fish are most active. Meanwhile, Alum Creek was recently stocked with more than 33,000 catfish fingerlings, ensuring the bite stays hot.
Across Ohio, anglers pursue four main species of catfish: blue, channel, flathead, and bullhead.
The Ohio Division of Wildlife stocks more than 300,000 channel catfish and 150,000 blue catfish annually.
Blue catfish are the state’s heavyweights, with the current record standing at 101.11 pounds, caught in 2024.
Anglers hoping to earn bragging rights can apply to the Fish Ohio program, which awards a Fish Ohio pin for the first qualifying catch of the year and a Master Angler pin for four qualifying species.
Eligible catfish must meet minimum lengths: 35 inches for blue and flathead, and 26 inches for channel. All fish must be caught legally from public waters. Pay lakes do not qualify.
Ohio’s fishing regulations limit the take of large catfish: only one blue catfish and one flathead catfish over 35 inches, and one channel catfish over 28 inches per day may be kept. Smaller fish have no daily limit, and hand-fishing (noodling) for catfish remains prohibited statewide.
For anglers who enjoy competition, the Central Ohio Catfishing Club is hosting tournaments through October, including an overnight event at Knox Lake on Aug. 30.
Events award cash prizes, and the club shares updates and registration info via Facebook.
