As temperatures rise, Ohio anglers are hitting the water for peak catfishing season.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) says summer is the best time to target catfish, especially at night when they move into shallower water to feed.
Catfish are found across the state, with bullheads in ponds, channel and flathead catfish in rivers and reservoirs, and blue catfish primarily in the Ohio River.
Hoover Reservoir, just northeast of Westerville and 29 miles southwest of Mount Vernon, has become one of Ohio’s top summer catfishing spots. The 2,818-acre lake supports strong populations of channel, flathead and blue catfish, providing consistent warm-weather action.
Located beside the reservoir, Old Dutchman Bait & Tackle has served as a longtime hub for local anglers, with fourth-generation owner Courtney Ashcraft reporting strong early-summer catches.
“They’ve been catching a lot of blues. I’ve seen a lot of nice channel cats. They’re using a lot of cut shad shrimp on floating rigs. So people found the best luck on,” Ashcraft told the Mount Vernon News.
Old Dutchman Bait & Tackle sign in Westerville near Hoover Reservoir, a longtime hub for anglers as summer catfish season heats up and trophy blues draw growing crowds. (Courtney Ashcraft)
Ashcraft said summer is one of the most productive times of year for catfish at Hoover, especially at night when fish move shallow to feed.
“This has been a decent time of the year for catfish and yeah, a lot more guys will head out at nighttime and try to target them because they’ll be cruising the shorelines getting something to eat,” she said.
While most anglers fish from anchored or bottom rigs, she noted some are experimenting with nighttime trolling with solid results.
“There’s been some people that have been trolling at night time out here and they do fairly well,” Ashcraft said.
While many catfish populations sustain themselves through natural reproduction, ODNR supports fisheries with catfish stockings.
ODNR’s blue catfish program at Hoover has shown sustained commitment over the past decade, with blue catfish first stocked in 2011 becoming a major draw. Early stocking efforts focused on smaller yearlings and fingerlings before shifting to large-scale stockings of advanced fingerlings, with tens of thousands of fish introduced in recent years.
Growth studies reveal that Hoover catfish often start slightly smaller than regional averages in their younger years but accelerate later, surpassing district and statewide lengths in older age classes.
Many reach peak sizes above 22 inches in the 12- to 13-year range.
Fish exceeding 30 pounds are now regularly caught, adding excitement for trophy seekers. Channel catfish provide steady action throughout the season, with fish growing into quality sizes despite varying numbers across age classes.
Ashcraft said blue catfish in particular have been drawing attention for their size and growth rate.
“The biggest one I’ve seen in here this year was a 41-pound and he was a blue catfish,” she said. “Out here, it seems that blue cats have been gaining weight quite quickly. We’ve seen them in the range of 30 to 50 pounds.”
As warm-weather fishing ramps up, Ashcraft said more anglers are specifically targeting catfish during the summer, a trend she has seen build over the past several seasons.
“The past couple of years, and this year included, I’ve had an increase in catfish, people targeting catfish,” she said.
The Old Dutchman carries a wide range of gear and bait tailored for catfish anglers, including rods, reels and multiple bait options.
According to ODNR, simple bottom rigs or float setups work well, with tackle recommendations scaling to the target, with medium gear for hard-fighting channel cats and heavier outfits for trophy flatheads and blues.
“I have catfish combos. I got the reels. I’ve got Mad Katz rods. A lot of guys have been picking those up. They love those combos,” Ashcraft said.
Catfish rely heavily on their keen sense of smell and taste, making strong-scented baits the top choice, according to ODNR.
“As far as the bait goes, I got shad, I’ve got chicken liver. I carry shrimp. I carry chicken breasts in two different flavors and then the green nightcrawlers are always a hit for catfish and goldfish too,” Ashcraft said.
Courtney Ashcraft, fourth-generation owner of Old Dutchman Bait & Tackle in Westerville, reports strong summer catfishing at Hoover Reservoir, where anglers are landing blue cats up to 50 pounds. (Courtney Ashcraft)
