A favorite is the 95-mile long Markland Pool, stretching from the Meldahl Dam tailwaters west into Indiana, one of the most productive catfishing pools on the entire Ohio River, according to both Broughton and the ODOW.
What is the best month for catfishing?
Late March, April, and early May are some of the best blue catfish fishing of the year for numbers of fish and also offers excellent opportunities for trophy class catfish as well. Channel catfish action is typically excellent and very consistent also.
Where is the best place to go catfishing?
Top Catfish Hotspots in North America
- The Red River: Channel Catfish. One of the greatest catfish rivers in North America, the Red River, flows from the U.S. into Canada. …
- Santee Cooper Lakes: Blue Catfish, Channel Catfish, and Flathead Catfish. …
- Lake Texoma: Blue Catfish.
Can you fish the Ohio River in Cincinnati?
The most common catfish species in the Ohio River sport fishery are channel cats, flatheads and blue catfish. … Catfish can be caught almost any time water temperatures are above 50 degrees, but night fishing during May, June and July is best.
Where can I find blue catfish in Ohio?
In Ohio they are found in the Ohio River and the lower portion of its larger tributaries. They are most common in the Ohio River from Portsmouth down stream to Cincinnati, where they feed primarily on other fish, but also a wide variety of other items.
Are there giant catfish in the Ohio River?
A Beaver County fisherman reeled in a giant catfish last month on the Ohio River, just over the Pennsylvania border in West Virginia. The 64.8-pound flathead catfish would have shattered the Pennsylvania record by 8 pounds, but just missed becoming a record-breaking catch in West Virginia.
What attracts catfish the most?
Here are our top bait recommendations for catching big numbers of channels, flatheads and blues.
- Worms. Worms are classic catfish bait. …
- Shad and Minnows. Like worms, shad and minnows have mass appeal. …
- Stink Bait. Unlike worms and minnows, stink bait only appeals to catfish. …
- Anything from the Fridge. …
- Soap.
What is the secret catfish rig?
In its simplest form, a paternoster is any rig where the hook(s) are on droppers above a fixed sinker. … Besides a tidy presentation, this arrangement allows the angler to try more than one bait and you’ll often find paternosters with two hooks, or even three or four.
Whats the best catfish rig?
The egg sinker slip rig is, hands down, the most popular rig for still fishing catfish. Consisting of an egg sinker on the main line held in place above the hook by a lead shot, this rig is ideal for keeping the bait near the bottom, which in turn, allows a catfish to swim off with the bait with little tension.
What is the best state for catfishing?
10 Best States for Catfishing
- Alabama tops the list of must-visit states for many big-cat aficionados. …
- Arkansas waters are stocked with millions of catfish annually by the state Game and Fish Commission (AGFC). …
- Illinois doesn’t get the attention it deserves as a top destination for catfishing.
Which state has the most catfish?
The top catfish producing states are Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, and Texas, as shown in Figure 3. Other states growing catfish include California, North Carolina, and the Other States.
How deep do you fish for catfish?
The best depth for catching catfish is between 15 and 20 feet deep in lakes. This is known as the catfish zone because they reside within such depths in most lakes. However, depending on the time of the year and the temperature of the water, they can also reside in shallow areas.
How do you catch big catfish in the Ohio River?
Can you eat fish from the Ohio River?
While you can eat fish from the Ohio River, the ORFA and Ohio EPA both recommend you don’t do it more than once a month for most species. The amount drops for children and women of child-bearing age. So, if you’re worried about pollutants in the fish caught from a contaminated river, you’re RIGHT.
Are there alligator gar in the Ohio River?
In Kentucky, the Alligator Gar is native to the Ohio, Mississippi, and lower Cumberland and Tennessee River systems. Alligator Gar are found in large and slow moving rivers, reservoirs, oxbow lakes, bayous, and bays.
Where can I find flathead catfish in Ohio?
Big flathead catfish can be taken along the entirety of Ohio’s 452 miles of the Ohio River and in many of the bigger tributaries, such as the Scioto and Muskingum Rivers. Flathead catfish are most frequently found around structure, such as logjams, in dam tailwaters and near tributary mouths.
What is the difference between channel catfish and blue catfish?
Channel catfish have a deeply forked tail similar to blue catfish but the coloring is much different than that of a blue. … The anal fin has 2429 rays (in comparison to a blue catfish which has 30 or more).
Where are bullhead catfish in Ohio?
Bullheads, mostly yellow bullheads, can be found everywhere but are generally in low abundance, he said. Channel catfish are ubiquitous and can be found in just about every stream, river and reservoir throughout Ohio. Lake Erie also provides some quality opportunities for channel catfish as well.
Is there skipjack in Ohio River?
Currently, the skipjack shad is most abundant in the Upper Mississippi River below the mouth of the Ohio River. They are known as an early-run species as they migrate to spawn in the early spring. …
| Skipjack shad | |
|---|---|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Clupeiformes |
What is the deepest spot in the Ohio River?
However, the river’s deepest point is 168 feet (51 m) on the western side of Louisville, Kentucky. From Louisville, the river loses depth very gradually until its confluence with the Mississippi at Cairo, Illinois, where it has an approximate depth of 19 feet (6 m).
What’s the biggest fish ever caught in Ohio?
largemouth bass On the evening of May 26, 1976, Roy Landsberger hooked and landed a 13.13-pound largemouth bass from a small pond in Northeast Ohio. To date, it is the largest bass ever recorded in Ohio’s history. For nearly 40 years the record has remained unbroken. In the eyes of many, it is a mark that is untouchable.
What size hooks for catfish?
A number two hook is a good size treble for very large catfish and the largest you want to go with. A number 6 hook is a reliable, standard size. You might use the number 8 if you’re looking for smaller cats. Trebles are ideal for punch baits and dip baits.
What is the best time of day to fish for catfish?
The best time to fish for catfish in summer is about one hour before sunset, through the night, until about two hours after sunrise. Days are too hot and catfish will be hidden in deep water, in shade. Night fishing in summer is also pleasant for anglers because they are not exposed to heat and sun.
What smell do catfish like?
Their preference is No Trace, an all-natural anti-odor product that can be sprayed onto hands, and even clothing. Its benign, water-like appearance and texture, Jamison says, knocks out noticeable odors such as gasoline, insect sprays, and tobacco, as well as neutralizing serine secretions in skin.
Should I use a bobber for catfish?
Slip bobbers can be effective for blue catfish and flathead catfish also in some applications but for channel catfish, they’re the go-to catfish rig for many anglers. … You might also find situations when fishing for blues and flatheads where you’ll want to fish with slip bobbers as well.
Why are the catfish not biting?
Water temperatures can play a huge role in determining how active the catfish will be on a given day. All species of freshwater fish are cold blooded, meaning they take on the temperature of their surroundings. … If the fish aren’t biting it may just be too cold or too hot for the fish that you are trying to catch.
Do you set the hook on catfish?
When in doubt, set the hook. A common rig-fishing strategy is feeding line to a nibbling catfish, so it won’t feel resistance. When the fish steadily takes line, it’s hook-set time.
What kind of hook do you use for catfish?
The optimal size for channel catfish is typically a 2/0 or 3/0 hook when using a Kahle hook. If you choose circle hooks for small to medium-sized channel catfish then a 5/0 or 6/0 size will usually work best.
Do catfish hit lures?
Anglers often catch catfish when casting lures for species such as bass and walleyes, and the lures they’re caught on run the gamut from jigs and crankbaits to plastic worms and spoons. … When these senses are stimulated by a lure you’re reeling through the water, a nearby catfish is more likely to strike and — fish on!
Are circle hooks good for catfish?
Using circle hooks for catfish can result in more hook-ups and reduce mortality of caught-and-released fish. If you had checked the end of a catfisherman’s line just 20 years ago, you might have found almost any type of hook tied on.
