Blue Catfish

Ictalurus furcatus

Ohio's expanding trophy catfish — rapidly growing in the Ohio River system.

Size Limit

None

Daily Bag

Season

Year-round

State Record

96 lbs 0 oz

Ohio River (2009)

Best Months to Fish

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

What to Use

Live Bait & Natural

cut shadskipjack herringlive bluegill

Lures & Artificials

large jigscut bait rigs

Overview

Blue catfish are expanding their range in Ohio, particularly in the Ohio River where the state record 96-pounder was caught. They’re also established in some inland reservoirs. Blue cats grow much larger than channel cats and are increasingly popular among trophy catfish anglers.

Ohio Lakes with Blue Catfish

8 lakes in our directory have blue catfish — sorted by size.

Alum Creek Lake

Delaware County

3,331.2 acres

Salt Fork Lake

Guernsey County

3,059.8 acres

Hoover Reservoir

Delaware County

2,883.5 acres

Caesar Creek Lake

Warren County

2,806.1 acres

Piedmont Lake

Belmont County

2,376.9 acres

East Fork Lake

Clermont County

2,106.9 acres

Rocky Fork Lake

Highland County

1,952.7 acres

Paint Creek Lake

Highland County

1,177.2 acres

Regulation Notes

Combined catfish daily limit of 10

More Ohio Fish Species

Hybrid Striped Bass

Temperate Bass

White Bass

Temperate Bass

Flathead Catfish

Catfish

Smallmouth Bass

Black Bass

Crappie

Sunfish

Largemouth Bass

Black Bass

View all fish species →

Plan Your Blue Catfish Trip

Find lakes, guides, and bait shops for your next blue catfish fishing trip in Ohio.

Explore Lakes Find a Guide Bait & Tackle

Regulations shown are statewide defaults. Some waters have special regulations — always check the current Ohio DNR regulations before fishing. An Ohio fishing license is required for ages 16+.