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  4. Catfish fishing in Ohio

Catfish fishing in Ohio

Ohio provides strong freshwater fishing opportunities for catfish. Lakes, rivers, and reservoirs across the state offer reliable action for anglers.

Best baits and lures for Catfish in Ohio

According to catch data from over 20 million anglers on Fishbrain, these are the best baits used to catch Catfish.

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Biggest Catfish catches

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Latest Catfish fishing reports in Ohio

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Flathead catfish

Griggs Reservoir

26 in · 10 lb

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Channel catfish

Great Miami River

length · weight

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Channel catfish

Lake Milton

length · weight

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Channel catfish

Ottawa River

20 in · 3 lb

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Channel catfish

Grand River

length · weight

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Channel catfish

Grand River

length · weight

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Channel catfish

Mahoning River

length · weight

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Flathead catfish

Cuyahoga River

length · weight

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Channel catfish

Lake Erie

32 in · 15 lb

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Channel catfish

Cuyahoga River

15 in · 2 lb

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Regulations for Catfish in Ohio

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in Ohio can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

Below you will see fishing regulations for catching Channel catfish as of May 16th, 2026. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.

Channel catfish

Seasons

Open

Memorable

1 > 28

Measurement

Total Length
No minimum size limit.
No bag limit for channel catfish under 28 inches. Bag limit of 1 channel catfish 28-inches or larger.
Hoover Reservoir; bag limit = 4 fish split limit; 3 fish less than 18-inches and 1 fish 28-inches or longer may be harvested. None may be taken between 18-inches and 28-inches.
For additional site-specific regulations, see Ohio Division of Wildlife Fishing Regulations.

Ictalurus punctatus

Regulations for

40°21′47.5″N 82°40′10.7″W
Regulations in the map
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FAQ

Anglers in Ohio commonly catch several Catfish species, including Channel catfish, Blue catfish, and Flathead catfish, according to reports from Fishbrain members.

These species can be found in many lakes, rivers and streams throughout the area. If you are targeting a specific species, you can use the to filter catches by species and see where anglers are catching them and which baits they are using.
Catfish are caught in lakes, rivers and streams throughout Ohio. Popular fishing waters reported by Fishbrain members include Lake Erie, Great Miami River, and Nimisila Reservoir.

The allows anglers to see exact catch locations shared by other members, helping you discover productive fishing spots where Catfish have recently been caught.