Ohio Catfishing Lakes

• Major Ohio lakes with catfish populations include 12,700-acre Grand Lake St. Mary's in the cities of Celina and St. Mary's; 5,000-acre Indian Lake in the city of Lakeview; 14,600-acre Pymatuning Lake in the city of Andover; and 9,940-square mile Lake Erie.
  
  

Channel Catfish Daily Limits

• Statewide fishing regulations in Ohio stipulate that channel catfish that measure under 28 inches are limited to six in public lakes that are less than 700 acres, while all other lakes are not restricted. Channel catfish that measure over 28 inches are limited to one daily statewide.
  
  

Blue and Flathead Catfish Daily Limits

• Blue and flathead catfish over 35 inches in length are limited to one per day in Ohio.
  
  

Fishing Licenses

• To fish for catfish in any of Ohio's waters, anglers age 16 through 65 must purchase a resident fishing license, which is available online at Ohio's Department of Natural Resources website.
  
  

Catching Catfish

• A bottom-feeder by nature, catfish feed based on scent, so most anglers will use strong-smelling bait such as crawfish or stink baits.