Flathead catfish are most frequently found around structure, such as logjams, in dam tailwaters and near tributary mouths. Blue catfish are most common in the lower portion of Ohio’s stretch of the river in the Meldahl and Markland Pools,” Pritt said.
Table of Contents
How do you catch catfish on the Ohio River?
What’s the best catfish bait in Ohio River?
We bait our hooks with fresh cut bait made from bluegills, skipjacks, or shad. Big catfish do not dine on chicken livers or hotdogs. They eat other fish, so that’s what we use for bait! Sometimes, we will use whole live bluegills for bait, but we have had more success by cutting them up.
Are there big catfish in the Ohio River?
Massive 95-pound catfish ‘by far the largest’ trophy fish caught by these Kentucky men. Michael Robinson and Terry Raymer have made an annual tradition of catching massive fish on the Ohio River, but their latest snag is a personal best.
How far do catfish travel in a river?
Fish moved less during summer and fall, ranging from 6 to 12 miles, except for one vagabond that took a 137-mile swim. Average movement was only 1.5 miles when blue catfish occupied winter areas, primarily scour holes below wing dikes, in the Missouri River.
How big do catfish get in the Ohio River?
In Ohio, adults typically reach 30-40 inches and 20-40 pounds, but can reach upwards of 60 inches. The largest recorded Ohio specimen weighed in at 96 pounds.
What is the best catfish bait?
- #1. Nightcrawler. First on the list is the ubiquitous nightcrawler, favored food for all fish species.
- #2. Gizzard Shad.
- #3. White Suckers.
- #4. Skipjack Herring.
- #5. Stinkbait.
- #7. Bluegills.
- #8. Punchbait.
- #9. Chicken Livers.
What’s the biggest catfish caught in the Ohio River?
Catfish Fishing The largest catfish caught on the Ohio River weighed 106.9 pounds, caught by Glynn Grogan in 2018.
What pound test leader you need for big catfish?
If you fish places like the Red River, or places wherever there can be numerous fish that run 15 to 30 pounds, I recommend using 30-pound line. Of course, as the fish get bigger, so should your line. For example, if you are fishing for giant blue or flathead catfish, you will want a 50- to 80-pound line to be safe.
What bait is irresistible to catfish?
Ingredients like chicken liver, gutted fish, Limburger cheese and rotting shrimp are examples of things that can be combined together. The best stink bait is left to marinade for a few days and “ripen” so that the blend of scents is irresistible to the catfish.
Are hotdogs good catfish bait?
Hot dogs are a common food taken along on fishing excursions and double as excellent catfish bait. Points to remember when using hot dogs as catfish bait include: Cheaper hot dogs seem to catch more fish.
What is the best time to catch catfish?
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.
Can you eat catfish 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.
Has a bull shark ever been found in the Ohio River?
Yes, folks. A bull shark was recently found dead in a river in Manchester, Ohio. The shark was found floating near the shore and seemed to be following groups of bass common in the area because of the abundance of small fish.
What is the best fish to catch in the Ohio River?
Sauger & Walleye Sauger provide some of the highest catch rates of any fish in the river and walleye can be caught by fishing the same methods. Walleye and sauger (Percids) concentrate in tailwater areas in the early spring then disperse during the summer months.
How deep should I fish for catfish?
Conclusion. 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 a river?
Will catfish bite during the day?
Fact: Catfish are active at all hours of the day and night, this includes all three species of catfish. Catfish can easily be caught throughout the day regardless of the season. Catfish eat when they are hungry, not when it gets dark. Myth: If you want to catch flathead catfish, you have to fish at night.
What is the biggest blue catfish caught in the Ohio River?
The fish was 50.7 inches long and weighed 67.22 pounds. The trophy catfish eclipsed the weight record of 61.28 pounds held by Cody Carver for only seven weeks and broke the length record of 50.15 inches held by Justin Goode since 2021.
Where was the biggest catfish caught in Ohio?
Byrd Pool) of the Kanawha River between Buffalo and Point Pleasant. Price’s record fish was 50.7 inches long and weighed a whopping 67.22 pounds.
How do you catch blue catfish in Ohio River?
What is the best size hook for catfish?
1X gauge hooks should be more than adequate for catching most catfish. Large Blues could be caught with a 2X gauge. A 3X gauge would likely be too large for most catfish. Most catfish anglers will not need fishing hooks of this size.
What hooks are best for catfish?
Anglers should always try to use hooks that match the size of the bait they’re using and when in doubt bigger is better. Catfishing with an 8/0 or 10/0 hook, especially when using big live bluegills, bullheads, shad, or suckers, will increase catch rates.
Do catfish go after lures?
Lures with components that rattle and vibrate are more effective than unadorned artificial’s. 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.
Where is the deepest part of 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).