Blue catfish

Trophy fishery. Blues were first stocked in 2011 and have become a Hoover highlight.

Season

Ice-out / spring: fish transitioning; look for warming banks and channel edges.
Summer: night cut-bait sessions in deeper basins and channel.
Fall: strong feed windows as water cools.
Winter: deep, slower presentations. Check ice and safety separately (this site is night-boat/bank focused).

Time of day

Night and low-light favor big blues on cut bait. Daytime can work in deeper water when boat traffic allows.

Where on Hoover

Public ramps: Walnut, Redbank, Oxbow. Check hours.
Main basin / dam end deeper water (see the ODNR 894-ft contours, reference only).
Old Big Walnut channel edges.

Water maps · ODNR depth PDF (2001 @ 894 ft)

Limits reminder, verify

Statewide inland pattern from the ODNR Fishing Regulations 2026–27. Check HuntFish OH before you keep fish.

Rule	Reminder (verify 2026–27)
Under 35″	No daily limit (statewide inland pattern)
35″ and over	Daily 1

Reminder only. Confirm on HuntFish OH / ODNR licenses and the current ODNR regs before you keep fish. Cite: ODNR Fishing Regulations 2026–27 (verify current).

Gear

Sized for bank reality and ≤10 hp boats. Hoover is a drinking-water reservoir.

Heavier gear for trophies: 20–40 lb line, stout rod, quality drag.
10 hp boat helps cover channel; bank anglers can still score near deeper public access.
Strong hooks; measure carefully if near the 35″ trophy line.

Bait & presentation

Fresh cut bait (shad, skipjack if legal where obtained, bluegill where legal as bait; confirm regs).
Large chunks on the bottom; patience over constant moving.

Notes

ODNR Hoover Fishing Area: blues first stocked in 2011, and some older fish already top 30 lb. In 2019 Hoover produced 41 Fish Ohio blues (35″+), more than any other Ohio water. Always measure before keeping a big fish.

Water & maps

Contours, pool correction, public ramps.

Log a trip

Targeting Blue catfish : private browser log or community submit.

Unofficial notebook only, not ODNR, the City of Columbus or USGS. License required ages 16+. Confirm regs before you keep fish.