Blue catfish

Trophy fishery — blues were first stocked around 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 — verify ice/safety separately (this site is night-boat/bank focused).

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

Statewide inland pattern from ODNR Fishing Regulations 2026–27 — verify 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).

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.

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.
Boat: anchor or slow drift along channel edges at night.

ODNR Hoover Fishing Area: blue cats first stocked ~2011; strong trophy fishery. Always measure before keeping a big fish.

Contours, pool correction, public ramps.

Targeting Blue catfish — private browser log or community submit.

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