The Blue Catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) is one of the largest native fish in North America, behind only the Alligator Gar and a few species of Sturgeon. This fish can grow up to 6 feet in length and 120 pounds in ideal situations! Although fish this size have not been found in Ohio, the state record is still a whopping 96 pounds. Within the buckeye state they are usually found in the deep, fast flowing waters Ohio river and its tributaries, hover this has changed in recent years. In 2011, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources decided to stock Blue Catfish to Hoover Reservoir in Westerville Ohio. This was attempt to expand their range and bring them to an area where they could become a fruitful fishery. The fish were produced and raised at the Hebron and St. Mary’s state fish hatcheries. Aged one year and younger, the fish were released into Hoover with the hopes that it would become a fishing destination within the state.
Fast forward to 2017. The Blue Catfish stocking program was revaluated through a series of electrofishing surveys and the results were very promising. These samples have shown fish ranging in size from 4 inches up to 33 inches with the largest fish weighing 17 pounds. Although these fish have yet to reach the size of some found in the Ohio River, Hoover Reservoir is well on its way to become a sought after fishery producing trophy sized fish. With the amount of success the fish are having at Hoover, other stocking programs have been initiated, one at Clendening Reservoir and one at Seneca Reservoir. Thanks to the positive results of this pilot study, be sure to keep an eye out for Blue Catfish coming near you!
Sources:
http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/stay-informed/news-announcements/post/blue-catfish-project-moves-to-hoover-reservoire
http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/stay-informed/online-articles-amp-features/your-wild-ohio-angler/post/blue-catfish-stockings
http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/species-and-habitats/species-guide-index/fish/blue-catfish
http://www.dispatch.com/article/20140824/SPORTS/308249929
http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/hooverreservoir