River Monsters: Discover the Largest Fish in the Ohio River

The Ohio River is 981 miles long and flows southwesterly from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to its mouth at the Mississippi River in Cairo, Illinois. The river flows through six states, but its drainage basin covers parts of 14 states. This river supplies drinking water to over five million people and is home to over 160 fish species. Continue reading to learn about the five largest species in the Ohio River.

4. Channel Catfish

Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) are common throughout the Ohio River and typically weigh 2 to 4 pounds. However, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, channel catfish weighing up to 15 pounds are common in the Ohio River. The largest channel catfish ever recorded weighed 58 pounds and measured approximately 3.9 feet long. It was caught in the Santee-Cooper Reservoir in South Carolina.

Channel catfish typically spawn during late spring or early summer, when water temperatures reach 75 degrees. Males select a nest site that is usually dark and secluded, often located in logs, drift piles, or among rocks. The male guards the nest and may eat some of the eggs if the nest is disturbed. The remaining eggs hatch within roughly a week.

3. Flathead Catfish

Flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris), on average, weigh 15 to 20 pounds. However, anglers such as Joe Granata have reported catching flatheads of 50 to 60 pounds in the Ohio River. The largest flathead catfish caught in the Ohio River weighed approximately 76.5 pounds, while the largest in the world was caught in Elk City Reservoir, Kansas, and weighed approximately 123 pounds.

Flathead catfish are known to be more solitary than other types of catfish. They are omnivorous nocturnal feeders. Their diet consists of a wide variety of creatures, such as crustaceans, mollusks, other fish, and insect larvae. Flathead catfish feed on live fish more than any other type of catfish. Additionally, unlike other catfish, they often inhabit shallow waters.

2. Striped Bass

The average size of a striped bass (Morone saxatilis) is between 2 and 3 feet long and 10 to 30 pounds. These fish are distinct from other types of bass because of the horizontal lines or stripes that run along their sides. The largest striped bass ever caught weighed 81 pounds, 14 ounces, and was caught near Long Island Sound.

Striped bass typically live in coastal saltwater but migrate to freshwater rivers to spawn. However, populations can also survive and grow in impounded rivers. Striped bass populations in Lake Cumberland and the Ohio River are maintained through the use of stocking.

1. Blue Catfish

Blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) are a common type of catfish that weigh 20 to 40 pounds on average. They have been introduced in many areas and are sought after by many anglers because they present a good challenge. However, blue catfish have unexpectedly spread to regions where they were not originally intended and are now considered an invasive species.

The largest blue catfish, and also the largest fish, caught in the Ohio River, weighed 101.11 pounds and measured approximately 56 inches long. However, the largest specimen in the world weighed approximately 143 pounds, measured 4.75 feet long, and was caught in Kerr Lake, Virginia.