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Best flathead catfish lakes in Indiana

20 Indiana waters list flathead catfish (official records or labelled estimates), 8 mapped with survey or official-chart depth data. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality, leading with the waters in our reviewed search catalog — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. Solitary giant that lairs in log jams and deep holes by day and prowls at night — live bait only.

1. Wabash River — 30 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Sauger, Channel CatfishWhy #1: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 16 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
2. Ohio River — McAlpine Pool — 60 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Sauger, CrappieWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 11 public access sites, 4 carry-in or shore-oriented
3. White River (West Fork) — 20 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Flathead CatfishWhy #3: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 10 public access sites, 4 carry-in or shore-oriented
4. Ohio River — Newburgh Pool — 62 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Sauger, Crappie, Channel CatfishWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites
5. Ohio River — J.T. Myers Pool — 49 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Sauger, Crappie, Channel CatfishWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
6. Monroe Lake — 54 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #6: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 10 public access sites
7. East Fork White River — 20 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Flathead CatfishWhy #7: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 12 public access sites
8. Ohio River — Cannelton Pool — 60 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Sauger, CrappieWhy #8: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites
9. Mississinewa Lake — 137 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, CrappieWhy #9: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 4 public access sites
10. Lake Lemon — 27 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
11. Hardy Lake — 35 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
12. Cagles Mill Lake (Cataract) — 40 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #12: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 4 public access sites
13. Eagle Creek Reservoir — 40 ft max · Largemouth Bass, White Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #13: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site
14. Lake Shafer — 30 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #14: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site
15. Dogwood Lake (Glendale) — 20 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #15: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 6 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
16. Prairie Creek Reservoir — 30 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #16: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site
17. Lake Salinda — 24 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
18. Pike Lake — 30 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #18: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
19. Old Holland Lake — 18 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Flathead CatfishWhy #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site

…plus 1 more Indiana waters holding flathead catfish.

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When to fish flathead catfish in Indiana

• Spring 5–20 ft — Pre-spawn fish feed hard near wood cover and hole edges.
• Summer 8–30 ft — Day = log-jam lairs and deep holes. Night = shallow flats and bar edges with big live bait.
• Fall 10–35 ft — Fish concentrate near wintering holes — the year's best big-fish window.
• Winter 20–45 ft — Stacked and sluggish in the deepest holes.

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