DISTRICT FIVE
Great Miami River
The Great Miami River, a tributary of the Ohio River, begins north of Dayton and flows through Cincinnati. According to Glenn Trued, a District Five fisheries biologist, Great Miami channel cats average 18 to 24 inches, with some fish up to 32 inches. There are some flatheads, especially closer to the Ohio River. The flatheads tend to be near the 24-inch mark, with some fish topping 36 inches.

Most experienced anglers fish the river's deep holes and washouts. Trueb recommends casting live or dead bait upstream and letting the bait drift through the hole. Water depths on the Great Miami River can vary depending on where you are fishing. The important thing is to find sudden depth changes.

"It's all relative," Trueb said. "If you have 16 inches of water all around and you find a 32-inch hole -- that's a deep hole."

There are multiple access sites on the river between Dayton and Cincinnati. According to Trueb, wildlife officers surveyed the river and marked these locations on a topographic map. For a copy of the map or more information regarding the Great Miami River, contact the ODOW's District Five office at 1076 Old Springfield Pike, Xenia, Ohio 45385, or call (937) 372-9261.

DISTRICTS FOUR & FIVE
Ohio River
Our last stop for Ohio's June catfish hotpots is the Ohio River, without which no Buckeye State catfishing story would be complete.

ODOW reports indicate that every pool bordering Ohio shores is either good or excellent for channel cats and flatheads. But, two pools are rated as excellent for channel cats -- the Pike Island and Greenup pools.

The Pike Island Pool borders Jefferson County and runs for 30 miles. Channel cats in this pool range up to 25 inches. The best places to fish this summer are near stream confluences and the below the New Cumberland tailwaters.

Moving water is especially critical later in the month, when the weather turns hot and dry. Outside bends can also be important because the current flow is usually faster compared to straight runs or inside bends.

Pike Island anglers may tap into a good population of flatheads averaging 14 to 25 inches. The water below the tailwaters are particularly good places to find hungry June flatheads.

The New Cumberland Lock and Dam off state Route 7 provides shoreline access to the tailwater section. Multiple launch sites provide boating access to the Pike Island pool.

Greenup Pool is 62 miles long and borders Gallia, Lawrence and Scioto counties. Anglers should expect to catch channel cats anywhere from 12 to 25 inches. The best places to find channel cats in the Greenup Pool are the tailwater section below the Gallipolis Lock and Dam, old locks and dams along the main channel, and various stream inlets. The Gallipolis Lock and Dam access site off state Route 2 provides good shoreline access to the tailwater section. Multiple launch ramps provide boating access up and down the pool.

Flatheads averaging 17 to 20 inches may also be taken from the same areas.

The Ohio Division of Wildlife publishes the informative Ohio River Fishing Guide, which lists many public and private launch sites. It's highly recommended for newcomers.

For a copy of the guide or for more information, contact either the District Four or Five offices.

In truth, just about every stream, creek and river running through the state of Ohio is full of catfish, especially channel cats. If you live close to a river not mentioned here, simply call your local ODOW district office and ask where you can find good fishing in your area this month.

You may just find a great catfish hole in your own backyard!