Thanksgiving, turkey and pumpkin pie are like summer, Ohio, and catfishing -- they just go together. If you're looking for a change of pace or just a break from pounding the shoreline for bass, try the channel cat, one of Ohio's finest game fish.

The Ohio Division of Wildlife rates more than 80 percent of the state's waters as good or excellent for catfishing. That means that just about every Buckeye State angler lives close to a lake or river teeming with whiskerfish.

We've done the research and sifted through more than 132 top-rated fisheries to come up with our top picks for 2006. Here's the inside angle on where to find Ohio's best catfishing near you this month:

CENTRAL OHIO
Central Ohio has always been a haven for great catfish waters. This powerhouse district contains five perennial favorites, plus two sleeper picks.

Alum Creek Lake
In Delaware County, Alum Creek Lake covers more than 3,000 acres. Its lively channel cat population contains many over 20 inches, with some specimens weighing up to 4 pounds.

Cut shad, shrimp and night crawlers are popular among local anglers.

Those wishing to fish near the dam may launch from a site off Africa Road, which skirts most of the eastern shoreline. Africa Road can be reached by following state Route 36/37 west toward the lake. Follow Africa Road south.

Two additional launch sites provide access to the lake's middle and upper sections. The upper section site is on the eastern side of the lake, off Howard Road. The mid-lake site is also on the eastern shore, south of state Route 36 near Cheshire.

Delaware Lake
Also in Delaware County, 1,017- acre Delaware Lake is another top- rated central Ohio channel cat fishery. Anglers can expect excellent numbers of 12- to 16-inch fish.

The upper half of the lake is the place to be. Try fishing at night with soft craws and cut bait.

A launch site off state Route 229, which crosses the lake, provides excellent access to its upper sections. The launch site is on the eastern shoreline.

Buckeye Lake
Fairfield County's Buckeye Lake is not only a channel cat factory, it's also central Ohio's best flathead destination. Buckeye Lake channel cats weigh up to 20 pounds and the flatheads get much larger.

Soft craws are popular with channel cat anglers. If you are after the big flatheads, be sure to fish after dark and bring a good supply of chubs, small carp, bullheads or suckers. When fishing for flathead, change your bait often. Lively baits attract more attention.

Catfish are uniformly dispersed throughout the lake, but both Fairfield Beach and Liebs Island provide excellent shoreline access for anglers without boats. Most of the remaining lakeshore is privately owned.