Reel in Record-Breaking Giants

From near disappearance to a tidal wave of record catches, conservation efforts and passionate anglers are helping blue catfish make a splash in West Virginia.

This story was originally published in the April 2025 issue of Wonderful West Virginia. To subscribe, visit wonderfulwv.com.

Written by Laney Eichelberger

​​Every angler dreams of The Big One. Justin Conner and Tabitha Linville are no exception and, five years ago, Conner actually reeled in the biggest one—that is, the biggest blue catfish in West Virginia at the time. January 11, 2020, was an average day on the Ohio River for the couple, who have guided in the state for the past 10 years as The Catfishing Duo. Ordinary turned extraordinary when Conner hauled in a 50-inch, 58-pound blue catfish, breaking the previous state record, set in 2014.

Conner’s catch wasn’t top of the leaderboard for long. Barely a year later, his record was broken by another hefty cat from the Ohio River. Then that record was broken. Then it was broken again, and again, and again.

Record-breaking blue catfish have been a common occurrence in recent years, says Nate Taylor, fisheries biologist for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR). Why the sudden splash? The species’ explosion started when the WVDNR began efforts to bolster blue catfish populations in the early 2000s.

Fry Me a River

As the largest catfish native to North America, blue catfish are an unsurprisingly popular choice for anglers. But catching these slippery cats hasn’t always been easy in West Virginia. Native to the Ohio River, they used to be commonplace in the region. “Due to habitat changes from lock and dam systems as well as pollution, blue catfish largely vanished from West Virginia’s portion of the river,” Taylor says. “It was thought that, around the turn of the 19th century, they disappeared.”

Although one or two blue cats would occasionally find themselves on the hooked end of an angler’s line, populations were unable to support the successful blue catfishing scenes found in other states. Noting local interest and potential for outdoor recreation and tourism, the WVDNR began a blue catfish stocking program in 2002 with the goal of reestablishing the species in West Virginia’s waterways. Since then, more than 1.2 million fingerlings have been introduced into the Ohio River system—that’s a lot of fry. Although stocking provides vital boosts for the population, Taylor says healthy waterways and subsequent natural reproduction have been keys to the species’ success. “It wasn’t until the Clean Water Act of 1972 that water quality really started to improve in the Ohio River drainage,” he explains. “Water quality is continually improving, but it’s not going to happen overnight.  That said, there is no doubt that it has improved dramatically since the early 20th century.” This mighty catfish can now be found in deep, open, and flowing water in the Ohio River tributaries.

However, success isn’t always easy to define with a species so slippery. “WVDNR put a significant amount of effort into re-establishment of the species, but our standard catfish monitoring methods produced very limited biological data on blue catfish. It was apparent that a special project focused on collecting blue catfish data would be needed to determine if our stockings were successful,” explains Taylor. “After you do that, you really need to assess the population to see if it’s worked.” In 2019, the WVDNR collaborated with a West Virginia University master’s student on the daunting task of herding catfish. The survey aimed to assess general population characteristics such as length-weight relationships and determine growth rates. Since state records for the species had been broken for numerous years prior, progress was obvious, and survey results agreed. With a lifespan of that can surpass 20 years and a corresponding two decades since the early-2000s stocking efforts, these whiskered fish have had just enough time to reach titanic proportions.

“Reestablishment of a species takes time, and blue catfish have likely not reached their maximum potential in stocked areas. They’re just now starting to get to sizes that anglers really want to see, and this is apparent by our state record continuing to be broken almost annually,” explains Taylor. “It’s awesome to see that record continuing to be broken.”

And, he says, they’ve got plenty of room left to grow.

Cool, Curious Cats

Have you ever reeled in a fish rocking a colorful tag parallel to its dorsal fin? That’s not a fashion statement—it’s one way the WVDNR monitors fish populations in order to assess trends, develop regulations, and coordinate stocking programs. Throughout the catfish study, nearly 400 blue catfish were tagged. However, very few tags were reported by anglers, and biologist recaptures throughout the study were very limited, as well. This likely indicates a large population, says Taylor. “If people catch tagged fish and call it in, there is a lot of information that can be taken from angler returns. Tag returns from anglers are important for data collection. Increasing angler participation could be really beneficial for making future management decisions for all sportfish.” The WVDNR seeks data such as when and where the fish was caught, its size, and if it was released or harvested. This information can then be compared against measurements from the individual fish’s original tagging date to evaluate growth rates, distance traveled, and the overall harvest rate of the population.

In addition to angler reports, Taylor says there is potential for further research on blue catfish in West Virginia. Understanding the extent of blue catfish activity—long-distance movements of more than 50 miles have been logged—and identifying areas of reproduction could support regulation decisions for specific areas. It’s more than simply curiosity. Understanding population activity allows WVDNR officials to balance long-term benefits for the species and for anglers.

Now is an interesting time for assessment, says Taylor. “When a population gets established, there is going to be a huge boom because there are resources that aren’t being exploited by other fish. As they hit their carrying capacity in the system, it will be interesting to see biological changes in relation to their growth.”

A Severe Case of Catfish Fever

Conner and Linville got started guiding as The Catfishing Duo a decade ago, but their passion for Mountain State catfishery can be traced back to childhood outings with family. With the purchase of their first boat in 2012, the pair began dominating local fishing tournaments before entertaining the idea of a fishing guide service. Why catfish? The peace of open water and the thrill of wrangling cats—or, as they call it, catfish fever.

Years of casting on the Ohio River has provided the couple with a front-row seat to the rapid growth of blue catfish populations and popularity. “When they started stocking blues, we went to the hatchery to see the baby blue cats, and they were so tiny,” says Linville. “We always heard that they grow fast, but we didn’t realize just how fast until the last few years. When we started catching them, they’d be 20 pounds, 30 pounds. In the last five years, they’ve really taken off.” From pinky-sized fries to 50-pound titans, blue cats have been a highlight for the duo in recent years.

Linville says the species has more than just size to appreciate—these cats happen to be extra cool. Blue catfish are a popular option for year-round fishing, unlike flatheads, which tend to become inactive in cooler temperatures. “You can catch them all winter long. It brings people from out of state, especially because our waters are protected from commercial fishing,” she explains. Since the fish tend to gather in deep burrows during the winter months, she says the duo have caught up to seven blues at a time in a single spot. They’re not the only ones. Visit an Ohio or Kanawha river boat ramp during the winter, says Taylor, and you’re sure to see anglers bundled up and targeting blue catfish.

Interested in challenging the state records or participating in one of the many catfish tournaments or clubs taking root in the Mountain State? Taylor and Linville say it’s a great time for it and they expect West Virginia anglers to reel in some increasingly colossal cats in coming years. The Catfishing Duo and the WVDNR suggest blue catfish seekers invest in a planer board and large circle hooks, stock up on fresh bait, and cast off from an Almost Heaven riverbank no matter the time of year—maybe you’ll catch the next Big One.