Best catfish lakes in the Midwest: 12 lakes to fish

The lakes

1. Lake Erie (western basin), Ohio

Lake Erie (western basin) covers about 1,052,000 acres. The fish here are catfish, walleye, yellow perch and smallmouth bass. The deepest water is around 62 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and a wind-blown bank worth a first look.

Lake Erie (western basin) today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Lake Oahe, South Dakota

Lake Oahe spreads over 370,000 acres of water. It holds catfish, walleye, northern pike and smallmouth bass. The deepest water is around 205 ft. The lake bed gives you two sheltered coves and two point drop-offs to work.

Lake Oahe today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. Lake Sakakawea, North Dakota

At 307,000 acres, Lake Sakakawea is a huge piece of water. Catfish, walleye, northern pike and smallmouth bass are the draw. At about 180 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. The lake bed gives you two sheltered coves and a wind-blown bank to work.

Lake Sakakawea today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Truman Lake, Missouri

At 55,600 acres of water, Truman Lake is a huge piece of water. Catfish, crappie, largemouth bass and white bass are the draw. The deepest water is around 80 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start.

Truman Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri

At some 54,000 acres, Lake of the Ozarks is a huge piece of water. Expect catfish, largemouth bass, crappie and white bass. At about 130 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work.

Lake of the Ozarks today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin

Lake Winnebago spreads over 132,000 acres of water. It holds catfish, walleye, yellow perch and white bass. The deepest water is around 21 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has two point drop-offs and an upper arm: good places to start.

Lake Winnebago today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Milford Lake, Kansas

At 15,700 acres, Milford Lake is a big lake. It holds catfish, walleye, white bass and crappie. At about 65 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start.

Milford Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Lake Monroe, Indiana

Lake Monroe spreads over some 10,800 acres. The fish here are catfish, largemouth bass, crappie and white bass. At about 59 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring.

Lake Monroe today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. Lake Sharpe, South Dakota

Lake Sharpe spreads over 56,900 acres of water. You will find it next to Fort Pierre. Big Bend Dam holds it on the Missouri River. Catfish, walleye, smallmouth bass and northern pike are the draw. At about 78 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove: good places to start. Lake Sharpe is a Missouri River reservoir behind Big Bend Dam, with walleye as its primary gamefish.

Lake Sharpe today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Rathbun Lake, Iowa

Rathbun Lake is a reservoir of 11,000 acres. You will find it about 6.2 miles southeast of Centerville. Rathbun Dam holds it on the Chariton River. It holds catfish, crappie and walleye. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Rathbun Lake on the Chariton River is Iowa's largest reservoir by normal-pool surface area aside from Red Rock.

Rathbun Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

11. Mark Twain Lake, Missouri

At 18,600 acres, Mark Twain Lake is a big lake. You will find it about 42 miles southwest of Columbia. It is the Salt River behind Clarence Cannon Dam. Expect catfish, largemouth bass, crappie and walleye. At about 85 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Mark Twain Lake was created by damming the Salt River and is named after the Missouri-born author Mark Twain.

Mark Twain Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

12. Patoka Lake, Indiana

Patoka Lake spreads over 8,800 acres. It lies about 5.8 miles east of English. It is the Patoka River behind Patoka Lake Dam. Catfish, largemouth bass, bluegill and crappie are the draw. The deepest water is around 52 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Patoka Lake, Indiana's second-largest reservoir, was completed in 1978 and is jointly managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Indiana DNR.

Patoka Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

Catfish through the year in the Midwest

The water temperature on the day matters more than the calendar: each lake page on LakeScope shows today's surface temperature and how the fish should react to it.

• Spring: Waking up. Channels and creek mouths, especially after rain.
• Summer: Active. Evenings and nights are best.
• Fall: Waking up. Channels and creek mouths, especially after rain.
• Winter: Cold. Slow, in the deepest holes. Cut bait works best.