On a 5,200-acre lake in the northwest corner of Logan County, Ohio, an idea born in 1996 grew into one of the region’s most popular fishing traditions. What started as a catfish tournament put together by LaPizzaria, with support from Bud’s Marine and Gene’s Marine Bait & Tackle, became the Indian Lake Annual Catfish Tournament. 

Held every year during the first full weekend in August, the tournament draws anglers from across the area for a chance to land the biggest catfish in Indian Lake. Indian Lake anglers have carried on the tradition as an end-of-summer event for both adults and kids going back to school. It took a while, but it grew to its peak and brought in more than 1,000 participants; in recent years, it has averaged around 500 entries. 

For the first decade, the winning fish were usually channel catfish, often weighing just a few pounds and occasionally reaching the 10- to 15-pound range. Around 2012, a flathead catfish was finally turned in and won the tournament, marking a major shift in what anglers expected at the scales. 

That change was especially notable because flathead catfish are one of the biggest freshwater fish species in Ohio. According to The Ohio Division of Wildlife, blue catfish and flathead catfish are the two largest catfish species found in the state, and Ohio’s flathead record stands at 76.5 pounds. 

Flathead catfish are native to Ohio and are known for their size, broad heads, and powerful build. They live in large river systems and bigger reservoirs, and mature fish are prized by anglers because they can grow into true heavyweight fish that test both tackle and skill. 

That history adds even more meaning to the tournament at Indian Lake, where flatheads reportedly over 30 pounds had been caught for decades before one was finally entered in the contest. Since then, the event has shifted from a channel-cat tradition into a serious flathead hunt with some enormous fish reaching the scales.  

According to limaohio.com, the biggest flathead to be documented from the Lake is a 42.87-pounder pulled out by Chad Owsley. Local anglers have stated that a 50-pounder is floating around in the lake. 

Today, the tournament is still run by Gene’s Marine Bait & Tackle with help from the Indian Lake Flathead Tournaments crew. The fish being weighed in now are absolutely massive, showing just how much the event has grown in both competition and reputation. 

In 2025, the 30th Annual Indian Lake Catfish Tournament was won by Adam Brockhaus, who brought in a 40.71-pound flathead catfish. The full results also show several other heavy fish, with multiple anglers topping 30 pounds and the top 20 all finishing close together.  

This year’s 31st Annual Indian Lake Catfish Tournament will be held August 6 through August 9. The tournament starts at noon on Thursday, August 6, and runs continuously until noon on Sunday, August 9. The entry fee is $30 for three days of fishing fun.  

For more information, visit the Facebook group Annual Indian Lake Catfish Tournament or stop by Gene’s Marine Bait & Tackle at 7320 Edison St., Russells Point, OH 43348.