Ice fishing is one of the nicest outdoor activities you can enjoy in Ohio during the winter. On frozen Lake Erie, hike with a guide to your shanty, or tip-up for walleye on Atwood Lake, one of Ohio's best-kept secrets. The northern lakes of the state offer the state's best ice fishing since there, the ice is the most reliable.

As there isn't much snow on the ground during the beginning of the season, fishing is typically at its best. Nevertheless, since Ohio winters may be lengthy, you can try different lakes throughout the entire fishing season. To receive the most up-to-date information on what fish are currently biting, you might visit a local bait shop close to the lake you intend to fish. This will facilitate your decision-making on bait and target depths while also saving you time on the ice.

While man-made lakes like Lake Erie don't need as much cold to freeze as natural lakes like Lake Erie do, ice fishing is perfect in Ohio because there are so many of them. Under the winter ice in Ohio, anglers can locate walleye, perch, pike, saugeye catfish, bluegill, and other species.

Once you've chosen a lake to go ice fishing on, discussion forums are a great source of local knowledge because you can obtain the most recent updates on the lake's weather, what fish are biting, and where to go for the greatest and safest experience.

Safety should always come first, no matter where you choose to ice fish in the state. It's crucial to examine the ice's condition, obtain a current fishing license, and be aware of the lake's size and daily limit restrictions. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) offers general information on ice fishing as well as often updated fishing predictions for lakes throughout the state.

Our list of the finest ice fishing lakes in Ohio will help you discover the greatest locations to go fishing in the winter.

1. Lake Erie

Some of Ohio's best ice fishing may be found on Lake Erie. Although while it is usually simple to catch the daily limit of walleye, yellow perch, and crappie, some of the best fishing spots are frequently six to ten miles offshore. Because of its vastness, weather patterns, and safety concerns, Lake Erie demands more thought than other lakes.

It is advisable to hire a guide who is knowledgeable about these circumstances and can help you get to the optimum spots to catch active fish if you intend to ice fish on Lake Erie. A guide will have access to vehicles to securely drive you to the lake and will have accommodations set up for a relaxing day.

It can be challenging for individuals who are new to the waters to choose where to stay due to the length of Lake Erie along Ohio's northern border. Port Clinton, Sandusky, or Geneva-on-the-Lake are a few of the areas that are suggested. The Port Clinton regional airport also offers air taxi service to Put-in-Bay on South Bass Island, where you can join the ardent ice anglers on the lake waters surrounding the island.

2. Indian Lake 

Indian Lake in western-central Ohio is one of the state's first lakes to freeze. Since the interior lake is shallow, it presents one of the first chances for anglers to break the winter ice. In regard to a public lake, Ohio has some of the largest concentrations of sunfish, crappie, and saugeye.

There are many spots to target on the 5,800 acres of lake surface. One of the reasons it is so prolific for catches and has become a favorite among fishing groups in Ohio is the shallow waters. Basic lodging is available in the adjacent city of Bellefontaine at establishments like the Comfort Inn and Super 8 by Wyndham.

3. Portage Lakes 

Portage Lakes, which are close to Akron, are among the best places to go ice fishing in Ohio. There are five main fishing sites that consist of a network of lakes and reservoirs that consistently yield sizable populations of bluegill, crappie, and yellow perch. 1,600 acres of fishing water are contained in the East Reservoir, Long Lake, North Reservoir, Turkeyfoot Lake, and West Reservoir.

Some of the best panfish producers include Turkeyfoot Lake, the East and North Reservoirs, and the reservoirs. Since the Portage Lakes system covers a large region, there are several entry locations, which is advantageous for ice fishing. As the lakes are connected and close together, moving to new places is simple.

4. AEP Creation Land 

The AEP ReCreation Area, a 60,000-acre outdoor recreation area established on former strip mines that spans Morgan, Guernsey, Noble, and Muskingum Counties, is one of the most unusual places to try ice fishing. This region has 350 lakes and small ponds that can provide fantastic chances for ice fishing on impoundments.

These waters are home to bluegill and redear sunfish that are larger-than-average and between seven and nine inches in length. While some of the ponds are close by and simple to get to, others are far away and require a hike.

To fish in these waters, anglers must get a free permit from the Division of Wildlife District Four Office in Athens or the AEP McConnelsville office. While the area is isolated, Caldwell, which has a variety of motels, is the closest city for lodging.

5. Piedmont Lake 

At Piedmont Lake in eastern Ohio, ice fisherman target both saugeye and crappie. Even in the dead of winter, the 2,270-acre lake's long, narrow shape, winding through highly forested terrain, makes it one of the most beautiful in the state.

Populations of saugeye fish in the lake are thriving and active because they are supplemented. The lake's underwater roadbeds and drop-offs at the lower basin close to the dam are where you can find the best ice fishing.

You should check on the ice conditions by contacting the U.S. Army Corps office before making a trip to the lake because the lake is brought down for flood control purposes throughout the winter. While there are no significant cities nearby Piedmont Lake, if you don't want to camp, you can locate lodging in Cadiz, Morristown, or Cambridge, which is a little further away.

6. Grand Lake St. Marys, 

When winters are tough enough to generate consistently safe ice, anglers from all over the country swarm to Grand Lake St. Marys. The lake, which lies in the western region of the state, is far enough south to have uncertain ice depths during mild winters.

This lake is well-liked by ice anglers who wish to catch bluegill and crappie when it does freeze. These species frequently exhibit regular behavior from one year to the next. Although the yellow perch fishing varies from year to year, it is still a target during the winter.

This inland lake's short depth and large surface area help the ice hold up nicely. You can get a hotel room in the community of St. Marys or neighboring Celina, or rent a cabin near Grand Lake St. Marys.

7. Mosquito Lake 

On Mosquito Lake near Youngstown, one of the top walleye ice fishing locations in Ohio, is available. Walleye captured in this lake during the winter can range in size from 13 to 21 inches, according to the ODNR. Moreover, there are large catches of bluegill and crappie.

The network of five lakes at Portage Lakes State Park are more than just excellent boating destinations. As one of Ohio’s top ice fishing locations, anglers can expect good catches of bluegill, crappie, and yellow perch. https://t.co/MD0isTDb1B pic.twitter.com/FpWF8bVdjz

— Ohio State Parks & Watercraft (@OHStateParks) December 13, 2021

With a robust walleye bite all year long and Ohio's second-largest lake at 7,850 acres, it is not surprising that anglers frequent this region. Due to Mosquito Lake's popularity, there are numerous ice fishing competitions focusing on panfish and walleye as well as online angler forums analyzing the current situation, which might be useful for newcomers to the lake.

8. Atwood Lake

One of the reasons Atwood Lake is a sought-after location is because it is a relatively untouched lake for ice fishing. Less people fish there, and the 1,540-acre lake is one of the best in the state for saugeye. Each year, the ODNR supplies the lake with fingerlings.

It could take some searching to locate the greatest fishing locations, which are close to points and drop-offs. Before entering the ice, it is essential to check the current circumstances and fish with a partner because the lake's ice depths can be unpredictable, especially in channels. Consider staying in the neighborhood in Carrollton or New Philadelphia.

9. Lake Deer Creek

Deer Creek Lake, located south of Columbus, requires a harsh winter to freeze, but when the conditions are favorable, it is worthwhile to go out on the ice. In the late 1970s, this was one of Ohio's first lakes to get saugeye stockings, thus populations and fishing chances are aplenty. The ODNR keeps a yearly supply of fingerling saugeyes.

The tailwaters in Deer Creek are helpful for ice fishing. Falling water levels cause many fish to spend the winter below the dam. On this lake, bluegill and crappie are in abundance, yet most ice fisherman prefer saugeye.

10. Wallace Lake 

The winter stocking of rainbow trout in Wallace Lake, close to Cleveland, is one of the attractions for anglers. As long as the circumstances are favorable for anglers, it is among Ohio's greatest fisheries for ice fishing. The Cleveland Metroparks system, which manages 13 fishing sites, includes Wallace Lake.

Wallace Lake's accessibility as a Metropark is another allure. Cleveland is a convenient location from which to travel daily to the lake. The 26 miles of streams that make up the Rocky River in the Metroparks are also accessible, and they offer fantastic fishing all year long.

11. Alum Creek 

It's lovely to go ice fishing in Alum Creek Lake at Alum Creek State Park in Delaware, Ohio, but with 3,300 acres of water, it might be challenging to predict the exact level of the ice. Because to the fact that these bays and coves at Alum Creek will freeze earliest and have more stable water depths than the main lake, it is ideal for anglers to concentrate their efforts there.

Anglers can catch saugeye, perch, crappie, and bluegills in the winter. Anglers can also take part in some of the wintertime ice fishing competitions at Alum Creek that are sponsored by nearby athletic organizations and offer cash prizes.

12. Buckeye Lake 

Buckeye Lake is one of the earliest in the state to freeze because of its shallowness, making it an excellent place for ice fishing, especially for fishermen who are just getting started with this winter sport. Moreover, the lake keeps its frozen state longer than other deeper inland lakes.

Anglers do not feel crowded at Buckeye Lake in the winter since the lake is large—it has more than 3,100 acres of area. Due to their wintertime activity, saugeye are one of the best species to capture while ice fishing in Buckeye Lake. After a long day on the ice, residents in the area around Buckeye Lake may warm up with a delicious lunch at one of the numerous local eateries.