More than 50,000 lakes and small ponds in Ohio offer fishing opportunities for a variety of fish, including prized Lake Erie walleye and perch as well as crappie, catfish, and northern pike. Others are perfect for their natural surroundings, which contribute to a high success rate on the water. Several lakes stand out for their abundant fish populations.
With more than 124,000 acres of inland water and 7,000 miles of streams in the state, there are plenty of spots to go fishing.Knowing where to fish, which lakes are stocked, and using interactive maps to track water quality and find active species can all help you focus your options. Planning beforehand will enable you to visit the greatest fishing locations in Ohio while saving you time and hassle.
Every lake in the state has fishing forecasts and maps that are routinely updated by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). Before you even cast your line, you may purchase a fishing license online and look up fishing advice for a particular species.
Our list of the top fishing lakes in Ohio can help you plan your outdoor activities while visiting the Buckeye State.
1.Lake Erie
Lake Erie, which is best renowned for its walleye and perch fishing, offers some of the greatest fishing in Ohio. Moreover, bass and steelhead fishing are also popular in Lake Erie. Comparable preparation and understanding are needed for fishing Lake Erie compared to other state lakes.
Because it's a part of the Great Lakes system, the weather and water conditions can swiftly shift and surprise unsuspecting fisherman. It is advisable to choose a guide or a charter service that has experience on the lake even though Lake Erie may provide anglers one of the best experiences in the state. On their website, ODNR provides links to reliable resources and organizations that can provide you with trustworthy advice.
Finding a neighborhood eatery close to your place of lodging that will prepare your catch for dinner is one of the pleasures of fishing this lake. Your guide can suggest the top eateries in the region where you are fishing that provide this.
From numerous communities in northern Ohio, including Port Clinton and Geneva-on-the-Lake, you can reach fishing locations on Lake Erie. Because it is on the water and has a lot of resorts and less priced chain hotels like the Best Western Plus Sandusky Hotel & Suites, Sandusky is an excellent place to stay when taking a fishing charter. You can lease a boat from Put-in-Bay and take a ferry to South Bass Island across the lake.
2. Ohio River
As "tailwaters" allow for year-round fishing, the Ohio River is one of the best locations in the state for fishing. These locations offer opportunities to catch a variety of species because they are where numerous fish concentrate. The channel, flathead, and blue catfish, together with hybrid striped bass, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and sauger and walleye, are the most sought-after fish to catch in the Ohio River.
Anglers frequently fish from boats on the Ohio River, but for shoreline access, go to the locks and dams. Fishing platforms and abutment access have been created in the majority of these places. This waterway is perfect for catching sportfish along the river because it combines great shore fishing in numerous locations with concentrated prey fish.
There are numerous spots from which you may venture out onto the waters because the Ohio River forms a 451-mile boundary along the state's southern border, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
The best place to stay is in a city with a riverbank, like Marietta, where there are several hotels with fishing-friendly amenities, like the Fairfield Hotel & Suites and the budget Microtel Inn & Suites. Another excellent Ohio River base, Cincinnati, has lodging options for every budget.
3. Alum Creek
Due to its size, the variety of fish that can be caught there, and the ease of access for both boaters and shoreline fishermen, Alum Creek Lake in central Ohio is a well-liked fishing spot in the state. Many deep coves and high shale bluffs offer good homes for a variety of fish species.
Saugeye, musky, crappie, catfish, largemouth bass, and smallmouth bass all have thriving populations in the lake. The southern basin has a lot of rocky points from which to fish, making it the ideal location to hunt for smallmouth bass. Channel catfish, the main catfish in the system, thrive in the north end of the lake, particularly in the early spring.
In central Ohio, Alum Creek is the only lake with muskies. The ODNR annually stocks it with muskies and saugeye. You should stay in Delaware and choose a hotel like the Pacer Hotel and Suites or Baymont by Wyndham Delaware so that you can easily travel to Alum Creek every day.
4. Seneca Lake
Seneca Lake, located in eastern Ohio, is one of the state's biggest public fishing lakes. It is an all-around simple lake to fish because it has more than 45 miles of shoreline and a diversity of species.
You should remain near to the lake. Senecaville is the closest town, however Cambridge, which is 12 miles distant and has more hotels and restaurants, is suggested.
Saugeye, crappie, largemouth bass, and channel catfish are the most often targeted species. Seneca Lake, one of the few locations in Ohio where anglers can catch this species, now has blue catfish thanks to ODNR stocking. There are boat access ramps at the main marina and close to the d
5. Clear Fork Reservoir
Anglers should schedule a trip to the Clear Fork Reservoir in Northwest Ohio, close to Mansfield, if they want to catch both largemouth bass and many of them. One of the best bass fishing lakes in the state is this one. Moreover, it is a top lake for musky.
Due to the shallow water and a lot of stumps and fallen trees near the lake's western end, this is where you will find the best bass fishing.
Crappie, bluegill, and channel catfish are some of the additional species that are prevalent in Clear Fork Reservoir. Most people fish from boats on this lake. Only on the south and western banks, where there are three public access points to the water, is shoreline fishing permitted.
6. Piedmont Lake
Year-round fishing is common at Piedmont Lake in southeast Ohio. It provides some of the best smallmouth bass and crappie fishing in the state. Crappie flourish in the rocky beach, fallen trees, and docks, which are perfect natural homes.
Catching crappie over nine inches is not unusual. You can stay in Steubenville or the nearby village of Cadiz. With over 50% of the fish population being this species, it is one of the greatest inland lakes in the state for smallmouth bass.
Also, the lake offers fantastic musky and saugeye fishing. There are numerous boat access sites, shoreline access spots, and a 10-horsepower engine limit for watercraft on this picturesque lake because it is geared toward anglers.
7. Hoover Reservoir
Popular lake for fishing, especially for catfish, is Hoover Reservoir. The lake, which located northeast of Columbus, is home to thriving populations of flatheads and channel catfish. The ODNR started stocking blue catfish in 2011, so their populations are also starting to grow.
Additional species found in the lake include carp, bluegill, longnose gar, saugeye, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and crappie. With a 10-horsepower engine limit, Hoover Reservoir is a good body of water for fishing from both a boat and the shore. Bass fishing is excellent in the southern basin and close to the dam on the lake.
8. Grand Lake Saint Marys,
Southwest Ohio's Grand Lake St. Marys is one of the best lakes in the state for crappie fishing due to its size and population. The enormous lake's numerous channels, rocky ledges, and thorny shorelines provide excellent fishing terrain.
Big crappies, measuring nine to 13 inches, are frequently caught, particularly from March through May. Because the lake is mostly shallow—less than seven feet deep—other species, including largemouth bass, bluegill, walleye, perch, carp, channel catfish, and flathead catfish, can thrive there.
"Enacting HB 175 in Ohio would result in reversing the progress we have made in the last 50 years to clean Ohio’s streams and lakes, to make them safe to be used for drinking water, fishing and swimming."
— Ohio Environmental Council (@OhioEnviro) June 7, 2021
Read more on ephemeral streams and HB 175 ⬇️ : https://t.co/7Zx9YI3WCP pic.twitter.com/ElMF4F8oik
Throughout the nine-mile-long lake, there are numerous shoreline access locations and seven boat ramps run by ODNR. You can stay in St. Marys or the neighboring town of Celina while visiting Grand Lake St. Marys.
9. Lake Pymatuning
Northeast Ohio's Pymatuning Lake flows into Pennsylvania as well. Excellent walleye, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, largemouth, smallmouth, and musky populations can be found in the lake. There is plenty of boat access and shoreline fishing on the 14,000-acre lake.
Although this lake is excellent for recreational fishing, shoreline anglers should be aware of which state they are fishing in and have a current license for that state. To make sure you are fishing legally, you can check the ODNR website for a lake map before you go. Every year, walleye and Muskellunge are stocked.
Pymatuning Lake's closest big city is Cleveland, where you may find cozy hotel or stay at one of the local campgrounds.
10. Indian Lake
Due to its size, accessibility from beach and by boat, and the range of species that can be targeted in the 5,800-acre lake, Indian Lake is a useful lake for fishing. Large quantities of saugeye, sunfish, and huge crappie can be found in the lake.
Additional species found in the lake include catfish, yellow perch, walleye, and largemouth bass. The lake's numerous shallow channels and brushy areas offer for excellent fishing locations.
Due to the abundance of roadside pull-offs where you can pause and fish in a cove, this lake is a great option for a last-minute fishing trip. Bear in mind to keep an eye out for bald eagles, which are unusual to see in Ohio but have been reported close to the lake. You can stay at nearby Bellefontaine or rent a cottage near the lake.
11. Findlay Reservoir
One of the top yellow perch fishing lakes in Ohio is located in the northwest. The perch population in Findlay Reservoir is exploding, with some reaching 14 inches. Anglers that prefer to catch walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, bluegill, and catfish use the reservoir.
On Findlay Reservoir, spring is one of the best seasons for fishing because fish are near to the shore spawning. This lake has a special feature that allows you to access deeper water without a boat: a floating fishing pier. The best place to stay is in Findlay, where you can find housing and food as well as supplies for the day.
12. Caesar Creek Lake
One of the best spots in the state to hunt muskies is Caesar Creek Lake. The southwest Ohio lake is the deepest lake in Ohio, reaching 115 feet close to the dam.
since 1998, fingerling muskies have been introduced in the lake, and fisherman frequently catch fish larger than 42 inches. Additional species found in the lake include carp, saugeye, bluegill, crappie, channel and flathead catfish, largemouth and smallmouth bass, Kentucky spotted bass, and catfish.
The lake features inlets with dead trees and brushy shorelines that create excellent fishing areas. You have a choice of staying at the campground at Caesar Creek State Park or in the adjacent town of Wilmington.
13. Mosquito Lake
In Warren, Ohio, in Mosquito Lake State Park is Mosquito Lake. While Cleveland and Youngstown anglers frequently visit Mosquito Lake for their fishing excursions, it is quickly emerging as a favorite lake for people who live further afield. At 7,850 acres, it is one of Ohio's largest inland lakes.
Fishing for northern pike, yellow perch, white bass, largemouth bass, and crappie is some of the greatest in Ohio at Mosquito Lake. Due to Mosquito Lake's abundant walleye population and regular walleye stockings, it is also a well-liked lake for walleye fishing.
Using one of the five boat ramps scattered around the lake, you can fish from the water or from a boat. If you wish to spend the night in the park, Mosquito Lake State Park offers a campground as well as a variety of other leisure activities besides fishing. Warren, a nearby city, offers a variety of lodging options and dining establishments.
14. Salt Fork Lake
Salt Fork Lake is one of the prettiest fishing lakes in Ohio with lots of space for anglers. It is situated in Salt Fork State Park in eastern Ohio, close to Cambridge, which is Ohio's biggest state park. In the park, lodging options include renting cabins. Near the water, some of the cabins are situated.
Anglers are drawn to Salt Fork Lake because of its serene atmosphere and the state park's 17,000 acres' abundance of natural settings. There are numerous fish species in the lake that can be caught all year long, including walleye, crappie, and catfish. Salt Fork Lake has a lot of tiny bays that are prime places to catch fish.
Bass fishing is excellent in the late spring, and during the height of summer, fisherman choose to target muskie. The almost 3,000-acre lake is easily accessible. From one of the eight ramps located around the lake, you can launch your boat or cast from the shore. On the lake, there are two marinas where you can hire boats or buy daytime supplies.