North Central Ohio’s public lakes and reservoirs are excellent places to fish for yellow perch, largemouth bass, crappie, and more, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. Summer is a great time to grab a fishing pole and head to the nearest body of water.
Ohio has plentiful public fishing opportunities with Lake Erie, the Ohio River, thousands of inland lakes, reservoirs, and ponds, as well as miles of streams.
At $25 for a resident one-year license, fishing is an inexpensive outdoor recreation activity that is accessible for all.
Youth under the age of 16 can fish for free, and all Ohio residents can fish without purchasing a license during Free Fishing Days on Saturday, June 14 and Sunday, 15. All size and daily limits apply during these two days.
The Division of Wildlife has numerous resources available to assist anglers, including lake maps, fishing tips by species, and fishing forecasts. Many of these resources are available right at your fingertips with the HuntFish OH mobile app.
Fishing regulations and an interactive fishing map can be located from any mobile device. For more information on fishing tips and forecasts, go to wildohio.gov.
There are several locations in northwest Ohio which are great places to catch a Fish Ohio! qualifying trophy. The Fish Ohio program celebrates amazing catches of 25 species of fish and there are specific fish length requirements based on species to be a qualifying catch.
Those who reel in a qualifying catch receive a commemorative Fish Ohio pin for their first entry, and a Master Angler pin for catching four different qualifying species in the same year. This year, the pin features a largemouth bass.
An important note for 2025 is that the 15-inch minimum length requirement for walleye, saugeye, and sauger has been removed from Ferguson and Metzger reservoirs in Allen County, Findlay Reservoirs 1 and 2 in Hancock County, and Pleasant Hill Lake in Richland and Ashland counties.
The daily limit for walleye, saugeye, and sauger remains at six.
Here are a few species in northwest Ohio anglers may want to pursue:
Largemouth Bass
Clear Fork Reservoir (Ashland and Richland counties) – Clear Fork Reservoir is one of the best locations in the state for largemouth bass.
Explore the shallow western end and target bass hiding among fallen trees and stumps. In spring, cast along the eastern end near the dam for larger fish. Division of Wildlife sampling surveys consistently show an abundance of bass longer than 20 inches.
The reservoir features a multi-lane concrete boat launch ramp as well as a full-service marina. This is an unlimited horsepower lake with an 8-mph speed limit. The daily limit for bass is five, with a minimum length requirement of 12 inches.
Crappie
Pleasant Hill Reservoir (Ashland and Richland counties) – Pleasant Hill Reservoir continues to be the best crappie producer in northwest Ohio, with many crappie longer than the minimum length requirement of 9 inches.
The daily limit is 30 crappie. Fishing along the rocky ledge on the southern shore and small coves along the southern neck of the reservoir often leads to full coolers. Cast near trees or logs submerged in the water where crappie seek cover.
The northern end of the reservoir has abundant cover and is often popular in the summer. Pleasant Hill has a boat launch with courtesy docks as well as an accessible fishing dock.
This is an unlimited horsepower lake that attracts many boating enthusiasts. Try fishing in the upper end of the reservoir when it gets crowded.
Largemouth and smallmouth bass
Alum Creek Lake (Delaware County) – The bass population at Alum Creek Lake is as good now as it has ever been. In 2024, Division of Wildlife electrofishing surveys produced the highest catch rate to date of bass longer than 15 inches.
This has translated into great fishing, with anglers at tournaments consistently catching 5- to 7-pound largemouth bass and smallmouth bass.
Largemouth bass can be caught around the abundant weed beds in 3 to 10 feet of water, mostly in the middle and lower basins of the reservoir. Smallmouth bass are often targeted near offshore points and rocky areas.
Alum Creek Lake’s daily limit is five bass, with a minimum length requirement of 12 inches. With 3,330 acres of water, three boat ramps, a full-service marina, and easy access and amenities from the surrounding state park, Alum Creek is perfectly suited to deliver a fantastic fishing experience.
Catfish
Hoover Reservoir (Delaware and Franklin counties) – Hoover Reservoir is one of the few reservoirs in Ohio where anglers have a great chance at catching trophy channel catfish, flathead catfish, and blue catfish.
First stocked with blue catfish in 2011, some of the older fish are now approaching the 50-pound mark. Target the north end of the lake with cut bait from spring through summer for the chance to hook one of these trophies.
The daily limit for blue catfish is one fish 35 inches or longer, with no limit on shorter fish. Hoover Reservoir has a 10-horsepower limit on outboard motors.
The reservoir has five boat launches, including popular ramps at Walnut Road, Redbank, and the newly renovated Oxbow access.
Sunfish
Portage Lakes (Summit County) – The main chain of the Portage Lakes contains some of the best sunfish angling in Ohio. A fall 2023 Division of Wildlife survey found that large redear sunfish are more plentiful than bluegill.
Redear sunfish in the Portage Lakes are growing at a faster rate than crappie do in many Ohio reservoirs, with some redear sunfish in the Portage Lakes surpassing 10 inches long.
Target these tasty fish in late spring on the outside edge of weed lines in deeper water than where bluegill are usually caught.
Check the Ohio Fishing Regulations for details before casting a line.
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