After a prize bass? Or are crappies or muskies more to your taste?
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources is here to help, offering suggestions on the best lakes to cast your line depending on the type of fish you're after. And if you intend to fish, and are age 16 or older, you need a fishing license (aside from this weekend of license-free fishing).
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If you want to try your luck, here are ODNR's top picks around the state:
Alum Creek Lake (Delaware County) -- smallmouth bass
Alum Creek Lake has long been known as a largemouth bass destination, but it has recently gained a reputation for great smallmouth bass fishing.
Abundant submerged aquatic vegetation in the lake provide plentiful habitat for smallmouth bass. Many smallmouth anglers catch 4-pound and heavier bass from Alum.
Alum Creek Lake’s daily limit is five bass, with a minimum length requirement of 12 inches.
Appalachian Hills Wildlife area (Morgan, Muskingum and Noble counties) -- largemouth bass
The Appalachian Hills Wildlife Area, Ohio’s largest wildlife area, houses hundreds of ponds and lakes, offering anglers unparalleled opportunities to reel in the bass of a lifetime.
Most of the ponds and lakes boast thriving bass populations, although dedicated anglers seeking trophy-sized bass should venture to waters farther from main roads.
Anglers can harvest two fish shorter than 14 inches and one fish of 20 inches or longer.
Buckeye Lake (Fairfield, Licking and Perry counties) -- saugeye
Buckeye Lake has been a top saugeye destination for years.
Division of Wildlife fish management staff confirmed Buckeye Lake’s saugeye prominence with a fall 2023 survey which showed that 83% of the lake’s saugeye population was of a keeper size (15 inches).
The daily limit in Buckeye Lake is six saugeye, with a minimum size requirement of 15 inches.
C.J. Brown Reservoir (Clark County) -- muskellunge
Anglers should check out the newest muskie lake, C.J. Brown Reservoir, which has been stocked with muskies since 2018. Muskie anglers have reported high catch rates in the lake, with some fish now reaching the 42-inch huskie muskie size.
The muskellunge daily limit at C.J. Brown Reservoir is one fish of any size.
Caesar Creek Lake (Warren and Clinton counties) -- muskellunge
Caesar Creek Lake has been stocked with muskies since 1998. In 2023, anglers reported catching muskies that averaged 39 inches long. The largest muskie reported from Caesar Creek Lake in 2023 was 48 inches in length.
The muskellunge daily limit at Caesar Creek Lake is one fish of any size.
Clendening Lake (Harrison County) -- crappie
Clendening Lake has the region’s best combination of both high crappie abundance and large sizes, making it a great place to fill your cooler. In the most recent trap net assessment, 60% of the crappie sampled were longer than 9 inches, with a handful eclipsing 12 inches.
Deer Creek Lake (Fayette and Pickaway counties) -- crappie
Deer Creek Lake is one of central Ohio’s best hotspots for large crappie. Both black and white crappie abound.
These feisty sport fish can be caught on light tackle.
The daily limit at Deer Creek Lake is 30 crappie, with a minimum size requirement of 9 inches.
East Fork Lake (Clermont County) -- saugeye, hybrid-striped bass
East Fork Lake was stocked with saugeye beginning in 2018, and with hybrid-striped bass since 1983.
A fall 2023 survey found saugeye in East Fork Lake averaged 16 inches long, with some fish from the first stocking reaching 24 inches in length and weighing up to 6 pounds. East Fork Lake has a six fish daily limit for saugeye, with no minimum length requirement.
That same survey found hybrid-striped bass up to 27 inches long and weighing 10 pounds. Excellent survival rates of fish stocked in 2022 could boost catches of 14- to 15-inch bass.
The lake has a daily limit of 30 hybrid-striped bass, and no more than four can be longer than 15 inches.
Grand Lake St. Marys (Auglaize and Mercer counties) -- crappie, sunfish
Black crappie are more common than white crappie in Grand Lake St. Marys, and many of the lake’s crappie reach 11 inches in length. The lake also holds strong numbers of sunfish, some up to 8 inches long.Productive crappie hatches in 2018 and 2019 continue to support excellent fishing.
Grand Lake St. Marys has a daily limit of 30 crappie with a minimum length requirement of 9 inches.
Hoover Reservoir (Delaware and Franklin counties) -- crappie and blue catfish
Hoover Reservoir is known for excellent catch rates for crappie and is sonsistently ranked as the best catfish fishery in central Ohio.
Anglers who find schools of larger crappie will have the most success filling their cooler, although many smaller fish are likely to be caught. The daily limit at Hoover Reservoir is 30 crappie, with a minimum size requirement of 9 inches.
Blue catfish were first stocked in 2011, and the oldest individuals have already surpassed 40 pounds. The daily limit for blue catfish is one fish 35 inches or longer, with no limit on shorter fish.
Lake Alma (Vinton County) -- sunfish
A blend of abundant fish populations and easy accessibility make Lake Alma a favorite lake among sunfish enthusiasts.
Strong numbers of 7- to 8-inch bluegill and redear sunfish offer exciting opportunities for anglers of all skill levels. Consider fishing in areas with pockets among the lily pads, drifting through open water for suspended fish, or exploring woody debris around the island.
The lake has a boat ramp on the north side, and the road encircles the water, granting access to the entire shoreline.
Only hand-powered vessels and boats with electric motors are permitted. The Lake Alma Boathouse offers canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, pedal boats, and pontoon boats for rent in the spring, summer, and fall.
Lake Milton (Mahoning County) -- muskellunge
Nearby West Branch Reservoir is known for large muskellunge, but Lake Milton is the region’s best for muskie abundance. Scheduled water releases out of Berlin Lake dam, upstream of Lake Milton, provide cool and flowing water where muskie are often caught.
The muskie daily limit is one fish, with no minimum size.
Nimisila Lake (Summit Count) -- sunfish
Nimisila Lake sits at the top of the Portage Lakes canal reservoir system and feeds the lakes in southern Summit County. This lake also sits at the top of the list for providing shoreline angling access. Anglers can enjoy one of the many great Summit Metro Parks access points to try their luck catching large bluegill, pumpkinseed, and redear sunfish. As an added bonus, yellow perch fishing can be productive.
Piedmont Lake (Belmont County) -- saugeye
A large class of Piedmont Lake saugeye from 2022 is anticipated to reach the 15-inch minimum length requirement by this fall.
The lake has a daily limit of six saugeye.
Rocky Fork Lake (Highland County) -- saugeye
Rocky Fork Lake has been stocked with saugeye since 2001. Recent surveys revealed many fish longer than 15 inches with some fish reaching 26 inches.
Rocky Fork Lake has a six fish daily limit for saugeye, with a minimum length requirement of 15 inches.
Seneca Lake (Noble County) -- crappie
There is no shortage of opportunities to catch a crappie in Seneca Lake. Fallen trees in several coves and fish attractors have proven to be particularly productive, yielding fish most of the year.
Seneca Lake has a 9-inch minimum size requirement and 30 fish daily limit for crappie.
Spencer Lake (Medina County) -- largemouth bass
After a recent renovation, Spencer Lake is now one connected lake with a navigable passage through the causeway, complete with repaired dams and outlet structures. This small reservoir grows big bass but is heavily vegetated in early spring. By May, Spencer Lake offers a fantastic opportunity for shore and boating anglers alike to catch 4- and 5-pound largemouth bass.
Anglers can keep no more than three bass per day from this lake, two shorter than 14 inches and one longer than 20 inches.
Upper Ohio River (Columbiana and Jefferson counties) -- flathead catfish
Try something new and explore opportunities for giant flathead catfish in the Ohio River. Shoreline habitats with woody debris and deep water in the Pike Island and New Cumberland navigational pools are a great place to start.
The daily limit for flathead catfish is one fish longer than 35 inches, with no limit on shorter fish.
