Best Fishing Locations in Ohio (Lakes & Rivers)

Ohio is underrated when it comes to fishing, despite the fact that it boasts direct access to Lake Erie along with countless lakes and rivers. There are dozens of species to choose from in these, and there’s never a shortage of fish.

The best places to fish in Ohio as determined by polled anglers are Lake Erie, Ohio River, Seneca Lake, Alum Creek Lake, Mad River, Clear Fork River, Little Miami River, Piedmont Lake, and Pymatuning Lake.

Each lake has its perks, whether it be a wide variety of large populations of fish, optimal conditions for fishing and fish habitats, or fishing stops. Overall, no matter where you stop in this state, you’ll find somewhere to make a decent catch.

Because there are so many varying waters that are best for different purposes, it’s best to know what you’re looking for before traveling to any location. Here is a rundown of the best spots to travel to for fishing in Ohio.

Recommended Fishing Guides & Charters (Lake Erie)

• Fishhound Charters (Lakeside Marblehead, OH)
• JT Sportfishing Charters (Port Clinton, OH)
• Mega Bites Charters (Vermilion, OH)
• Reef Bobber Fishing Charters (Lakeside Marblehead, OH)
• Tail Chaser Fishing Charters (Lakeside Marblehead, OH)
• Midtown Fishing Charters (Cleveland, OH)
• Vitamin Sea Fishing Charters (Huron, OH)
• Rip N Lipz Charter Fishing (Lakeside Marblehead, OH)

Best 5 Fishing Locations on Lake Erie 

Lake Erie, known as the walleye capital of the world, provides direct access to a multitude of fish species that provide an extraordinary challenge for anglers. Sports fishermen come from all over the nation to fish in these waters due to the great catch.

Lake Erie is generally calmest in the months of July and August, so these are the best months to fish here.

However, it’s important to note that you need a valid fishing license for Ohio to enjoy the catch in these waters. Additionally, you should check the local laws for the limits on the number of fish and size. For a complete breakdown of the best fishing spots on Lake Erie, check out this article I wrote.

1. East Harbor State Park

East Harbor State Park, approximately an hour’s drive from Cleveland, is a great spot to catch walleyes and smallmouth bass from the park pier during the fall. 

During the entirety of the year, panfish and largemouth bass are available in abundance, never going out of season.

2. Sandusky River

Sandusky River is a tributary leading directly to Lake Erie. It’s famous for its available walleye and white bass in Fremont during spring. There are plenty of access points for a good fish.

3. Rocky River

Rocky River has direct publicly accessible points in the Cleveland Metropark. It’s an excellent spot if you’re looking to catch steelhead trout or smallmouth bass year-round.

4. Kelleys Island State Park

Kelly’s Island State Park is located on the shores of northern Kelleys Island, which is about three hours from Cleveland if you’re traveling by boat.

The protected portion of the L-shaped pier of this island is an excellent spot for anglers targeting largemouth bass and panfish. Meanwhile, the lakeside is best if you’re looking for walleye and smallmouth bass.

5. Beaty Landing

Beaty Landing is located along the coast of the Grand River. It’s a fantastic access point for anglers to fish for steelhead trout, which is how it’s earned the nickname “Steelhead Alley.”

One of the reasons there are so many of these fish available is that the Ohio Division of Wildlife releases approximately 100,000 steelhead fish. Then, in the fall, they move upwards from Lake Erie for spawning. Then, they return in the spring.

For a complete breakdown of the best fishing charters in Lakeside Marblehead, please check out this helpful article we wrote.

Best 5 Lakes in Ohio 

While Lake Erie is the most famous lake that you can access in Ohio, it is not, by any means, the only worthwhile lake in Ohio. If you’re looking for an appreciable catch, it’s a practical idea to check out multiple lakes rather than limiting yourself to one.

Here are some of the top lakes in Ohio.

1. The Ohio River

The Ohio River is a favorite among anglers in the state, as the tailwaters in which a multitude of fish species gather are great for fishing throughout the entirety of the year. Boat fishing is most common, but the locks and dams are optimal for shoreline access.

The most commonly sought-after species here are the sauger, hybrid striped bass, smallmouth and largemouth bass, and multiple species of catfish.

2. Alum Creek Lake

Alum Creek Lake is a popular spot in Central Ohio, revered for its large size and the multitude of easily accessible species. It’s also the only musky lake available in central Ohio and is annually provided with new fish.

This leak has extensive amounts of saugeye, musky, crappie, catfish, largemouth bass, and smallmouth bass. The smallmouth bass is best caught at the rocky points at the southern basin, while the north end is optimal for channel catfish. 

3. Seneca Lake

Seneca Lake is one of the largest publicly available lakes in the state. It’s located in Eastern Ohio and equipped with a multitude of species. There are dozens of available miles along the shore, making it an effortless spot to fish.

The most common species that anglers look for at Seneca are saugeye, crappie, channel catfish, and largemouth bass. The ODNR has begun stocking the lake with blue catfish, making this lake unique, as it’s one of the few places with this species available.

4. Piedmont Lake

Piedmont Lake is located in southeastern Ohio and an excellent spot for catching crappie and smallmouth bass. The catch is commendable year-round, and the lake is equipped with an amazing rocky shoreline and docks optimal for crappie due to them making it their habitat. Smallmouth bass makes up around half of the fish available in this lake.

Some other fish you’ll find here are saugeye and musky, along with multiple boats and shoreline access points.

5. Pymatuning Lake

Pymatuning Lake is located in northeast Ohio and extends directly into Pennsylvania. Cleveland is the major city closest to this lake.

This lake is fantastic if you’re looking for walleye, bluegill, crappie, yellow peach, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass. Muskie and walleye are stocked in the lake yearly. However, make sure you know what state you’re in and have a license for the said state, so that your fishing is legal.

Best 5 Rivers & Streams in Ohio

Lakes aren’t the only notable fishing spots available in Ohio. Rivers and streams also make excellent fishing spots if you know where to look.

Here are some of the best ones in the state.

1. The Mad River

The Mad River is exceptionally long, traveling from close to Bellefontaine to Dayton.

The Mad River is one of the few bodies of water in Ohio that contain native brook trout. The Mad River is also stocked with brown trout from the Division of Wildlife. Brown trout are best accessed through the undercut bank, while native brook trout can be caught at the headwaters.

2. Little Miami River

The Little Miami River is a tributary leading directly into the Ohio River. It mainly offers smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, sauger, walleye, rock bass, and white bass. However, these aren’t it. There are actually about 80 fish species in total, with striped bass occasionally available.

3. Clear Fork River

Clear Fork River is a division of the Mohican River. This spot is unique as it is one of the few bodies of water in Ohio that maintains temperatures habitable for trout throughout the entirety of the year. 

The upper portion of the river mainly consists of people’s private properties. However, the lower Clear Fork, located between Pleasant Hill Dam and State Route 3 is a great location open to the public.

Some fish species that are caught here are brown trout, carp, bass, bluegill. Occasionally, you may encounter a muskie, but that is much rarer than the remainder of the species.

4. Conneaut Creek

Conneaut Creek spans from Conneaut, Ohio, and continues to stretch into Dickinsoburg, Pennsylvania. Its title, the Steelhead Capital of the World, is a significant indicator of the most commonly caught species. However, despite the name, this stream is home to almost 80 other fish species. Some major ones are bass, northern pike, and walleye.

The downside to Conneaut Creek is that the publicly accessible waters are limited. If you’re looking to fish, one of the best public locations is Lakeville Park. However, if you feel too limited and would like to gain access to some of the other areas, you can knock on ask some farm owners for permission to fish on their privately-owned parts of the creek.

5. Chagrin River

Chagrin River is a stream that has headwaters above Bass Lake, close to Chardon. In Lake County, it empties directly into Lake Erie. The species most commonly caught here are Steelhead, Smallmouth bass, and Channel catfish.

Best Seasons for Ohio Fishing

The best seasons for fishing in Ohio are dependent on the river you’re looking at the species you’d like to catch. For example, you’ll definitely want to fish on the Mad River during the spring, as during the summer, waters get warmer and lower. However, August through December are excellent for catching brown trout.

Conneaut Creek and other waters best known for steelheads scattered throughout Ohio are best fished during late October through April. Other species can be found in spring, the early summer months, and December.

The best way to know when you should be fishing is by monitoring hatching schedules to see when the various species will be migrating. Also, keep an eye on water temperatures and which are best for each species.

An extremely efficient resource for this purpose is the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, which has various fishing-oriented forecasts for all of the lakes in the state.

5 Major Species Targeted in Ohio

When you’re looking to fish in Ohio or anywhere, it’s best to know what species you’re looking for and where you could catch them.

Some things to research about the species you’re interested in are how they taste, how challenging they are to catch, their size, season, and location. 

Bluegills

Bluegills are one of the most readily available fish species that the majority of anglers have caught, as you can encounter them in essentially any Ohio waters. They’re also found year-round, so you’ll never miss them.

Bluegills are enjoyed for their delicious taste when lightly fried.

Crappies

Similar to bluegills, while a bit larger, crappies are available in any Ohio waters you can find. However, they’re most commonly found in the early seasons, during which they begin to prepare for spawning.

Crappies are notably strong fighters, so catching them can prove to be a bit of a challenge. However, if you do, they make a delicious meal. They’re also gaining more recognition in the media as crappie tournaments gain plenty of air-time.

Walleyes

Walleyes are 15-30 inches on average. They’ve gained a lot of traction from anglers and specialized boaters. When looking inland, they may require some more skill with fishing, but they are incredibly easy to catch for the most part.

Lake Erie is arguably the best spot to catch walleyes. They’re best caught from a boat.

Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass

Largemouth bass are ravenous fish, eating virtually anything. They’re also extensively available. However, they put up a good fight, often jumping and splashing to escape from anglers, so be prepared for a bit of a struggle if you’re trying to catch these fish.

Largemouth are considered one of the most televised fish species, raking in plenty of revenue for fishers who participate in high-level fishing tournaments.

However, while they are heavily famous for providing an exciting fishing session, these fish are not ones you’d want to consume. According to many, these fish have an awful taste that you don’t want to try.

Meanwhile, smallmouth bass are not as available are largemouth bass, but they are majorly available in lakes like Lake Erie and other waters, such as Milton and Berlin.

They also have a more pleasant taste than largemouth bass, as they’re both sweeter and cleaner than their counterparts. The fishy taste also isn’t as overwhelming to the tastebuds, making them more edible.

Muskies

Muskies are one of the most challenging types of fish to catch without extensive amounts of effort being put in by the angler. Trolling and casting are often necessary; these fish are no joke. 

Another downside is that their availability is minimal. Consequently, while some try for these fish, many anglers do not consider it worthwhile. If you would like to try out the catch, waters like West Branch and Leesville are optimal for finding and catching these fish.

For the most part, after the struggle, these fish aren’t eaten, but they don’t necessarily taste bad. It’s more so due to the respect that many anglers have for these tough fish.

Key Takeaways

Ohio is an exceptional state with hundreds of spots if you’re looking to fish for a wide variety of species. 

When looking to fish in these waters, you must research the species and areas you’re looking to fish in so that you can get the most out of your catch. Other than that, just relax and enjoy your angling in the Buckeye state!