Why Fish Ohio?? See What Ohio Has To Offer

Ah, yes. Ohio. The land of cornfields, cows, and… fishing spots? That’s right, folks. Ohio may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of fishing, but believe it or not, there are some spots in this great state where you can cast a line and maybe even catch something.

I have been fishing all over Ohio and there are some great places to fish and some very large bodies of water. It’s not the 1000 lakes of Wisconsin or the ocean but we have a great lake, and several large rivers. 75 state parks, 8 national park, and countless local parks. You can’t fish all of them, but most of them you can. So let’s cast right in and start to fish Ohio.

Ohio Fishing License

Let’s start with the legal stuff – getting your Ohio Fishing License. If you are not sure how to get a fishing license in Ohio, read my step-by-step guide on getting licensed in Ohio here:

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What Makes Lake Erie a Fantastic Fishing Destination?

If you do not have a fishing license and just want to you can get your license online here:

First, you must have a fishing license if you are over 16 years old. Want to catch frogs or turtles? Yep get that fishing license.

Second, know the rules for private and public lands.

Third, you must have the license in your possession at all times, while fishing. A mobile license is acceptable.

Fourth, Ohio has it’s own fishing laws and regulations. It’s important to know these laws, in order to protect yourself and the waterways.

You can download the ODNR (Ohio Department of Natural Recourse’s) App on your mobile device here:

You can download the information from the ODNR website here:

Lake Erie

First is the largest body of water in Ohio. Yep, Lake Erie. Sure, it’s polluted and has been declared dead several times, but that just adds to the excitement of reeling in a mutated fish, right? And don’t worry about the smell. You’ll get used to it after a few hours.

All joking aside, Lake Erie is a fantastic fishing area. This beautiful lake has 799 miles of shoreline, not including the 30 islands, 17 of which are considered Ohio. In other words, there is a lot of ground to cover when fishing Lake Erie. You can also consider that this is one of the more shallow of the great lakes so the water temperature stays above 70°F most of the summer. The warmer temperature makes it an ideal fishing area. The lake typically gets a good thick ice layer in the winter too, making it a fantastic place to ice fish.

Although, Lake Erie has had some issues with the temperature raising too high and the lake being declared dead, back in the early 1960’s, it is a thriving landmark now. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) keeps a close eye on the waterway because it is the most populated of all the Great Lakes, with industrial and urban populations surrounding the water. This also makes it a user friendly shoreline for fishing. There are lots of small parks, boat ramps, and piers to fish from.

Lake Erie is a highly sought after fishing destination. The convenience of different style accommodations and amenities so close. Typically, fishing for walleye, perch, and bass. However, that is not the only species in the lake. If you combine all the Great Lakes together; and count all the fish. Lake Erie would contain 50% of all the fish. That’s a lot of fish for the smallest of the Great Lakes.

Want to know more about fishing in Lake Erie? See the full post:

What Makes Lake Erie a Fantastic Fishing Destination?

Want some information on Lake Erie, check out the official Great Lakes website here

Hocking Hills

If you’re looking for something a little more scenic, head to the Hocking Hills region. Sure, the water is murky and filled with algae, but the surrounding trees and cliffs are really quite lovely. Plus, if you don’t catch any fish, you can always console yourself with a hike to Old Man’s Cave.

While Hocking Hills has some fantastic hiking trails; it is home to 3 wonderful fishing lakes. No story about fishing in Hocking Hills should ever leave out Rose Lake, also known as Fisherman’s Lake. There is also Lake Logan and Lake Hope. All 3 lakes are fantastic options for fishing.

Rose Lake is the Hocking Hills Reservoir and is stocked every year with trout. This lake is 17 acres of good fishing, and a must stop on the list of places to fish. Lake Logan is home to species like, northern pike, bass, bluegill, crappie, catfish and saugeye. When you visit Lake Logan, there is much more than fishing. Because of this, it is a top rated place to take the whole family. Lake Hope is a natural beauty, with all types of wildlife found here, and deep rooted history.

Want to learn more about Hocking Hills State Park Ohio? Check out my more in depth post here.

You Should Consider Fishing Hocking Hills and I’m Going to Tell you Why.

Want to read more about Hocking Hills straight from the source here is a link to their website.

Cuyahoga River

For those who like a challenge, try fishing in the Cuyahoga River. Sure, it’s been known to catch fire, but that just makes it more exciting, right? And who knows, maybe you’ll catch a fish that’s immune to flames.

Burning water aside, the Cuyahoga River is more the 100 miles long and is home to more than 40 species of fish, including steelhead, northern pike, and trout. In 2022, the national parks services were stocking parts of the river with trout. It was part of a project to get more people out fishing the river. If you enjoy a good fight, the river host channel catfish, small and largemouth bass, and freshwater drum. There’s plenty of baitfish to be caught too.

Want to read more on the Cuyahoga River? Check out this website:

Ohio River

And let’s not forget about the Ohio River. It may be brown and murky, but that just means the fish are hiding, right? Plus, you never know what you might catch. It could be a catfish, a carp, or even a tire.

There’s 981 miles of the Ohio River. In all it’s mucky glory, it is home to largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, white, striped and hybrid bass. Furthermore, you can find, sauger, walleye, channel catfish, flathead catfish, and blue catfish. There’s plenty of crappie to go around too. Although if you are looking to catch largemouth you will want to head there in the late summer to early fall.

Although the Ohio River is tricky with licenses if you are on a boat, because the river runs through six states: Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. So if you are out on a boat, make sure you know what state you’re in or get yourself a tour guide. Those guys know where all the honey holes are anyway. I mean they do that for a living.

Want to read more about fishing the Ohio River and all it’s beauty. Find my post here:

Ohio River Fishing: What you Really Need to Know

Want more information straight from the source? Take a look at this website:

Why Fish in Ohio?

All jokes aside, there are many benefits to fishing in Ohio. The state has numerous activities and beautiful views that make it an ideal place for people who enjoy nature and want to be active outdoors.

The first reason why you should fish in Ohio is because of its natural beauty. There are many parks and forests throughout the state where you can explore, as well as rivers and lakes that provide plenty of opportunities for fishing. Additionally, these areas have been preserved so that they can continue being enjoyed by future generations!

Another reason why you should fish in Ohio is because there are so many different types of fish available here–from trout to bass (and everything in between). You’ll never get bored with what’s available at your local pond or stream!

Final Thoughts

So, there you have it. Ohio’s top fishing spots. Yet, there is so much more to fish in Ohio. These spots are just the main bodies of water. Sure, they may not be the most glamorous or pristine, but hey, at least you can say you’ve fished in Ohio. And isn’t that what life is all about?

Happy Fishing!