Ohio Lakes

The following is a list of various lakes in Ohio, their location, the horsepower limits, and the suggested bass fishing methods for that particular lake. Each lake may have its own set of laws pertaining to size, horsepower, and creel limits. It is suggested to check with the following District Offices for the up to date laws. Ohio Division of Wildlife internet address: http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/wildlife/ .

Division of Wildlife Headquarters, 1840 Belcher Drive, Columbus, Oh. 43224-1329. 1-800-WILDLIFE.

Acton Lake: Acton Lake lies in Preble and Butler Counties on the southwestern edge of Ohio, approximately 7 miles north of Oxford, 40 miles northwest of Cincinnati, and 35 miles southwest of Dayton. This lake is accessible by State Routes 177, 732, and 725 and U.S. Route 27. The lake has a 10 HP Limit. Largemouth bass are taken on both diving and surface lures and on large live minnows around the log shelters and fallen trees on the southeastern shore.

Alum Creek Lake: Alum Creek Lake is in Delaware County about 7 miles north of Columbus. The lake is paralleled by I-71 on the east, with the SR 36/37 exit providing access. State Routes 521, 36/37, Cheshire Road, Hollenback Road, and Lewis Center Road provide access from SR 23 on the west side of the lake. The lake has an Unlimited HP limit but this and other boating regulations are subject to change. Boaters should contact the Ohio Division of Wildlife for current information (1-740-594-2211). The clear water in the lower one third of the lake allows large beds of vegetation to grow on the numerous shallow reefs. The high shale bluffs, four rock covered causeways, and deep coves with standing timber provide excellent fish habitat and fishing opportunities. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, muskellunge, and saugeye fishing is above average to excellent. It doesn't take a great deal of skill to find bass in the spring in shallow water, but if want to be successful during the warmer months you need to fish deep water, 25 feet or more. In the warmer spring waters try the coves themselves. Start with ones with having deep water and work your way into the shallow parts. Somewhere along this gradient you'll find the place where the bass are hanging out. As summer approaches and the water gets warmer, the fish spread out to occupy the places in which they will stay for the balance of the year. Bass will migrate between deep and shallow water looking for food.

Atwood Lake: Atwood Lake is located at the western edge of Dellroy in western Carroll County along State Route 542. The dam is in Tuscarawas County on State Route 212. The lake has a 25 HP Limit. Spring fishing produces excellent catches of bass in the upper reaches of the lake. As the water warms the bass move into deeper water, and the best method is casting the shoreline with plastic worms and other artifical lures. A favorite tactic of Atwood fishermen is to cast plastic worms, motor oil or black, to the shore edge of fallen trees. Since they use a Texas rigged worm weighted with a slip sinker, it is fairly snag free. This allows you to work the tree's submerged limbs. When the timber is really dense, go to a flipping stick. It is suggested to use a either a plastic worm or brown and black jig-n-pig with a No.11 pork trailer. Another favorite artificial is a shad colored crankbait such as a Rebel Deep Wee R or a deep running Bill Norman. Instead of cranking steadily, cast to the shoreline of fallen timber and use a stop and go method. One more Atwood tactic is to work the points. If it is windy, fish the windward side. The wind blows the baitfish to the breezy side of the points. Thus, the knowledgeable anglers work these areas hard. Try fishing these point from the shoreward side to 12 feet of water. Crankbaits, Sonars, plastic worms, or Hopkins spoons can be very effective. The points with gravel and stumps often hold a number of largemouth.

Berlin Lake: Berlin Lake lies in the northeastern part of Ohio at the junction of Stark, Mahoning, and Portage Counties, about 60 miles south of Lake Erie and 25 miles west of the Pennsylvania border. The lake is located on and accessible from U.S. Route 224 and State Route 14 and 225. The lake has an Unlimited HP limit. Spring and early summer is the best time for taking largemouth bass from this lake in and near the many streams and in the stumpy areas. Casting artifical lures and drifting or trolling with a June bug spinner and worm is effective. Smallmouth bass are taken around the rocky ledges and sandbars, and in the small bays located betweeen U.S. Route 224 and the dam. Casting spoons and crankbaits from the boat toward shore and retrieving into deep water, still fishing, and drifting soft craws are excellent ways of catching this fighter. Berlin continues, despite tremendous tournament pressure, to produce excellent catches, particularly of smallmouth bass. Berlin has so much diversified structure. It is an excellent flipping lake, especially in the area of Willow Bay and Route 225. Fishermen, in the spring, usually head south and west to the shallower water, where the bass set up for spawning. The most popular early spring waters are in various narrow bays that cut off of the main channel and particularly at the extreme south end, where the Mahoning River comes into the lake. Once Berlin begins to warm up, about mid-June, fishermen find largemouth and smallmouth congregating around main lake points, road beds and weedy areas. Plenty of hard bottom areas exist around the Mill Creek Recreation area on the east side of the lake and around the U.S. Route 224 causeway and the old railroad causeway on the west side of the main part of the lake. Also fish the stumps on the breaklines at the north end of the lake and the Mill Creek arm, a deep bay that pushes its way east off the main channel.

Bresler Reservoir: This lake is situated in west-central Allen County, Amanda Township, 4 miles west of Lima. It is approximately 1 mile south of State Route 81 and 1 mile north of State Route 117 on Kemp and Grubb Roads. This lake allows an Electic motor only. Largemouth and smallmouth bass, bluegill, yellow perch, walleye, white bass, brown bullhead, and channel catfish have been stocked by the Division of Wildlife. Largemouth bass are usually shoreline residents in upground reservoirs and will also inhabit available shallow water. They are best caught during the spring on live baits or artifical worms and baits fished along the shoreline.

Burr Oak Lake: Tom Jenkins Dam is about 3 miles north of Glouster on S.R.13, in Trimble Township in Athens County. From the dam, the lake extends southward for about 1 1/2 miles, where it crosses into Homer Township of Morgan County. It then stretches northward for about 4 mile into Union Township of Morgan County. Burr Oak has a 10 HP limit. The lake is noted for its fine population of largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, channel catfish, white crappie, and occasional walleye. These species were stocked by the Division of Wildlife of the Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources. Early spring fishing is the most popular with anglers at Burr Oak. April, May, and June continue to produce excellent catches of largemouth bass. A slow-moving artifical nightcrawler, threaded with a light-weighted doll fly, is a favorite lure for the bass fisherman. Best results are obtained by working the lure very slowly from the shore into deeper water. In July and August, surface lures worked adjacent to the shore near stumps and fallen trees produce excellent results at night. Warmer weather calls for deep running lures, bounced off the bottom in 10 to 14 feet of water along weed beds. In October and November, trolling with deep-running lures produce good results. Burr Oak is definitely a trophy bass lake. Catching largemouth at Burr Oak include fishing mainly during spring, early summer or late fall to avoid the weeds. In the spring use a floating minnow type lure such as a floating Rapala. If you choose to fish the lake during summer, night time fishing with a plastic worm can be productive. For a trophy bass, try a tradtional jig-n-pig combination. Burr Oak is also an excellent topwater lake. In the fall, throw a buzzbait on top of and along the weed lines. Most anglers spend most of their time in the southern half of the lake. The most favorite spot is the Twin Bay area on the south.

C.J. Brown Reservoir: C.J. Brown is located in Clark County at Buck Creek State Park, 2 miles northeast of Springfield, approximately 1 mile east of State Route 4 on Croft Road, and approximately 3 miles north of U.S. Route 40 on Bird Road and Buck Creek Lane. The HP limit on this lake is Unlimited but this is subject to change. You can check the limit by calling the nearest District office at 1-513-372-9261. Largemouth bass can be taken from spring through fall by casting artifical lures and live bait at the "drop-off," roadbeds, and old stream channel. A few bays on the west side produce fish, the riprapped shoreline can also produce seasonally, but the fish probably concentrate on the relief found along the submerged road bed, railroad bed, and the old creek channel. This lake lacks structure but still holds good fish.

Caesar Creek Lake: This lake is situated 4 miles east of Waynesville and 2 miles west of I-70 along S.R. 73. The lake is in Warren, Greene, and Clinton Counties about 30 miles northeast of Cinncinnati and 15 miles southeast of Dayton. This lake has an Unlimited HP limit. Bass can be taken from spring through fall by casting artifical lures and live bait at the dropoffs, shoreline containing cover, points, roadbeds, and old stream channels. In the lower end, the most promising fishing areas are in the bays and around cover near the shorelines. In the upper end of the reservoir, steep rocky dropoffs, flooded timber, old foundations, and roadbeds are good areas. A large tire structure is located on the south side of the Old Indian Mound near the campground. All of the islands have some standing timber, rocky dropoffs, or both. Spring, just prior to spawning, is an excellent time to find those two pound bass in the shallows. An effective technique is to cast a white or chartreuse spinnerbait past one of the large stumps that dot the shallows in many areas of the lake, retrieve it across the stump and then stop the action of the lure as it reaches the stumps edge. The lure is then allowed to fall alongside the edge of the stump. Autumn is another good time to find bass shallow. Use the same color spinnerbait in 1/4 or 3/8 oz. sizes. Crawfish colored crankbaits that dig down five to seven feet are also good.

Clark Lake: Clark Lake is situated Clark County, approximately 8 miles east of Springfield, northeast of Harmony, off U.S. Route 40. This lake allows an Electric motor only. Largemouth bass are taken on diving and surface lures, plastic worms, and live worms fished around fallen trees and stumps near weedbeds along the shoreline and fishing piers.

Clendening Lake: Clendening Lake is in southwestern Harrison County in Washington and Nottingham Townships. The dam is at Tippecanoe off State Route 800. State Route 799 bisects the lake. Township roads provide access to the lake on all boundary lines. Access to I-77 is available at New Philadelphia which lies 25 miles to the north. This 1,800 acre lake is mostly long, narrow, and winding and most of its 44 miles of shoreline is deeply wooded. This lake has a 10 HP limit. Spring bass fishing is very popular with anglers. April, May, and June produce many bass of 5 pounds and up each year. Casting the shoreline with artifical lures by wading or by boat in the cover areas of the eastern portion of the lake is the most successful method. Many of the shorelines of this unspoiled lake are steeply slanted from shallow to deep, a situation that bass love, and there are hundreds of downed trees sticking out into the water. Find steep shorelines with plenty of timber and you've found bass. In April and early May concentrate on steep dropoffs with smaller than usual lures and jigs, or work such spots as Brushy Fork on the lakes east end. During summer Hefling Bay near the dam is another prime spot along with Little Coleman Bay and along the shoreline on both sides of Log Cabin Bay.

Cowan Lake: Cowan Lake is in Clinton County, approximately 7 miles south west of Wilmington, 35 miles southeast of Dayton, and 40 miles northeast of Cincinnati. The lake is accessible from U.S. Route 68 and State Routes 350 and 730. Cowan has a 10 HP limit. Largemouth bass are taken on diving and surface lures, plastic worms, and live worms around fallen trees on the south shore, near weed beds in the upper end of the lake, and in the bays along the north shore. The action starts early in the shallow channels, and is good throughout the year. Largemouth are also picked up along the east shore rocks. Largemouth are plentiful and seem to be getting bigger. Recommended areas of the lake include the fallen trees around the south shore, the weedbeds in the upper end and the bays along the north shore. Anglers have had success with diving and surface lures, as well as plastic worms in these areas.

Deer Creek Lake: This 7,575-acre recreational area is in central Ohio, 4 miles south of Mount Sterling on State Route 207. The wildlife area is adjacent to the 1,277-acre Deer Creek Lake and can be reached from the east and west by U.S. Route 22 and State Route 56, and from the north and south by U.S. Route 62 and State Routes 3, 104, and 207. It has an Unlimited HP limit. Largemouth bass fisherman report deeper shoreline with heavy cover as the most productive fishing areas. The upper half of the lake is relatively shallow with gradual shoreline slopes. An old creek channel runs along the shoreline in the upper half of the lake from the marina to the dam. This channel provides excellent deep water bass habitat for shoreline anglers. This water near shore is an ideal location in which to fish during April.

Delaware Reservoir: Delaware Reservoir is located just north of Delaware, Ohio between State Routes 23 and 42. The dam retains water of the Olentangy River and Whetstone Creek with most of the reservoir on the River. It has an Unlimited HP limit. Largemouth bass fishing is good in all bays and around stumpy areas. Use crankbaits, spinners, artificial and live night crawlers.

Dillon Lake: This recreational area lies 6 miles northwest of Zanesville, off State Route 146; it may be reached by driving southeast for Newark on State Route 16 to State Route 146. Dillon Lake has an Unlimited HP limit. Largemouth bass fishing is best in spring, with peak fishing during May. Casting shorelines with medium and deep running lures and artificial worms is the best method. The Big Run and Poverty Run embayment areas are best.

East Branch Reservoir: East Branch Reservoir lies in eastern Geauga County, approximately 40 miles east of Cleveland, near the intersection of State Route 608 and U.S. Route 322, which crosses the reservoir. This lake allows Electric motor only. Largemouth bass are most easily caught by working the shoreline cover in spring. During summer they can be found near submerged humps, drop-offs, and the original streambed. This is a good early season bass lake because it doesn't get heavy pressure. It is clear water, so the plants start growing early. Since this is a shallow lake, with a lot of flat areas six feet or less, it heats up faster than larger bodies of water. Select shorelines with which receive direct sunlight. This can cause the water temperature to rise a couple of degrees and that's all it takes to get fish to hit a bait.

East Fork Reservoir: East Fork Lake is situated off State Route 222, two miles south of Batavia and 25 miles east os Cincinnati. Access to the north side of the lake is from State Route 32 between Batavia and Williamsburg. Access to the south side is off State Route 125 near Bantam. East Fork has an Unlimited HP limit. This lake has these 3 species of black bass: largemouth, spotted, and smallmouth. Bass can be taken from spring through fall by casting artificial lures and live bait at the drop-offs, shoreline containing cover, points, roadbeds, and old stream channels. Both large and small bays contain standing timber and brush. The upper reaches of Cloverlick and Poplar creeks were left uncleared prior to imoundment in order to provide quality fish habitat. Such tactics have helped the bass to thrive in these areas. One of the features that appeals to a great many anglers is the numerous stump field areas located throughout the lake. Almost every cove is filled with either stumps or standing trees.

Findlay Reservoirs 1 & 2: Both Findlay reservoirs are southeast of Findlay. They can be reached by traveling 2.5 miles southeast from Findlay on State Route 37 to Hancock County Road 205, proceeding east one mile to County Road 234, north to Township Road 207, then east to the boat ramp on Reservoir 2. Reservoir 1 can be reached by continuing to County Road 205 one mile east past County Road 234. Reservoir 1 is Electric motor only and Reservoir 2 has a 10 HP limit. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are usually shoreline residents in upground reservoirs and are best caught during the spring on artificial worms, jigs, and other deep running artificials as well as large minnows and crayfish. Boat fisherman also have good success fishing around the weed beds in Reservoir 2.

Findley Lake: Findley Lake is located in Findley State Park, Lorain County, 1.4 miles south of Wellington on State Route 58. Findley Lake is Electric motor only. In the springfishing season largemouth bass can be taken from shore by using minnows, worms, or combination worm and spinner and artificial lures.

Grand Lake St. Marys: Grand Lake St. Marys is located in west central Ohio, in Auglaize and Mercer Counties. The City of St. Marys is located near the northeast corner of the lake and Celina is on the northwest corner. The entire lake is bounded by state roads. State Route 29 lies to the north, U.S. Route 127 to the west, and State Route 703 to the south. The horsepower limit on the lake is Unlimited. Excellent catches of largemouth bass are made during April, May, and June in the backwater pools, marshes, and channel areas. After the water starts to warm, fishing around logs, stumps, and weedbeds produce the best catches. The best lures are shallow running crankbaits. Good bass fishing depends on the season, but fish can be picked up year round. Favorite baits are jig-n-pig, plastic worms, and spinnerbaits. Heavy cover in the many channels around the lake is good during spring. Later in the season, rocky shorelines produce. In August, fishing slows but picks up again when those cool fall breezes move in.

Guiford Lake: Guiford Lake is located in Columbiana County on the West Fork of Little Beaver Creek in Hanover Township. It lies north of State Route 172, which joins U.S. Route 30 near Canton and near Lisbon. State Route 9, from Salem or Hanoverton, joins State Route 172 at New Garden, 2 miles west of the lake. This lake has a 10 HP limit. Early spring fishing for bass is gaining in popularity since restocking of the lake. April, May, and June have produced good catches. Bass can be caught on minnow and action-type lures or spoons by casting the shoreline and cover areas.

Highlandtown Reservoir: Highlandtown Lake is located at Highlandtown, Ohio 4.5 miles northeast of Salineville off State Route 39 and 9 miles south of Lisbon off State Route 164. The lake is limited to Electric Motor only. Largemouth bass are taken regularly along the shoreline, particularly in the western end of the lake. Best site is in the flooded brush and tree area along the southwestern shoreline.

Killdeer Reservoir: Killdeer Reservoir is located on the Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area off State Route 67 near Marseilles in Marseilles Township, Wyandot County. It is an upground reservoir built adjacent to Tymochtee Creek, from which its water supply is derived by pumping. Killdeer has a 10 HP limit. Largemouth bass are shoreline residents in upground reservoirs and may be caught on live bait or artificial worms and baits fished along the shoreline, especially along the fish shelves and the island shoreline.

Kiser Lake: Kiser Lake is in Champaign County, in west-central Ohio approximately 4 miles northwest of St. Paris and 34 miles north of Dayton on State Route 235. A motor is not permitted on this lake. Fishing during the spring months continue to provide excellent creels to the angler. Bass are readily taken on artificial lures by casting the shoreline from boat or bank. Bass fishing is good all around the lake. Rocks produce a number of bass and various types of spinnerbaits are the most productive, with white and chartreuse being popular colors. Crankbaits also produce their share of fish and a crawdad or chartreuse color is good. Any natural structure that shows up also holds fish and the plastic worm is a must. Kiser is a clear water lake so caution is needed not to spook the fish.

Knox Lake: This lake on the east branch of the Kokosing River was first impounded in 1954. It is located approximately 1 1/2 miles norhteast of Fredricktown and may be reached from State Route 95. Knox Lake has a 10 HP limit. Bass fishing is good in all the bays and around stumpy areas. Use crankbaits, spinnerbaits, artificial and live night crawlers. In spring months you'll have better luck in the northern half of this lake. It's pretty shallow there with plenty of standing and fallen timber sprouting from the water and along the shore. Bass favor this area for spawning and they'll gather there each spring producing good action on jig-n-pig combinations, plastic worms, and small crankbaits. In summer and fall you'll have better success in the southern portion where fish need move only a short distance to shallow for feeding. Top baits for summer and early fall are plastic worms, jig-n-pig, spinnerbaits, and the larger sized crankbaits.

LaDue Reservoir: LaDue lies in southern Geauga County approximately 30 miles east of Cleveland, at the intersection of U.S. Route 422 and State Route 44. State Route 44 lies along the west side of the reservoir and U.S.Route 422 crosses the reservoir. LaDue is limited to Electric motor only. Largemouth are most easily taken by working the shoreline in the spring. During summer, look for them on submerged humps and near drop-offs. In the early spring, the area west of State Route 44 is preferred due to its shallow waters. Injured minnow lures such as Rattlin Rogues and Rebel F10 Minnow Floaters, in natural finishes are very effective. Fish the mouths of bays. As the temperature warms, the area between Route 44 and Route 422 becomes very productive, especially in the areas of submerged stumps. While most of the stumps are not visible, a trolled crankbait will quickly bump into these fish-holding pieces of structure.

Lake Hope: Lake Hope is in Vinton County approximately 15 miles west of Athens and 10 miles southwest of Nelsonville, with access from State Route 278. Lake Hope is limited to Electric motor only. Bass fishing improves when the lake begins to warm in March. Most of the early season bass are caught over deepwater structures on lures such as jigs and pork rind combinations and deep diving crank baits. the bass move to shallow water to feed as the water warms beyond 70 degrees. Here spinning or bait casting rigs fished with the spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, and surface lures work well. Bass are growing in this lake and some good ones are caught each summer. Most of the action accurs at night, however, because the lake is so clear. Dark colored plastic worms fished down the contours of points and alongside sunken ledges can be productive. Daytime anglers often catch bass early and late in the day by combining light lines (4 to 6 lb. test), long casts and lures such as 1/4 oz. tandem blade spinnerbaits with white or chartreuse colored skirts or floating minnow type lures. Spinnerbaits produce when cast beyond sunken stumps and logs, reeled back to the boatside of the cover and allowed to sink down the side. Bites come when the lure is dropping, so be on the look out! Floating minnow type lures are most effective when cast close to cover, allowed to rest motionless in the water for several seconds then barely twitched to life. This action should be repeated several times before the retrieve is completed.

Lake Loramie: Lake Loramie is located in Shelby and Auglaize counties, 2 miles east of Fort Loramie on State Route 362, and 6 miles west of Anna on State Route 119. Horsepower limit on this lake is Unlimited. Spring fishing continues to produce excellent catches of largemouth bass, the most productive methods are by using deep running lures and plastic worms. As the water worms, live baits fished around stumps and open pockets in vegetation are the most effective.

Lake Milton: Lake Milton lies within Mahoning County in northeastern Ohio. The dam is approximately 1/2 mile from the Mahoning-Trumbull County line. Interstate Route 76 bisects the reservoir. State Route 534 runs parallel to the lake on the east side. Youngstown is approximately 10 miles east of the lake, Akron 25 miles to the west. The horsepower limit on Lake Milton is Unlimited. Fishing in April, May, and June produces good to excellent catches of largemouth bass. Casting the shoreline in the cover areas with artificiallures from either shore or boat, is the most successful method. The lake's weeds produce quality largemouth. Fishermen pull spinnerbaits (usually chartreuse with nickel blades) through the patches with success. Milton also has large areas of docks, and many fishermen flip plastic worms around the pilings for largemouth. On the east side of the northern part of the lake, from the dam south toward the Interstate 76 bridge, plenty of areas of riprap and other sources of rock exist. Anglers run crankbaits around the hard bottom and pick up lots of smallmouth. Other good smallmouth water is south of the Route 18 bridge and up into the area where the Mahoning River enters Milton after it is discharged from Berlin Reservoir. Fishermen throw crankbaits and jig-n-pig around the points on the west shore of that area. On the opposite shore is a vast area of stumps, which largemouth anglers cover by flipping. And up into the river, fishermen find plenty of shallow water for good fishing. Good catches of smallmouth can be taken by trolling parallel to the Route 18 causeway with crankbaits, too.

Lake Snowden: Lake Snowden is 6 miles southwest of Athens and 1 mile northeast of Albany, with access from U.S. Route 50. The outboard motor horsepower limit on the lake is 6 HP. Largemouth Bass fishing improves when the lake begins to warm in March. Most of the early season bass are caught over deepwater structures on lures such as jigs and pork rind combinations and deep diving crackbaits. The bass move to shallow waster to feed as the water warms beyond 70 degrees. Here spinning or bait casting rigs fished with spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, and surface lures work well.

Lake Vesuvius: Lake Vesuvius is 11 miles north of Ironton and 32 miles south of Jackson, with access from State Route 93. Lake Vesuvius is limited to Electric motor only. Largemouth and spotted bas fishing improves as the lake begins to warm in March. Plastic worms fished in or near the beds of lily pads in the upper end of the lake provide good results as fish take adantage of the warmer waters and structure in these areas. Crankbaits and jigs should be fished near rock outcroppings and the face of the dam when bass are holding deep. A wide variety of live baits such as night crawlers, minnows, and crayfish work well, particularly for spotted bass.

Lake White: Lake White is approximately 4 miles southwest of Waverly, in Pike County, Routes 104 and 220. It has an Unlimited horsepower rating. Lake White is a good lake for early spring fishing. Plastic worms and floating-diving minnow imitation plugs are used with good results on largemouth bass throughout the year. Shorelines and points close to deep water are good on warm afternoons in March and early April. When the water temperature rises to 65-70 degrees, bass are roaming the shallow gravel shorelines looking for spawning sites. Plastic worms and top water plugs are popular. During July, August, and early September, fishing the deep channel areas and drop-offs down to 15 feet with deep running lures or plastic worms produces good results. However, night fishing with surface lures or plastic worms close to the shoreline provides the best fishing. In October and November, bass move into shallower water and feed until cold weather again drives them into deeper water in the winter. Two and three pound bass are not uncommon, and four to six pounders are frequently taken from this lake.The largest portion of Lake White near the dam area, which is actually the base of Route 104, is also the busiest area for the boaters. When the water is churned up, the big bass head for the upper shallower portions of the lake. When the water cools, the bass head for the shallower pools near the weedbeds. In the upper end of the lake, above the Governor's Lodge, the best largemouth spots tend to be around the boat docks and the rip-rap. The lures most recommended are white spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, and any type of of noise makers are good bass lures as well. Also anything that resembles a crawdad is real good.

Leesville Lake: Leesville Lake is located in southwestern Carroll County, 2 miles southeast of Sherodsville on County Rd. 22 and 5 miles south of Carrollton on State Route 332. Leesville has a 10 HP limit. Spring, early summer, and fall are the most popular fishing seasons at Leesville. As the water warms, fishing the edge of vegetation seems to be most productive. Bass fishing starts in April or even sooner at Leesville when winter chilled fish move up out of deep water. In early spring they'll swim into bays well up both forks looking for mud bottom that holds heat and hoists the temperature a little, and they're more than interested in a jig-n-pig combination in black or crawfish brown. This combo should be flipped or cast gently around and into drowned stumps and fallen tree areas, then worked back along the bottom at a crawl. In summer's warm water the bass go deep, loafing off points and around underwater structure, but early and late you can do well with spinnerbaits on the outside edges of weedbeds or casting noisy surface lures to the same areas.

Mogadore Reservoir: Magadore Reservoir is located in southwestern Portage County, 3 miles east of Akron and 6 miles south of Kent on State Route 43, 1 mile north of U.S. Route 224. Magadore is limited to Electric motor only. Mogadore Reservoir provides excellent fishing throughout the year. Fishing from shore is limited, but the whole Reservoir is open to boat fishing. April, May, and June are the best months for catching bass, by casting surface lures, deep runnining lures, and spinnerbaits into shore and retrieving at a moderate speed. In the spring the water is very clear. Caution should be taken not to spook the bass. As the weeds begin to sprout, some fine fishing can be experienced. A spinnerbait worked just above the weeds can call up bass. When the weeds grow in, stout rods and heavy line are the rule at this time. Spoons are a good bet along with buzzbaits and weedless rigged weightless worms. Shad colored crankbaits are used around the outside edges of weedbeds.

Mosquito Lake: Mosquito Lake is located in Trumbull County. The lake is located on State Route 305, 1 mile west of State Route 46. The horsepower limit on Mosquito is unlimited. Mosquito is a flipping lake for largemouth fisherman, but enough obstruction free water holds bass that most anglers also lug standard casting and spinning gear when they visit the lake. The earliest water to warm is the shallow fringe on the north end of the lake, either west or east shore. Try flipping small plastic worms and jig-n-pigs. As the water warms and the spawning season approaches, many bass fisherman begin to have good luck around rocky areas near the causeway, dam and the Walnut Run bridge. Another productive rocky area is the marina at the south end of the lake in the state park and the yacht club across the lake from the marina is another option.

New London Reservoir: New London Reservoir is situated in southeastern Huron County, New London township, approximately one mile east of U.S. Route 250 on Town Line Road. It is an upground reservoir adjacent to the Vermilion River, from which its water is obtained by pumping. New London is limited to Electric motor only. Largemouth bass are usually shoreline residents in upground reservoirs and will also inhabit the shallow water available. They are usually caught on live bait or artificial worms and baits fished along the shoreline, especially around the ramps.

Nimisila Reservoir: Nimisila Reservoir is located in southeastern Summit County and lies 2 miles south of State Route 619, 2 miles east of State Route 93 and 2 1/2 miles west of State Route 241. The entire reservoir is surrounded by county roads. The horsepower limit is unavailable. In the early spring bass are taken by casting medium running lures and retrieving slowly. As the water warms, spoons with weedless hooks and live bait prove successsful. In the late evening and at night, surface lures seem to be the most effective.

Paint Creek Lake: Paint Creek Lake is situated 10 miles east of Hillsboro, 1mile north of U.S. 50 on Rapid Forge Road, and 5 miles south of Greenfield on State Route 753. The horsepower limit on Paint Creek is Unlimited. Largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass are taken along the shoreline around stumps, logs, and large limestone rocks by casting spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and plastic worms. This is a good lake for surface lures and almost anyone who knows how to cast one can catch an occasional good bass on a buzzbait worked through the standing timber areas. Buzzbaits are particularly effective during autumn when bass come up from deeper, cool water and start to feed on spring hatched bait fish that have grown to good feeding size. Other favorite lures to try would be Rapalas and a No.425 AC Shiner in black, silver and white (shad color). The shallow arm known as Rattlesnake is a good place to start when using buzzbaits. The best time for this technique is during late September and most of October.

Piedmont Lake: Piedmont Lake is in Belmont and Harrison Counties in the eastern part of the state. The largest portion of the lake lies in Kirkwood and Flushing Townships of Belmont County, with a small segment of Moorefield Township of Harrison County. The lake is on State Route 22 midway between Cambridge and Cadiz and approximately 10 miles north of Interstate 70 off State Route 800. Piedmont has a 10 HP limit. Largemouth bass fisherman have the most success from mid-lake to the upper or shallower end. Working purple plastic worms or live nightcrawlers and spinnerbaits on early warm March and April days should provide some action in the shallow bays. In late April and May, long sloping points worked with the same lures plus deep-diving lures should produce fish. During the summer, morning and evening hours are productive, working the shoreline first then deeper structures during mid-day hours. Top general areas for spring bass are along the eastern shoreline across the lake from 4H Camp and Indian Run. Indian Run is always good in the spring. Summer bass are most often found from the dam riprap to Essex Bay.

Punderson Lake: Punderson Lake is located west of State Route 44 and soth of State Route 87 in the vicinity of Burton, Newbury, and South Newbury, approximately 13 miles south ffrom Chardon in Geauga County. This lake is limited to Electric motor only. Largemouth bass are taken on live minnows, night crawlers, soft craws, and slow sinking crankbaits. White spinnerbaits dragged across the pads can trigger some savage strikes. In the evening, surface baits such as spoons, poppers, and injured minnow baits will catch bass. During the day. when the sun is high, try deep diving crankbaits. The shoreline plummets off the weedline and deep divers are very effective. Since the lake is very clear, many prefer to use baits which have a natural finish.

Rocky Fork Lake: Rocky Fork Lake is in Highland County, approximately 5 miles east of Hillsboro, 30 miles west of Chillicothe, and 55 miles east of Cincinnati. The lake is accessible from U.S. Route 50 and State Routes 124, 506, and 753. The horsepower limit on Rocky Fork is Unlimited. Bass are taken on diving and surface lures, plastic worms, jigs, and live worms around fallen trees and stumps, along rocky shorelines, and in bays. April is recommended for the hottest daytime fishing of the year. It is during this period that good fish can be found almost anywhere in the lake where there's shallow water and places to spawn. The coves both to the right and left of the North Beach launching area are productive in early spring. These areas are also good in the autumn.

Rush Creek Lake: Rush Creek Lake is in Fairfield and Perry Counties approximately 13 miles northeast of Lancaster and 6 miles southwest of Somerset, with access on County Roads 26 and 74 off State Route 22. The horsepower limit on this lake is 10 HP. Given the physical nature of this lake, largemouth bass is abundant lakewide. Traditional live and artifical baits fished near cover should be effective.

Salt Fork Lake: Salt Fork Lake is in Guernsey County. The main entrance to this lake is 7 miles east of Cambridge on U.S. Route 22. The horsepower limit on Salt Fork is Unlimited. Bass fishing is at its peak in late April, May, and June, when the fish move to shallower waters. In summer, bass are more likely to be found in deeper waters near drop-offs and deep weed beds, or in the old stream channel, old road beds, or other irregularities in the bottom. Start off by fishing the points especially if a creek channel comes close to the structure. The first bait to try is a grape 6 inch plastic worm, hooked Texas rig style with a 1/4 oz. slip sinker to get it among the timber. If the worm rig doesn't produce, switch over to a crankbait, such as a Fat Rap or a Norman Deep N. Since the lake has a lot of shad, a shad colored lure can be very effective. Crawdad is another color which also is very productive. On points which are free of snags, a Hopkins spoon can produce well. It is cast to the point and just before it hits the bottom rip the rod upward until it is at 12 o'clock position. This moves the lure about 6 feet. As you quickly reel up the slack drop your rod to the 9 o'clock position. Continue this method all the way back to the boat. A 3/4 oz. Hopkins Spoon with a siver finish should be your first choice. If the points aren't producing, move into the shallower bays and try a single nickel bladed spinnerbait. It should be worked around trees and other structure. If this doesn't produce go to a buzzbait that has a clacker. It should be worked as slow as possible.

Seneca Lake: Seneca Lake is in eastern Ohio, mostly in Noble County, with a small northern portion in Guernsey County. The dam is located 2 miles east of Senecaville on State Route 313 and 12 miles southeast of Cambridge via Interstate77 and State Route 313. The lake has a 180 HP limit. Bass fishing begins on early warm March days in the shallow coves close to deep water. Live nightcrawlers are especially effective. Later, as the water temperature warm into the 60s, the shallow bays should be fished with plastic worms and spinnerbaits. Cadillac Bay and the upper portions of the lake in the lily pads, especially the bays off State Route 147, should be productive.During the summer, the shore should be worked during early morning and evening hours with topwater baits and plastic worms. During the day, long sloping points should be fished with spinnerbaits and bottom bouncing lures, or deep diving crankbaits. Dropoffs, old road beds, and old creek channels are also good. In spring months, anglers like to fish near the dam, working the slowly returning pad beds and stump areas, and others favor casting along the modern campground located not far from the from the launch ramp. Both early spring and late fall fisherman seek those few places where steep dropoffs exist, and cover rocky shorelines and downed trees with jig-n-pig combinations. The numerous boat docks and rocky points are prime targets anytime. Summer fisherman who aren't totally addicted to tossing shore cover do well when they move out deeper and locate drowned stumps or Christmas tree clusters laid down by a local bass club. Summer is a prime time for buzzbaits here, too.

Tappan Lake: Tappan Lake is in northwestern Harrison County in Stock and Franklin Townships. U.S. Route 250 follows the main body of the reservoir for 7 miles. Township roads border 3 long bays on the north side, making it easy access to the lake. New Philadelphia, with access to I-77, lies 20 miles to the northwest. The horsepower limit on Tappan is 299 HP. Tappan is noted for its fine population of largemouth bass. Spring fishing produces excellent catches of largemouth. The most successful method is by casting the shoreline from boat or by wading using artifial baits. The bays are the key in early spring, particularly the ones that point north, and the best of them is the eastern most where the Clear Fork runs its drowned waterway along the bottom. A prime place to try would be the riprap sections along Route 250. Spring bass seem drawn by the big stones, and the sluggish crawfish that congregate there. After the spawning time, you can catch largemouth over much of the main lake. The bays become less productive, and it is reccommended to fish the shoreline right across from the Tappan Lake Marina.

West Branch Reservoir: West Branch (also known as M.J.Kirwan Reservoir) is situated along the south side of State Route 5 about 5 miles east of Ravenna, and within the quadrangle formed by State Route 5 to the north, State Route 225 to the east, and State Route 14 to the west. The horsepower limit on this lake is Unlimited. Largemouth and smallmouth bass can be found on submerged humps during the summer months. The absolute best places to locate spring bass are where the shallow grass beds are packed with sawed off stumps and laydown logs. The stump and grass combinations can be found in several locations, including the areas known as Jay Lake, Silver Creek, and Little Silver Creek, Henderson Creek, on the flats in the far western reaches near S.R. 14 and in numerous unnamed coves and creeks all around the twisting shoreline. Once June begins to warm up and the summer takes hold, the fishing gets a little tougher. The bass are still there, but they seem to take on different behavior patterns. The bass are a little more difficult to locate, but you can rely on flipping the thick cover, whether wood or weeds, nearest the spawning sites, or running diving and lipless crankbaits around the deep water edges of the massive weedbeds. After the air begins to chill and the water temperature and level start to drop in September, the fish often pull back from the main lake areas and tend to concentrate on the various points and breaklines in the numerous creeks. Especially good areas to fish are those with stumps.

Willard Reservoir: Willard Reservoir is situated in southwestern Huron County on State Route 61, 2 miles north of New Haven, in New Haven Township. This reservoir is limited to Electric motor only. Largemouth bass are usually shoreline residents in upground reservoirs, inhabiting the shallow waters. They are best caught during the spring on live bait or plastic worms and lures fished along the shoreline.

Wolf Run Lake: Wolf Run is in Noble County approximately 3 miles north of Caldwell. Access from Interstate 77 is at the Belle Valley Interchange with State Route 821. Wolf Run Lake has a 10 HP limit. Bass fishing begins on warm early March days in the shallow coves close to deep water. Live nightcrawlers are especially effective in these cooler water temperatures. Later, as the the water temperatures warm into the 50s, the shallow bays should be fished with live nightcrawlers or plastic worms and spinnerbaits. After the bass have spawned, the long sloping points are productive when fished with the same lures plus deep diving crankbaits. During summer, early morning and evening fishing is best with topwater baits along the shoreline.