Some of my earliest childhod memories involve my grandfather teaching me how to fish at his cottage on Grand Lake St.Marys near Celina, Ohio. That is me in the photo at the age of four. As I grew up, the angler in me learned to seek out great fishing spots. I believe in a positive first experience with the pole so I like to recommend places that offer a high probability for success. With more than 90 lakes, rivers and reservoirs in Ohio, there are lots of options.
I recommend starting with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Gofishingohio.com for maps, water conditions, types of fish that are biting and information to make your trip enjoyable.
Below are suggestions for great fishing spots with lots of access points located in various regions in Ohio:
Alum Creek Lake, located just outside of Columbus, is one of the best lakes for fishing in Ohio. Common fish in Alum Creek include catfish, black crappie, yellow perch, white bass, rainbow trout and carp.
Lake Erie attracts both novice and professionals looking for a great fishing experience. Walleye and bass are common catches here. There are a number of reputable charter companies; check Lake Erie Shores and Islands for recommendations.
Many restaurants in Port Clinton will clean and cook your catch for dinner. This is a fun outing for families with a high success rate for catches.
The Ohio River is a mecca for fishing and is one of my favorite spots for very large catfish. There are quite a few spots along the river that are hotbeds for fishing and are stocked regularly. Pike Island Pool in Belmont, Ohio has a lot of channel catfish and smallmouth bass. New Cumberland Pool in Jefferson, Ohio offers channel catfish, sauger and bass.
Atwood Lake, located between Canton and New Philadelphia, is a prime location for northern pike, largemouth bass, crappies, catfish and bluegill. The lake spans 1,500 acres with plenty of pull-off spots so if you are not happy with your fishing hole, you can easily move.
Killdeer Reservoir in Wyandot County has more than 285 acres of fishing opportunities. The fish population is plentiful for walleye, largemouth bass, catfish and bluegill.
Ohio fishing is an easy and economical outdoor activity for the entire family. Do not forget to purchase an Ohio fishing license sold at bait shops and in stores that sell fishing gear. Many fishing spots are easily accessible from major roadways. Whether you will keep your catch for a fun fish fry, or are planning a catch-and-release outing, the memories created along the way will last long after you put down your pole.
The answer is when do you stop? I know it's cold but even in the wniter you can get those 3 days of sun with a high of 50-60 the last day of warm weather is good i find myself getting shallow bass that come up to warm on cover or structure( rocks, fallen trees, docks etc..) that holds heat. If it is cold then go deep, you may need a fish finder to find them. When they suspend in cold water you can use spoon, jigs, drop shot rig or jerk bait. Fish slower too If fishing n the cold is not for you then like most people wait till it warms. You can catch bass in the cold and if you can bear the elements quality fish can be caught too.
Posted by: Jose | 08/22/2012 at 01:02 PM