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Best bluegill lakes in Ohio

157 Ohio waters hold bluegill, 150 mapped with real state-agency depth surveys. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. The classic panfish. Shallow cover in summer, deeper weed edges otherwise.

1. Wauseon Reservoir — 24 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Saugeye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
2. Pymatuning Reservoir — 33 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites
3. Berlin Lake — 60 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
4. Salt Fork Lake — 36 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Saugeye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 8 public access sites
5. Little Miami River — 12 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #5: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 28 public access sites, 26 carry-in or shore-oriented
6. Grand Lake St. Marys — 14 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Saugeye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 7 public access sites
7. Piedmont Lake — 32 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Saugeye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
8. Alum Creek Lake — 63 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Saugeye, CrappieWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 8 public access sites, 3 carry-in or shore-oriented
9. Seneca Lake — 22 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Saugeye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
10. Tappan Lake — 28 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Saugeye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
11. Paint Creek Lake — 42 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Saugeye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
12. Caesar Creek Lake — 119 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Saugeye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #12: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites
13. Clendening Lake — 36 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Saugeye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
14. Indian Lake — 13 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, White Bass, Saugeye, CrappieWhy #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
15. Buckeye Lake — 16 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Saugeye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 7 public access sites
16. Mosquito Creek Lake — 26 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 7 public access sites
17. Hoover Reservoir — 69 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Saugeye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 5 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
18. East Fork Lake (Harsha Lake) — 105 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Saugeye, CrappieWhy #18: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 7 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
19. West Branch Reservoir — 55 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites
20. Dillon Lake — 32 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Saugeye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #20: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 5 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
21. Atwood Lake — 33 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Saugeye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #21: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
22. LaDue Reservoir — 25 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #22: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
23. Lake Loramie — 8 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Saugeye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #23: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
24. Leesville Lake — 42 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #24: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
25. O'Shaughnessy Reservoir — 49 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Saugeye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #25: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented

…plus 132 more Ohio waters holding bluegill.

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When to fish bluegill in Ohio

• Spring 1–6 ft — Bedding colonies on sandy shallow flats — sight-fish the light spots.
• Summer 4–15 ft — Weed edges and dock shade; bigger 'gills hold slightly deeper.
• Fall 6–18 ft — Schools tighten on remaining green weeds and first drops.
• Winter 10–25 ft — Soft-bottom basins with invertebrates; finesse presentations.

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