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Best common carp lakes in Ohio

17 Ohio waters hold common carp, 3 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. 20-pound freight trains in every water. Feed on shallow mud flats — sight-fish them like bonefish.

1. Lake Erie — Western Basin — 48 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Channel Catfish
2. Great Miami River — 15 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish
3. Grand Lake St. Marys — 14 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Saugeye, Crappie, Bluegill
4. Muskingum River — 30 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Saugeye, Channel Catfish
5. Little Miami River — 12 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
6. Maumee River — 20 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Channel Catfish, White Bass & Hybrids
7. Lake Erie — Sandusky Bay — 19 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Crappie
8. Indian Lake — 13 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, White Bass, Saugeye, Crappie
9. Buckeye Lake — 16 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Saugeye, Crappie, Bluegill
10. Ohio River — Markland Pool — 60 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Sauger, Crappie
11. Ohio River — Meldahl Pool — 55 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Sauger, Crappie
12. Scioto River — 25 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Saugeye, Channel Catfish
13. Ohio River — Greenup Pool — 55 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Sauger, Crappie
14. Whitewater River — 10 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Rock Bass
15. Sandusky River — 15 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Channel Catfish, White Bass & Hybrids
16. Chagrin River — 8 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Common Carp, Steelhead, Rock Bass
17. Eastwood Lake — 30 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Saugeye, Crappie

When to fish common carp in Ohio

• Spring 2–10 ft — The best sight-fishing of the year — mudding fish in warm bays.
• Summer 3–15 ft — Chum a spot and wait — carp patrol the same flats daily.
• Fall 5–18 ft — Heavy feeding before winter; find the warmest water.
• Winter 10–30 ft — Podded up in deep, slow water.

Also in Ohio: best largemouth bass lakes · best smallmouth bass lakes · best walleye lakes · best saugeye lakes · best crappie lakes · best bluegill lakes · best channel catfish lakes · best muskellunge lakes · best white bass & hybrids lakes · best yellow perch lakes · best flathead catfish lakes · best blue catfish lakes · best freshwater drum lakes · best steelhead lakes · best rock bass lakes

Common Carp elsewhere: Minnesota · Michigan · Montana · Washington · North Dakota · Iowa · Indiana · Connecticut · Nebraska · Utah · Colorado · New York · Wisconsin · Kentucky · Arizona · Texas · Illinois · Kansas · Tennessee · Missouri · Delaware · New Jersey · Virginia