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Best largemouth bass lakes in Ohio

167 Ohio waters hold largemouth bass, 155 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. Ambush predator that relates to cover — weeds, timber, docks — and moves shallow to feed.

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. Lake Erie — Western Basin — 48 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Channel CatfishWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
3. Great Miami River — 15 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Flathead CatfishWhy #3: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 52 public access sites, 49 carry-in or shore-oriented
4. Lake Erie — Sandusky Bay — 19 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, CrappieWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites
5. Ohio River — Markland Pool — 80 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Sauger, CrappieWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 13 public access sites
6. Pymatuning Reservoir — 33 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites
7. Ohio River — Meldahl Pool — 57 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Sauger, CrappieWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 10 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
8. Ohio River — Greenup Pool — 50 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Sauger, CrappieWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 7 public access sites
9. Berlin Lake — 60 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
10. Salt Fork Lake — 36 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Saugeye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 8 public access sites
11. Muskingum River — 30 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Saugeye, Channel CatfishWhy #11: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 26 public access sites, 9 carry-in or shore-oriented
12. Little Miami River — 12 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #12: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 28 public access sites, 26 carry-in or shore-oriented
13. Grand Lake St. Marys — 14 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Saugeye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 7 public access sites
14. Piedmont Lake — 32 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Saugeye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
15. Alum Creek Lake — 63 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Saugeye, CrappieWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 8 public access sites, 3 carry-in or shore-oriented
16. Seneca Lake — 22 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Saugeye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
17. Tappan Lake — 28 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Saugeye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
18. Paint Creek Lake — 42 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Saugeye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #18: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
19. Caesar Creek Lake — 119 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Saugeye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites
20. Clendening Lake — 36 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Saugeye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #20: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
21. Indian Lake — 13 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, White Bass, Saugeye, CrappieWhy #21: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
22. Buckeye Lake — 16 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Saugeye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #22: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 7 public access sites
23. Mosquito Creek Lake — 26 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #23: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 7 public access sites
24. Hoover Reservoir — 69 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Saugeye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #24: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 5 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
25. East Fork Lake (Harsha Lake) — 105 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Saugeye, CrappieWhy #25: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 7 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented

…plus 142 more Ohio waters holding largemouth bass.

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When to fish largemouth bass in Ohio

• Spring 2–10 ft — Pre-spawn through spawn: target shallow flats, pockets and cover near deep access.
• Summer 8–20 ft — Fish the edges: weedlines, drop-offs, and deep cover close to shallow feeding areas.
• Fall 4–15 ft — Follow the baitfish: points and creek channels leading into pockets.
• Winter 15–35 ft — Slow and deep: steep drops and channel bends near wintering basins.

Also in Ohio: best smallmouth bass lakes · best walleye lakes · best saugeye lakes · best sauger 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 common carp lakes · best steelhead lakes · best rock bass lakes

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