COLUMBUS, OH -- Ohios state parks feature some of North Americas best fishing spots and offer a perfect setting for a day trip, a weekend or an extended fishing vacation. From secluded day-use areas to resort settings, visitors to Ohios 74 state parks will find nearly an endless variety of year-round recreational opportunities.
Resort lodge facilities offering the largest variety of fishing and other recreational opportunities are located at Maumee Bay State Park in Lucas County, Mohican State Park in Ashland/Richland counties, Punderson State Park in Geauga County, Deer Creek State Park in Fayette/Pickaway counties, Hueston Woods State Park in Butler/Preble counties, Burr Oak State Park in Athens/Morgan counties, Salt Fork State Park in Guernsey County and Shawnee State Park in Scioto County.
The following are examples of just a few regional opportunities featuring fishing, camping and other outdoor pursuits:
CENTRAL OHIO -- Alum Creek State Park in Delaware County has a 3,400-acre reservoir with excellent crappie, muskie, saugeye and largemouth bass fishing. There are 297 campsites (each with electrical hookups) and a large beach area. There also is a horseman's camp. The park offers more than nine miles of hiking trails and 38 miles of bridle trails.
Delaware State Park, also in Delaware County, features a 1,330-acre reservoir noted for its crappie, channel catfish, and largemouth bass fishing. The campground has 214 sites, including 164 sites with electricity. There are more than seven miles of hiking trails. Boat docks, ramps, fuel, and rental facilities are available at both state parks along with beaches and swimming areas.
Other top fishing picks in Central Ohio: Indian Lake State Park in Logan County, Deer Creek State Park in Fayette/Pickaway counties, and Kiser Lake State Park in Champaign County.
NORTHWEST OHIO -- Ottawa County is home to seven state parks, all of which are located in the heart of one of the world's top fishing areas -- Lake Erie's western basin. The state's newest resort facility is located on Maumee Bay, which offers 256 camping sites, 12 miles of hiking trails, and a championship links-style golf course. East Harbor State Park offers the largest number of campsites in the state park system, with 570 sites 366 with electricity. Among the most unique park locations in Ohio are those of the Lake Erie Islands State Park network: Catawba Island, South Bass Island, Kelleys Island, and Middle Bass Island which is currently being developed as a parkland. Each offers premium Lake Erie fishing for walleye, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, white bass and channel catfish.
Other top fishing picks in northwest Ohio: Grand Lake St. Marys State Park in Auglaize/Mercer counties and Mary Jane Thurston State Park on the Maumee River in Henry/Wood counties.
NORTHEAST OHIO -- Tucked into the northeast corner of the state, Mosquito Lake State Park in Trumbull County, is one of the best fishing parks in the northeast region. The newly renovated 34-site campground offers 217 campsites with electrical hookups. Mosquito Lake offers good fishing for walleye, bass, northern pike and crappie. Boat rentals and fuel are available at the marina.
Headlands Beach State Park in Lake County also offers great opportunities. The breakwall on the east end of the park offers excellent Lake Erie fishing for smallmouth, largemouth and rock bass, yellow perch, walleye, coho salmon and bluegill. The mile-long sand beach offers two food concessions along with change booths for swimmers.
Other top picks in northeast Ohio: Mohican State Park along the Clear Fork of the Mohican River in Ashland/Richland counties, Beaver Creek State Park on Little Beaver Creek in Columbiana County, Pymatuning and Genevea state parks in Ashtabula County and West Branch State Park in Portage County.
SOUTHEAST OHIO -- The rugged hills of southeast Ohio perhaps offer the widest diversity of outdoor recreation opportunities in the state with many locations to visit. Among these are Shawnee State Park in Scioto County and its adjacent 50,000-acre wilderness area and state forest. The area offers many miles of hiking, backpacking, and bridle trails, plus a 108-site campground and a resort lodge. The 51-acre Turkey Creek Lake offers excellent fishing for largemouth bass, catfish, bluegills, crappie, trout and redear sunfish.
Salt Fork State Park in Guernsey County and Burr Oak State Park in Athens/Morgan counties also offer resort lodge facilities and are popular destination areas. Burr Oak has 28 miles of hiking trails and 100 campsites. The 665-acre lake offers excellent fishing for largemouth bass and channel catfish. Salt Fork has 14 miles of hiking trails and 20 miles of bridle trails. The 3,000-acre lake is among Ohio's top inland fishing lakes with good to excellent fishing opportunities for channel catfish, muskies, walleyes, crappies, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, bluegills and redear sunfish.
Other top picks in southeast Ohio: Hocking Hills State Park in Hocking County, Lake Alma and Lake Hope state parks in Vinton County, Tar Hollow State Park in Ross/Hocking counties, Barkcamp State Park in Belmont County, Dillon State Park in Muskingum County and Strouds Run State Park in Athens County.
SOUTHWEST OHIO - East Fork State Park in Clermont County has 60 miles of hiking and backpacking trails and 55 miles of bridle trails. It also features a 416-site campground and a 2,160-acre lake. Anglers will find excellent fishing opportunities for channel catfish and crappies, and good fishing opportunities for largemouth, spotted and hybrid striped bass. Hueston Woods State Park in Preble and Butler counties is the only state park resort lodge facility in the region. The 625-acre Acton Lake offers good fishing for bluegills, crappies, and channel catfish, and excellent fishing for largemouth bass. Boat ramps, docks, fuel and rental facilities are also available.
Other southwestern Ohio top picks: Cowan Lake State Park in Clinton County, Caesar Creek State Park in Clinton/Warren counties, Paint Creek State Park in Highland/Ross counties and Rocky Fork State Park in Highland County.
Additional fishing information is available by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE or 1-800-BUCKEYE. Learn more about fishing and Ohio State Parks by visiting the Ohio Department of Natural Resources web site at: Ohiodnr.com