Ohio's Bass Waters

• Bass exist in many waters in the Buckeye State. Lake Erie, Big Darby Creek, Kokosing River, Scioto River, Auglaze River, Sandusky River, Maumee River, Little Beaver Creek, Cuyahoga River, Stillwater River, Hocking River and Tuscarawas River are top smallmouth waters. Big largemouths are regularly caught in Knox Lake, Delaware Lake, Griggs Lake, Pleasant Hill, La Su An, Portage Lake, La Due Reservoir, Acton Lake, Paint Creek, Rocky Fork Lake, Tycoon Lake and Belmont Lake. The Ohio River is a top spot for both species.
  
  

Largemouth Bass

• In late summer, Ohio's largemouth bass tend to be located on main and secondary lake points with rocky rock or hard bottom, where they feed on baitfish and crayfish. Bass may stay in this pattern through mid September, and can be caught on medium diving crankbaits, spinnerbaits and plastic worms on drop-shot rigs. As fall progresses, largemouth bass location is highly dependent on the movements of baitfish. Look on secondary points and in the backs of coves, and comb likely areas with creature baits, jig and pigs, tube jigs in minnow-like colors, white spinnerbaits, and light-colored crankbaits. Live bait is another option to try.
  
  

Smallmouth Bass

• Lake smallmouths may follow a pattern similar to largemouths, but river and stream smallies have minds of their own. Pools and riffles are good smallmouth locations year-round, but as water cools bass spend more time in deep pools and less in fast water. The transition from summer to fall also means that feeding patterns switch from crayfish to baitfish. Fish pools and holes, especially the areas where fast water spills into deep, still water. Jigs, soft jerkbaits, tubes, in-line spinners and other minnow-imitating lures excel at this time. cast across pools and retrieve with a medium twitching action. Also cast upstream into fast water and let the current take your bait down to the fish.
  
  

Regulations

• There are no seasonal or length restrictions on bass in most waters in Ohio. Up to five bass may be kept daily, and these may be any combination of largemouth and smallmouth bass. Certain waters have additional regulations. Most notably, Lake Erie and its tributaries are subject to a 14-inch minimum size and a closed season from May 1 to the last Friday in June, during which it is illegal to possess any bass. Special regulations also apply to the Ohio River (with a daily limit of six, rather than five) and specific inland waters, a complete guide to which is available on the Ohio DNR's website (see Resources).
  
  

Licenses

• A valid Ohio fishing license from the current year is required to fish for bass (or any other species) on any of the state's waters. As of 2010, resident annual fishing licenses cost $19, or $40 for non-residents. Licenses are available at bait shops and sporting goods stores state wide, as well as a variety of other retailers. Fishing licenses can also be purchased via mail-in application or online at the Ohio DNR's website (see Resources).