Fishing Delaware Lake

AKA: Delaware State Park Lake

Popular Fish Species
Delaware Lake Fishing Video
Available Fish Species
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Delaware Lake, OH

Popular Fish Species Delaware Lake, OH

Crappie Fishing

Growing numbers of each species of crappie are making fishing for them easier each year. Many crappie in the 1 to 2-pound range are caught with regularity. Black crappie tend to outweigh the white crappies. Light line and small hooks are key when fishing live bait. Crappie jigs are also productive her in a wide variety of colors. The lake has healthy populations of both white crappie and black crappie. These two species typically tend to school separately. However, once located around cover, you may find that you catch both species, due to the fact they often share the same cover. Crappie fishing can be found in varying size schools, hanging around brush, vegetation, wood or other cover. Using a fish finder any time of year can help locate these crappie schools, which tend to stack vertically around cover. Live bait and small jigs are the most common method for crappie here. In spring and fall focus on the 8 to 12 foot range. As the crappie move deep in summer and winter, follow points out deep, as well as find ledges near channels, especially areas with brush or timber in deeper water. The best time to catch crappie tends to be at dawn and dusk.

Delaware Lake Popular Fish - Channel Catfish

Channel Catfish Fishing

Delaware Lake supports a decent population of channel catfish. The typical fish are about 2 pounds, with larger ones caught frequently. For weekend anglers, most any rod and reel will work for catching channel catfish, as long as the line is strong enough. For serious catfish enthusiasts, using the right equipment enhances success, especially when you hook one of the big boys. A medium action, to medium-heavy action rod is ideal, in the 6' to 7' range. Use a slip sinker or Carolina rig with popular catfish baits on at least 10-pound line. Use sharp hooks with bait holders on the shank, or circle hooks for live bait. The state record channel catfish is over 37 pounds, and Delaware Lake holds some pretty big ones. Night fishing for catfish often delivers better results than daytime fishing. Fishing for channel catfish is often most productive around any kind of structure in the area. In Spring channel catfish migrate toward incoming water, so stay up river away from the main lake. In early summer look for rocky banks, the bigger the rocks the better. In summer and winter deeper structure is where to look. The river end of the lake is often the area where the bigger catfish are caught. Road beds, creek channels and rocky points are all good places to begin.

White Bass Fishing

After several very successful spawn years, white bass are flourishing in Delaware Lake and anglers should expect some great fishing this year. White bass are aggressive, hard-fighting and just plain fun to catch. When fishing for white bass, the average fish is typically in the one- to two-pound range. These schooling fish tend to roam around the lake looking for ideal water conditions and baitfish. Look for them to generally be in 15 to 35 feet of water, whether they are hovering around the bottom or swimming in open water. Fish finders are the best way to locate big schools of white bass. Fish near the bottom at night with live bait. In spring, once the water temperature rises into the mid sixties, they move shallow into the backs of coves and creek channels to spawn. When white bass chase schools of bait near the surface, spinners, spoons and small crank baits work well. At this time anglers can fish from shore and often do quite well. Use lures that imitate baitfish, including small crankbaits, small jerkbaits, jigs and spoons.

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, channel catfish, black crappie, white crappie, walleye, bluegill, white bass, muskie and saugeye at Delaware Lake in Ohio.

Delaware Lake Fishing Video

The main attraction at Delaware State Park, Delaware Lake is a 1,330-acre lake in the central part of the state with over 30 miles of shoreline. Four designated fishing areas, with parking, rest rooms and access to the shore for bank fishing, are scattered around the lake. The lake has abundant populations of largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, saugeye, and channel catfish. Two boat launch ramps are available for the public to launch boats with up to 10 horsepower (the lake maximum).

Primary fish species residing in Delaware Lake

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Delaware Lake Amenities

Marina: YES
Boat Rental: YES
Boat Launch Ramp: YES, three
Campgrounds: YES
RV Hookups: YES
Lodging: NEARBY
Convenience Store: NEARBY
Bait & Tackle: YES
Restaurant: YES

Today's Weather & Forecast

Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Delaware State Park Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, west side, at the Delaware State Park Marina, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Road 223 Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, east side, off Horseshoe Road, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with paved parking.

Southwest Boat Ramps
Located in the southwest section of the lake, due north of the west end of the dam, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking. It is also a portage spot for canoes and kayaks.