As summer fades into fall, Ohio’s waters come alive with some of the best fishing opportunities of the year.
With vibrant scenery, cooler temperatures and plenty of fish in the water, fall is one of the best times of year to go fishing in Ohio.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and local anglers alike say there's no better time to cast a line than during the cooler months, when fish are actively feeding in preparation for winter.
As water temperatures drop, fish like crappie, yellow perch and bass begin to leave their deep summer haunts and move into shallower areas, creating prime conditions for anglers.
As daylight fades earlier each evening, many anglers shift their focus to late fall night fishing. Shallow, rocky areas near humps and drop-offs become key fishing grounds.
Bladebaits, jigs, and minnows are reported to be especially effective for fall fishing, along with lures like Husky Jerks and rattle traps.
Fall is a great time for bass fishing in Ohio, as cooler temperatures trigger bass to feed aggressively in preparation for winter.
The best action typically occurs when water temperatures range between 65 and 80 degrees, when bass are most active.
In Knox County, Knox Lake is well-known for its trophy largemouth bass, while the Kokosing River offers excellent smallmouth bass fishing.
Crappie become highly active in October as lakes “turn over,” creating uniform temperature and oxygen levels throughout the water.
Instead of staying in shallow spawning areas, they move to deeper structures like sloping points, creek bends and often-overlooked spillways.
Overcast days and late afternoons are typically the most productive times to fish, especially in clear-water reservoirs.
In Knox County, anglers can target both black and white crappie at the 469-acre Knox Lake reservoir near Fredericktown, also known for bass and catfish.
Night fishing is particularly popular for targeting walleye and saugeye.
Locations like Apple Valley Lake and the Kokosing River attract anglers hoping to land walleye, especially when shad are present. Some fish caught in these areas can exceed 10 pounds.
Techniques vary throughout the day, with some anglers trolling during daylight hours and switching to casting or vertical jigging at dusk. Success often comes down to adapting methods based on conditions and location.
In Knox County, top spots for saugeye fishing include the Walhonding and Kokosing Rivers, as well as Knox Lake.
Saugeye are best targeted in deeper water around structure such as points, humps and river dams, especially in spring and winter. Slow retrieves with jigs, soft plastic swimbaits, or crankbaits are effective and tipping jigs with minnows or nightcrawlers can increase your chances.
Knox Lake and Apple Valley Lake also feature yellow perch.
For yellow perch, focus on shallower areas with hard bottoms or weed beds, use small minnows or cut bait on spreader rigs with light tackle and consider fishing during morning and late evening hours for the best results.
Steelhead trout season kicks off shortly after Labor Day.
While steelhead trout aren’t found in Knox County, these large, migratory rainbow trout travel from Lake Erie into tributaries like the Vermilion, Rocky, Grand and Chagrin Rivers to spawn.
Steelhead can grow up to 25 inches and weigh 5 to 6 pounds.
Fall offers a prime opportunity to catch them as they begin their upstream run.
Fueling Ohio’s productive fall fishing season is a massive stocking effort by the ODNR.
In 2024, the state stocked over 46 million fish in lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams to support angling opportunities across Ohio.
Species stocked include saugeye, walleye, yellow perch, rainbow trout, steelhead trout, brown trout, muskellunge, hybrid-striped bass, blue catfish, channel catfish and bluegill. These fish are released at various life stages, from fry (under one inch) to catchable-sized fish (six inches or longer).
Notably, 15.6 million saugeye fry and 13 million walleye fry were stocked in 2024. Fingerlings (1–2 inches) included 7.6 million saugeye and 4 million walleye, while advanced fingerlings and yearlings included species like blue catfish, muskellunge and trout.
Catchable fish such as rainbow trout and channel catfish are regularly stocked to provide immediate fishing opportunities.
