Fishing Salt Fork Lake

AKA: Salt Fork State Park Lake

Popular Fish Species
Salt Fork Lake Fishing Video
Available Fish Species
Amenities
Today's Weather & Forecast
Boat Launch Ramps
Local Fishing Guides
Fishing License
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Salt Fork Lake, OH

Popular Fish Species Salt Fork Lake, OH

Salt Fork Lake Popular Fish - Largemouth Bass

Largemouth Bass Fishing

Salt Fork Lake offers good fishing for largemouth bass. Lately the fishing here for bass has been impressing local bass fishing enthusiasts. There are some big bass that roam Salt Fork Lake, thanks to excellent fisheries management by the Division of Wildlife, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, as well as the availability of extensive cover for both baitfish and bass. When the bite is good, bass typically move shallow and are quite aggressive. If you find them shallow and they are not tempted to bite, slow down and use smaller, lighter baits. Fishing for largemouth bass is good virtually any time they are shallow - in spring, mornings in summer, and during warm Fall afternoons. Use shallow crankbaits around rip rap. Around grass use worms, jigs, topwater and spinnerbaits. In deeper water, big worms, jigs and spoons are three good weapons. In winter, spend your time fishing Salt Fork Lake on deeper structure where the bass spend much of their time. Smallmouth bass also reside here in decent numbers.

Salt Fork Lake Popular Fish - Black Crappie

Black Crappie Fishing

Black crappie reside in good numbers throughout Salt Fork Lake. Recent reports indicate they are averaging a very good size this year. Crappie fishing is excellent and they are running in sizeable schools. Live bait and small jigs are the most common method for crappie here. Crappie always like cover and structure, so locate brush and vegetation. Using a fish finder can help locate schools of crappie, which tend to stack vertically around cover. 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 in deeper water. White crappie, in smaller numbers, also make this lake their home. When the lake freezes over, ice fishing is often a great way to catch a nice bunch of crappie.

Salt Fork Lake Popular Fish - Channel Catfish

Channel Catfish Fishing

A healthy population of channel catfish populate the waters of Salt Fork Lake and continue to keep catfish anglers coming back. In Spring channel cats migrate toward incoming water, so stay up river away from the main lake. Night fishing for channel catfish often delivers better results than fishing during the day. 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. Fishing for channel catfish is often productive around any kind of structure in the area. Road beds, creek channels and rocky points are all good places to begin. Use a slip sinker or Carolina rig with popular catfish baits. Flathead catfish also reside in the lake and fishing for them is often good as well.

Salt Fork Lake Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

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

Surrounded by Salt Fork State Park, in east-central OH, Salt Fork Lake is a 2,900-acre fishery with over 60 miles of shoreline. The lake offers over a dozen popular fish species. Bass, muskies, walleye and crappie are favorites here, plus there is good fishing for catfish and sunfish. Check out fishing reports for popular species at this lake. When the cold of winter sets in, and the ice is safe, anglers can expect good action while ice fishing for black crappie, white crappie, walleye and bluegill.

Primary fish species residing in Salt Fork Lake

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Salt Fork Lake Amenities

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

Today's Weather & Forecast

Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

R-17 Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, on the north side of the lake, off R-17 Road, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with docks and paved parking.

R-18 Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, on the northeast side of the lake, off R-18 Road, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Morning Glory Ramp
Located in the southwest section of the lake, off Millstone Road, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Old Marina Dock Holders Boat Ramp
Located mid lake, on the south side of the lake, off R-14 Road, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Salt Fork Old Marina South
Located mid lake, on the south side of the lake, off R-14 Road, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Salt Fork State Park Wildlife Area
Located in the northeast corner of the lake, south side, off R-16 Road, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with paved parking.

Sugartree Marina Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the northern section of the lake, south side, off R-68 Road, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.