Fishing Tappan Reservoir

AKA: Tappan Lake

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Tappan Reservoir Fishing Video
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Tappan Reservoir, OH

Popular Fish Species Tappan Reservoir, OH

Crappie Fishing

Tappan Reservoir continues to provide crappie enthusiasts with great fishing. 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.

Tappan Reservoir Popular Fish - Channel Catfish

Channel Catfish Fishing

Tappan Reservoir has a solid population of channel catfish, providing anglers with good catch rates. 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 Tappan Reservoir 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.

Tappan Reservoir Popular Fish - Largemouth Bass

Largemouth Bass Fishing

Tappan Reservoir is considered a favorite bass fishing lake in the area. Anglers are catching bass in good numbers with largemouth bass in the 3 to 4-pound range showing up with some regularity. A history of careful fisheries management by the Division of Wildlife | Ohio Department of Natural Resources has helped to maintain a thriving bass fishery. Anglers can also catch smallmouth bass, which reside here in decent numbers. Recent results by bass fishing tournament participants, attest to the fact that fishing for largemouth bass has been quite rewarding, with an occasional bass over 6 pounds being weighed in. In Tappan Reservoir, bass often move shallow and become fairly aggressive when they are in a feeding mood. If they seem disinterested in your presentations, try slowing down and use smaller, lighter baits. Use shallow crankbaits around rip rap. Around grass, use worms, jigs, topwater and spinnerbaits. In deeper water, drop shot rigs, big worms, jigs and spoons are good options. In winter, spend your time fishing deeper structure where the bass spend much of their time.

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, black crappie, white crappie, bluegill, white bass and saugeye at Tappan Reservoir in Ohio.

Tappan Reservoir Fishing Video

Populated with several catchable fish species, Tappan Reservoir is an especially popular place to fish for bass, crappie and saugeye. Catfish, white bass and bluegill also reside here. This fishery is a 2,100-acre lake, in the northeast part of the state. It proudly boasts 38 miles of shoreline for anglers to explore, with plenty of areas to access the shore, for fishing from the bank. Ice fishing in winter is popular.

Primary fish species residing in Tappan Reservoir

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Tappan Reservoir Amenities

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

Today's Weather & Forecast

Fishing Boat Rentals

Tappan Marina
Rentals: Fishing boats, kayaks and pontoon boats
740 269-2031

Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Tappan Lake Launch Ramp
Located in the northwest section of the lake, north side, off I-250, this is a three-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Marinas

Tappan Marina
33315 Cadiz-Dennison Rd
Scio, OH 43988
740 269-2031