LaDue is an electric-motors-only lake covering 1,500 acres in Geauga County. This lake has a 12-inch length limit in place and has an average depth of 10 feet.

For more information on the bass lakes of this northeastern Ohio region, contact the ODOW’s Wildlife District Three office, 912 Portage Lakes Drive, Akron, OH 44319; or call (330) 644-2293.

WILDLIFE
DISTRICT FOUR
The rugged beauty of southeastern Ohio is an added bonus for bass anglers in this region.

Tree-covered hillsides surround many scenic lakes in this section of the state. Along with scenery comes top-quality bass fishing opportunities in numerous locations.

“Tycoon Lake is our best early-season lake,” said Tim Parrett, a fish management supervisor for the Ohio Division of Wildlife’s District Four. “Relatively small and shallow, this lake warms up quickly and is a good producer of nice bass.”

Just north of Rio Grande in Gallia County, this 204-acre lake is a prime example of the success of Ohio’s bass management program. With a minimum-size length limit of 18 inches, Tycoon Lake produces exceptionally large bass.

This is primarily a boater’s lake restricted to electric motors only, with little access to the better bass fishing areas from the bank. Tycoon is considered to be one of the most densely populated bass lakes in the region. The average fish will be from 1 to 3 pounds, with an occasional 7-pound fish being taken.

Another southeastern Ohio lake noted by Parrett is Vinton County’s Lake Rupert. This 325-acre lake is also known as Wellston Reservoir. With average depths of eight feet and a maximum of 28 feet, this lake has a good mix of shallow water for early-season fishing and depth for big bass to utilize when the weather turns hot.

Good numbers of largemouths weighing in at over 5 pounds are reported from Lake Rupert each year.

Anglers have numerous areas of premier bass habitat at their disposal: structure consisting of old roadbeds, sunken bridges and long sloping points. With weeds in the upper end and fallen trees along the shoreline, fish attractors are plentiful.

Lake Rupert lies north of the city of Wellston off state Route 93. A 9.9- horsepower limit is in effect, as is a 12- to 15-inch slot limit on bass.

The 125-acre Ross Lake in Ross County east of Chillicothe has been managed for bass for over two decades. The result has been good-sized fish with good densities in a comparatively small lake. With a 15-inch length limit in place and an electric-only restriction on the boating, many largemouths have grown to trophy-sized proportions.

Additional District Four bass waters include the many ponds found on the AEP ReCreation Land scattered through portions of Muskingum, Morgan, Coshocton and Perry counties. Over 350 lakes and ponds present great opportunity for bass anglers in this area.