Editor’s note: The sport of fishing has ancient and rich local roots, a pursuit that has been enjoyed, taught, practiced and handed down through generations of families in West Central Ohio, a tradition that continues to this very day. 

Fishermen and women who live in Logan County have it pretty good, with a large and fertile lake resting in the northwest corner of the county, scores of ponds – both large and small – scattered about the unique geography of the Bellefontaine Outlier and the headwaters of several important rivers and streams in the Buckeye State. 

Below is a release from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife, which gives hints to where the various species of fish are now biting. 

The ODNR Division of Wildlife does a masterful job of maintaining and protecting our native wildlife species (from white-tailed deer to Eastern hellbender salamanders, which is Ohio’s largest native amphibian), including our finned and scaled friends that inhabit our lakes, ponds and rivers. Visit ohiodnr.gov website for information concerning the native flora and fauna of the Buckeye State.  

Turning our attention locally, did you happen to catch a channel cat that could swallow a softball? Snag a string of crappies as long as your arm? Land a saugeye that could be a stand-in for Jaws? Snap a photo and send it along to [email protected].  

While you need not tell us exactly where your caught your keeper (as with mushroom hunters, we know that fishing enthusiasts are loath to divulge their favorite fishing hole), we want to focus on fish that were caught in and around Logan County. But if you go to Alum Creek and catch Moby Dick on a Zebco, or you had a Kraken weekend at Put-In-Bay, we’ll use those photos, too. Don’t forget to throw in some details, such as bait/lures used, poundage and length.) 

COLUMBUS – Fish Ohio records show that channel catfish, saugeye, crappie and smallmouth bass are four of the most popular sport fish in inland waters across the Buckeye State.

In inland waters, a channel catfish longer than 26 inches, a saugeye longer than 21 inches, a crappie longer than 13 inches, or a smallmouth bass longer than 18 inches qualifies for Fish Ohio status. 

Channel catfish 

Channel catfish grow large and consume a wide variety of foods, making them one of Ohio’s most popular sport fish. The top three inland destinations for Fish Ohio channel catfish in 2025 were the Sandusky River, Mosquito Creek Lake and the Maumee River. 

Channel catfish can be blue, gray, silver, or almost black in color with a paler belly and eight whisker-like barbels. They are most active at night and can be caught on a variety of baits, and are found in abundance at Indian Lake and in most of Ohio’s large lakes, rivers, and streams. 

Saugeye 

A hybrid between a walleye and a sauger, saugeye are stocked in more than 60 lakes by the Division of Wildlife. These fast-growing fish thrive in Ohio’s inland waters and can be caught year-round, with 767 saugeye submitted to the Fish Ohio program in 2025. Inland lake anglers caught Fish Ohio saugeye most often in Indian Lake, Buckeye Lake and Alum Creek Lake. 

Saugeye are identified by the dark bars or vertical spots between the spines of the first dorsal fin. They also have dark, oblong patches along their sides. They prey on gizzard shad and other small fish. 

Crappie 

Black crappie and white crappie are abundant in Ohio. A black crappie has irregular blotches or spots along its sides, while a white crappie is distinguished by more uniform dark vertical stripes. Top Fish Ohio crappie destinations were Mosquito Creek Lake, Buckeye Lake and Alum Creek Lake. 

Crappies are often found near structures like drop-offs, points, creek beds, brush piles, and fallen trees. These feisty sport fish are often caught on light tackle. 

Smallmouth bass 

Smallmouth bass are found in streams, rivers, and larger lakes across Ohio, and their reputation for fighting hard when hooked makes them an often-targeted sport fish. Ohio’s top three inland waters for smallmouth bass in 2025 were the Great Miami River, Alum Creek Lake and the Scioto River. 

Smallmouth bass have dark vertical bars along their side with a brown or bronze colored background. Tube jigs, spinners, topwater poppers, and crankbaits on an ultralight spinning rod are great lure choices for smallmouths. Last year, 894 Fish Ohio smallmouth bass were reported from inland waters.