The Lending Tackle Box at Madison Lake

06/17/2026

Don’t forget free fishing is this weekend! 🎣❤️

06/03/2026

Here’s another fun one for you and your kiddos! 🎣❤️

Hooks n’ Bobbers Youth Fishing Derby

Saturday, June 20 - Alley Park

2805 Old Logan Rd. SE Lancaster, OH 43130

PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED ~ Ages 3-15

8:15AM ~ Sign-in begins
9-10AM ~ Derby!

Sponsored by Lancaster Parks & Recreation
Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office

Lancaster Parks & Recreation Online Registration at www.lancasterparks.com

Bait Provided - Fishing Poles Available - Prizes!

06/03/2026

Very cool and not that far away! 🎣❤️

New Fishing Opportunity in Xenia 🎣
📍 XENIA, Ohio – Families and young anglers in southwest Ohio can enjoy fishing this spring and summer courtesy of our district office in Xenia. The former hatchery ponds provide the opportunity for families and budding young anglers to create memories together and get hooked on fishing.

Families and Youth aged 17 and younger can fish in the ponds. The fishing ponds are open Wednesday through Sunday, ending October 31. Some dates will be closed during the season to host special activities.

The Division of Wildlife youth and family fishing ponds are located at 1076 Old Springfield Pike in Xenia. Parking, restrooms, and seating are available for guests. Young anglers must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. A valid Ohio fishing license is required for anyone who is aged 16 or older.

Five permits will be issued per day. Individuals 17 years old or younger do not need an access permit, but they are required to be accompanied by a permitted adult. Permits may be obtained through the Ohio Landowner-Hunter Access Partnership and are available 8 pm the day before, and the day of only.
🔗 https://ow.ly/5ofz50Z6Rxo

In an effort to provide all anglers with plenty of action, the fishing ponds are catch and release only. No fish may be harvested. Fish are to be returned to the lake immediately. Visitors may bring their own tackle but should note that no live fish may be used as bait.

Species that can be caught include bluegill, bass, and trout. The fishing area ponds are spring-fed and stay cool throughout the summer, supporting catchable rainbow trout 10-13 inches in length that are stocked annually. Rainbow trout are exciting to catch and give first-time anglers an excellent opportunity for success.

05/25/2026

🎣 The Lending Tackle Box at Madison Lake is open for your fishing enjoyment. Please, please, please remember this is a borrow, go fishing, then return the rods to the tackle box so the next person can enjoy them as well. This is not a take and not return or take and return broken rods so no one else can enjoy them. We as a family donate everything that is provided in the box for others to enjoy. We do not donate for people to steal and not return. We want to be able to continue doing this for our community but if people do not cooperate we may not be able to. But anyway, we are open so get out to the lake and enjoy this week. Thank you and we hope for a long fun season! Also, tag us in your fish you catch we would love to see them! 🎣❤️🎣 The Finchum Family 😁

05/14/2026

Yes 🙌🏻🎣❤️

05/03/2026

🙌 Appalachian Hills Wildlife Area Visitor Center 🦬
⏳ Hours: Wednesday-Sunday 10a-6p

📍Address:
110 Natural Resources 1
McConnelsville, OH 43756

The Appalachian Hills Wildlife Area contains 54,525 acres of land in Guernsey, Morgan, Muskingum, and Noble counties. The property is reclaimed mining land previously owned by AEP.

The visitor center is a two-story timber building that highlights the history of the Appalachian region and features floor-to-ceiling windows for the very best views of the area. Inside, a topographic map shows the terrain of unglaciated Ohio, highlighting the region’s unmatched recreation potential. Interactive and educational displays showcase the region's history, including its wildlife, forests, and the ongoing efforts to restore and conserve the land.

Outside, visitors can walk along a 360-degree scenic ramp and observation deck to view wildlife - including the area's bison herd - from above. A covered, open-air deck offers the best views of this spectacular large mammal, a native species that was once found in the wild across Ohio. While bison no longer roam freely in the wild, the Appalachian Hills herd is a symbol of conservation.

💚 Bison illustrate what happens when wild spaces and creatures aren’t protected or managed – we lose important members of the ecosystem. While elk, bison, and wolves may never freely roam the Buckeye State again, we can learn from their disappearance and prevent the same from happening to species large and small that still live here.

05/03/2026

🌟 Fish Ohio Top 10 Inland Waters 📊
🐟 This chart represents the top 10 inland waters reported to the Fish Ohio program for channel catfish, saugeye, crappie, and smallmouth bass in 2025.
🔗 https://ow.ly/gwSv50YSyns
🎣 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 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.

05/03/2026

🗓️ The 2026 fishing season at Lake La Su An Wildlife Area has been set from Friday, May 1 to Monday, Sept. 1. New this year, anglers can harvest 7 sunfish that are 8 inches or longer.

Know these regulations before you go! ⤵️
🗓️ Fishing is permitted Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from sunrise to sunset.
🐟 Sunfish Daily Limit: 15 per angler, only 7 can be 8 inches or longer
🐟 Largemouth Bass Daily Limit: 5 per angler, 18-inch minimum length
🐟 Channel Catfish Daily Limit: 2
🚫 No fish may be used as bait
🚗 Vehicles must park in designated parking spaces.

🎣 Anglers may only catch up to one daily limit for a species, regardless of how many lakes are fished. These special regulations help protect the exceptional bluegill fishery for all to enjoy. Come out and experience why La Su An is a favorite among sunfish anglers!

🔗 Fishing Regulations: https://ow.ly/xBJI50YTfFQ

Photo: Jim McConville

04/19/2026

Get out and have some fun! 🎣❤️

🌟 2026 Free Fishing Days 🎣
📅 Save the Dates: On June 20 and 21, 2026, all Ohio residents are invited to experience Ohio’s fantastic public fishing opportunities without purchasing a license. All size and daily limits apply during these two days.

04/11/2026

True story! 😁🎣❤️

Happiness is a fishing rod 🎣