Below is a list of area public ponds and lakes for members to explore. This inventory of fishing locations, links to maps, information on access, what fish may be there, and even suggested flies was put together by Ken Davy.
Many have been the locations for the Mid-Week Fly Fishing outings that have also been organized and hosted by Ken Davy.
Arthur Fisher Park
https://goo.gl/maps/X45ziJDf6FYLZvb36
Fishing for early season bass, and bluegills. Olive Woolly Buggers, or Muddlers for the bass, poppers or foam beetles for the bluegills. Cast about 5 feet from shore for gills, up to 10 feet for the bass.
Beavercreek Community Park
https://maps.app.goo.gl/8j1rWa75WWGAocHB6
Panfish, bass and some huge carp.
Blue Lake
Special considerations: Kayaks
https://maps.app.goo.gl/sQfUMF5RKyruPtG17
SMB, LMB, crappies, sunfish, catfish, and saugeyes.
Carriage Hill MetroPark – Cedar Lake
Special considerations: Kayaks, canoes
https://goo.gl/maps/Syz7GDDjR9uSaGiu5
Fishing for early season bass, crappies and bluegills.
Centennial Park
https://maps.app.goo.gl/3dwGErQAeDytK1tb7
At least bluegills and carp, possibly bass and catfish.
Deer Meadow Park
https://goo.gl/maps/CquLJXGsKM7Ug1766
Fishing for early season bass, and big bluegills.
Delco Park
https://goo.gl/maps/pgKZCeQVD5wcU2Mo6
Tiny streamers or mayfly nymphs for the crappies. Foam beetles or beadhead nymphs for bluegills. Bushy marabou streamers or crawdad imitations for the bass.
Dr. Michael Bowers Lake
Special considerations: Kayaks, long portage
https://maps.app.goo.gl/TQE7jreY4pctvdwUA
These lakes get deep very quickly. It’s hard to say what is in them now. They used to be privately-owned and heavily stocked. What I know is in there is LMB, SMB, sunfish, and carp.
Eastwood MetroPark Lagoon
Special considerations: Kayaks
https://goo.gl/maps/7LSKUazx8fYWboSu5
Bass, crappies and bluegills. Olive Woolly Buggers, Zoo Cougars, and Marsh Hares (or similar weedless flies) for the bass. Many SMB in this water.
Fairborn Community Park
https://maps.app.goo.gl/fwngGi23TjvqPi3c9
I have seen bass and have caught panfish.
Germantown MetroPark Dam
Special considerations: Wading
https://maps.app.goo.gl/66j57kaNHdUVaPLbA
Fishing Twin Creek, so the mix is SMB, LMB, and panfish.
Huffman MetroPark
Special considerations: Kayaks, canoes
https://maps.app.goo.gl/mCu8cqTxV3cSR93n6
Bluegills, crappies, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Kayaks, canoes.
Lofino Park
https://goo.gl/maps/nfzb6JGFax84Nejs6
Fishing for early season bass, crappies and bluegills. Olive Woolly Buggers, Zoo Cougars, and Muddlers for the bass, both LMB and SMB. Green Weenies or tiny streamers for the crappies. Popper and dropper for the bluegills. (Or, if you’re Shawn, a sponge spider and a Higga’s SOS.)
Madison Lakes Park
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ofhFtiUhe6h8fLbh6
Primarily LMB, but also holds SMB, panfish, catfish and carp.
North Park – Englewood MetroPark
Special considerations: Boats, Kayaks
https://goo.gl/maps/JDUzia3Z85zSAmxy7
This one is primarily for the kayak and boat crowd. The bank fishing here is very tough. Boats are allowed but these ponds are very narrow and shallow, so you’ll want to stay with the trolling motor. I have fished here a little, but I have not been able to discern any patterns as of yet. UPDATE: in 2023, the smaller of the two ponds was stocked with trout by the ODNR.
Oak Grove Park
https://goo.gl/maps/iBV9FWjR2wJTtXsR6
Fish quartering out from shore with poppers or foam bugs for big bluegills, or with Clousers, Buggers, or Zoo Cougars for bass. Some big bass in here. What to do for crappies is anybody’s guess.
Old Reid Park
https://maps.app.goo.gl/frkQu5QxWi5N4AQ69
Not sure what is in here, nor how many, but I imagine the mix is very similar to Buck Creek and CJ Brown.
Poplar Creek Ponds
https://maps.app.goo.gl/4jRSRdoaiZdfEpnW9
These lakes are right beside the Great Miami River and get flood water from that river nearly every year, so it likely has the same mix of fish that is in the river.
Possum Creek MetroPark – Argonne Lake
Special considerations: Kayaks
https://goo.gl/maps/dBKMawZhb3aHFwDR6
Kayak opportunity! Bass tanking up for spawning and bluegills on their beds. Topwater heaven! You will definitely need a kayak or canoe for large bass.
Rip Rap Road Park
Special considerations: Wading, Kayaks (long portage)
https://goo.gl/maps/79oLpdMUDLkNyGWQA
Bring your waders and/or your kayaks! This one is on the Great Miami River in July. Kayakers, bring your portage wheels because it’s about 300 yards from the parking lot to the river.
Stubbs Park
https://maps.app.goo.gl/bRmrrmX9RCJDeJfr5
This is new access. The ponds are all natural recruitment, so the species are anyone’s guess. Also, fishing has not been allowed here for at least a few years.
Wellfield Park
https://maps.app.goo.gl/imxBay3ZpyTDeyam6
This pond gets deep abruptly. It holds anything that is in Stillwater River.
