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LOCATION
Both Findlay reservoirs are southeast of Findlay. They can be reached by traveling 2.5 miles southeast from Findlay on State Route 37 to Hancock County Road 205, proceeding east one mile to County Road 234, north to Township Road 207, then east to the boat ramp on Reservoir 2. Reservoir 1 can be reached by continuing on County Road 205 one mile east past County Road 234.
HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION
Findlay Reservoirs 1 and 2 are upground reservoirs; water is pumped in from the adjacent Blanchard River and area wells. Reservoir 1 was built in 1950 by the city of Findlay as a municipal water supply. It has a surface area of 186 acres and a capacity of 1.4 billion gallons. The bottom is relatively flat with depths ranging from 20 to 28 feet and an average depth of 24 feet. There is little aquatic vegetative cover.
Findlay Reservoir 2 was constructed in 1968 as the first upground reservoir completed under the Northwest Ohio Water Development Plan, to provide water to the city of Findlay, low flow augmentation to the Blanchard River, and water for agricultural uses and recreation. It was built cooperatively by the city of Findlay and Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Its surface area of 645 acres and capacity of approximately 5 billion gallons make it the largest upground reservoir in Ohio. The bottom is relatively flat but has considerably more variation than Reservoir 1 with depths ranging from 16 to 33 feet and an average depth of 24 feet. The maximum depth is in the conservation pool, which covers 25 percent of the reservoir of approximately 160 acres.
Findlay Reservoir 1 has 2 miles of diked shoreline, and Findlay Reservoir 2 has 4.3 miles of diked shoreline. These reservoirs share a common dike about 1 mile long. The distance around the outside perimeter of the combined reservoirs is 5.3 miles. These reservoirs were built with earthen dikes that are approximately 12 feet wide at the top with 2:1 side slopes. The insides of the dikes are covered with limestone riprap to protect them from wind and wave damage. Both reservoirs are open to public fishing through a cooperative agreement between the city of Findlay and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife.
FISHES OF INTEREST TO ANGLERS
The fish populations in both reservoirs include walleye, yellow perch, white bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, bluegill, crappie, channel catfish, and bullheads.
FISHING FORECAST
Fish Survey Report
| Lake |
Type of Fish |
Overall
Numbers
|
Size |
Largest
(inches)
|
Findlay Reservoir #1
|
Channel Catfish |
Fair |
Good |
24.7 |
| Walleye |
Poor |
Poor
|
21.3
|
| White Bass |
Excellent
|
Poor
|
15.1
|
| Yellow Perch |
Excellent |
Excellent |
10.6 |
| Findlay Reservoir #2 |
Channel Catfish |
Fair |
Good |
24.7 |
| Crappie |
Fair |
Fair
|
10.8
|
| Largemouth Bass |
Poor
|
Poor
|
16.9
|
| Smallmouth Bass |
Poor |
Fair |
12.6 |
| Sunfish |
Poor
|
Poor
|
3.7
|
| Walleye |
Good |
Excellent |
28.4 |
| White Bass |
Excellent |
Excellent |
14.7 |
| Yellow Perch |
Excellent |
Excellent |
10.4 |
Angler Survey Report
| Lake |
Type of Fish |
Percent Seeking |
Catch Rates |
Fishing Pressure |
| Findlay Reservoir #1 |
Catfish |
5%
|
Poor
|
Low
|
| Crappie |
1%
|
Poor
|
Low
|
| Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass |
8%
|
Poor
|
Low
|
| Sunfish |
7% |
Excellent |
Low |
| Walleye |
9% |
Good |
Low |
| White Bass |
10%
|
Good
|
Low
|
| Yellow Perch |
16%
|
Fair
|
High
|
| Findlay Reservoir #2 |
Catfish |
12%
|
Good
|
Average
|
| Crappie |
6
|
Fair
|
Average
|
| Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass |
1%
|
Poor
|
Low
|
| Sunfish |
2% |
Good |
Low |
| Walleye |
32% |
Good |
High |
| White Bass |
1%
|
Good
|
Low
|
| Yellow Perch |
1%
|
Poor
|
Average
|
METHODS OF FISHING AND BEST FISHING SITES
Ice fishing is allowed at your own risk. Avoid inlet and outlet structure areas. We recommend not fishing alone and take ice safety precautions. Ice fishing is frequently very good at Findlay Reservoir for yellow perch, walleye, bluegill, crappie, and channel catfish. Ice fishing for yellow perch and walleye is good especially in the deeper waters of the reservoirs. Jigging spoons or ice lures are effective for walleye and channel catfish. A live minnow fished through the ice is also effective for walleye. Yellow perch, bluegill, and crappie are caught readily through the ice using larval baits such as mousies, wax worms, and wigglers on ice flies. The secret to successful ice fishing is to move frequently from hole to hole until you locate fish.
Spring is a good time to fish for nearly all species. Spawning fish frequently come close to shore in the spring and can be caught by shore fishing. Boat fishing is usually the most effective method for any open water because you can fish over greater areas. Drift fishing or trolling shorelines near the bottom is effective for walleye, yellow perch, bass, and channel catfish. When fish are not spawning locate them in deep water areas and troll or drift over them.
Walleye can usually be caught on minnows, deep running lures, weighted spinners tipped with a worm or a worm harness with a night crawler. Walleye are frequently caught on the wave-washed shorelines in April using jigs tipped with twister tails, tube baits, night crawlers, or leeches. During summer and fall, drift fishing or trolling deep-water areas and fishing shoreline at night can be effective.
Yellow perch can be found in the same areas as walleye. During summer and fall they can be caught around structure. Best baits during open water fishing are minnows and larval baits fished near the bottom.
White bass are generally found in schools throughout the reservoirs and they frequently feed near the surface in open water or along the shoreline, especially during the summer evenings. They are taken on minnows and crayfish. Boat fishermen also have good success trolling or casting around structure.
Bluegill fishing is best in Reservoir 2 by fishing tree structures and around cover near the inlet and outlet structures. Although fly fishing can be effective, most bluegills are caught on live baits. A particularly effective technique is to use slip bobbers fishing wax worms and varying the depth until you catch them.
Channel catfish fishing is usually best during late spring and summer. Live night crawlers and cut bait are the best baits when fished on the earthen bottoms either from the shoreline or from a boat. Reservoir 2 annually produces good numbers of channel catfish in the 15- to 22- pound range. Many large channel catfish are taken from Reservoir 1 by balloon fishing with live night crawler harnesses. Larger walleyes also are often taken by this method. Channel catfish are sometimes caught while ice fishing for yellow perch or walleye.
Bow fishing is allowed from boats only. All wildlife rules and regulations pertaining to legal species and method must be followed. See ODNR Division of Wildlife Fishing Regulations, Publication 84.
RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Boats are allowed on both reservoirs, with motor restrictions. Gasoline outboards are permitted on Reservoir 2 with a 9.9 hp maximum. Electric motors only are permitted on Reservoir 1. A primitive boat ramp on Reservoir 1 can be reached off County Road 205. A concrete ramp on the west side of Reservoir 2 can be reached from Township Road 207. Both reservoirs have floating fishing piers near the ramps. The boat ramps are operated by the city. Restrooms are available at the boat ramp on Findlay 2 and nearby at Riverbend Recreation Area.
Parking for Reservoir 1 is at the main entrance off County Road 205. There are five parking areas around Reservoir 2 at the boat ramp and the east, north, and west sides of the reservoir on TR 207. Handicapped accessible parking is located near the boat ramps at both reservoirs.
Camping and picnic facilities are available at Riverbend Recreation Area, located less than a mile north of Reservoir 2 on County Road 208. For information on these facilities contact the Hancock Park District at (419) 425-PARK (7275).
FISH OHIO
Anglers who catch a big fish should enter their prize in the Fish Ohio angler recognition program. A fish qualifies for an award if it meets the minimum size requirement set for the Fish Ohio program. Applications are available online at FishOhio.org.
Please submit scale samples on any muskie caught to aid in our management of muskie. Scale sample forms can be found at the boat dock or by contacting an ODNR Division of Wildlife district office.
FISH MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES
Fish management activities by the ODNR Division of Wildlife include pre-impoundment design recommendations, initial stocking of fish, supplemental stocking of walleye and yellow perch, fish population monitoring, installing fish attraction structures, angler harvest studies, and water quality and fish contaminant analysis.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The nearest district office is Wildlife District Two, 952 Lima Ave., Findlay, Ohio 45840; telephone (419) 424-5000. To get other maps or publications call toll free 1-800 WILDLIFE. The City of Findlay has rules and regulations pertaining to reservoir use. Call 419-424-7193 or 419-424-7380 for information on these city regulations.
The city of Findlay has rules and regulations pertaining to reservoir use. Call (419) 424-7193 or (419) 424-7380 for information on these city regulations.
TURN IN A POACHER
Ohio’s TIP, “Turn In a Poacher,” program is helping to curtail poaching throughout the state. TIP is designed to involve the public in reporting wildlife violations. Citizens who observe wildlife violations should call the TIP toll-free hotline, 1-800-POACHER. |