Fishing in Defiance County, Ohio
Seat: Defiance. Fish management by ODNR Wildlife District Two (Findlay office).
- 2lake pages
- 5launches
- 4river pages
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Angling across Defiance County at a glance
With 38,286 residents counted in 2020, Defiance County is governed from Defiance. Its surface splits into 411 square miles of land and 2.7 of water in Census figures. For fish management the county reports to ODNR Wildlife District Two (Findlay office).
The county counts 2 lake pages and 112 acres of ODNR-mapped water, Defiance Reservoir the largest. Horsepower notes apply on 2 county lakes, and 1 allow electric motors only. 1 lake here hold 3 ODNR fish attractors between them. ODNR and local operators run 5 public launches here, 4 with a concrete lane, and the lots that report spaces hold 198 car-and-trailer rigs. Walleye move up Maumee River each spring, per the ODNR run maps.
Census 2020 population and 2023 Gazetteer areas; ODNR Division of Wildlife lake outlines, horsepower and attractor layers, ODNR launch list; retrieved October 2026.
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ODNR launch and fishing-access points, ODNR lake outlines (representative points) and ODNR stream access points. Checked October 2026.
Defiance County reservoirs and lakes by acreage
| Lake | Acres | Launches | Motor rule | Fish on record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Defiance Reservoir | 73 | 1 | electric motors only | saugeye, yellow perch, channel catfish |
| Oxbow Lake | 39 | 1 | unlimited horsepower, no wake | largemouth bass, northern pike, channel catfish |
Lake pages just over the Defiance County line, ranked by distance from Defiance.
| Lake | From Defiance | Acres | Launches | Motor rule | Fish on record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paulding Reservoir | 16 miles southwest | 67 | 0 | electric motors only | saugeye, channel catfish, walleye |
| Archbold Reservoir Number Two | 17 miles north | 44 | 1 | electric motors only | |
| Archbold Reservoir Number One | 17 miles north | 19 | 1 | electric motors only | |
| Lake Wayne R Carr | 24 miles west | 13 | 0 | channel catfish | |
| McKarns Lake | 24 miles northwest | 40 | 0 | northern pike, steelhead, walleye | |
| Barton Lake | 24 miles northwest | 19 | 0 |
ODNR Division of Wildlife lake outlines (acres), horsepower restrictions, fish hot-spot maps and stocking records; retrieved October 2026.
Float and wade water in Defiance County
- Maumee Riverspring walleye run, 15 launchs, 47 ODNR access points, USGS gauge
- Auglaize River3 launchs, 14 ODNR access points, USGS gauge
- Tiffin River5 ODNR access points, USGS gauge
- St. Joseph River3 ODNR access points
Current USGS numbers across Defiance County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Maumee River Near Defiance Oh | 739 cfs, 1.88 ft gage height | Nov 11 6:00 pm |
| Tiffin River Near Evansport Oh | 119 cfs, 9.57 ft gage height | Nov 11 6:00 pm |
| St Joseph River Near Newville In | 113 cfs, 3.80 ft gage height | Nov 11 6:00 pm |
| Auglaize River Near Defiance Oh | 76 cfs, 5.49 ft gage height | Nov 11 6:15 pm |
| Platter Creek Near Sherwood Oh | 1 cfs, 1.22 ft gage height | Nov 11 6:00 pm |
| Unnamed Tributary To Lost Creek Near Farmer Oh | 0 cfs, 1.22 ft gage height | Nov 11 6:00 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 11, 2026 6:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
ODNR stream access points (Watercraft paddling layer), ODNR steelhead program and walleye-run maps, USGS gauges; retrieved October 2026.
Where Defiance County water is reachable
- Defiance Reservoir Boat RampDefiance Reservoir, concrete ramp, 1 lane, courtesy dock, no launch fee, electric motors only
- Five Mile Creek Wildlife Access on Auglaize RiverAuglaize River, concrete ramp, 1 lane, 64 trailer spaces, courtesy dock, no launch fee, unlimited horsepower
- Independence Dam State Park Marina on Maumee RiverMaumee River, concrete ramp, 4 lanes, 97 trailer spaces, courtesy dock, no launch fee, unlimited horsepower
- Oxbow Lake Wildlife AreaOxbow Lake, boat ramp, 22 trailer spaces, courtesy dock, no launch fee, unlimited horsepower, no wake
- Pontiac Park Boat Ramp on Maumee RiverMaumee River, concrete ramp, 1 lane, 15 trailer spaces, courtesy dock, no launch fee, unlimited horsepower
ODNR Parks and Watercraft launch facilities, ODNR Division of Wildlife fishing access points and ODNR Office of Coastal Management Lake Erie access; retrieved October 2026.
Ohio records and ODNR plants for Defiance County
83 ODNR stocking entries cover 2 lakes in the county between 1970 and 2022, chiefly 804,054 saugeye, 574,350 yellow perch, 46,069 largemouth bass, 32,665 channel catfish.
The newest Defiance County stocking rows
| Year | Water | Species | Number and size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Defiance Reservoir | Saugeye | 74,550 fry |
| 2022 | Defiance Reservoir | Saugeye | 37,350 fry |
| 2022 | Defiance Reservoir | Yellow Perch | 36,750 fry |
| 2022 | Defiance Reservoir | Yellow Perch | 36,000 fry |
| 2021 | Defiance Reservoir | Saugeye | 73,108 fry |
| 2021 | Defiance Reservoir | Yellow Perch | 75,000 fry |
| 2020 | Defiance Reservoir | Saugeye | 7,450 fingerlings |
| 2020 | Defiance Reservoir | Yellow Perch | 37,500 fry |
| 2019 | Defiance Reservoir | Saugeye | 149,040 fry |
| 2019 | Defiance Reservoir | Yellow Perch | 37,500 fry |
Defiance County catches in the Ohio record list
| Species | Weight | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sucker (other than buffalo) | 11.21 lb | Maumee River | 2007 |
| Sauger | 7.31 lb | Maumee River | 1981 |
ODNR Division of Wildlife Ohio Fish Stocking Records (public copy of the DataOhio dataset, current as of May 31, 2022; numbers by water, year, species and life stage); ODNR Rainbow Trout Stocking Dates page, spring 2026 releases (trout 10 to 13 inches); Outdoor Writers of Ohio record fish list. Retrieved October 2026.
Ohio limits that govern Defiance County
Outside any listed exception, Defiance County waters use the statewide inland table.
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Blue & Flathead Catfish (under 35 inches) | No daily limit | Open year-round |
| Blue & Flathead Catfish (35 inches or larger) | 1 of each (statewide); minimum 35 inches | Open year-round |
| Channel Catfish (under 28 inches) | No daily limit | Open year-round |
| Channel Catfish (28 inches or larger) | 1 (statewide); minimum 28 inches | Open year-round |
| Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass | 5 (singly or in combination); minimum 12 inches | Open year-round |
| Muskellunge | 1 | Open year-round |
| Striped, Hybrid-Striped, & White Bass | 30 (singly or in combination); minimum No more than 4 over 15 inches | Open year-round |
| Trout | 5 (singly or in combination) | Open year-round |
| Walleye, Sauger, & Saugeye | 6 (singly or in combination) | Open year-round |
| Yellow Perch | 30 | Open year-round |
Limits as printed in the 2026-27 Ohio Fishing Regulations (ODNR Division of Wildlife Publication 5085, effective March 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027) and the ODNR Lake Erie walleye and yellow perch daily limits sheet (May 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027); retrieved October 26, 2026. Site-specific rules as printed in the 2026-27 Ohio Fishing Regulations (ODNR Division of Wildlife Publication 5085, effective March 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027) (booklet PDF), page numbers in the booklet.
Where to buy bait and book a captain in Defiance County
Defiance County bait, tackle and dock slips
- Oxbow Bait & Archery Suppliesbait and tackle shop, Defiance
Yellow Pages and chain store listings, charter and guide listings (county of business); retrieved October 2026.
Near Defiance County
Defiance County communities to base a trip from
- Defiancepop. 17,066
- Hicksvillepop. 3,431
Counties a short drive from Defiance County
- Paulding County15 miles south
- Williams County18 miles north
- Henry County22 miles east
- Fulton County27 miles northeast
Piscifun reels to stow for Defiance County
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Camera views of fishing water by Defiance County
Photo: Nyttend, Public domain
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Tim Kiser, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Photo: Dustin M. Ramsey, Attribution
Angling around Defiance County, in questions
Where can a trailered boat go in around Defiance County?
Count 5 public launches, of which 4 are concrete.
Which reservoir in Defiance County is the big one?
Defiance Reservoir, 73 acres by its ODNR outline.
Are there motor rules on Defiance County lakes?
Motor limits apply at 2 lakes, 1 electric-only.
Which Defiance County counters stock hooks, line and lures?
1 listings, among them Oxbow Bait & Archery Supplies.
How many guides are based in Defiance County?
None list the county; see the guides page.
Which Ohio community holds the Defiance County courthouse?
It is Defiance.
How much is an Ohio license for Defiance County?
From the 16th birthday on, Ohio charges $25.00 (resident), $76.96 (nonresident) or $10.00 (resident senior) for a year of fishing.
Where else is close to Defiance County?
Try Paulding County, Williams County and Henry County.
Which ODNR office handles Defiance County?
The county belongs to ODNR Wildlife District Two (Findlay office).
Give a morning to Defiance County lakes
River pages list access points and gauges.