Fishing in Lawrence County, Ohio
Seat: Ironton.
- 1lake pages
- 8launches
- 1river pages
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Angling across Lawrence County at a glance
With 58,240 residents counted in 2020, Lawrence County is governed from Ironton. Its surface splits into 453 square miles of land and 3.9 of water in Census figures. 6 launches put boats on the Ohio River from this county, part of the Ohio River Eastern Unit (Ohio/West Virginia).
The county counts 1 lake pages and 98 acres of ODNR-mapped water, Timbre Ridge Lake the largest. Horsepower notes apply on 1 county lakes, and 1 allow electric motors only. 1 lake here hold 8 ODNR fish attractors between them. ODNR and local operators run 8 public launches here, 8 with a concrete lane, and the lots that report spaces hold 226 car-and-trailer rigs.
Census 2020 population and 2023 Gazetteer areas; ODNR Division of Wildlife lake outlines, horsepower and attractor layers, ODNR launch list; retrieved October 2026.
Pins for every launch and lake page in Lawrence County
ODNR launch and fishing-access points, ODNR lake outlines (representative points) and ODNR stream access points. Checked October 2026.
Lawrence County reservoirs and lakes by acreage
| Lake | Acres | Launches | Motor rule | Fish on record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timbre Ridge Lake | 98 | 1 | electric motors only | steelhead, channel catfish |
Lake pages just over the Lawrence County line, ranked by distance from Ironton.
| Lake | From Ironton | Acres | Launches | Motor rule | Fish on record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson Lake | 27 miles north | 252 | 2 | 10 HP limit | channel catfish, tiger muskellunge, largemouth bass |
| Pond Lick Lake | 29 miles northwest | 4 | 0 | ||
| Roosevelt Lake | 30 miles northwest | 15 | 1 | electric motors only | channel catfish, steelhead |
| Turkey Creek Lake | 31 miles northwest | 50 | 1 | electric motors only | steelhead, channel catfish, largemouth bass |
| Tycoon Lake | 32 miles northeast | 183 | 1 | electric motors only | channel catfish, largemouth bass, walleye |
| Lake Alma | 43 miles north | 68 | 2 | electric motors only | channel catfish, steelhead, largemouth bass |
ODNR Division of Wildlife lake outlines (acres), horsepower restrictions, fish hot-spot maps and stocking records; retrieved October 2026.
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- Symmes Creek5 ODNR access points, USGS gauge
Current USGS numbers across Lawrence County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio River At Ironton, Oh | 35,700 cfs, 34.31 ft gage height | Nov 12 7:00 pm |
| Symmes Creek At Aid Oh | 32 cfs, 5.75 ft gage height | Nov 12 7:00 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 12, 2026 7:33 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 Lawrence County water is reachable
- Lake Vesuvius Boat RampLake Vesuvius, concrete ramp, 2 lanes, 20 trailer spaces, courtesy dock, no launch fee, electric motors only
- Timbre Ridge Lake RampTimbre Ridge Lake, concrete ramp, 1 lane, 11 trailer spaces, no launch fee, electric motors only
- Center Street Landing on Ohio RiverOhio River, concrete ramp, 1 lane, 40 trailer spaces, no launch fee, unlimited horsepower
- Indian Guyan Creek Access on Ohio RiverOhio River, concrete ramp, 2 lanes, 30 trailer spaces, no launch fee, unlimited horsepower
- Old Lock and Dam # 27 launch on Ohio RiverOhio River, concrete ramp, 1 lane, 35 trailer spaces, no launch fee, unlimited horsepower
- Symmes Creek Boat Ramp on Ohio RiverOhio River, concrete ramp, 2 lanes, 50 trailer spaces, no launch fee, unlimited horsepower
- Village South Point on Ohio RiverOhio River, concrete ramp, 1 lane, 10 trailer spaces, no launch fee, unlimited horsepower
- Village of Coal Grove Boat Ramp on Ohio RiverOhio River, concrete ramp, 1 lane, 30 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 River launches in Lawrence County
This bank falls in the Ohio River Eastern Unit (Ohio/West Virginia); its rows follow.
| Species | Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black & White Crappie | OHIO REGULATIONS: shore anglers on the Ohio shoreline and all anglers in Ohio embayments and tributaries within the Eastern Unit | 30 (singly or in combination) | Open year-round |
| Walleye, Sauger, & Saugeye | OHIO REGULATIONS: shore anglers on the Ohio shoreline and all anglers in Ohio embayments and tributaries within the Eastern Unit | 6 (singly or in combination) | Open year-round |
| Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass | UNIFIED OHIO AND WEST VIRGINIA REGULATIONS: on or within a quarter mile of the Ohio River on its embayments and tributaries to the first riffle or dam | 6 (singly or in combination); minimum 12 inches | Open year-round |
| Muskellunge | UNIFIED OHIO AND WEST VIRGINIA REGULATIONS: on or within a quarter mile of the Ohio River on its embayments and tributaries to the first riffle or dam | 2; minimum 30 inches | Open year-round |
| Striped, Hybrid-Striped, & White Bass | UNIFIED OHIO AND WEST VIRGINIA REGULATIONS: on or within a quarter mile of the Ohio River on its embayments and tributaries to the first riffle or dam | 30 (no more than 4 over 15 inches) | Open year-round |
- Center Street Landing on Ohio Riverconcrete ramp, 1 lane, 40 trailer spaces, no launch fee, unlimited horsepower
- Indian Guyan Creek Access on Ohio Riverconcrete ramp, 2 lanes, 30 trailer spaces, no launch fee, unlimited horsepower
- Old Lock and Dam # 27 launch on Ohio Riverconcrete ramp, 1 lane, 35 trailer spaces, no launch fee, unlimited horsepower
- Symmes Creek Boat Ramp on Ohio Riverconcrete ramp, 2 lanes, 50 trailer spaces, no launch fee, unlimited horsepower
- Village South Point on Ohio Riverconcrete ramp, 1 lane, 10 trailer spaces, no launch fee, unlimited horsepower
- Village of Coal Grove Boat Ramp on Ohio Riverconcrete ramp, 1 lane, 30 trailer spaces, courtesy dock, no launch fee, unlimited horsepower
ODNR Ohio River launch list; 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.
Ohio records and ODNR plants for Lawrence County
57 ODNR stocking entries cover 1 lake in the county between 1996 and 2022, chiefly 46,240 rainbow trout, 31,608 channel catfish.
The newest Lawrence County stocking rows
| Year | Water | Species | Number and size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Timbre Ridge Lake | Rainbow Trout | 1,135 catchable |
| 2021 | Timbre Ridge Lake | Rainbow Trout | 1,008 catchable |
| 2020 | Timbre Ridge Lake | Channel Catfish | 670 yearling |
| 2020 | Timbre Ridge Lake | Channel Catfish | 1,757 yearling |
| 2020 | Timbre Ridge Lake | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 catchable |
| 2019 | Timbre Ridge Lake | Rainbow Trout | 1,002 catchable |
| 2018 | Timbre Ridge Lake | Channel Catfish | 2,001 yearling |
| 2018 | Timbre Ridge Lake | Rainbow Trout | 1,002 catchable |
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 Lawrence County
Outside any listed exception, Lawrence 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 Lawrence County
Lawrence County bait, tackle and dock slips
- Gone Fishing Live Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Ironton
- The Tackle Boxbait and tackle shop, South Point
- Wings Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, South Point
Yellow Pages and chain store listings, charter and guide listings (county of business); retrieved October 2026.
Near Lawrence County
Lawrence County communities to base a trip from
- Irontonpop. 10,571
- South Pointpop. 3,836
- Coal Grovepop. 1,889
Counties a short drive from Lawrence County
- Gallia County19 miles northeast
- Jackson County29 miles north
- Scioto County30 miles northwest
- Meigs County43 miles northeast
Piscifun reels to stow for Lawrence County
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Photo ID for the fish of Lawrence County
Photo: United States Fish and Wildlife Services, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: Mike Heine, CC BY 4.0
Hunting in Lawrence County
Public hunting land, seasons and processors for Lawrence County are on State Hunting Spots, our sister site.
Angling around Lawrence County, in questions
Where can a trailered boat go in around Lawrence County?
Count 8 public launches, of which 8 are concrete.
Which reservoir in Lawrence County is the big one?
Timbre Ridge Lake, 98 acres by its ODNR outline.
Are there motor rules on Lawrence County lakes?
Motor limits apply at 1 lake, 1 electric-only.
Which Lawrence County counters stock hooks, line and lures?
3 listings, among them Gone Fishing Live Bait & Tackle.
How many guides are based in Lawrence County?
None list the county; see the guides page.
Which Ohio community holds the Lawrence County courthouse?
It is Ironton.
How much is an Ohio license for Lawrence County?
From the 16th birthday on, Ohio charges $25.00 (resident), $76.96 (nonresident) or $10.00 (resident senior) for a year of fishing. For the Ohio River, an Ohio license covers the Ohio side; check the booklet before fishing a Kentucky or West Virginia embayment.
Where else is close to Lawrence County?
Try Gallia County, Jackson County and Scioto County.
Give a morning to Lawrence County lakes
River pages list access points and gauges.