Fishing in Portage County, Ohio
Seat: Ravenna. Fish management by ODNR Wildlife District Three (Akron office).
- 5lake pages
- 15launches
- 3river pages
Pick for steelheadPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of Berlin Lake: Eric Haake, CC BY 2.0
What Portage County holds for anglers
Ravenna serves as county seat for Portage County, home to 161,791 people in 2020. Water takes up 16.7 square miles beside 487 square miles of land. ODNR lists the county under ODNR Wildlife District Three (Akron office).
Still water with its own page: 5 lakes, 8,289 acres, Berlin Lake first by size. 5 of the lake pages carry an ODNR horsepower rule, 1 of them electric motors only. ODNR mapped 51 attractor sites across 3 county lakes. Count 15 public launches in all: 10 concrete and 679 trailer spaces among the lots that list them. Fall-to-spring steelhead fishing centers on Cuyahoga River.
Census 2020 population and 2023 Gazetteer areas; ODNR Division of Wildlife lake outlines, horsepower and attractor layers, ODNR launch list; retrieved October 2026.
For the steelhead herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 The Portage County fishing map
ODNR launch and fishing-access points, ODNR lake outlines (representative points) and ODNR stream access points. Checked October 2026.
Lake pages across Portage County
| Lake | Acres | Launches | Motor rule | Fish on record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berlin Lake | 3,344 | 5 | unlimited horsepower | catfish, crappie, largemouth bass |
| Michael J. Kirwan Reservoir | 2,738 | 5 | unlimited horsepower | |
| Mogadore Reservoir | 1,105 | 3 | electric motors only | catfish, crappie, sunfish |
| Dale Walborn Reservoir | 657 | 1 | 6 HP limit | channel catfish, walleye, largemouth bass |
| Wingfoot Lake | 445 | 2 | unlimited horsepower, no wake | channel catfish |
ODNR Division of Wildlife lake outlines (acres), horsepower restrictions, fish hot-spot maps and stocking records; retrieved October 2026.
Streams of Portage County with ODNR access
- Cuyahoga Riversteelhead stream (60,000 stocked a year), 1 launch, 39 ODNR access points, USGS gauge
- Mahoning River34 ODNR access points, USGS gauge
- West Branch Mahoning River6 ODNR access points, USGS gauge
Steelhead country in Portage County
ODNR plants steelhead yearlings in Cuyahoga River; the stocking table on each river page goes back to 2021.
Portage County river stages and flows
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Cuyahoga River At Hiram Rapids Oh | 88 cfs, 1.84 ft gage height | Nov 12 7:15 pm |
| West Branch Mahoning River At Wayland Oh | 52 cfs, 2.54 ft gage height | Nov 12 7:15 pm |
| West Branch Mahoning River Near Ravenna Oh | 14 cfs, 1.88 ft gage height | Sep 30 11:30 pm Not updated since Sep 30, 1993. |
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.
Portage County launches, piers and banks
- Berlin Reservoir Wildlife RampBerlin Lake, concrete ramp, 4 lanes, 94 trailer spaces, courtesy dock, no launch fee, unlimited horsepower
- Dutch Harbor on Berlin LakeBerlin Lake, concrete ramp, 1 lane, 25 trailer spaces, courtesy dock, launch fee, unlimited horsepower
- Lake Hodgson launchLake Hodgson, concrete ramp, 1 lane, 25 trailer spaces, launch fee, electric motors only
- Les's Bait launch on Berlin LakeBerlin Lake, concrete ramp, 5 lanes, 125 trailer spaces, courtesy dock, launch fee, unlimited horsepower
- Mill Creek Recreation Area on Berlin LakeBerlin Lake, concrete ramp, 4 lanes, 100 trailer spaces, launch fee, unlimited horsepower
- Mogadore Boat House launchMogadore Reservoir, concrete ramp, 1 lane, 10 trailer spaces, courtesy dock, no launch fee, electric motors only
- Mogadore Reservoir Boat Stake AreaMogadore Reservoir, concrete ramp, 1 lane, 12 trailer spaces, courtesy dock, no launch fee, electric motors only
- Ticknor Road Boat Ramp on Mogadore ReservoirMogadore Reservoir, boat ramp, 20 trailer spaces, no launch fee, electric motors only
- West Branch Campground Boat Ramp on Michael J. Kirwan ReservoirMichael J. Kirwan Reservoir, concrete ramp, 2 lanes, 50 trailer spaces, courtesy dock, no launch fee, unlimited horsepower
- West Branch State Park – East Ramp on Michael J. Kirwan ReservoirMichael J. Kirwan Reservoir, concrete ramp, 4 lanes, 112 trailer spaces, courtesy dock, no launch fee, unlimited horsepower
- West Branch State Park – Fishermans Lot on Michael J. Kirwan ReservoirMichael J. Kirwan Reservoir, gravel ramp, 3 lanes, 6 trailer spaces, no launch fee, unlimited horsepower
- West Branch State Park – West Ramp on Michael J. Kirwan ReservoirMichael J. Kirwan Reservoir, concrete ramp, 3 lanes, 100 trailer spaces, courtesy dock, no launch fee, unlimited horsepower
- Public launch on Michael J. Kirwan ReservoirMichael J. Kirwan Reservoir, boat ramp
- Public launch on Wingfoot Lake near Suffield (east)Wingfoot Lake, boat ramp
- Public launch on Wingfoot Lake near Suffield (west)Wingfoot Lake, boat ramp
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.
What ODNR stocked in Portage County, and the records
From 1970 through 2022, ODNR logged 175 stockings across 3 lakes here, led by 117,272,240 walleye, 105,446 channel catfish, 41,237 smallmouth bass, 210 muskellunge.
What ODNR stocked last in Portage County
| Year | Water | Species | Number and size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Berlin Lake | Walleye | 1,782,000 fry |
| 2022 | Berlin Lake | Walleye | 1,350,000 fry |
| 2022 | Berlin Lake | Walleye | 216,351 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Berlin Lake | Walleye | 76,784 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Berlin Lake | Walleye | 159,965 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Wingfoot Lake | Channel Catfish | 10,000 adv. fingerlings |
| 2021 | Berlin Lake | Walleye | 50,000 fry |
| 2021 | Berlin Lake | Walleye | 1,405,152 fry |
| 2021 | Berlin Lake | Walleye | 1,700,272 fry |
| 2021 | Berlin Lake | Walleye | 23,936 fingerlings |
Portage County in the Ohio record book
| Species | Weight | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowfin | 9.20 lb | Mogadore Reservoir | 2016 |
| Pumpkinseed Sunfish | 1.10 lb | Portage County farm pond | 2009 |
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.
Statewide and site limits in Portage County
Statewide inland limits cover Portage County, with the site-specific entries listed after them.
| 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.
Tournaments on Portage County water
2 published events name a launch in this county, 0 upcoming.
| Date | Event | Water | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 6, 2026 | Better Half Tour West Branch Battle (2026) | West Branch Reservoir | Better Half Tour |
| May 16, 2026 | OBF Region 3 Regional (2026) | West Branch Reservoir | Ohio Bass Federation (TBF) |
Organizer schedule and results pages (ODNR publishes no tournament calendar), checked October 2026.
Bait counters and charter captains of Portage County
Portage County stores that serve anglers
- Les's Bait Marcko Landingbait and tackle shop, Deerfield
- Mark Burkey's Live Baitbait and tackle shop, Ravenna
- Mark's Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Ravenna
- Ron's West Branch Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Ravenna
- West Branch Marinabait and tackle shop, Ravenna
- Aurora Shores Marinamarina, Aurora
- D & D Marine Servicesmarina, Aurora
- Popeye Marine Groupmarina, Mantua
Yellow Pages and chain store listings, charter and guide listings (county of business); retrieved October 2026.
In the orbit of Portage County
Towns and villages with pages in Portage County
- Kentpop. 28,215
- Streetsboropop. 17,260
- Aurorapop. 17,239
- Ravennapop. 11,323
- Brimfieldpop. 3,365
- Garrettsvillepop. 2,449
- Windhampop. 1,666
- Mantuapop. 1,001
Neighboring Ohio counties to Portage County
- Summit County18 miles west
- Geauga County23 miles north
- Trumbull County24 miles northeast
- Mahoning County25 miles southeast
Piscifun spinning and baitcasting gear for Portage County
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Shorelines and reservoirs by Portage County, photographed
Photo: Roseohioresident, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Roy Luck, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Jbarta, CC0 1.0
Photo: Steven Miller, CC BY 2.0
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Hunting in Portage County
Public hunting land, seasons and processors for Portage County are on State Hunting Spots, our sister site.
Sorting out a fishing day in Portage County
How many ODNR-listed launches dot Portage County?
15 public launches in all, 10 concrete.
What Portage County lake covers the most acres?
Berlin Lake, 3,344 acres by its ODNR outline.
Which Portage County lakes are electric only?
Check the motor column: 5 lakes have a rule, 1 electric only.
Is there a Buckeye bait counter in Portage County?
Les's Bait Marcko Landing heads 8 listings.
Do charters run out of Portage County?
No guide or charter lists a business here; the statewide guides page has the rest.
Which place is the Portage County seat?
The seat is Ravenna.
Which Ohio license covers a day on Portage County water?
A Buckeye fishing license runs $25.00 for residents, $76.96 for visitors from other states and $10.00 for residents 65 or older, starting at age 16.
What counties sit next to Portage County?
Neighbors by distance: Summit County, Geauga County and Trumbull County.
Which Wildlife District is Portage County in?
Fisheries work goes to ODNR Wildlife District Three (Akron office).
Do weigh-ins ever launch from Portage County ramps?
2 events on file from organizer pages, none still ahead.
Which Portage County river has a steelhead run?
Cuyahoga River, stocked through the ODNR steelhead program.
Hitch up for a Portage County lake day
Check the site rules before keeping fish.