Fishing in Williams County, Ohio
Seat: Bryan. Fish management by ODNR Wildlife District Two (Findlay office).
- 7lake pages
- 6launches
- 2river pages
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Angling across Williams County at a glance
With 37,102 residents counted in 2020, Williams County is governed from Bryan. Its surface splits into 421 square miles of land and 2.4 of water in Census figures. For fish management the county reports to ODNR Wildlife District Two (Findlay office).
The county counts 7 lake pages and 283 acres of ODNR-mapped water, Nettle Lake the largest. Horsepower notes apply on 5 county lakes, and 1 allow electric motors only. 2 lakes here hold 3 ODNR fish attractors between them. ODNR and local operators run 6 public launches here, 5 with a concrete lane, and the lots that report spaces hold 45 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 Williams County
ODNR launch and fishing-access points, ODNR lake outlines (representative points) and ODNR stream access points. Checked October 2026.
Williams County reservoirs and lakes by acreage
| Lake | Acres | Launches | Motor rule | Fish on record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nettle Lake | 115 | 2 | unlimited horsepower | bowfin, northern pike, channel catfish |
| La Su An La Su An | 79 | 1 | unlimited horsepower, no wake | |
| McKarns Lake | 40 | 0 | northern pike, steelhead, walleye | |
| Barton Lake | 19 | 0 | ||
| La Su An Lavere | 15 | 1 | 10 HP limit | |
| La Su An Sue | 10 | 1 | electric motors only | |
| La Su An Ann | 5 | 1 | 10 HP limit | steelhead, bluegill, 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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- Tiffin River5 ODNR access points, USGS gauge
- St. Joseph River3 ODNR access points
Current USGS numbers across Williams County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Tiffin River At Stryker Oh | 94 cfs, 3.70 ft gage height | Nov 12 9:15 pm |
| West Branch St. Joseph River Nr Nettle Lake, Oh | 19 cfs, 4.70 ft gage height | Nov 12 9:00 pm |
| St Joseph River At Montpelier Oh | 3.98 ft gage height | Nov 12 8:30 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 12, 2026 9:33 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 Williams County water is reachable
- Lake An Handicap Area on La Su An AnnLa Su An Ann, concrete ramp, 1 lane, 7 trailer spaces, courtesy dock, no launch fee, 10 HP limit
- Lake La Su An launch on La Su An La Su AnLa Su An La Su An, concrete ramp, 1 lane, 7 trailer spaces, courtesy dock, no launch fee, unlimited horsepower, no wake
- Lake Lavere launch on La Su An LavereLa Su An Lavere, concrete ramp, 1 lane, 3 trailer spaces, courtesy dock, no launch fee, 10 HP limit
- Lake Sue launch on La Su An SueLa Su An Sue, concrete ramp, 1 lane, 7 trailer spaces, courtesy dock, no launch fee, electric motors only
- Nettle Lake Fishing AccessNettle Lake, boat ramp, 11 trailer spaces, courtesy dock, no launch fee, unlimited horsepower
- Shady Shores Marina on Nettle LakeNettle Lake, concrete ramp, 1 lane, 10 trailer spaces, courtesy dock, 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 Williams County
80 ODNR stocking entries cover 3 lakes in the county between 1970 and 2022, chiefly 186,391 yellow perch, 68,945 rainbow trout, 63,340 channel catfish, 54,015 walleye.
The newest Williams County stocking rows
| Year | Water | Species | Number and size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Mckarns Lake | Rainbow Trout | 2,001 catchable |
| 2022 | Nettle Lake | Yellow Perch | 28,985 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Mckarns Lake | Rainbow Trout | 2,000 catchable |
| 2021 | Nettle Lake | Yellow Perch | 30,277 fingerlings |
| 2020 | Mckarns Lake | Rainbow Trout | 2,002 catchable |
| 2020 | Mckarns Lake | Rainbow Trout | 2,115 catchable |
| 2020 | Nettle Lake | Channel Catfish | 5,782 fingerlings |
| 2020 | Nettle Lake | Yellow Perch | 28,966 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Mckarns Lake | Rainbow Trout | 1,151 catchable |
| 2019 | Mckarns Lake | Rainbow Trout | 853 catchable |
Williams County catches in the Ohio record list
| Species | Weight | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Pike | 22.78 lb | McKarns Lake | 2016 |
| Bowfin | 11.69 lb | Nettle Lake | 1987 |
| Green Sunfish | 1.35 lb | Williams County farm pond | 2026 |
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 Williams County
Outside any listed exception, Williams 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 |
Booklet exceptions in Williams County (1)
| Water | Species | Limit and size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Su An (Lake La Su An Wildlife Area, Williams County) | Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass | 5; minimum 18 inches | May 1, 2026 – Sept. 7, 2026 (area open to fishing) |
| La Su An (Lake La Su An Wildlife Area, Williams County) | Sunfish | 15 | May 1, 2026 – Sept. 7, 2026 (area open to fishing) |
| La Su An (Lake La Su An Wildlife Area, Williams County) | Channel Catfish | 2 | May 1, 2026 – Sept. 7, 2026 (area open to fishing) |
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 Williams County
Williams County bait, tackle and dock slips
- William's County Outdoor Supplybait and tackle shop, Bryan
Yellow Pages and chain store listings, charter and guide listings (county of business); retrieved October 2026.
Near Williams County
Williams County communities to base a trip from
- Bryanpop. 8,729
- Montpelierpop. 3,942
- Edgertonpop. 1,881
- West Unitypop. 1,763
- Pioneerpop. 1,429
- Strykerpop. 1,259
Counties a short drive from Williams County
- Defiance County18 miles south
- Fulton County24 miles east
- Paulding County31 miles south
- Henry County31 miles southeast
Piscifun reels to stow for Williams County
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Photo ID for the fish of Williams County
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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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
Angling around Williams County, in questions
Where can a trailered boat go in around Williams County?
Count 6 public launches, of which 5 are concrete.
Which reservoir in Williams County is the big one?
Nettle Lake, 115 acres by its ODNR outline.
Are there motor rules on Williams County lakes?
Motor limits apply at 5 lakes, 1 electric-only.
Which Williams County counters stock hooks, line and lures?
1 listings, among them William's County Outdoor Supply.
How many guides are based in Williams County?
None list the county; see the guides page.
Which Ohio community holds the Williams County courthouse?
It is Bryan.
How much is an Ohio license for Williams 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 Williams County?
Try Defiance County, Fulton County and Paulding County.
Which ODNR office handles Williams County?
The county belongs to ODNR Wildlife District Two (Findlay office).
Does the booklet list exceptions for Williams County?
The booklet prints 1 site-specific entry for the county, starting with La Su An (Lake La Su An Wildlife Area, Williams County); the table above shows each.
Give a morning to Williams County lakes
River pages list access points and gauges.