Bresler Reservoir Fishing
A 583-acre Ohio reservoir in Allen County, electric motors only.
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What ODNR maps at Bresler Reservoir
Anglers get 583 acres of reservoir at Bresler Reservoir, a water of Allen County on the ODNR map. Its mapped shoreline runs about 3.7 miles. Gas, food and lodging are nearest in Elida, roughly 4 miles away. ODNR Wildlife District Two (Findlay office) covers this water.
Expect electric motors only on the water. ODNR hot-spot maps mark catfish, crappie, saugeye/walleye, smallmouth bass, sunfish and yellow perch. The launch inventory shows 1 public launch.
ODNR Division of Wildlife lake outlines (acres and shoreline miles), horsepower and fish hot-spot layers, Census places, retrieved October 26, 2026.
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ODNR sources connect these fish with Bresler Reservoir; others may swim there unlisted.
ODNR fish hot-spot layers, ODNR stocking records and Outdoor Writers of Ohio records, retrieved October 26, 2026.
Ohio launches on Bresler Reservoir
- Bresler Reservoir launchconcrete ramp, 2 lanes, 37 trailer spaces, courtesy dock, no launch fee, electric motors only; Lima Parks, Recreation & Forestry Department
Boat ramps in the area of Bresler Reservoir
- Agerter Road River Access on Auglaize RiverAuglaize River, 4 miles west
- Lost Creek Reservoir launchLost Creek Reservoir, 9 miles east
- Lima Lake – Ottawa Metro ParkLima Lake, 10 miles east
- Ferguson Reservoir launch on Metzger ReservoirMetzger Reservoir, 10 miles east
- Metzer Reservoir launch on Metzger ReservoirMetzger Reservoir, 10 miles east
ODNR Parks and Watercraft boating facilities and DOW facility points, retrieved October 26, 2026.
Ohio limits at Bresler Reservoir
| Species | Daily limit and size | 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 |
At Bresler Reservoir the inland table holds, with any site-specific line overriding it.
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.
Hatchery fish released into Bresler Reservoir
Between 1970 and 2022, ODNR logged 177 stocking entries for Bresler Reservoir, led by 9,382,739 yellow perch, 5,107,504 walleye, 434,040 channel catfish.
| Year | Species | Number | Size or stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Walleye | 116,472 | fingerlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 88,298 | fingerlings |
| 2022 | Yellow Perch | 292,500 | fry |
| 2022 | Yellow Perch | 289,500 | fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 13,258 | fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 45,284 | fingerlings |
| 2021 | Yellow Perch | 375,000 | fry |
| 2021 | Yellow Perch | 375,000 | fry |
| 2020 | Walleye | 36,863 | fingerlings |
| 2020 | Walleye | 21,652 | fingerlings |
| 2020 | Yellow Perch | 292,500 | fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 80,752 | fingerlings |
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); retrieved October 26, 2026.
The closest lakes to Bresler Reservoir, side by side
Size-wise, Williams Reservoir leads the neighbors at 426 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Motor rule | Hot-spot species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bresler Reservoir | 583 | 1 | electric motors only | 6 | |
| Williams Reservoir | under a mile west | 426 | 0 | 0 | |
| Lost Creek Reservoir | 9 miles east | 130 | 1 | electric motors only | 0 |
| Metzger Reservoir | 10 miles east | 157 | 2 | electric motors only | 6 |
| Lima Lake | 10 miles east | 88 | 1 | electric motors only | 0 |
| Ferguson Reservoirs | 10 miles east | 308 | 0 | electric motors only | 6 |
ODNR lake outlines, horsepower and hot-spot layers and the launch inventory, retrieved October 26, 2026.
A short hop from Bresler Reservoir
More ODNR lakes within reach of Bresler Reservoir
- Williams Reservoirunder a mile west
- Lost Creek Reservoir9 miles east
- Metzger Reservoir10 miles east
- Lima Lake10 miles east
- Ferguson Reservoirs10 miles east
Bait and tackle counters serving Bresler Reservoir
- Milans Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Lima, 9 miles
- Riverside Outdoorsbait and tackle shop, Mendon, 16 miles
- Grand Lake Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Saint Marys, 16 miles
- The Outdoorsmanbait and tackle shop, Saint Marys, 16 miles
- Kozy Marinamarina, Celina, 18 miles
- Bait Shore & Morebait and tackle shop, Van Wert, 21 miles
Overnight options around Bresler Reservoir
- Elida4 miles
- Fort Shawnee6 miles
- Lima6 miles
The county guides that include Bresler Reservoir
- Allen Countyseat: Lima
Piscifun picks for a run at Bresler Reservoir
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Lakes, rivers and shore close to Bresler Reservoir, pictured
Photo: Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Sam Costanzo, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Photo: Dph414, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Nyttend, Public domain
Ask-and-answer notes on Bresler Reservoir
Which ODNR district covers Bresler Reservoir?
Ohio anglers find it in Allen County, ODNR Wildlife District Two (Findlay office), about 4 miles from Elida.
How much water does Bresler Reservoir hold at the surface?
About 583 acres, with about 3.7 miles of shoreline.
Where is the boat ramp at Bresler Reservoir?
Yes, 1 public launch, including Bresler Reservoir launch.
Which fish do ODNR files connect with Bresler Reservoir?
Listed fish: catfish, crappie, saugeye/walleye, smallmouth bass, sunfish, yellow perch and walleye.
What can go in the cooler at Bresler Reservoir under Ohio rules?
Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass: 5 (singly or in combination); minimum 12 inches; Open year-round.
Can an out-of-state visitor fish Bresler Reservoir?
Anglers 16 and older need an Ohio fishing license: $25.00 a year for residents, $76.96 for nonresidents and $10.00 for residents 65 and older.
What motor rule applies at Bresler Reservoir?
Posted rule: electric motors only.
Which listed shop is the shortest drive from Bresler Reservoir?
Milans Bait Shop, about 9 miles away.
Is Bresler Reservoir on the stocking records?
From 1970 to 2022: 177 releases, yellow perch first.
Circle a date for Bresler Reservoir
License prices and the full ODNR limit tables are on one page.