Charles Mill Lake Fishing
A 1,348-acre Ohio lake in Ashland County and Richland County, 10 HP limit.
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What ODNR maps at Charles Mill Lake
Anglers get 1,348 acres of lake at Charles Mill Lake, a water of Ashland County and Richland County on the ODNR map. Its mapped shoreline runs about 29.3 miles. Gas, food and lodging are nearest in Mifflin, under a mile away.
Expect 10 HP limit on the water. ODNR hot-spot maps mark catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, saugeye/walleye and sunfish. The launch inventory shows 2 public launches.
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 Charles Mill Lake; 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 Charles Mill Lake
- Charles Mill Boat Rampconcrete ramp, 1 lane, 28 trailer spaces, courtesy dock, no launch fee, 10 HP limit; Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District
- Charles Mill Lake Marina and Rampconcrete ramp, 2 lanes, 25 trailer spaces, courtesy dock, no launch fee, 10 HP limit; Charles Mill Marina
Boat ramps in the area of Charles Mill Lake
- Pleasant Hill MarinaPleasant Hill Reservoir, 8 miles south
- Mohican State Park on Mohican RiverMohican River, 12 miles southeast
ODNR Parks and Watercraft boating facilities and DOW facility points, retrieved October 26, 2026.
Ohio limits at Charles Mill Lake
| 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 Charles Mill Lake 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 Charles Mill Lake
Between 1970 and 2022, ODNR logged 133 stocking entries for Charles Mill Lake, led by 4,941,618 saugeye, 1,828,689 striped bass (male) x white bass (female), 827,838 hybrid-striped bass.
| Year | Species | Number | Size or stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Saugeye | 136,580 | fingerlings |
| 2021 | Saugeye | 134,914 | fingerlings |
| 2020 | Hybrid-Striped Bass | 71,029 | fingerlings |
| 2020 | Saugeye | 36,957 | fingerlings |
| 2020 | Saugeye | 139,007 | fingerlings |
| 2020 | Saugeye | 27,445 | fingerlings |
| 2019 | Hybrid-Striped Bass | 12,053 | fingerlings |
| 2019 | Hybrid-Striped Bass | 12,326 | fingerlings |
| 2019 | Saugeye | 97,832 | fingerlings |
| 2019 | Saugeye | 107,088 | fingerlings |
| 2019 | Saugeye | 67,592 | fingerlings |
| 2018 | Hybrid-Striped Bass | 53,964 | 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 Charles Mill Lake, side by side
Size-wise, Clear Fork Reservoir leads the neighbors at 1,034 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Motor rule | Hot-spot species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Mill Lake | 1,348 | 2 | 10 HP limit | 5 | |
| Pleasant Hill Reservoir | 9 miles south | 790 | 1 | unlimited horsepower | 6 |
| Clear Fork Reservoir | 15 miles west | 1,034 | 1 | unlimited horsepower | 5 |
| Shreve Lake | 18 miles east | 62 | 1 | electric motors only | 0 |
| Shelby Reservoir #3 | 18 miles northwest | 51 | 0 | 0 | |
| Knox Lake | 19 miles south | 491 | 3 | unlimited horsepower, no wake | 3 |
ODNR lake outlines, horsepower and hot-spot layers and the launch inventory, retrieved October 26, 2026.
A short hop from Charles Mill Lake
More ODNR lakes within reach of Charles Mill Lake
- Pleasant Hill Reservoir9 miles south
- Clear Fork Reservoir15 miles west
- Shreve Lake18 miles east
- Shelby Reservoir #318 miles northwest
- Knox Lake19 miles south
Bait and tackle counters serving Charles Mill Lake
- Mifflin Lakes Trading Postbait and tackle shop, Ashland, under a mile
- Pleasant Hill Marinamarina, Perrysville, 8 miles
- Fin Feather Fur Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Ashland, 9 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods Ontariosporting goods store, Ontario, 12 miles
- Grandpa's Tackle Boxbait and tackle shop, Fredericktown, 20 miles
- Apple Valley Marinamarina, Howard, 21 miles
Paid trips on Charles Mill Lake from Ohio
- Fat Boy Sportfishing Charterscharter, Lake Erie, Wellington, (440) 387-7676
- The Trout Clubfishing guide, Brinkhaven, (740) 824-4757
Overnight options around Charles Mill Lake
- Ashland8 miles
- Mansfield9 miles
- Loudonville11 miles
The county guides that include Charles Mill Lake
- Ashland Countyseat: Ashland
- Richland Countyseat: Mansfield
Piscifun picks for a run at Charles Mill Lake
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Lakes, rivers and shore close to Charles Mill Lake, pictured
Photo: Chris Rycroft, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Tim Kiser, CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: Aaron Zhu, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Photo: Aaron Zhu, CC BY-SA 3.0
Ask-and-answer notes on Charles Mill Lake
Which ODNR district covers Charles Mill Lake?
Ohio anglers find it in Ashland County and Richland County, under a mile from Mifflin.
How much water does Charles Mill Lake hold at the surface?
About 1,348 acres, with about 29.3 miles of shoreline.
Where is the boat ramp at Charles Mill Lake?
Yes, 2 public launches, including Charles Mill Boat Ramp.
Which fish do ODNR files connect with Charles Mill Lake?
Listed fish: catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, saugeye/walleye, sunfish, saugeye and hybrid striped bass.
What can go in the cooler at Charles Mill Lake 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 Charles Mill Lake?
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 Charles Mill Lake?
Posted rule: 10 HP limit.
Which listed shop is the shortest drive from Charles Mill Lake?
Mifflin Lakes Trading Post, under a mile away.
Is Charles Mill Lake on the stocking records?
From 1970 to 2022: 133 releases, saugeye first.
Circle a date for Charles Mill Lake
License prices and the full ODNR limit tables are on one page.