Lake Alma Fishing
A 68-acre Ohio lake in Vinton County, electric motors only.
Pick for channel catfishPiscifun LumiCat II catfish rod48% OFFSale $114.99 Photo: Dan Keck from Ohio, CC0 1.0
Ohio notes on Lake Alma
Measured from its ODNR outline, Lake Alma holds 68 acres of water in Vinton County. Shoreline on the ODNR outline totals about 2 miles. Hamden is the closest Census place, about 1 mile from the outline point. Fisheries staff of ODNR Wildlife District Four (Athens office) manage it.
The horsepower layer sets electric motors only. Trailers go in at 2 public launches. Divers and anglers will find 2 ODNR fish attractors on the bottom.
ODNR Division of Wildlife lake outlines (acres and shoreline miles), horsepower and fish hot-spot layers, Census places, retrieved October 26, 2026.
Ohio fish found at Lake Alma
Tap a chip to open the Ohio page for that fish, as recorded at Lake Alma.
ODNR fish hot-spot layers, ODNR stocking records and Outdoor Writers of Ohio records, retrieved October 26, 2026.
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The attractor layer shows 2 sites around Lake Alma, placed in 2018, from 10 to 14 feet deep.
| Site | Type | Points | Depth | Year placed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| x-mas tree bundles | Tree | 2 | 10 to 14 ft | 2018 |
ODNR DOW Lake Fishing layer, fish attractors (type, year, depth as mapped), retrieved October 26, 2026.
Ramps ODNR lists for Lake Alma
- Lake Alma State Parkconcrete ramp, 1 lane, 1 trailer spaces, courtesy dock, no launch fee, electric motors only; ODNR Division of Parks & Recreation
- Public launch on Lake Almahand launch; public
More public ramps near Lake Alma
- Wellston Wildlife Area on Lake RupertLake Rupert, 3 miles north
- Hammertown Reservoir launch on Hammertown City ReservoirHammertown City Reservoir, 11 miles southwest
ODNR Parks and Watercraft boating facilities and DOW facility points, retrieved October 26, 2026.
How many fish to keep at Lake Alma
| 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 |
Statewide inland rows cover Lake Alma unless a site-specific entry below changes them.
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.
What ODNR has stocked in Lake Alma
ODNR stocking records list 65 releases into Lake Alma between 1970 and 2022; the largest totals are 88,676 channel catfish, 31,924 largemouth bass, 18,329 rainbow trout.
| Year | Species | Number | Size or stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Rainbow Trout | 862 | catchable |
| 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 757 | catchable |
| 2020 | Channel Catfish | 1,696 | yearling |
| 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 750 | catchable |
| 2019 | Rainbow Trout | 750 | catchable |
| 2018 | Channel Catfish | 1,496 | yearling |
| 2018 | Rainbow Trout | 750 | catchable |
| 2017 | Rainbow Trout | 751 | catchable |
| 2016 | Channel Catfish | 786 | yearling |
| 2016 | Channel Catfish | 916 | yearling |
| 2016 | Rainbow Trout | 770 | catchable |
| 2015 | Rainbow Trout | 756 | 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); retrieved October 26, 2026.
Sizing Lake Alma against its Ohio neighbors
If you want more room, Lake Rupert offers 327 acres within this group.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Motor rule | Hot-spot species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Alma | 68 | 2 | electric motors only | 0 | |
| Lake Rupert | 3 miles north | 327 | 1 | unlimited horsepower, no wake | 5 |
| Lake Hope | 15 miles northeast | 121 | 1 | electric motors only | 4 |
| Jackson Lake | 16 miles south | 252 | 2 | 10 HP limit | 0 |
| Tycoon Lake | 17 miles southeast | 183 | 1 | electric motors only | 0 |
| Lake Snowden | 19 miles northeast | 143 | 1 | unlimited horsepower, no wake | 4 |
ODNR lake outlines, horsepower and hot-spot layers and the launch inventory, retrieved October 26, 2026.
Beside Lake Alma
Other Ohio lakes close to Lake Alma
- Lake Rupert3 miles north
- Lake Hope15 miles northeast
- Jackson Lake16 miles south
- Tycoon Lake17 miles southeast
- Lake Snowden19 miles northeast
Bait shops a short drive from Lake Alma
- Bidwell Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Bidwell, 19 miles
Towns to sleep in near Lake Alma
- Wellston2 miles
- McArthur7 miles
- Jackson10 miles
Ohio county pages for Lake Alma
- Vinton Countyseat: McArthur
A Piscifun setup matched to Lake Alma
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Spotting the fish of Lake Alma by photo
Photo: Cliff from Arlington, Virginia, USA, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Mike Heine, CC BY 4.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Lake Alma, answered in short
How do I find Lake Alma on an Ohio map?
Its outline falls in Vinton County, ODNR Wildlife District Four (Athens office), about 1 mile from Hamden.
Is Lake Alma a big lake by Ohio standards?
68 acres on the ODNR map, with about 2 miles of shoreline.
Is there a trailer ramp ODNR lists for Lake Alma?
2 public launches; Lake Alma State Park has the most trailer room on file.
What does the ODNR fish roster say about Lake Alma?
channel catfish, steelhead, largemouth bass and northern pike, by ODNR records.
How many bass may an Ohio angler keep from Lake Alma?
Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass: 5 (singly or in combination); minimum 12 inches; Open year-round.
What will an Ohio license set me back for Lake Alma?
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.
Does Ohio limit Lake Alma to electric motors?
Plan for electric motors only.
Where do Lake Alma anglers stock up?
Bidwell Bait & Tackle is nearest at 19 miles.
What year did ODNR last stock Lake Alma?
65 stocking lines, the latest year 2022, chiefly channel catfish.
Has ODNR added cover to Lake Alma?
The structure band maps 2 ODNR sites.
Drive the Ohio back roads to Lake Alma
Fees, seasons and site rules sit on the license page.