Lima Lake Fishing
A 88-acre Ohio lake in Allen County, electric motors only.
Pick for steelheadPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of Auglaize River: Tim Kiser, CC BY-SA 4.0
Ohio notes on Lima Lake
Measured from its ODNR outline, Lima Lake holds 88 acres of water in Allen County. Shoreline on the ODNR outline totals about 1.5 miles. Lima is the closest Census place, about 4 miles from the outline point. Fisheries staff of ODNR Wildlife District Two (Findlay office) manage it.
The horsepower layer sets electric motors only. Trailers go in at 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.
Ohio fish found at Lima Lake
Tap a chip to open the Ohio page for that fish, as recorded at Lima Lake.
ODNR fish hot-spot layers, ODNR stocking records and Outdoor Writers of Ohio records, retrieved October 26, 2026.
For the steelhead herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 Ramps ODNR lists for Lima Lake
- Lima Lake – Ottawa Metro Parkconcrete ramp, 1 lane, 23 trailer spaces, courtesy dock, no launch fee, electric motors only; Johnny Appleseed Metro Park District
More public ramps near Lima Lake
- Metzer Reservoir launch on Metzger ReservoirMetzger Reservoir, under a mile south
- Ferguson Reservoir launch on Metzger ReservoirMetzger Reservoir, under a mile south
- Lost Creek Reservoir launchLost Creek Reservoir, 1 mile southwest
- Bresler Reservoir launchBresler Reservoir, 9 miles west
ODNR Parks and Watercraft boating facilities and DOW facility points, retrieved October 26, 2026.
How many fish to keep at Lima 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 |
Statewide inland rows cover Lima Lake 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 Lima Lake
ODNR stocking records list 120 releases into Lima Lake between 1972 and 2022; the largest totals are 472,802 saugeye, 197,920 yellow perch, 130,672 walleye.
| Year | Species | Number | Size or stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Rainbow Trout | 1,002 | catchable |
| 2022 | Saugeye | 9,103 | fingerlings |
| 2021 | Channel Catfish | 4,365 | fingerlings |
| 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 1,305 | catchable |
| 2021 | Saugeye | 9,049 | fingerlings |
| 2021 | Saugeye | 9,019 | fingerlings |
| 2021 | Yellow Perch | 22,144 | fingerlings |
| 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 1,309 | catchable |
| 2020 | Saugeye | 8,989 | fingerlings |
| 2020 | Yellow Perch | 17,915 | fingerlings |
| 2020 | Yellow Perch | 3,991 | fingerlings |
| 2019 | Channel Catfish | 4,368 | 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.
Sizing Lima Lake against its Ohio neighbors
If you want more room, Bresler Reservoir offers 583 acres within this group.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Motor rule | Hot-spot species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lima Lake | 88 | 1 | electric motors only | 0 | |
| Metzger Reservoir | under a mile south | 157 | 2 | electric motors only | 6 |
| Ferguson Reservoirs | 1 mile south | 308 | 0 | electric motors only | 6 |
| Lost Creek Reservoir | 1 mile southwest | 130 | 1 | electric motors only | 0 |
| Bresler Reservoir | 10 miles west | 583 | 1 | electric motors only | 6 |
| Williams Reservoir | 11 miles west | 426 | 0 | 0 |
ODNR lake outlines, horsepower and hot-spot layers and the launch inventory, retrieved October 26, 2026.
Beside Lima Lake
Other Ohio lakes close to Lima Lake
- Metzger Reservoirunder a mile south
- Ferguson Reservoirs1 mile south
- Lost Creek Reservoir1 mile southwest
- Bresler Reservoir10 miles west
- Williams Reservoir11 miles west
Bait shops a short drive from Lima Lake
- Milans Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Lima, 1 mile
- Black Swamp Marinamarina, Lakeview, 18 miles
- Let's Go Fishingbait and tackle shop, Lakeview, 18 miles
- Tanner's Marinemarina, Lakeview, 18 miles
- Mike's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Lakeview, 18 miles
- Lakeside Bass Pro Shopbait and tackle shop, Lakeview, 19 miles
Towns to sleep in near Lima Lake
- Lima4 miles
- Fort Shawnee7 miles
- Elida8 miles
Ohio county pages for Lima Lake
- Allen Countyseat: Lima
A Piscifun setup matched to Lima Lake
.jpg){kind=link}
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Spotting the fish of Lima Lake by photo
Photo: Mike Heine, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Ryan Somma, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: United States Fish and Wildlife Services, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
.jpg){kind=link}
Lima Lake, answered in short
How do I find Lima Lake on an Ohio map?
Its outline falls in Allen County, ODNR Wildlife District Two (Findlay office), about 4 miles from Lima.
Is Lima Lake a big lake by Ohio standards?
88 acres on the ODNR map, with about 1.5 miles of shoreline.
Is there a trailer ramp ODNR lists for Lima Lake?
1 public launch; Lima Lake – Ottawa Metro Park has the most trailer room on file.
What does the ODNR fish roster say about Lima Lake?
saugeye, steelhead, channel catfish, yellow perch, walleye and largemouth bass, by ODNR records.
How many bass may an Ohio angler keep from Lima Lake?
Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass: 5 (singly or in combination); minimum 12 inches; Open year-round.
What will an Ohio license set me back for Lima 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.
Does Ohio limit Lima Lake to electric motors?
Plan for electric motors only.
Where do Lima Lake anglers stock up?
Milans Bait Shop is nearest at 1 mile.
What year did ODNR last stock Lima Lake?
120 stocking lines, the latest year 2022, chiefly saugeye.
Drive the Ohio back roads to Lima Lake
Fees, seasons and site rules sit on the license page.