McKarns Lake Fishing
A 40-acre Ohio lake in Williams County.
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McKarns Lake by the ODNR numbers
Inside Williams County, McKarns Lake covers 40 acres on the ODNR lake map. Its edge measures near 1.2 miles on the Division of Wildlife map. From the lake point, Montpelier is the nearest place at about 4 miles. It belongs to ODNR Wildlife District Two (Findlay office).
ODNR has sunk 1 fish attractors in it.
ODNR Division of Wildlife lake outlines (acres and shoreline miles), horsepower and fish hot-spot layers, Census places, retrieved October 26, 2026.
Ohio fish roster for McKarns Lake
Species shown for McKarns Lake come from Division of Wildlife layers and the stocking ledger.
ODNR fish hot-spot layers, ODNR stocking records and Outdoor Writers of Ohio records, retrieved October 26, 2026.
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Cover at McKarns Lake includes 1 ODNR attractor sites, from to feet deep.
| Site | Type | Points | Depth | Year placed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 spider structures | Tubes | 1 |
ODNR DOW Lake Fishing layer, fish attractors (type, year, depth as mapped), retrieved October 26, 2026.
Launch sites on the shore of McKarns Lake
Without a mapped ramp on McKarns Lake, use one of the nearby launches below.
Backup ramps around McKarns Lake
- Lake La Su An launch on La Su An La Su AnLa Su An La Su An, 9 miles north
- Shady Shores Marina on Nettle LakeNettle Lake, 9 miles northwest
- Nettle Lake Fishing AccessNettle Lake, 9 miles northwest
- Lake An Handicap Area on La Su An AnnLa Su An Ann, 10 miles north
- Lake Sue launch on La Su An SueLa Su An Sue, 10 miles north
- Lake Lavere launch on La Su An LavereLa Su An Lavere, 10 miles north
ODNR Parks and Watercraft boating facilities and DOW facility points, retrieved October 26, 2026.
Booklet rows for McKarns 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 |
For McKarns Lake, start from the statewide inland rows shown here.
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.
Ohio stocking ledger for McKarns Lake
From 2006 to 2022 the Ohio stocking file holds 25 lines for McKarns Lake, with 64,750 rainbow trout, 25,806 walleye, 1,541 largemouth bass at the head.
| Year | Species | Number | Size or stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Rainbow Trout | 2,001 | catchable |
| 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 2,000 | catchable |
| 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 2,002 | catchable |
| 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 2,115 | catchable |
| 2019 | Rainbow Trout | 1,151 | catchable |
| 2019 | Rainbow Trout | 853 | catchable |
| 2018 | Rainbow Trout | 2,245 | catchable |
| 2018 | Rainbow Trout | 1,520 | catchable |
| 2017 | Rainbow Trout | 2,007 | catchable |
| 2016 | Brown Trout | 1,129 | yearling |
| 2016 | Rainbow Trout | 2,020 | catchable |
| 2015 | Rainbow Trout | 2,918 | 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.
Heaviest Ohio fish caught at McKarns Lake
| Species | Weight | Length | Angler | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pike, Northern | 22.78 lb | 45" | Troy Klingler, Stryker | Sept. 24, 2016 |
Outdoor Writers of Ohio, Ohio Record Fish page, retrieved October 26, 2026. All Ohio records.
Nearby Ohio lakes measured against McKarns Lake
Nettle Lake tops the nearby list for size at 115 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Motor rule | Hot-spot species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McKarns Lake | 40 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Barton Lake | under a mile northeast | 19 | 0 | 0 | |
| La Su An La Su An | 9 miles north | 79 | 1 | unlimited horsepower, no wake | 0 |
| La Su An Sue | 10 miles north | 10 | 1 | electric motors only | 0 |
| La Su An Ann | 10 miles north | 5 | 1 | 10 HP limit | 0 |
| Nettle Lake | 10 miles northwest | 115 | 2 | unlimited horsepower | 0 |
ODNR lake outlines, horsepower and hot-spot layers and the launch inventory, retrieved October 26, 2026.
Near McKarns Lake
Ohio reservoirs around McKarns Lake
- Barton Lakeunder a mile northeast
- La Su An La Su An9 miles north
- La Su An Sue10 miles north
- La Su An Ann10 miles north
- Nettle Lake10 miles northwest
Minnows, crawlers and line for McKarns Lake
- William's County Outdoor Supplybait and tackle shop, Bryan, 8 miles
- Oxbow Bait & Archery Suppliesbait and tackle shop, Defiance, 20 miles
Home bases within reach of McKarns Lake
- Montpelier4 miles
- Bryan8 miles
- Edgerton9 miles
Ohio counties around McKarns Lake
- Williams Countyseat: Bryan
Piscifun reels to stow for McKarns Lake
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Shorelines and reservoirs by McKarns Lake, photographed
Photo: Nyttend, Public domain
Photo: Dustin M. Ramsey, Attribution
Photo: Nyttend, Public domain
Photo: Official Navy Page from United States of America MC1 Todd Stafford/U.S. Navy, Public domain
Questions to settle before heading for McKarns Lake
Where in Ohio is McKarns Lake?
ODNR maps it in Williams County, ODNR Wildlife District Two (Findlay office), about 4 miles from Montpelier.
What surface area does ODNR give McKarns Lake?
Some 40 acres of water, with about 1.2 miles of shoreline.
Which ramp has the most trailer parking at McKarns Lake?
Carry in, or use a launch from the nearby list.
Which Ohio gamefish does the record tie to McKarns Lake?
ODNR sources name northern pike, steelhead, walleye, largemouth bass and brown trout.
Is McKarns Lake named in the Ohio site-specific table?
Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass: 5 (singly or in combination); minimum 12 inches; Open year-round.
Do I need an Ohio license at McKarns 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.
Can I run a big outboard on McKarns Lake?
No rule is published; read the ramp signs.
Who sells minnows on the road to Ohio's McKarns Lake?
Drive about 8 miles to William's County Outdoor Supply.
What has ODNR stocked in McKarns Lake?
ODNR records 25 releases through 2022, most of them rainbow trout.
Has McKarns Lake produced an Ohio record?
Pike, Northern, 22.78 lb, by Troy Klingler (Sept. 24, 2016).
Where is the structure in McKarns Lake?
Yes: 1 mapped attractor points.
Give an Ohio weekend to McKarns Lake
Check the daily limit before a fish goes in the cooler.