Paint Creek Lake Fishing
A 1,177-acre Ohio lake in Highland County and Ross County, unlimited horsepower.
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Paint Creek Lake by the ODNR numbers
Inside Highland County and Ross County, Paint Creek Lake covers 1,177 acres on the ODNR lake map. Its edge measures near 27.8 miles on the Division of Wildlife map. From the lake point, Greenfield is the nearest place at about 6 miles. It belongs to ODNR Wildlife District Five (Xenia office).
Outboards follow a limit of unlimited horsepower. Launching is possible at 3 public launches. ODNR has sunk 4 fish attractors in it. ODNR gives it 2 site-specific entries of its own.
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 Paint Creek Lake
Species shown for Paint Creek 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.
Where ODNR sank cover in Paint Creek Lake
Cover at Paint Creek Lake includes 4 ODNR attractor sites, placed in 2020, from 8 to 12 feet deep.
| Site | Type | Points | Depth | Year placed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Spider Blocks | Tubes | 2 | 8 to 12 ft | 2020 |
| 25 Spider Blocks | Tubes | 2 | 8 to 12 ft | 2020 |
ODNR DOW Lake Fishing layer, fish attractors (type, year, depth as mapped), retrieved October 26, 2026.
Launch sites on the shore of Paint Creek Lake
- Paint Creek State Park – Deer Park Rampconcrete ramp, 3 lanes, 100 trailer spaces, courtesy dock, no launch fee, unlimited horsepower; ODNR Division of Parks & Recreation
- Paint Creek State Park – Rattlesnake Rampconcrete ramp, 2 lanes, 72 trailer spaces, courtesy dock, no launch fee, unlimited horsepower; ODNR Division of Parks & Recreation
- Paint Creek State Park – (Campground) Taylor Rd.Rampconcrete ramp, 2 lanes, 40 trailer spaces, courtesy dock, no launch fee, unlimited horsepower; ODNR Division of Parks & Recreation
Backup ramps around Paint Creek Lake
- Rocky Fork State Park – East Shore DriveRocky Fork Lake, 6 miles southwest
- Rocky Fork State Park – East Shore MarinaRocky Fork Lake, 6 miles southwest
- Rocky Fork State Park – North Beach Launch RampRocky Fork Lake, 7 miles southwest
- Rocky Fork State Park – South BeachRocky Fork Lake, 8 miles southwest
- Rocky Fork State Park – Fishermans WharfRocky Fork Lake, 9 miles southwest
- Rocky Fork State Park – Campground RampRocky Fork Lake, 9 miles southwest
ODNR Parks and Watercraft boating facilities and DOW facility points, retrieved October 26, 2026.
Booklet rows for Paint Creek 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 Paint Creek Lake, start from the statewide inland rows shown here.
Booklet rules written for Paint Creek Lake
| Water as printed | Species | Limit and size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paint Creek Lake | Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass | 4 fish split daily limit; minimum 2 fish less than 15 inches, & 2 fish 15 inches or longer | Open year-round |
| Paint Creek Lake | Black & White Crappie | 30; minimum 9 inches | Open year-round |
| Paint Creek | Paddlefish | Possession is prohibited | Open year-round |
Site-specific rules as printed in the 2026-27 Ohio Fishing Regulations (ODNR Division of Wildlife Publication 5085, effective March 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027) (booklet PDF), page numbers in the booklet.
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.
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From 1982 to 2021 the Ohio stocking file holds 90 lines for Paint Creek Lake, with 9,940,613 saugeye, 100 channel catfish at the head.
| Year | Species | Number | Size or stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Saugeye | 117,843 | fingerlings |
| 2020 | Saugeye | 78,711 | fingerlings |
| 2020 | Saugeye | 98,235 | fingerlings |
| 2019 | Saugeye | 1,153,960 | fry |
| 2019 | Saugeye | 56,103 | fingerlings |
| 2019 | Saugeye | 120,537 | fingerlings |
| 2019 | Saugeye | 105,542 | fingerlings |
| 2018 | Saugeye | 25,760 | fingerlings |
| 2018 | Saugeye | 56,978 | fingerlings |
| 2017 | Saugeye | 97,899 | fingerlings |
| 2017 | Saugeye | 85,099 | fingerlings |
| 2016 | Saugeye | 108,864 | 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.
Heaviest Ohio fish caught at Paint Creek Lake
| Species | Weight | Length | Angler | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carp (Common) | 50 lb | 40" | Judson Holton, Chillicothe | May 24, 1967 |
Outdoor Writers of Ohio, Ohio Record Fish page, retrieved October 26, 2026. All Ohio records.
Nearby Ohio lakes measured against Paint Creek Lake
Rocky Fork Lake tops the nearby list for size at 1,953 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Motor rule | Hot-spot species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paint Creek Lake | 1,177 | 3 | unlimited horsepower | 0 | |
| Rocky Fork Lake | 7 miles southwest | 1,953 | 6 | unlimited horsepower | 0 |
| Lake White | 23 miles southeast | 333 | 3 | unlimited horsepower | 0 |
| Caldwell Lake | 24 miles east | 10 | 1 | electric motors only | 0 |
| Ross Lake | 26 miles east | 127 | 1 | electric motors only | 0 |
| Deer Creek Lake | 26 miles north | 1,301 | 2 | Electric Only, Unlimited | 0 |
ODNR lake outlines, horsepower and hot-spot layers and the launch inventory, retrieved October 26, 2026.
Near Paint Creek Lake
Ohio reservoirs around Paint Creek Lake
- Rocky Fork Lake7 miles southwest
- Lake White23 miles southeast
- Caldwell Lake24 miles east
- Ross Lake26 miles east
- Deer Creek Lake26 miles north
Minnows, crawlers and line for Paint Creek Lake
- Cole's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Bainbridge, 3 miles
- Crossroads Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Greenfield, 4 miles
- Automotive Solutions & Marine Servicemarina, New Vienna, 16 miles
- Bill's Bait Housebait and tackle shop, Waverly, 22 miles
- Dailey's Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Peebles, 23 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods Chillicothesporting goods store, Chillicothe, 23 miles
Home bases within reach of Paint Creek Lake
- Greenfield6 miles
- Leesburg10 miles
- Hillsboro12 miles
Ohio counties around Paint Creek Lake
- Highland Countyseat: Hillsboro
- Ross Countyseat: Chillicothe
Piscifun reels to stow for Paint Creek Lake
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Shorelines and reservoirs by Paint Creek Lake, photographed
Photo: Aesopposea, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Steven Miller, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Nyttend, Public domain
Photo: Kyle Hartshorn, CC BY 2.0
Questions to settle before heading for Paint Creek Lake
Where in Ohio is Paint Creek Lake?
ODNR maps it in Highland County and Ross County, ODNR Wildlife District Five (Xenia office), about 6 miles from Greenfield.
What surface area does ODNR give Paint Creek Lake?
Some 1,177 acres of water, with about 27.8 miles of shoreline.
Which ramp has the most trailer parking at Paint Creek Lake?
There are 3 public launches; Paint Creek State Park – Deer Park Ramp leads the list.
Which Ohio gamefish does the record tie to Paint Creek Lake?
ODNR sources name carp (common), saugeye and channel catfish.
Is Paint Creek Lake named in the Ohio site-specific table?
Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass: 5 (singly or in combination); minimum 12 inches; Open year-round. One or more lines in the booklet override that here, printed above.
Do I need an Ohio license at Paint Creek 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 Paint Creek Lake?
The horsepower layer shows unlimited horsepower.
Who sells minnows on the road to Ohio's Paint Creek Lake?
Drive about 3 miles to Cole's Bait & Tackle.
What has ODNR stocked in Paint Creek Lake?
ODNR records 90 releases through 2021, most of them saugeye.
Has Paint Creek Lake produced an Ohio record?
Carp (Common), 50 lb, by Judson Holton (May 24, 1967).
Where is the structure in Paint Creek Lake?
Yes: 4 mapped attractor points.
Give an Ohio weekend to Paint Creek Lake
Check the daily limit before a fish goes in the cooler.