Pleasant Hill Reservoir Fishing
A 790-acre Ohio reservoir in Richland County and Ashland County, unlimited horsepower.
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Ohio notes on Pleasant Hill Reservoir
Measured from its ODNR outline, Pleasant Hill Reservoir holds 790 acres of water in Richland County and Ashland County. Shoreline on the ODNR outline totals about 12.5 miles. Perrysville is the closest Census place, about 2 miles from the outline point. Fisheries staff of ODNR Wildlife District Two (Findlay office) manage it.
The horsepower layer sets unlimited horsepower. Division of Wildlife hot spots point to catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, saugeye/walleye, smallmouth bass and sunfish. Trailers go in at 1 public launch. Its limits differ from statewide in 1 site-specific entry.
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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Tap a chip to open the Ohio page for that fish, as recorded at Pleasant Hill Reservoir.
ODNR fish hot-spot layers, ODNR stocking records and Outdoor Writers of Ohio records, retrieved October 26, 2026.
Ramps ODNR lists for Pleasant Hill Reservoir
- Pleasant Hill Marinaconcrete ramp, 2 lanes, 77 trailer spaces, courtesy dock, no launch fee, unlimited horsepower; Pleasant Hill Marina
More public ramps near Pleasant Hill Reservoir
- Mohican State Park on Mohican RiverMohican River, 4 miles southeast
- Charles Mill Lake Marina and RampCharles Mill Lake, 9 miles north
- Charles Mill Boat RampCharles Mill Lake, 10 miles north
ODNR Parks and Watercraft boating facilities and DOW facility points, retrieved October 26, 2026.
How many fish to keep at Pleasant Hill Reservoir
| 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 Pleasant Hill Reservoir unless a site-specific entry below changes them.
Site-specific limits at Pleasant Hill Reservoir
| Water as printed | Species | Limit and size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pleasant Hill | Black & White Crappie | 30; minimum 9 inches | 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.
What ODNR has stocked in Pleasant Hill Reservoir
ODNR stocking records list 120 releases into Pleasant Hill Reservoir between 1970 and 2022; the largest totals are 6,700,965 saugeye, 279,635 walleye, 46,252 channel catfish.
| Year | Species | Number | Size or stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Saugeye | 156,794 | fingerlings |
| 2021 | Channel Catfish | 505 | catchable |
| 2021 | Saugeye | 24,766 | fingerlings |
| 2021 | Saugeye | 53,518 | fingerlings |
| 2021 | Saugeye | 78,541 | fingerlings |
| 2020 | Saugeye | 157,684 | fingerlings |
| 2019 | Saugeye | 26,680 | fingerlings |
| 2019 | Saugeye | 59,425 | fingerlings |
| 2019 | Saugeye | 75,802 | fingerlings |
| 2019 | Saugeye | 65,034 | fingerlings |
| 2018 | Channel Catfish | 1,000 | catchable |
| 2018 | Saugeye | 73,456 | 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 Pleasant Hill Reservoir against its Ohio neighbors
If you want more room, Charles Mill Lake offers 1,348 acres within this group.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Motor rule | Hot-spot species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pleasant Hill Reservoir | 790 | 1 | unlimited horsepower | 6 | |
| Charles Mill Lake | 9 miles north | 1,348 | 2 | 10 HP limit | 5 |
| Knox Lake | 13 miles southwest | 491 | 3 | unlimited horsepower, no wake | 3 |
| Shreve Lake | 15 miles east | 62 | 1 | electric motors only | 0 |
| Kokosing Lake | 16 miles southwest | 154 | 1 | 10 HP limit | 0 |
| Clear Fork Reservoir | 17 miles west | 1,034 | 1 | unlimited horsepower | 5 |
ODNR lake outlines, horsepower and hot-spot layers and the launch inventory, retrieved October 26, 2026.
Beside Pleasant Hill Reservoir
Other Ohio lakes close to Pleasant Hill Reservoir
- Charles Mill Lake9 miles north
- Knox Lake13 miles southwest
- Shreve Lake15 miles east
- Kokosing Lake16 miles southwest
- Clear Fork Reservoir17 miles west
Bait shops a short drive from Pleasant Hill Reservoir
- Pleasant Hill Marinamarina, Perrysville, 1 mile
- Mifflin Lakes Trading Postbait and tackle shop, Ashland, 10 miles
- Apple Valley Marinamarina, Howard, 12 miles
- Grandpa's Tackle Boxbait and tackle shop, Fredericktown, 14 miles
- Fin Feather Fur Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Ashland, 16 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods Ontariosporting goods store, Ontario, 18 miles
Ohio guide services around Pleasant Hill Reservoir
- Fat Boy Sportfishing Charterscharter, Lake Erie, Wellington, (440) 387-7676
- The Trout Clubfishing guide, Brinkhaven, (740) 824-4757
Towns to sleep in near Pleasant Hill Reservoir
- Loudonville5 miles
- Bellville10 miles
- Danville13 miles
Ohio county pages for Pleasant Hill Reservoir
- Richland Countyseat: Mansfield
- Ashland Countyseat: Ashland
A Piscifun setup matched to Pleasant Hill Reservoir
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Spotting the fish of Pleasant Hill Reservoir by photo

Photo: USFWSmidwest, Public domain

Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain

Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain

Photo: Mike Heine, CC BY 4.0
Pleasant Hill Reservoir, answered in short
How do I find Pleasant Hill Reservoir on an Ohio map?
Its outline falls in Richland County and Ashland County, ODNR Wildlife District Two (Findlay office), about 2 miles from Perrysville.
Is Pleasant Hill Reservoir a big lake by Ohio standards?
790 acres on the ODNR map, with about 12.5 miles of shoreline.
Is there a trailer ramp ODNR lists for Pleasant Hill Reservoir?
1 public launch; Pleasant Hill Marina has the most trailer room on file.
What does the ODNR fish roster say about Pleasant Hill Reservoir?
catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, saugeye/walleye, smallmouth bass, sunfish and saugeye, by ODNR records.
How many bass may an Ohio angler keep from Pleasant Hill Reservoir?
Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass: 5 (singly or in combination); minimum 12 inches; Open year-round. Check the site-specific table above as well.
What will an Ohio license set me back for Pleasant Hill Reservoir?
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 Pleasant Hill Reservoir to electric motors?
Plan for unlimited horsepower.
Where do Pleasant Hill Reservoir anglers stock up?
Pleasant Hill Marina is nearest at 1 mile.
What year did ODNR last stock Pleasant Hill Reservoir?
120 stocking lines, the latest year 2022, chiefly saugeye.
Drive the Ohio back roads to Pleasant Hill Reservoir
Fees, seasons and site rules sit on the license page.

