Fishing near Akron, Ohio
Summit County, population 190,469.
- 5 milesto nearest lake
- 8launches nearby
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Angling from a Akron base
Akron is a city in Summit County; the 2020 Census counted 190,469 residents. No lake page lies closer than Long Lake, 5 miles toward the south. The largest lake listed below is Portage Lakes at 804 acres. A 4 miles tow reaches Portage Lakes State Park – Long Lake, the nearest launch. Edgewater Park, Cleveland, some 30 miles away, is the closest Lake Erie access point.
Chagrin River carries ODNR steelhead about 27 miles away. Without a boat, try Shady Lane Pond, 13 miles off.
Census 2020 population and Gazetteer point for Akron; distances are straight lines.
For the steelhead herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 Lakes within reach of Akron
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Motor rule | Fish on record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long Lake | 5 miles south | 224 | 0 | chain pickerel, channel catfish, saugeye | |
| Springfield Lake | 6 miles southeast | 291 | 2 | 250 HP limit | channel catfish, walleye, largemouth bass |
| North Lake | 6 miles south | 164 | 0 | channel catfish, walleye, tiger muskellunge | |
| Portage Lakes | 8 miles south | 804 | 4 | 400 HP limit | |
| Wingfoot Lake | 9 miles southeast | 445 | 2 | unlimited horsepower, no wake | channel catfish |
| Nimisila Lake | 10 miles south | 743 | 4 | electric motors only | walleye, channel catfish, northern pike |
Springfield Lake (250 HP limit) is the nearest of 4 lakes here with an ODNR motor limit.
ODNR Division of Wildlife lake outlines, horsepower restrictions, fish hot-spot maps and stocking records; retrieved October 2026.
Creeks to wade near Akron
- Tuscarawas River4 miles, 3 launchs, 20 ODNR access points, USGS gauge
The steelhead streams closest to Akron
- Chagrin River27 miles, steelhead stream (80,000 stocked a year), 23 ODNR access points, USGS gauge
- Rocky River29 miles, steelhead stream (80,000 stocked a year), 10 ODNR access points, USGS gauge
- Grand River31 miles, steelhead stream (80,000 stocked a year), 1 launch, 31 ODNR access points, USGS gauge
USGS gauges near Akron
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Lock 1 Outlet O&e Canal Oh | 13 cfs, 0.94 ft gage height | Oct 27 5:30 pm |
| Cuyahoga River At Old Portage Oh | 96 cfs, 2.21 ft gage height | Oct 27 6:15 pm |
| Long Lake Feeder O&e Canal Oh | 28 cfs, 3.63 ft gage height | Oct 27 6:00 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 27, 2026 6:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
ODNR stream access points, steelhead program and walleye-run maps; USGS gauges. Retrieved October 2026.
Akron fishing spots, plotted
- Portage Lakes State Park – Long LakePortage Lakes, 4 miles
- Springfield Lake – Springfield RampSpringfield Lake, 5 miles
- Lakemore Park – James B Dodds Lakefront Park on Springfield LakeSpringfield Lake, 6 miles
- Portage Lakes State Park – North ReservoirPortage Lakes, 6 miles
- Old State Park on Portage LakesPortage Lakes, 7 miles
- Portage Lakes State Park – TurkeyfootPortage Lakes, 8 miles
- Ticknor Road Boat Ramp on Mogadore ReservoirMogadore Reservoir, 8 miles
- Mogadore Reservoir Boat Stake AreaMogadore Reservoir, 8 miles
Piers and banks close to Akron
- Shady Lane Pondshore fishing, 13 miles
ODNR launch facilities, ODNR fishing access points and ODNR Office of Coastal Management Lake Erie access; retrieved October 2026.
Stocking records for lakes by Akron
Years of ODNR plants near Akron
| Lake | Distance | Years on file | Main species |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long Lake | 5 miles | 1974 to 2021 | saugeye, chain pickerel, channel catfish |
| Springfield Lake | 6 miles | 1977 to 2020 | walleye, channel catfish, largemouth bass |
| North Lake | 6 miles | 1971 to 2020 | saugeye, walleye, channel catfish |
| Wingfoot Lake | 9 miles | 2012 to 2022 | channel catfish |
ODNR Rainbow Trout Stocking Dates page, spring 2026 releases (trout 10 to 13 inches); 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).
Supplies and guides close to Akron
Nearest bait and tackle to Akron
- Master Baitzbait and tackle shop, Akron, 4 miles
- "224" Bait&Tackle (On Springfield Lake)bait and tackle shop, Akron, 5 miles
- Fishermen's Centralbait and tackle shop, Coventry Township, 5 miles
- Land Bigfishbait and tackle shop, Akron, 5 miles
- Falls Outdoor Sportsbait and tackle shop, Cuyahoga Falls, 5 miles
- Manda Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Coventry Township, 5 miles
- Longlake Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Coventry Township, 5 miles
- Ron Slater's Portage Lake Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Coventry Township, 6 miles
Guide services within reach of Akron
- Elite Eyes Sportfishingfishing guide, New Franklin, (330) 962-5352
Yellow Pages and chain store listings, charter and guide listings; retrieved October 2026.
Organized fishing close to Akron
| Date | Event | Water | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 3, 2026 | Better Half Tour Fall Classic XV (2026) | Portage Lakes | Better Half Tour |
| June 6, 2026 | Better Half Tour West Branch Battle (2026) | West Branch Reservoir | Better Half Tour |
| May 16, 2026 | OBF Region 3 Regional (2026) | West Branch Reservoir | Ohio Bass Federation (TBF) |
Organizer schedule and results pages for events in Summit County or within 20 miles, checked October 2026.
State records from waters by Akron
| Species | Weight | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chain Pickerel | 6.25 lb | Long Lake | 1961 |
Outdoor Writers of Ohio record fish list, retrieved October 2026.
Keeper rules for anglers in Akron
Ohio residents buy a $25.00 annual license, out-of-state anglers $76.96, and seniors living in Ohio $10.00; the rule starts at 16. Lake Erie charters and shore anglers use the same license; Ohio sells no Erie permit.
| Species | Limit | 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 |
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. Lake pages print any site-specific entry.
Close by Akron
Town pages around Akron
- Portage Lakes5 miles
- Tallmadge5 miles
- Munroe Falls6 miles
- Mogadore6 miles
- Silver Lake6 miles
The county page for Akron
- Summit Countyseat: Akron
Reels and line from Piscifun for Akron
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Fish pictures for a trip to Akron
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: Mike Heine, CC BY 4.0
Rod-and-reel trips leaving from Akron, explained
Which ODNR-mapped lake sits closest to Akron?
Long Lake, 5 miles south.
What launch do Akron trailer boaters reach first?
Portage Lakes State Park – Long Lake, about 4 miles.
Where can Akron anglers fish without a boat?
Closest: Shady Lane Pond, 13 miles.
Which Buckeye bait counter is the quickest stop from Akron?
Master Baitz, 4 miles from town.
Which county page includes Akron?
It lies in Summit County.
Which Ohio license suits a weekend in Akron?
Short stays: $27.04 for one day, $52.00 for three; the year is $76.96.
What large reservoir sits near Akron?
Portage Lakes, 804 acres, 8 miles away.
What other towns are near Akron?
Nearby towns are Portage Lakes (5 miles), Tallmadge (5 miles) and Munroe Falls (6 miles).
Where is steelhead fishing near Akron?
Chagrin River, 27 miles away; ODNR stocks it through the steelhead program.
How far is Akron from Lake Erie?
Edgewater Park, Cleveland, about 30 miles away.
Base an Ohio fishing trip in Akron
Lake pages show launches, motor rules and stocking.