Fishing near Canton, Ohio
Stark County, population 70,872.
- 5 milesto nearest lake
- 2launches nearby
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Canton for visiting anglers
At 70,872 residents in 2020, Canton ranks as a city of Stark County. The closest still water with a page is Sippo Lake, roughly 5 miles west. Portage Lakes is the biggest lake in the table, 804 acres by its ODNR outline. Boats reach the water at Sippo Lake Park, some 4 miles away.
Shady Lane Pond, roughly 12 miles from town, is the closest shore access.
Census 2020 population and Gazetteer point for Canton; distances are straight lines.
ODNR-mapped lakes around Canton
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Motor rule | Fish on record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sippo Lake | 5 miles west | 100 | 1 | 10 HP limit | channel catfish, hybrid striped bass, northern pike |
| Nimisila Lake | 12 miles northwest | 743 | 4 | electric motors only | walleye, channel catfish, northern pike |
| Wingfoot Lake | 14 miles north | 445 | 2 | unlimited horsepower, no wake | channel catfish |
| Portage Lakes | 14 miles northwest | 804 | 4 | 400 HP limit | |
| Dale Walborn Reservoir | 15 miles northeast | 657 | 1 | 6 HP limit | channel catfish, walleye, largemouth bass |
| Springfield Lake | 16 miles north | 291 | 2 | 250 HP limit | channel catfish, walleye, largemouth bass |
6 of these lakes carry an ODNR motor rule; Sippo Lake is the closest, 10 HP limit.
ODNR Division of Wildlife lake outlines, horsepower restrictions, fish hot-spot maps and stocking records; retrieved October 2026.
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- Sugar Creek14 miles, 4 ODNR access points, USGS gauge
- Sandy Creek15 miles, 7 ODNR access points, USGS gauge
Live river data by Canton
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Branch Nimishillen Creek At Canton Oh | 7 cfs, 1.20 ft gage height | Oct 27 6:15 pm |
| Nimishillen Creek At North Industry Oh | 90 cfs, 3.88 ft gage height | Oct 27 6:15 pm |
| West Branch Nimishillen Creek At North Canton Oh | 3.60 ft gage height | Oct 27 5:30 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.
Canton anglers' map of nearby water
- Sippo Lake ParkSippo Lake, 4 miles
- Portage Lakes State Park – C 6 on Nimisila LakeNimisila Lake, 12 miles
Bank and breakwall spots by Canton
- Shady Lane Pondshore fishing, 12 miles
ODNR launch facilities, ODNR fishing access points and ODNR Office of Coastal Management Lake Erie access; retrieved October 2026.
What ODNR stocks around Canton
What ODNR released near Canton over the years
| Lake | Distance | Years on file | Main species |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sippo Lake | 5 miles | 1986 to 2020 | hybrid-striped bass, channel catfish, largemouth bass |
| Nimisila Lake | 12 miles | 1970 to 2020 | walleye, saugeye, channel catfish |
| Wingfoot Lake | 14 miles | 2012 to 2022 | channel catfish |
| Dale Walborn Reservoir | 15 miles | 1974 to 2020 | walleye, hybrid-striped bass, muskellunge |
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).
Tackle and captains around Canton
Bait counters closest to Canton
- Meyers Lake Fish Dockmarina, Canton, 2 miles
- Ohio Outdoor Sportsbait and tackle shop, Canton, 3 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods Cantonsporting goods store, Canton, 5 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors, 6687 Strip Ave NWbait and tackle shop, North Canton, 6 miles
- Kames Sports Centerbait and tackle shop, North Canton, 7 miles
- Assassin Lures-Trading Postbait and tackle shop, Massillon, 8 miles
- Eddie's Live Baitbait and tackle shop, Green, 11 miles
- Beavers Marine Storemarina, Magnolia, 14 miles
Yellow Pages and chain store listings, charter and guide listings; retrieved October 2026.
Fishing events around Canton
| Date | Event | Water | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 3, 2026 | Better Half Tour Fall Classic XV (2026) | Portage Lakes | Better Half Tour |
| Aug. 29, 2026 | Kayak Fishing Tournament, Deer Creek Reservoir (2026) | Deer Creek Reservoir | Kayak Anglers of Northeast Ohio with Stark Parks |
Organizer schedule and results pages for events in Stark County or within 20 miles, checked October 2026.
What Canton anglers may keep
From the 16th birthday on, Ohio charges $25.00 (resident), $76.96 (nonresident) or $10.00 (resident senior) for a year of fishing.
| 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.
Near Canton
Neighboring towns of Canton
- Reedurban4 miles
- East Canton4 miles
- North Canton5 miles
- Perry Heights5 miles
- Louisville6 miles
Courthouse county of Canton
- Stark Countyseat: Canton
Piscifun reels to stow for Canton
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Shorelines and reservoirs by Canton, photographed
Photo: 5chw4r7z, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Eric Haake, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Roseohioresident, Public domain
Photo: Jbarta, CC0 1.0
Canton as a launching point, in Q and A
How many miles from Canton to a lake page?
Sippo Lake, 5 miles west.
Where does a Canton boater back the trailer down?
Try Sippo Lake Park, 4 miles.
Where can kids cast from land near Canton?
Shady Lane Pond, some 12 miles off.
Who sells bait around Canton?
Meyers Lake Fish Dock, 2 miles away.
What county does Canton belong to?
Stark County, Ohio.
What does an Ohio fishing license cost for a Canton visitor?
Visitors choose $76.96 for a year, $52.00 for three days or $27.04 for one day.
What is the biggest lake close to Canton?
Portage Lakes, 804 acres, 14 miles away.
What communities neighbor Canton?
The nearest are Reedurban (4 miles), East Canton (4 miles) and North Canton (5 miles).
Cast a line in Ohio water by Canton
Each Ohio spot page opens with a directions link.