Fishing near Dayton, Ohio
Montgomery County, population 137,644.
- 3 milesto nearest lake
- 3launches nearby
Pick for catfishPiscifun LumiCat II catfish rod48% OFFSale $114.99 Photo: JustinRuckerr, CC BY-SA 4.0
What Dayton puts within casting range
137,644 people lived in Dayton, a city of Montgomery County, at the 2020 Census. Point the truck east for 3 miles to reach Eastwood Lake, the closest lake page. Caesar Creek Lake covers 2,806 acres, more than any other lake nearby. Eastwood Lake PWC Launch Area is the nearest ramp, 3 miles off.
The nearest shore site is Youth Only Fishing Pond, 9 miles away.
Census 2020 population and Gazetteer point for Dayton; distances are straight lines.
Still water by Dayton, nearest first
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Motor rule | Fish on record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastwood Lake | 3 miles east | 189 | 3 | unlimited horsepower | channel catfish, saugeye, yellow perch |
| Caesar Creek Lake | 21 miles southeast | 2,806 | 7 | unlimited horsepower | hybrid striped bass, muskellunge, saugeye |
ODNR prints a horsepower note for 2 of these lakes; Eastwood Lake: unlimited horsepower.
ODNR Division of Wildlife lake outlines, horsepower restrictions, fish hot-spot maps and stocking records; retrieved October 2026.
For the catfish herePiscifun Chaos XS round baitcaster36% OFFSale $57.99 Current flow around Dayton
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Great Miami River At Dayton Oh | 823 cfs, 24.13 ft gage height | Oct 27 5:30 pm |
| Wolf Creek At Dayton Oh | 21 cfs, 1.18 ft gage height | Oct 27 5:30 pm |
| Mad River Near Dayton Oh | 347 cfs, 2.66 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.
A pin map of water near Dayton
- Eastwood Lake PWC Launch AreaEastwood Lake, 3 miles
- Eastwood MetroPark Lagoon RampEastwood Lake, 3 miles
- Eastwood Lake Boat Ramp at Eastwood MetroParkEastwood Lake, 3 miles
Walk-up spots around Dayton
- Youth Only Fishing Pondshore fishing, youth only, 9 miles
ODNR launch facilities, ODNR fishing access points and ODNR Office of Coastal Management Lake Erie access; retrieved October 2026.
ODNR plants within a drive of Dayton
Nearby Dayton lakes and what went in
| Lake | Distance | Years on file | Main species |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastwood Lake | 3 miles | 1970 to 2022 | walleye, yellow perch, saugeye |
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).
Help for Dayton anglers
Tackle counters handy to Dayton
- Fisherman's Headquartersbait and tackle shop, Dayton, 2 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods Huber Heightssporting goods store, Huber Heights, 7 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods Beavercreeksporting goods store, Beavercreek, 8 miles
- Anglers Bait & Tacklefly shop, Englewood, 8 miles
- Cabela's Centervillesporting goods store, Centerville, 10 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods Daytonsporting goods store, Dayton, 11 miles
- Rod-Dees Carryoutbait and tackle shop, Miamisburg, 11 miles
- Marina Trimmarina, Miamisburg, 11 miles
Booking a guide near Dayton
- Reel Fly Rodfly fishing guide, Dayton, (937) 434-8472
Yellow Pages and chain store listings, charter and guide listings; retrieved October 2026.
Ohio record fish from water near Dayton
| Species | Weight | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hybrid Striped Bass | 20.83 lb | Caesar Creek Lake | 2024 |
Outdoor Writers of Ohio record fish list, retrieved October 2026.
Daily limits around Dayton
Ohio asks every angler 16 or older for a license: $25.00 a year for a resident, $76.96 for a nonresident, $10.00 for a resident 65 and up.
| 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.
Surrounding Dayton
Nearby places to stay from Dayton
- Shiloh3 miles
- Fort McKinley3 miles
- Riverside4 miles
- Oakwood (Montgomery County)5 miles
- Moraine6 miles
County guide that includes Dayton
- Montgomery Countyseat: Dayton
What to grab from Piscifun before Dayton
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Camera views of fishing water by Dayton
Photo: Ted, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Kyle Hartshorn, CC BY 2.0
Photo: LittleT889, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Nyttend, Public domain
Fishing with Dayton as home base: the questions
Does Dayton have a lake within a few miles?
Eastwood Lake, 3 miles east.
Where is the closest boat launch to Dayton?
Closest: Eastwood Lake PWC Launch Area, 3 miles.
Which pier or breakwall is handy to Dayton?
Youth Only Fishing Pond, roughly 9 miles out.
Can Dayton anglers grab minnows on the way out?
Start with Fisherman's Headquarters, 2 miles out.
In which Ohio county does Dayton lie?
Montgomery County covers it.
Can Dayton guests fish on a one-day Ohio license?
Nonresidents pay $76.96 a year or $52.00 for three days; a one-day license is $27.04.
Which lake by Dayton leads by size?
Caesar Creek Lake, 2,806 acres, 21 miles away.
Which towns sit near Dayton?
Shiloh (3 miles), Fort McKinley (3 miles) and Riverside (4 miles) lie closest.