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Wondering What to Fish for?
Here are some expert tips from Conservation Department’s Wildlife Biologist Mike Enright and Outdoor Recreation Department’s Special Events and Development Coordinator Tom Helbig.
- Smallmouth bass
- Find the best fishing in pools below riffles. The best baits are lures that mimic crayfish or minnows, the natural prey of bass. Of course, live crayfish and minnows are also very effective.
- Fly fishing: Use an 8.5 to 9-foot, 5/6 weight rod and a floating or sink-tip line. Flies: Pick from clouser minnows, wooly buggers, zonkers, crawfish patterns, white flies, or Sneaky Petes.
- Largemouth bass
- The best fishing areas are in slow-water areas, near structures like logs. The best baits are plastic bait that look like bait fish, such as shiners.
- Fly fishing: Use an 8.5 to 9-foot 5/6 weight rod, and a floating or sink-tip line. Flies: Large, 3- inch clouser minnows, wooly buggers, zonkers, bass bug poppers, Sneaky Petes, decievers, mouse patterns. Terrestrial patterns are good bet in summer; choose from grasshoppers, spiders, or beetles. You may need an 8-weight rod to cast the larger flies.
- Bluegills/Rock Bass
- These fish can be found in deeper pool areas in slower water. The best artificial baits are small spinners or flies, and the best live baits are worms below a bobber.
- Fly fishing: 8.5 to 9-foot, 5/6 weight rod, use a floating or sink tip line. Flies: Nymphs are best; use stonefly and mayfly patterns, attractor dry flies, mini buggers, small crawfish and clouser minnow patterns. Terrestrial patterns are good bet in summer, including grasshoppers, spiders, beetles , lady bugs, bees, or ants.
- Channel catfish
- You’ll find these in the deeper pools and are best caught at night. Sure-fire bait to nab these are nightcrawlers or chicken livers.
- Fly fishing: 8.5 to 9-foot, 5/6 weight rod, use your sink-tip line. Flies: Use nymphs – stonefly and mayfly patterns, mini buggers, small crawfish and clouser minnow patterns. Dark brown and black patterns are good options.
- Sucker species
- These fish are found throughout the river, but most easily caught in spring and fall when the water is cooler. Depend on a small live worm fished on the bottom of the river for your bait.
- Fly fishing: 8.5 to 9-foot, 5/6 weight rod with sink tip line. Flies: Stick with nymphs – stonefly and mayfly patterns, mini buggers, small crawfish and clouser minnow patterns. Dark brown and black patterns are good options for suckers, too.
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| Photo © Jim Witmer |
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Local Locations:
- Stillwater River – A national and state scenic river. A premiere smallmouth bass fishery: Map
- Little Miami River – A national
and state scenic river. A premiere smallmouth bass fishery.
- Mad River - Excellent trout fishing between Springfield and Bellefontaine. Becomes a smallmouth bass stream south
of Springfield.
- Twin Creek - Fish including bass, crappie and bluegill.
- Great Miami River – Excellent warm water species fishery with smallmouth and largemouth
bass, panfish and catfish
- MetroParks lakes: Carriage Hill, Eastwood, Possum Creek, Englewood (North Park), Huffman, Germantown
View more local fishing information >> |
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Five Rivers MetroParks contain numerous opportunities for quality fishing in lakes,
ponds and rivers. Our recreation department has also developed
a number of programs to encourage fly-fishing in the Miami Valley.
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| Day | DateTime | Program | Location | Age | Price | Registration Availability |
| Fri , Sat |
09/03
- 09/25
10:00 PM
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2:00 AM
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Night Fishing at Eastwood MetroPark
Every Friday and Saturday, thru September 30, for fishing only. Please note: occasional boat races at Eastwood MetroPark Lake may affect night fishing schedule. Bring flashlight or lantern. Use lake entrance. No reservations required.
| Eastwood MetroPark | All Ages | Free | |
| Fri , Sat |
09/03
- 09/25
10:00 PM
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2:00 AM
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Night Fishing at Possum Creek
Every Friday and Saturday, thru September 30, for fishing only. Bring flashlight or lantern. No reservations required.
| Possum Creek MetroPark | All Ages | Free | |
| Mon , Wed |
09/08
- 09/15
6:30 PM
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8:30 PM
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Fly Tying for Steelhead Trout
Learn the basics of tying flies for steelhead trout including an overview of tools, materials and patterns needed to tie your own fly. Students will tie two to three flies a night during the three-part series. The book Steelhead Guide will be used as a reference for steelhead patterns. All tools and materials are provided. Registration required and limited, so please call (937) 277-4374 or register online.
| Five Rivers St. Clair Building | 14Y and Up | $30.00 |  |
| Tue |
10/26
6:30 PM
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8:30 PM
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Fly Fishing for Trout
Get an overview of fly fishing for trout, including information on rods, reels, lines, flies and other equipment needed. Instructor will give advice on casting techniques and resources to improve your fly fishing knowledge. Learn when, where and how to catch trout including opportunities right here in the Miami Valley on the Mad River. Registration required and limited, so please call (937) 277-4374 or register online.
| Five Rivers St. Clair Building | 14Y and Up | $5.00 | |
| Thu |
10/28
6:30 PM
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8:30 PM
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Fly Tying for Trout
Learn the basics of tying flies for trout including an overview of tools, materials and patterns. Students will tie two to three flies during session. Resources and additional trout patterns are covered to expand your knowledge of trout flies. All tools and materials are provided. Registration required and limited, so please call (937) 277-4374 or register online.
| Five Rivers St. Clair Building | 14Y and Up | $10.00 | |
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Past Activities |
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Here is a sampling of the types of programs offered. Call (937) 275-PARK to find out when they
may be offered again or to put in a request.
Fundamentals of Fly-Fishing
Get an overview of fly-fishing, its allure, equipment and techniques from Howard Parks who has been teaching fly-fishing schools for over 30 years. Learn about rods, reels and line/leader options, and other equipment, such as vests, waders, accessories and flies. The day includes classroom instruction and outdoor learning. Students practice casting techniques and fly-fish at a nearby pond with the opportunity to work one-on-one with the instructors.
Fly-Tying Sampler
Join fly-tying expert Howard Parks for an overview of fly-tying equipment and techniques, including
some tips on how to match your fly to the hatch. You'll even get to try your hand at tying a "Wooly
Bugger," which you can take home to try and catch your next "big one." Materials supplied by Orvis
Dayton, the official supplier of Five Rivers MetroParks fly-fishing programs.
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Fish in These MetroParks |
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Carriage Hill
Fish without a license and free-of-charge from the banks of both Cedar Lake and North Woods
Pond. There is a catch and release program on all sizes of bass. Ice fishing is permitted,
but ice conditions are not monitored. Several crappies over 1.5 lb. were captured in Cedar
Lake at Carriage Hill MetroPark and sunfish in the 6-9 inch range are also abundant.
Eastwood
Try your luck in Eastwood Lake, Blue Lake, the lagoon or the Mad River. An Ohio fishing license
is required at all sites except the lagoon and Blue Lake. The cold, clear water of the Mad River
makes it the only river in the Dayton area where trout can be caught. Eastwood Lake is stocked
with saugeyes and channel catfish fingerlings from the Division of Wildlife. Eastwood Lake also
has a good population of large bluegills.
Englewood
Fish the lake, pond and river. Martindale Road Pond at Englewood MetroPark is the best location
in MetroParks for total numbers of crappies. The best places for trophy largemouth bass are the
ponds in the north part of the park. For those interested in smallmouth bass, the pool below
Englewood dam yielded several fish in the 14-16 inch range during surveys. An Ohio fishing
license is required. Ice fishing is permitted off Old Springfield Road, but
ice conditions are not monitored.
Germantown
Fish in Twin Creek for a variety of fish including bass, crappie and bluegill. An Ohio fishing
license is required. Also fish in Sunfish Pond without a license. Twin Creek is an excellent
smallmouth bass stream.
Huffman
Both the Mad River and Huffman Lake provide good fishing. Bass, bluegill, catfish and crappie
can be caught. In addition, rainbow trout and smallmouth bass are sought in the Mad River. An
Ohio fishing license is required.
Possum Creek
Fish, free-of-charge and without a license, in ponds and Argonne Lake. There is a 10-inch minimum
size on bass and a six-fish limit per day. The ponds are stocked on the first Friday of each month.
During warm months, the ponds are stocked with catfish. Trout is introduced to the ponds during
cold months (typically December through February or March). Every year, many Night Fishing
programs are offered. Non-motorized boats are permitted on Argonne Lake. Ice fishing is permitted,
but ice conditions are not monitored.
RiverScape
Enjoy good river fishing in the Great Miami River. The Mad River is also just steps away. An Ohio
fishing license is required.
Sunrise
Enjoy good river fishing in the Great Miami River. One of the more popular spots is at the point
where the Wolf Creek spills into the Great Miami. An Ohio fishing license is required.
Taylorsville
Enjoy good river fishing in the Great Miami River. One of the more popular spots is just below the
dam. An Ohio fishing license is required.
Twin Creek
Fish in Twin Creek for a variety of fish including bass, crappie and bluegill. Twin Creek is an
excellent smallmouth bass stream. An Ohio fishing license is required. Also fish in Dogwood Pond and
Lake George; no license is required for these catch-and-release only locations.
Wesleyan
Enjoy good river fishing in the Wolf Creek. The creek supports a variety of fish including spotfin
shiners, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and rainbow, green, fantail and Johnny darters. An Ohio
fishing license is required. |
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Resources |
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Fishing Reports |
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Partners |
Five Rivers MetroParks is excited to work with Orvis, a local outdoor specialty shops that
form the backbone of a thriving outdoor recreation community.
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Clubs
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The greater Dayton area and surrounding region is privileged to have dozens of outdoor
oriented clubs ready to help you Get Out & Live! Contact these clubs to find more
area residents interested in fishing:
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