Five Rivers MetroParks lakes, ponds and rivers are rich in fish life. All members of the family, young and old, can find a place to fish for recreation, relaxation or food. Whether you're fishing from the deck of a bass boat, paddling a fishing kayak down a meandering stream, wading the riffles of a babbling creek or sitting in the shade on the bank of a quiet pond, there is a place for you in a MetroPark. Visit the MetroParks Lake and Pond Regulations page for specific locations and their regulations.

Featured Locations

Carriage Hill Cedar Lake

7891 E. Schull Rd., Dayton, OH 45424 Directions >

Carriage Hill’s ADA accessible boardwalk and fishing pier at Cedar Lake is located adjacent to ample parking, an ADA restroom, and potable water. Several crappies weighing more than 1.5 lbs. have been captured in Cedar Lake, and sunfish in the 6- to 9-inch range are also abundant.

Possum Creek Argonne Lake and Ponds

4790 Frytown Rd., Dayton, OH 45417 Directions >

2024 Update: View the results of our 2023 Fishing Survey

Argonne Lake at Possum Creek is a great location for a family day out. Visit the farm animals and then spend some time fishing at the lake free-of-charge and without a license. There are three fishing ponds and a wildlife pond that offer many great fishing experiences. Check for posted releases and regulations.

Ponds 1, 2, and 3 are now catch and release only. In the future, MetroParks will make a decision on whether or not the ponds 1, 2, and 3 will return to state regulations. State regulations apply for Argonne Lake.

Night Fishing
Fishing ponds open 10 PM-2 AM, Fri. and Sat. nights from Memorial Day weekend – Labor Day, for fishing only.

Twin Creek Lake George

8539 Morningstar Rd., Franklin, OH 45005 Directions >

Fishing without a license is permitted at Lake George, at the southern end of Twin Creek MetroPark, located at the former Camp Hook Boy Scout facility, donated in 1926 by Charles Hook of ARMCO Steel. The waterfront of the camp was later named Lake George after Charles’ son, George Verity Hook. This pond is ADA accessible with a fishing pier. Catch and release only here.

Eastwood Lake

1401 Harshman Rd., Dayton, OH 45431 Directions >

Eastwood Lake in Eastwood MetroPark has many species of fish as it is fed indirectly by the Mad River. You can fish from a boat or from the shoreline. (Please contact a wildlife biologist if you catch an exotic fish. We want to keep our species native, and an exotic could harm the natural ecosystem). An Ohio fishing license is required to fish at Eastwood Lake and at Mad River. If you prefer to fish by boat, canoes and kayaks are permitted on the lake every day. Fishing boats with wake are limited to even-numbered days; fishing boats with no wake on odd-numbered days. Dozens of fingerling saugeyes in the 12- to 14-inch range have been captured during wildlife surveys in the lake. Saugeyes fish provide excellent fishing in the spring and fall. Eastwood Lake also has a good population of large bluegills.

Night Fishing
Lake is open 24/7 from Apr. 1 until Oct. 31 for fishing only.

Eastwood Blue Lake

1401 Harshman Rd., Dayton, OH 45431 Directions >

Blue Lake and Eastwood Lake are remnants of gravel mining operations and are fed by the Mad River, providing excellent fishing throughout the year. Most of Blue Lake’s banks are lined with trees, so fishing from a hand-powered watercraft will be the most effective. The number and size of bass in the small deep lake make carrying a canoe or kayak from the nearby parking area well worth the effort. Follow the entrance road all the way to the very end and parallel park on the left next to the row of trees.

Night Fishing
Lake is open 24/7 from Apr. 1 until Oct. 31 for fishing only.

Eastwood Lagoon

1385 Harshman Rd., Dayton, OH 45431 Directions >

Eastwood MetroPark’s 4349 Springfield St. entrance will take you right to the lagoon for some great fishing. Other options are to fish from the shoreline along the stone retaining wall, from the boat docks or from a paddleboard, kayak or canoe. Islands connected by arching stone bridges allow you to walk to most of the fishing spots. Because the lagoon is fed by the Mad River, you’re likely to catch bluegills, crappies, largemouth and smallmouth bass, rock bass, carp and catfish.

RiverScape River Run

Riffles, runs and pools are the perfect habitat for fish, and the RiverScape River Run on the Great Miami River has all of these features and more. The work to transform the low dam between I-75 and Monument Avenue is nearly complete. When finished, it will create excellent fishing and a great recreation spot for many types of users. The Great Miami is a perfect warm-water species fishery, with smallmouth and largemouth bass, panfish and catfish.

Englewood North Park and Martindale Pond

500 Old Springfield Road, Vandalia, OH 45377 Directions >

The best place in MetroParks for trophy largemouth bass are the ponds in the north part of Englewood MetroPark. Fishing surveys found numerous bass weighing more than 6 lbs. Martindale Road Pond is the best location to catch a large number of crappies.

Night Fishing
North Park fishing ponds open 24/7 Apr. 1 – Oct. 31. for fishing only. The lake on Martindale Road is open 24/7 year-round for fishing only.

Mad River & Mad River Run

1385 Harshman Rd., Dayton, OH 45431 Directions >

The Mad River is a haven for smallmouth and largemouth bass, rock bass, crappies, bluegills, carp and suckers—as well as the occasional trout in the winter, in some of the deeper holes. This is a wade-and-fish location, especially for fly anglers. Wading makes the productive holes along the banks easier to cast into without spooking the fish. The new Mad River Run at Eastwood has created deep water holes, where fish tend to concentrate to stay out of the river current as well as over-winter. It’s a place for anglers to catch fish pooled above and below the run and the calm waters enables fly anglers to hone their skills.

Fishing in Five Rivers MetroParks

Develop your fishing skills or explore new styles of fishing at these MetroParks locations:

*These parks have areas where you may fish without a state fishing license. Visit the MetroParks Lake and Pond Regulations page for specific locations and their regulations.

Rivers & Creeks

Our rivers and creeks offer prime fishing spots. Fishing licenses are required to take fish from all Ohio waters except ponds and reservoirs on private property from which fish do not migrate (see parks listed above). Anglers must carry their license with them when fishing. Licenses, which can be purchased online from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, are available for residents and nonresidents and range from one-day to annual permits.

Download River Maps from the Miami Conservancy District

Getting Started

Let’s not assume you can’t go fishing because you don’t know how to fish. Fishing is something everyone can do and learning to fish is the best part — and easier than you think!

Fishing is not a dangerous sport, but you should prepare to keep safe in the outdoors.

• Dress appropriately for the weather.

• Bring insect repellent.

• Have a life jacket for everyone fishing.

• Bring a first-aid kit for cuts or scrapes.

Programs & Events

Build Your Fishing Skills With MetroParks Programs

Our programs build on one another (Discover then Develop then Do) — all striving to empower you to feel comfortable and confident in the activity. If you are new to the activity, begin by exploring the Discover programs and move on to build your skills. Those with fundamental skills can deepen their knowledge with Enhance programs. Programs listed are offered in rotation. Check the Program & Event Finder for specific dates and times.

What's your interest?	Discover	Develop	Do	Enhance
Fly Fishing	Teen Fly Tying Try Fly Fishing	Fly Fishing 1 Fly Fishing 2: Lake Fly Fishing 2: River Fly Fishing 3: Small-mouth	Trips Try these facilities: Eastwood MetroPark; Mad River, Blue Lake, Eastwood Lake Carriage Hill MetroPark; Cedar Lake Possum Creek MetroPark; Argonne Lake	Nymphs, Emergers, Dries — Oh My! Teen Fly Tying
Fishing	Filleting Fish Passport to Fishing Kid’s Fishing Camp Meet & Fish	Mother/Son Fishing Day Father/Daughter Fishing Day	Try these facilities: Eastwood MetroPark; Mad River, Blue Lake, Eastwood Lake Carriage Hill MetroPark; Cedar Lake Possum Creek MetroPark; Argonne Lake, Ponds

Hooks, lines, and sinkers

How you can support the Fishing Line Recycling Program

Most fishing line is not biodegradable—so if you cast it aside when you’re done with it, it could stay in the environment for centuries. It poses a primary threat to birds, fish and other river life but also can damage outboard motors, jet skis and lawn equipment. Here’s how you can help the environment:

Don’t discard fishing supplies. Take them with you or dispose of them properly.
Replace used and worn-out line before it becomes a problem.
Recover as much line as you can when it gets snagged on trees and rocks.
If you see old line on the shore or in the water, grab it and put it in one of our outdoor collection bins.
Volunteer to maintain a Five Rivers collection bin at a Five Rivers MetroPark location near you.