Fishing Barnesville Lake in Belmont County, Ohio

• Overview

  In Ohio, Barnesville Lake falls inside Belmont County. Height above sea level is 1,155 feet. At 11 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Compared with other Ohio water on our list, it sits high. You are 0.7 miles from Barnesville. Bethesda lies 6 miles off, Saint Clairsville another 16 miles. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Barnesville Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Survey and observation records for Belmont County include johnny darter, fantail darter, rainbow darter and stonecat. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. Anyone new to Barnesville Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 72°F in July and bottom out at 28°F in January. Seasons here are moderate, and the fishing runs most of the year. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Plan any trip to Barnesville Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Expect a half a mile walk in from where the car goes. There is a toilet block some half a mile out. For the panfish, a small hook, a float and a piece of worm outfish everything fancy. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Taber Lake at 1.7 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the position on Barnesville Lake before loading the car.