Clendening Lake in Harrison County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The Harrison County end of Ohio holds Clendening Lake. Land around it is open valley. This is sizeable water at about 2.6 sq miles, and a boat opens up most of it. The shoreline runs to about 27 miles, far more than one trip can cover. On our Harrison County list it sits near the top for size. Some 12 miles away sits Cadiz, the nearest settlement. Beyond it, Dennison at 12 miles and Uhrichsville at 13 miles. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Clendening Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Open biodiversity records for Harrison County list bluegill, green sunfish, fantail darter, greenside darter and johnny darter. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Clendening Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 72°F, while January sits near 28°F. A long season, with weather mattering more than the month. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Clendening Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. No slipway, car park or made path shows up nearby in mapping, so treat access as rough. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. The nearest alternative is Tappan Lake, 7 miles out. Signs at Clendening Lake carry more weight than any list.