Lake Hiawatha Fishing near Mount Vernon, Ohio

• Overview

  Look for Lake Hiawatha in the Knox County part of Ohio. Land around it is mixed forest. Small at around 3 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. On size it sits at the modest end of our Knox County list. The closest town, Mount Vernon, is 1.6 miles distant. Gambier lies 4.8 miles off, Fredericktown another 5.8 miles. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Lake Hiawatha

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. County-wide records name bluegill, rainbow darter, fantail darter, greenside darter and johnny darter. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. The shape of Lake Hiawatha rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 25°F in January to roughly 72°F in July. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Winter locks it down, and mid March brings it back. Ice clears near mid March and comes back about late December in a typical year. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. That is the shape of the year on Lake Hiawatha.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Parking is not close: half a mile from the bank, and no nearer option is mapped. Bluegill and other panfish take small jigs or worms under a float near any cover. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Should this one be busy, Apple Valley Lake is 6.8 miles off. Nothing here settles the position at Lake Hiawatha for certain.