Fishing at Mount Gilead Upper Lake, Morrow County, Ohio

• Overview

  Within Morrow County, Ohio, you have Mount Gilead Upper Lake. It stands 1,135 feet above sea level. Small at around 5 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. It sits higher than most water we list in Ohio. Start from Mount Gilead, 0.9 miles down the road. Then Cardington, 5.5 miles, and Ashley, 12 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Mount Gilead Upper Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Reported across Morrow County: rainbow darter, fantail darter, johnny darter, white sucker and greenside darter. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. On Mount Gilead Upper Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 71°F, the coldest about 24°F. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly mid March. Climate averages put the opening at about mid March and the closing near late December. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. It sets the rhythm of the year at Mount Gilead Upper Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. There is recorded parking some half a mile off. Mount Gilead State Park runs up to the bank here, which usually means extra restrictions. For the panfish, a small hook, a float and a piece of worm outfish everything fancy. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Mount Gilead Lower Lake sits 0.2 miles off and takes the overflow. Nothing here settles the position at Mount Gilead Upper Lake for certain.