Ottawa Upground Reservoir in Putnam County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  This water sits in Putnam County, Ohio. The land about it is mixed forest. This is a pocket water of some 20 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. It is low-lying compared with other Ohio water we list. 1.4 miles away sits Ottawa, the nearest town. It is 51 miles to Toledo, the nearest city. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Ottawa Upground Reservoir

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Survey and observation records for Putnam County include bluegill, golden redhorse and greenside darter. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Ottawa Upground Reservoir repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 73°F, while January sits near 24°F. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. The lid usually goes in mid March, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Ice clears near mid March and comes back about late December in a typical year. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Ottawa Upground Reservoir runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Parking is not close: half a mile from the bank, and no nearer option is mapped. There are toilets mapped about half a mile away. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. If the gate is shut, Leipsic Upground Reservoir at 8.3 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the position on Ottawa Upground Reservoir before loading the car.