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Ohio · Fishing
Franklin Township's fishing scene is built around still water. The lakes showing up consistently in local listings — Lake George, East Twin Lake, Beach City Lake, and Lake Rockwell — are all lake fisheries, which shapes what kind of trip you're planning before you even rig a rod.
6 spotsUpdated dailyFree to access
View on mapFishing · 6 spots
Franklin Township's fishing scene is built around still water. The lakes showing up consistently in local listings — Lake George, East Twin Lake, Beach City Lake, and Lake Rockwell — are all lake fisheries, which shapes what kind of trip you're planning before you even rig a rod. You're not chasing current here; you're working structure, depth changes, and seasonal patterns on relatively calm water. Lake Rockwell appears more than once in the active listings, which tends to reflect genuine angler traffic rather than coincidence, so it's worth putting near the top of your itinerary. Beach City Lake sits within Beach City Wildlife Area and draws anglers looking for a more rural setting with less competition on weekdays. East Twin Lake rounds out the options with a quieter, smaller-water feel. None of these waters carry a gold-medal or wild-trout designation, so manage expectations accordingly — this is solid community fishing for warm-water species, not a destination fly-fishing corridor. That said, for a half-day outing or a first trip with kids, the variety of accessible lake options in one township is genuinely useful.
The lakes listed here — Lake George, East Twin Lake, Beach City Lake, and Lake Rockwell — are warm-water lake fisheries, so you're most likely targeting species like largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, and channel catfish. None of these waters are designated gold-medal or wild-trout fisheries, so trout are not the primary draw if that's what you're after.
Yes, Ohio requires a valid fishing license for anyone 16 and older. You can purchase one through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources website or at most local bait and tackle shops. Check current regulations before your trip, as some waters may have specific rules around size limits or daily bag limits.
Mill Creek Camping (Berlin Lake)
~34 min drive
A worthwhile stop near OH.
Mogadore Reservoir
~4 min drive
A worthwhile stop near OH.
Portage Lakes – Turkeyfoot Lake Access
~19 min drive
Easy
Mill Creek Day Use
~34 min drive
A worthwhile stop near OH.
Akron Turner Club Pond
~6 min drive
A worthwhile stop near OH.
Carter Lake
~6 min drive
A worthwhile stop near OH.
Mogadore Reservoir
~7 min drive
A worthwhile stop near OH.
Alder Pond
~9 min drive
A worthwhile stop near OH.
Little Mussy Lake
~9 min drive
A worthwhile stop near OH.
Wingfoot Lake
~10 min drive
A worthwhile stop near OH.
East Twin Lake
~10 min drive
A worthwhile stop near OH.
Lake James
~11 min drive
A worthwhile stop near OH.
Early morning and the hour or two before sunset are consistently the most productive windows on warm-water lakes like these, especially for bass and crappie. Midday in summer tends to push fish deeper and slow surface activity, so if you're fishing midday, focus on deeper structure or shaded areas near the bank.
A medium-light to medium spinning setup covers most situations across these lakes. For bass, soft plastics and crankbaits work well around structure; for bluegill and crappie, small jigs and live bait like worms or wax worms are reliable. Bring a tackle box with a range of weights since depth varies by lake, and check whether the specific lake allows motorized boats before hauling one out.
Lake Rockwell has access considerations worth checking before you go, as some reservoir-type lakes in Ohio have restricted or limited public access depending on local water authority rules. Verify current public access status directly with the managing agency before making it the centerpiece of your trip.
