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Ohio · Fishing
Wayne Township sits in a part of southwestern Ohio where fishing options range from quiet inland ponds to moving water, and the four spots covered here reflect that variety.
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Wayne Township sits in a part of southwestern Ohio where fishing options range from quiet inland ponds to moving water, and the four spots covered here reflect that variety. Highlandtown Wildlife Area Pond and Consolidation Coal Company Pond 0206 are both lake fishing setups — the kind of still-water spots where you can work a bobber rig along the shallows or fan-cast soft plastics without a boat. Caesar Creek Lake and the Visitor Center Day Use Rec Site round things out with river fishing access, which means current, structure, and a different set of tactics altogether. None of these are remote wilderness destinations — you're not hiking miles to reach them — but that accessibility is part of the appeal. Families, beginners, and anyone who wants a low-logistics half-day on the water will find something workable here. Anglers who prefer moving water should focus on the Caesar Creek area and the Visitor Center site, while those who want calm, predictable conditions are better served by the two ponds. Ohio requires a valid fishing license for anyone 16 and older, and standard statewide regulations apply unless posted otherwise at the site.
No. All four listings are accessible from shore. The two ponds — Highlandtown Wildlife Area Pond and Consolidation Coal Company Pond 0206 — are particularly well-suited to bank fishing, and the river access points at Caesar Creek Lake and the Visitor Center Day Use Rec Site are designed for anglers on foot.
The activity listings don't specify stocked species or survey data for these sites, so we won't guess. Ohio's inland ponds and reservoirs in this region commonly hold largemouth bass, bluegill, and channel catfish, but check the Ohio DNR's current stocking reports or contact the district office for confirmed species at each water body before you go.
Alum Creek Below Dam Area
~53 min drive
A worthwhile stop near OH.
Dawes Arboretum Pond
~2 min drive
A worthwhile stop near OH.
Hoover Reservoir
~46 min drive
Easy
Kokosing River – Mount Vernon Access
~48 min drive
Moderate
Buckeye Lake
~5 min drive
A worthwhile stop near OH.
Alum Creek Lake
~53 min drive
Easy
Muskingum River – McConnelsville Access
~1h 6m drive
Moderate
Newark Low Head Reservoir
~13 min drive
A worthwhile stop near OH.
Scioto River – Circleville Access
~1h 6m drive
Easy
Central Silica Company Pond 9722-009
~18 min drive
A worthwhile stop near OH.
Central Silica Company Pond 9722-009
~18 min drive
A worthwhile stop near OH.
Dillon Lake
~27 min drive
A worthwhile stop near OH.
Also worth it near here
For Highlandtown Wildlife Area Pond and Consolidation Coal Company Pond 0206, a medium-light spinning rod with 8-10 lb monofilament covers most situations. Bring a mix of bobber-and-worm rigs for panfish and a few soft plastics or small spinners if you want to target bass along the edges.
Early morning and the hour or two before sunset are consistently the most productive windows at still-water ponds, when fish move into shallower areas to feed. At the river access sites near Caesar Creek, low-light periods also help, but current and water clarity after rain events will affect conditions more than time of day.
The Visitor Center Day Use Rec Site suggests managed access with designated parking, so arriving during posted hours is advisable. Wildlife area ponds in Ohio are generally open to the public during daylight, but confirm current access status for Highlandtown Wildlife Area through the Ohio DNR before making the trip, as conditions and closures can change seasonally.
