Defiance Reservoir
Defiance Reservoir is a city water pretreatment basin on Canal Road on the west side of Defiance. It was built in 2007 and is stocked with several game fish.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Largemouth Bass
Weeds, docks and wood in the shallows.
Saugeye
Points, riprap and the dam area. Jigs in cold water, crankbaits in summer.
Walleye
Points, flats and reefs at low light. Jigs and live bait early, crankbaits and crawler harnesses in summer.
Channel Catfish
Cut bait and nightcrawlers on flats and creek mouths in the evening.
Bluegill
Weed beds and shallow flats in late spring.
Yellow Perch
Schools on mud and sand flats. Great through the ice.
Boat launches
2 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Northwest corner boat rampRampPublic ramp on the northwest corner of the reservoir. Electric motors only.Directions ↗
- More public accessPublicSee the ODNR or lake website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Minimum size and daily limit for each species in Defiance Reservoir are published by the state. Look up the current size and creel limits for this lake directly: Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.
- Paul's SupplyNearby914 Ottawa Ave, Defiance, OH 43512(419) 782-7400Directions ↗
Local tips
- Average depth is about 18 feet, so fish deeper edges for saugeye and walleye.
- Gas motors are not allowed. Bring a trolling motor or fish from a small boat.
- Check for water quality advisories on the ODNR page before you go.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches; blue pins are bait shops nearby.
More Ohio lakes
Seneca Lake Alum Creek Lake Buckeye Lake Salt Fork Lake Hoover Reservoir West Branch Reservoir (Michael J. Kirwan Reservoir) Caesar Creek Lake Tappan Lake All Ohio lakes →
Always wear a life jacket and check your state's current regulations before you fish.