Army Corps reservoir

Dillon Lake

Muskingum County, Ohio

Dillon Lake is a flood control reservoir built by the Army Corps of Engineers in 1961, about 6 miles north of Zanesville in Muskingum County. It is known for saugeye, crappie and channel catfish, and it allows unlimited horsepower.

Air temp in Nashport, OH Loading current temperature…

Red pins match the numbered boat launches below. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Current air temperature at Dillon Lake (National Weather Service) ↗

Surface area1,560 acres

Max depth—

Shoreline27.9 mi

Boat motorsUnlimited horsepower

Species

Fishery rating out of 5.

Saugeye●●●●○

Stocked each year with fingerlings

Channel Catfish●●●●○

Fish of 15 to 20 inches are common, some reach 30

Crappie●●●●○

9 inch minimum

Largemouth Bass●●●○○

Weeds, docks and wood in the shallows.

Wiper●●●○○

Hybrid striped bass. Chase surface-feeding schools and points with wind.

Bluegill●●●○○

Weed beds and shallow flats in late spring.

Boat launches

5 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.

1Dillon MarinaMarina
Seasonal docks and rentalsDirections ↗
2Nashport Boat RampRamp
Public boat launch, 2/3 of a mile southwest of Creamery & 146, Licking. No horsepower limit. (740) 453-4377.Directions ↗
3Big Run Boat RampRamp
Public boat launch, N on 146 first left past the Over look Shelter road, Nashport. No horsepower limit. (740) 453-4377.Directions ↗
4Pleasant Knob Launch RampRamp
Public boat launch, from CR 408 take Every Road to the end, Nashport. No horsepower limit. (740) 453-4377.Directions ↗
More public accessPublic
See the ODNR or lake website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗

Size & creel limits

Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.

Species	Min size	Daily limit
Crappie Black and white crappie combined; site-specific rule for Dillon	9 in	30

Other species in this lake: look up the limits at Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife ↗

Verified October 2026. Rules change, so confirm current limits with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife before you fish.

Bait & tackle nearby

Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.

D & D BaitNearby
849 Pine St, Zanesville, OH 43701(740) 452-9905 Directions ↗

Search more bait shops near Dillon Lake ↗

Local tips

Use cut shad or chicken liver for channel catfish.
Keep crappie to 9 inches or longer, 30 per day.
The lake is busy on summer weekends, so launch early.

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.