Lake Hope
Lake Hope is in Zaleski State Forest in Vinton County. It is a small, quiet lake with a boathouse and a ramp by the dam on State Route 278.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Largemouth Bass
Weeds, docks and wood in the shallows.
Bluegill
Weed beds and shallow flats in late spring.
Crappie
Brush piles, docks and standing timber. Minnows or small jigs.
Channel Catfish
Cut bait and nightcrawlers on flats and creek mouths in the evening.
Boat launches
3 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- State Route 278 rampRampSingle ramp by the damDirections ↗
- Lake Hope boathouseMarinaRents canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, pedal boats and pontoons, (740) 596-4949Directions ↗
- 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 Lake Hope 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.
- Mike's Bait N TackleNearby1272 Pennsylvania Ave, Wellston, OH 45692Directions ↗
Local tips
- Only hand-powered and electric motor boats are allowed.
- Rent a canoe or kayak at the boathouse if you have no boat.
- A fishing license is required at age 16 and older.
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.