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National forest lake

Lake Vesuvius

Lawrence County, Ohio

Lake Vesuvius is about 6.5 miles north of Ironton in Lawrence County, in the Wayne National Forest. The Civilian Conservation Corps built it in 1939 and it is known for bass, bluegill and catfish.

N0.5 mi
Air temp in Pedro, OH Loading current temperature…
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Surface area143 acres
Max depth—
Shoreline—
Boat motorsElectric motors only

Species

Fishery rating out of 5.

Largemouth Bass●●●○○

Weeds, docks and wood in the shallows.

Bluegill●●●○○

Weed beds and shallow flats in late spring.

Channel Catfish●●●○○

State stocked

Boat launches

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

  • Dam boat rampRamp
    Long loading ramp and dock with trailer parkingDirections ↗
  • More public accessPublic
    See the ODNR or lake website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗

Size & creel limits

Minimum size and daily limit for each species in Lake Vesuvius 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 ↗

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.

Search more bait shops near Lake Vesuvius ↗

Local tips

  • Gas motors are not allowed. Bring an electric motor.
  • Canoes and kayaks are allowed and rented seasonally.
  • Launch at the ramp near the dam.

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.