Plan a Father's Day Fishing Trip

COLUMBUS--Searching for that perfect gift for Father’s Day on June 17? Buying Dad a gift certificate to purchase his license and take him fishing can provide a wonderful day fathers will not soon forget.

Gift certificates are available at wildohio.com for fishing and hunting licenses, turkey or deer hunting permits, Ohio Wetland Habitat Stamps, Wildlife Legacy Stamps and Wild Ohio magazine subscriptions. Gift certificates can be purchased for any amount and are valid one year from the date of purchase. Gift certificates can only be purchased and redeemed online.

If a dad doesn’t have fishing gear, it's not necessary to buy fancy, expensive fishing equipment. An inexpensive rod and reel combo with tackle can be purchased at a local outdoor store for as little as $20. This time of year, with fish hanging out in the shallows and preparing to spawn, a simple setup will suffice.

Visit wildohio.com and click on fishing for more details about choosing the right bait, places to fish, fish identification and even how to fillet and cook fish after catching them. Recipes are also available at wildohiocookbook.com.

Anglers age 16 and older are required to have a valid fishing license to take fish, frogs or turtles from Ohio waters. Fishing licenses are available at bait and tackle stores, outdoor outfitters, major department stores and at wildohio.com. An Ohio fishing license is one of the best recreational bargains available, costing state residents only $19 a year.

Ohio residents born on or before Dec. 31, 1937, can obtain a free fishing license at any license vendor. Residents age 66 and older born on or after Jan. 1, 1938, are eligible to obtain a reduced-cost senior fishing license for $10. A one-day fishing license is also available for $11, an amount that can be applied toward the cost of an annual license.

Fishing in Ohio has been great this year, and there is something to catch in every corner of the state. The Division of Wildlife recommends visiting these places, listed by fish species, for a great day of fishing.

Walleye - Lake Erie is still the “Walleye Capital of the World” with the lake providing some of the best walleye fishing in the country. Father’s Day weekend should be outstanding for walleye in Lake Erie. Other locations to consider include C.J. Brown Reservoir and Pymatuning Lake.

Crappie - Crappies are a very popular fish because they are fun to catch and good to eat.  Top places around Ohio include Pymatuning, Deer Creek Lake, Alum Creek Lake, Salt Fork, Indian Lake and Paint Creek Lake.

Bluegill - Some of the best places to fish for bluegills and other sunfish are AEP ReCreation Land south of Zanesville, Acton Lake, Lake Loramie and Portage Lakes in Akron.

Saugeye - June is a top saugeye fishing month. Some of Ohio’s best saugeye waters are Indian Lake, Hoover Reservoir, Salt Fork Lake and Buckeye Lake.

Largemouth Bass - The AEP ReCreation Land is hard to beat for largemouth. Other good spots are Knox Lake and Sandusky Bay.

Perch - Lake Erie has been outstanding for perch fishing this year. Perch can be caught fishing from shore and from piers offshore in the Cleveland area, Lorain, Huron, Vermilion, Fairport Harbor, Metzger Pier and the Bass Islands.

Catfish - Channel catfish can be caught in all of Ohio’s 88 counties. Some spots to try are Rocky Fork Lake, Caesar Creek Lake, the Ohio River and its tributaries and Grand Lake St. Marys.

The Division of Wildlife can also be contacted at 800-WILDLIFE (945-3543).