Best Bass Lake near Cincinnati

[Coastal Mountaineer]

A move to Cincinnati is in our future. Wife wants to be near our daughter and her family as we age. I'm not terribly excited about the move from a fishing standpoint and looking for some help.

I know about East Fork, but not much else. What are the best bass lakes within an hour or so drive of Milford, Ohio? Also, I have an aluminum Ranger 1782 deep v/Mercury 150 4 stroke. Will this boat be ok to fish inshore Lake Erie for small mouth/large mouth ? Best places for me to trailer to?

[MikeKz]

Rocky your best bet near Milford area, followed by Brookville (but more like 1-1/2 hour drive from there).

[mactlman]

find a good club and join it. fastest way to learn the local lakes rocky and paint good lakes an hr north. east fork terrible from my times there --ohio river????

[bassnpro1]

Cowan would be trolling motor only for you, but it fishes as well as any lake for bass around here. None of it is good though.

[Coastal Mountaineer]

I understand bass fishing is tough around Cincinnati. Is there any fishing for any species that's good in the area?

[Whitaker201]

I would second Rocky Fork and Cowan. I would also toss in the OH river.......but only in the spring.

[mactlman]

I understand bass fishing is tough around Cincinnati. Is there any fishing for any species that's good in the area?

awesome crappie and walleye/saugeye fishing I hear at almost every lake around and a muskie can be had at caesers creek

[SHOracer86]

I third Rocky followed by Cowan for bass.

[eriedude]

Your Ranger is fine for Erie. Mazurik ramp near Lakeside is a good place to launch for largemouth and smallmouth fishing.

[tlt20xd]

Rocky fork is beat to death this year. Only taking 6 lbs. To win tournaments there at the moment. It is usually a really good fisheries. Both paint and rocky very tough right now.

[mactlman]

Rocky fork is beat to death this year. Only taking 6 lbs. To win tournaments there at the moment. It is usually a really good fisheries. Both paint and rocky very tough right now.

too true!! been the worst yr ever at those lakes for us-- all lakes over worked this year due to covid!

[Fishing Flyer]

too true!! been the worst yr ever at those lakes for us-- all lakes over worked this year due to covid!

If those are bad, then what would you even call CC this year? A total dud maybe?

[mactlman]

If those are bad, then what would you even call CC this year? A total dud maybe?

last time there was xmas eve and I caught a 35 inch muskie so all was good. only fish there once or twice per yr. i live 15 -20 minutes away and still drive to rocky or paint instead

[omcforever]

Cowan would be trolling motor only for you, but it fishes as well as any lake for bass around here. None of it is good though.

Cowan is an overlooked gem. Big bass taken regularly.

[omcforever]

CC is awesome,,,,at night both for bass and crappie. Would never fish during the day though. Produce some nice catfish as well. Cowan is just fantastic at night. Past 40 years, have caught numerous bass over 5 pounds and lots of 12 inch plus crappie and catfish over 30 pounds. Saugeye at cowan as well.

[omcforever]

And then there is the Great Miami River. Awesome smallmouth fisherie...period!!!!!!

[wentbroketryingtogopro]

nothing against ohio,i actually like visiting the cincinnati area a couple times a year,but we are talking about leaving wilmington,nc.

[Coastal Mountaineer]

nothing against ohio,i actually like visiting the cincinnati area a couple times a year,but we are talking about leaving wilmington,nc.

Yep, wife ready to go, I'm holding on as long as I can.

[Richie B]

Surprised nobody has mentioned Brookville.

[Whitaker201]

And then there is the Great Miami River. Awesome smallmouth fisherie...period!!!!!!

SHHHHH!!! Nobody would buy a special boat setup to fish there.