Berlin Lake is a reservoir in Ohio, near Portage County.
Berlin Lake is a reservoir in Portage County, Ohio. Berlin Lake covers about 3,344 acres, reaches a recorded 60 feet and holds about 140,000 acre-feet.
Berlin Lake follows the Mahoning River valley and has long creek arms, broad flats and an old channel that becomes more useful when the reservoir level changes.
Completed in 1943 for flood control, Berlin has prevented billions of dollars in flood damage. Ohio also notes a low-density muskie population maintained by natural reproduction.
Fish reported from Berlin Lake include black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, common carp, freshwater drum, gizzard shad, largemouth bass, muskellunge, saugeye, smallmouth bass, walleye, white bass, white crappie, and yellow perch.
For bass at Berlin, fish weeds, wood and shade with a jig, spinnerbait or Texas-rigged worm for largemouth, and drag a tube or Ned rig across rock and firm points for smallmouth.
For panfish at Berlin, use a small jig or live minnow beside brush for crappie, and fish a worm, cricket or tiny jig near weeds and shade for sunfish, and keep a small jig, minnow or worm close to bottom for yellow perch.
For roaming fish at Berlin, jig a minnow or troll a crankbait along points and the old channel for walleye, and work a jig, blade bait or small crankbait close to bottom for saugeye, and follow shad with a small spoon, jig or crankbait for white bass.
For bottom fishing at Berlin, put cut bait, chicken liver or a nightcrawler on bottom for channel catfish, and fish corn or dough bait on a simple bottom rig for carp.
For large predators at Berlin, throw a large bucktail or jerkbait along points and weed edges for muskellunge.
Another option at Berlin is to bounce a jig, worm or crayfish bait near bottom for freshwater drum.
Work the old river channel with jigs or crankbaits for walleye and saugeye, fish wood and coves for crappie, and use large moving lures around points when muskellunge are the goal.
On a first trip to Berlin, check incoming water, one bend in the old channel and a point near deep water with a moving lure, then slow down with a jig or worm where you get a bite.
Spring around Berlin is a good time to check warm coves and incoming water, and summer fishing is usually better in cooler, deeper water. Fall around Berlin can bring fish back to windy points and banks, while winter calls for smaller baits fished slowly.
A medium spinning rod covers smaller lures at Berlin, while a heavier rod and stronger leader are better for pike or muskellunge.
Shallow flats lose water first, pushing fish toward the old Mahoning River channel and nearby points.
Ohio says the low-density population is maintained by natural reproduction rather than the regular stocking used at several other reservoirs.
Start with wood or brush near a channel edge, then adjust jig depth before leaving the area.
Explore nearby waters, including local Featured destinations. Check each page for access and fishing restrictions.
Distances are straight-line estimates between mapped water locations.