Willard Lake

Willard Lake is a reservoir in Huron County, Ohio. Willard Lake covers about 199 acres, reaches a recorded 45 feet and holds about 133 acre-feet.

What to Expect at Willard Lake

Willard Lake has an old channel, incoming water and quiet coves, and small water-level changes can move fish from the bank to the first drop.

Fish and Useful Baits at Willard Lake

Fish reported from Willard Lake include black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, common carp, gizzard shad, largemouth bass, saugeye, smallmouth bass, walleye, white crappie, and yellow perch.

Bass

For bass at Willard, 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.

Crappie, Perch and Sunfish

For panfish at Willard, 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.

Walleye, Saugeye and White Bass

For roaming fish at Willard, 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.

Catfish, Bullheads and Carp

For bottom fishing at Willard, 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.

A Simple Fishing Plan for Willard Lake

On a first trip to Willard, 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.

When to Fish Willard Lake

Spring around Willard is a good time to check warm coves and incoming water, and summer is a good time to fish shade, weeds and the first drop into deeper water. Fall around Willard can bring fish back to windy points and banks, while winter calls for smaller baits fished slowly.