LOCATION
Stonelick Lake is located in Clermont County in southwest Ohio. The lake is located one mile southwest of Edenton and is accessible from SR 727.
HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION
The state of Ohio began purchasing land for Stonelick State Park in 1948. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Parks and Recreation constructed a dam across Stonelick Creek in 1949, and the lake came to full pool level by the winter of 1949-1950. Stonelick Lake is approximately 161 acres, and has a watershed of about 16,000 acres.
Most of the lake is less than 10 feet deep with a soft bottom of silt. Significant sedimentation has occurred in the upper end of the lake despite periodic dredging. The original creek channel is still discernible in the lowest third of the lake. Fallen shoreline trees and submersed weed beds provide cover for largemouth bass, bluegills, and crappies.
FISHES OF INTEREST TO ANGLERS
Largemouth bass, white crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, bullheads, carp, and white suckers are found in the lake. Gizzard shad is the primary forage species for predators. The Division of Wildlife stocks rainbow trout each year, usually both in March and October.
FISHING FORECAST
| Type of Fish |
Overall
Numbers
|
Size |
Largest
(inches) |
Fishing Tips/Comments |
| Crappie |
Fair |
Poor |
10.2 |
Most crappie are 7-9 inches. Minnows, wax worms, and small jigs are effective.
|
| Largemouth Bass |
Poor
|
Fair
|
18.9
|
|
| Sunfish |
Good
|
Fair
|
6.7
|
Thrre are good numbers of 5 - 6.5 inch fish |
| Rainbow Trout |
|
|
|
Over 2,000 catchable size rainbow trout are stocked each March and October. Great shore fishing opportunities for these 10-12 inch trout. |
Fish Survey Report
| Types of Fish |
Percent Seeking |
Catch Rates |
Fishing Pressure |
Catfish
|
20%
|
Good
|
High
|
| Crappie |
12%
|
Excellent
|
Average
|
Largemouth Bass
|
14%
|
Poor
|
Low
|
| Sunfish |
8%
|
Poor
|
Average
|
Angler Survey Report
METHODS OF FISHING AND BEST FISHING SITES
Crappies are taken throughout the lake by fishing around shoreline brush, fallen trees, weed bed edges, and rip rap along the dam face. Live minnows, wax worms, or small jigs with plastic bodies are good baits. Largemouth bass are taken along rip rap shorelines, near shoreline woody cover, and around weed beds using spinner baits, crank baits, jigs, plastic baits, and live night crawlers. Bluegills can be taken around shoreline structure and weed beds using red worms or wax worms on small hooks. Channel catfish are taken by bottom fishing with night crawlers, chicken liver, shrimp, or cut fish bait. The best bullhead fishing occurs in the spring using red worms or night crawlers fished near the bottom. Most rainbow trout are caught in the lower half of the lake. Small spinners and jigs, wax worms, salmon eggs, whole kernel corn, and small commercially-prepared trout baits are all productive. The best spring trout fishing occurs within three to four weeks of stocking.
RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES
The ODNR Division of Parks and Recreation operates and maintains one boat ramp, a swimming beach, picnic areas and picnic shelter (shelter can be reserved), a handicap-accessible shoreline fishing pier, and a campground. The Class A campground offers 108 campsites with electricity, a rental cabin, flush toilets, showers, a trailer waste dump station, a camp store, bike and boat rentals, volleyball and basketball courts, and playground equipment.
FISH OHIO
Anglers who catch big fish should enter their prize catch in the Fish Ohio angler recognition program. A fish qualifies for an award if it meets the minimum size requirements set for the Fish Ohio program. To receive a collectable pin and certificate, anglers will need to register their qualifying catch online at www.fishohio.org.
FISH MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES
Fish management activities by the Division of Wildlife include monitoring the fish populations with sampling equipment and studying water quality. The rainbow trout fishery is maintained by annual stockings of 9 to 13-inch trout.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The nearest district office is located at Wildlife District Five, 1076 Old Springfield Pike, Xenia, Ohio 45385; telephone (937) 372-9261. To get other maps or publications call toll free 1-800-WILDLIFE.
For information on state park facilities, contact the regional office at East Fork State Park, 3294 Elklick Rd., Bethel, Ohio 45106; telephone (513) 734-4323. State park information is also available at the ODNR Web site (www.ohiodnr.com).
TURN IN A POACHER
Ohio’s TIP, “Turn In a Poacher,” program is helping to control poaching throughout the state. TIP is designed to involve the public in reporting wildlife violations. Citizens who observe wildlife violations should call the TIP toll-free hotline, 1-800-POACHER, or fill out the TIP form online. |