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Veterans Memorial Fishing Map |
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LOCATION
Veterans Memorial Reservoir is situated in northeast Hancock County, Washington Township, 2 miles southwest of Fostoria. It is right off State Route 12 on Washington Township Road 218 and approximately 4 miles north of State Route 224.
HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION
Veterans Memorial is an upground reservoir; water is obtained by pumping from the East Branch Portage River, which is east of the reservoir. It was completed in 1991, designed to provide water to the city of Fostoria and for recreation.
Veterans Memorial has a surface area of 157 acres at maximum water level and a storage capacity of approximately 996 million gallons. Veterans Memorial was built with structural modifications to increase the production and harvest of fish, including fishing reefs, spawning shelves, and a stump area. Its maximum depth of 28 feet is located in the northeastern portion of the lake, and it has an average depth of approximately 16 feet.
FISH OF INTEREST TO THE ANGLER
Veterans Memorial has populations of bluegill, black and white crappie, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, white bass, and white perch. The Division of Wildlife has stocked yellow perch, saugeye, and channel catfish. Gizzard shad is the main forage species.
FISHING FORECAST | Type of Fish | | Size | Largest
(inches) | | Channel Catfish | Good | Fair | 27.6 | | Crappie | Fair | Fair | 10.2
| | Largemouth Bass | Fair | Poor | 16.4 | | Saugeye | Good | Good | 23.0 | Smallmouth Bass
| Good | Fair | 14.1 | | Sunfish | Poor | Fair | 7.3
| Yellow Perch
| Fair | Good | 8.1
| | White Bass | Poor | Poor | 6.7 | Fish Survey Report | Type of Fish | Percent Seeking | Catch Rates | Fishing Pressure | | Catfish | 19% | Poor | Low | | Crappie | 9% | Poor | Low | Largemouth Bass and
Smallmouth Bass | 7% | Good | Low | | Saugeye | 6% | Excellent | Low | | Sunfish | 5% | Good | Low |
Angler Survey Report
METHODS OF FISHING AND BEST FISHING SITES
Spring is a good time to fish for nearly all species. Spawning fish frequently come close to shore in the spring and can be caught by shore fishing. Boat fishing is usually the most effective method for any open water because you can fish over a greater area. Since most of the fishing reefs are located in deep water, live bait or deep running artificial lures are expected to provide good results. Jig-type artificial baits such as small jig spoons and ice jigs are expected to be productive for smallmouth bass, bluegill, and crappies in these deeper waters. Best baits for bluegills are redworms or larval baits such as wax worms fished with weighted hooks or jigs. Crappies are attracted to any type of physical cover, but are found throughout the lake. Best baits for crappies are minnows or small jigging spoons.
Saugeye can usually be caught on minnows, deep running lures, weighted spinners tipped with a worm or a worm harness with a nightcrawler. Saugeye are frequently caught on the wave-washed shorelines in April using jigs tipped with twister tails, tube baits, nightcrawlers, or leeches. During summer and fall, drift fishing or trolling deep-water areas and fishing shoreline at night can be effective.
Channel catfish fishing is expected to be best on the spawning shelves and other shoreline areas during the spring and early summer and deeper waters during the summer and early fall. Fishing on or near the bottom with nightcrawlers, shrimp, or cut bait should produce the best results.
Yellow perch are present throughout the reservoir although they seek the shoreline cover areas more often in late summer and fall. Best baits for open water fishing are minnows and worms.
Ice fishing is allowed at your own risk. Avoid the outlet pipe located in the northeast corner of the lake. We recommend not fishing alone and take ice safety precautions. Ice fishing is frequently good at Veterans Memorial for saugeye, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, and channel catfish. Ice fishing for saugeye is good especially in the deeper water of the reservoir. Jigging spoons or ice lures are effective for saugeye and channel catfish. A live minnow fished through the ice is also effective for saugeye. Bluegill, yellow perch, and crappie are caught readily through the ice using larval baits such as mousies, waxworms, and wigglers on ice flies. The secret to successful ice fishing is to move frequently from hole to hole until you locate fish.
RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Boats are allowed on the reservoir, with a 9.9 hp motor restriction. The boat ramp and main parking area is on the northern edge of the reservoir off Washington Township Road 218. Another parking area is located on the east side of the reservoir which can be accessed from Washington Township Road 218. The boat ramp and parking areas are operated by the city.
FISH OHIO
Anglers who catch a big fish should enter their prize in the Fish Ohio angler recognition program. A fish qualifies for an award if it meets the minimum size requirement set for the Fish Ohio program. Applications are available online at FishOhio.org.
FISH MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES
Fish management activities by the Ohio Division of Wildlife include stocking, fish population monitoring with sampling equipment, age and growth studies, angler harvest studies, and water quality analysis. These activities provide a continual check of water quality and fish population and a sound basis for management practices necessary to furnish quality public fishing.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The nearest district office is Wildlife District Two, 952 Lima Ave., Findlay, Ohio 45840; telephone (419) 424-5000. To get other maps or publications call toll free 1-800 WILDLIFE.
TURN IN A POACHER
Ohio’s TIP, “Turn In a Poacher,” program is helping curtail 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.
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