Apple Valley Lake is a favorite destination among anglers. It is a clear lake with an average depth of 30 feet. Apple Valley Lake is well stocked with a variety of fish species.
You might be planning your next fishing adventure here and are wondering: “What kind of fish are in Apple Valley Lake?
Apple Valley Lake is home to 13 kinds of fish species:
- Black Bass
- Bluegill
- Brown Trout
- Catfish
- Crappie
- Largemouth Bass
- Perch
- Rainbow Trout
- Smallmouth Bass
- Striped Bass
- Sunfish
- Trout
- Walleye
This article provides interesting facts about each of these fish species and tips on how to catch them. Also, read on to learn more about the best spots, and the best times to go fishing in Apple Valley Lake.
13 Different Fish Species in Apple Valley Lake
- Black Bass - found throughout a large area east of the Rocky Mountains in North America, from the Hudson Bay basin in Canada to northeastern Mexico. This freshwater fish is known as a strong fighter and tastes good.
- Bluegill - one of the most popular species of sport fish in the US. Bluegills are prolific breeders and spawn in late spring and early summer. They grow to an average length of 19.1 cm (7.5 inches) with a maximum reported length of 41 cm.
Small-scale artificial lures are effective in catching bluegills. Crickets, wax worms, and beetles are great live baits when hunting for bluegill.
- Brown Trout - is known to be one of the wariest and wiliest fish species in Apple Valley Lake. What makes them hard to catch is their feeding lane of about two inches and their habitat.
Browns trouts are more likely to be found in undercut banks, the calm water around log jams, and the deepest eddies and pools.
- Catfish - plentiful and taste great tasting, catfish can thrive in many water systems and can be readily caught from the bank as well as from a boat using a simple bait rig.
- Crappie - delicious and easily catchable, Crappies inhabit continental North American freshwaters. They weigh at a range of 1-5lbs, are abundant and are highly popular, especially for young anglers and those learning how to fish.
- Largemouth Bass - an aggressive fish species that can be targeted using different fishing techniques, Largemouth Bass are ambush feeders that pounce on nearly any prey that comes by them.
It’s good to keep in mind that bass comes out of their protective shelter when it’s cloudy and there is little or no sun. This means that fishing near areas where bass might go for shelter when it’s sunny can ensure a good catch.
- Perch - one of the most common panfish in North America, the yellow perch is identified by its brass-colored body with distinct green-olive, stripes. They can live up to 10 years and reach an average length of 5 to 11 inches.
- Rainbow Trout - differentiated from the other trout species by their strikingly prominent pink-red horizontal stripe that extends down each side of their body, rainbow trout feeds on mayflies, caddisflies, stoneflies and their larvae, small mollusks and fish.
It prefers temperatures below 70 degrees. Rainbow trout can be frequently found in cool, deep reservoirs, as well as cold tailwaters below dams. It lives in streams with stable riffles of rocks and gravel, for nursery and spawning areas.
- Smallmouth Bass - commonly found around the Midwestern part of the United States, they have a mouth much smaller than largemouth bass but can grow to be around the same size.
Smallies are easier to hook in places where they are most likely to spawn. These fish are often at depths of about 20 to 30 feet, but when it gets warmer, they can get closer to the surface.
- Striped Bass - pound-for-pound, one of the strongest fighting freshwater fish you can catch, striped bass can reach a massive size of more than a hundred pounds. However, the more common mature size of striped bass is 20 to 40 pounds.
The most recommended live bait for striped bass are alewives, gizzard shad, threadfin shad, and American eels.
Striped bass is very light-sensitive at night. Because of this, it is recommended to keep your artificial light to a bare minimum when fishing for striped bass.
- Sunfish - usually found in shallow water around some kind of cover, especially back in coves, Sunfish are easy to catch.
They will eat just about any kind of natural bait. Worms are commonly used as bait for catching sunfish but crickets, grubs, catalpa worms, and even small balls of bread work just as well.
- Trout - the fourth most popular fish game in North America, trout can frequently be found in places near or above aquatic vegetation, around logs, stumps, rocks or other structure at stream inlets, and deeper waters.
- Walleye - is a species of freshwater fish native to Canada and the northern United States. Walleyes have a very large mouth with razor-sharp teeth.
Their diet changes quickly as they begin to grow, changing from invertebrates to other fish. Technically, they never stop growing and have a vicious appetite.
Walleyes inhale their prey most of the time and if that flow is prevented you’ll get a short strike. Because of this, it is recommended to use a light fishing line to get less resistance and drag when using a lure.
One of the best live baits recommended for catching walleye are minnows, especially here in Apple Valley Lake where the water is cool and clear.
Is a fishing license required in Apple Valley Lake?
If you intend to take fish from Apple Valley Lake, or from any body of water in Ohio for that matter, you must have a valid Ohio fishing license.
Ohio fishing licenses are available as:
- Daily fishing licenses
- Annual fishing licenses
- 3-year fishing licenses
- 5-year fishing licenses
- 10-year fishing licenses
- Lifetime fishing licenses
Is there a daily fishing limit in Apple Valley Lake?
Depending on the kind of fish, there is a state-wide daily limit in Ohio:
It is also important to note that the lake sturgeon is an endangered species in Ohio and must be returned unharmed to the water immediately if caught.
When is the best time to fish in Apple Valley Lake?
No-wake hours on Apple Valley Lake are from sunset to sunrise. This is the best time to fish in Apple Valley Lake. During summer, the best times to fish are early morning and late evening. During spring and fall, however, it's best to go out around dusk.
What are the best fishing spots in Apple Valley Lake?
80 feet from shore on any part of the lake is a no-wake area. If you have a lakefront home, that means you can fish straight from your dock.
Places where there are a lot of weeds are one of the best fishing spots in Apple Valley Lake. A nice comfy weed bed provides an opportunity for a lot of big fish, such as largemouth bass, to ambush their prey.
There are also places where structures, such as downed trees, are sunk in the lake. These structures provide shelter for the fish. Sunken structures also provide them the opportunity to ambush other fish.
Finally, the inlets and outlets are also great fishing spots because the water in these areas are generally much cooler and favorable to fish.
Is there a fishing club in Apple Valley Lake?
Apple Valley Lake has a local fishing club. The Fish and Restocking Club in Apple Valley Lake spearheads efforts to water test the lake and stock the lake with different species of fish to ensure the lake’s excellent condition.
Just last Nov 2019, Apple Valley Lake was restocked with 1,000 lbs. of walleye, 250 lbs. of minnows, and 1,750 lbs. of crappie.
The Fish and Restocking club can provide valuable information on where sunken structures and weed beds can be found in Apple Valley Lake. Connecting with them is also a great way to meet fellow anglers.
Is there a fishing tournament in Apple Valley Lake?
Apple Valley Lake holds two bass tournaments every year as well as catch and release tournaments on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
The Buddy Bass Tournament is a community event that brings not just fishing enthusiasts but also family and friends to support the anglers, picnic, and have a great time. Toth and Team avidly supports these events.
Teams of two can be composed of property owners or a property owner and a guest. A team may also consist of one contestant who obtains a single day pass for his boat prior to the tournament date and an Apple Valley property owner.
You can own property in Apple Valley Lake for as low as $5,000 and be a part of this great community.
In the recently concluded Buddy Bass Tournament held last May 2019, the largest bass caught was 4.96 lbs.
There’s also an annual Youth Fishing event held at Bennett Park.
Related Questions
What other fishing sites are near Apple Valley Lake?
There are 5 scenic places to fish near Apple Valley Lake:
- Kokosing River
- Mohican River
- Jelloway Creek
- Barney Run
- Schenk Creek
In addition, I have also written about 7 top boating and fishing lakes in Ohio. Read the full article here.
What other outdoor activities can a sportsman do near Apple Valley Lake?
White-tail Deer Hunting - Apple Valley has a successful deer hunting program within municipal limits. Thayer Ridge Park and Indianfield Bluffs Park allow deer-hunting with certain specific rules:
“Archers, by permit-only, assist the Park District with our deer management program, during Ohio’s white-tailed deer archery season. Archery participants pursue their sport at Indianfield Bluffs throughout the week (including weekends) during archery season which typically runs from the end of September through the beginning of February.”
Waterfowl and Migratory Bird Hunting - Ohio state allows hunting of geese, ducks, mergansers, and coots 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset during the regular waterfowl season. As with fishing regulations, there’s also a specific daily limit depending on the type of waterfowl or migratory bird.
Apple Valley Lake OH is indeed a sportsman’s paradise. It’s a perfect place for rest and relaxation. Call us at 740-390-0735 to know more about how you can own property at Apple Valley and be able to fish anytime you like in one of the most sought after fishing destinations in the State of Ohio.
In case you can not view this video here, please click the link below to view What Kinds of Fish Are in Apple Valley Lake? on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/QEyrJBxpQmA
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