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How we verify

Pay lake vs. public water

A pay lake is a privately operated, stocked lake that sells fishing by time (6, 12, or 24 hours), by the day, by season pass, or by the pound. A public lake is run by a park district, city, or state agency. Some public lakes charge a permit or parking fee, but we don't list them here. If a source only shows a lake on a map, without saying it's pay-to-fish, we don't list it.

Sourcing rules

1. Confirmation first. A lake is published only when a public source says it is a pay or fee-fishing lake. In order of preference: the lake's own website, the lake's own Facebook posts, a tourism or government page, then a recently verified business listing (marked "lower confidence").
2. Old directories and forums are leads, not proof. Many old pay-lake lists name lakes that closed years ago, so we confirm each one before listing it.
3. Every fact has a source and a date. Each lake page lists the URLs we read and when.
4. Unknown stays unknown. We never estimate prices, stocking dates, hours, keep rules, or license rules. Missing facts show as Not published. Call ahead.
5. Our own words. We record facts and summarize them. We don't republish other sites' listing text.

Right now we list 14 confirmed lakes. Our research log also keeps leads we couldn't confirm (closed, sold, public water, out of region, or no current source).

State license rules (summary, not legal advice)

• Ohio: ODNR says no license is required to fish privately owned ponds, lakes, or reservoirs that fish can't swim into or out of. A license is required if the private water is open to public fishing under an agreement or lease with the ODNR Division of Wildlife. ODNR licenses page.
• Kentucky: At a pay lake licensed by Kentucky Fish & Wildlife, you need either a Kentucky fishing license or a free pay-lake permit from the operator (KRS 150.660). KRS 150.660.
• Indiana: Indiana DNR exempts fishing in a private pond that fish can't enter from or leave to public waters, with the owner's permission. Indiana regulations.

We only mark a specific lake "no license needed" if the lake itself says so. Otherwise we show the state rule and ask you to check with the lake.

Suggest a correction

Own or fish a lake listed here, or know one we're missing? Send the lake name, what's wrong or missing, and a link or photo of the posted sign or price board. (A correction form will be added before launch. This preview has no public inbox yet.)