Reservoir · Portage, Ohio
West Branch Reservoir
West Branch Reservoir
Reservoir · Ohio
Information Only
StrikeTracks does not currently provide a live condition rating for this destination. Destination and fishery information is still available.
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Fishery Profile
Documented species you may encounter at West Branch Reservoir.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency sources. About fish illustrations
Fishery overview
West Branch Reservoir is northeast Ohio's USACE Michael J. Kirwan pool and ODNR's leading Fish Ohio muskie water. StrikeTracks publishes complete static Fishery with catalog-visible Unavailable conditions because no same-lake live USGS 00010 exists. This is not Berlin Lake, not Mosquito Creek Lake, and not Lake Erie.
Target species
Muskellunge
Esox masquinongy
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
ODNR West Branch / Kirwan muskie fishery; 2024 Fish Ohio muskie leader. Not Berlin Lake.
Source: Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife
Black Crappie
Pomoxis nigromaculatus
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
West Branch black crappie.
Source: Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife
Channel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
West Branch channel catfish.
Source: Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife
Largemouth Bass
Micropterus nigricans
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
West Branch largemouth.
Source: Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife
Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieu
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
West Branch smallmouth.
Source: Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife
Bluegill
Lepomis macrochirus
- Expectation
- Present
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
West Branch bluegill.
Source: Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife
Walleye
Sander vitreus
- Expectation
- Present
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
West Branch walleye.
Source: Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Mixed wild and stocked
USACE flood-control pool on the West Branch Mahoning River in Portage County. Distinct from Berlin Lake on the Mahoning main stem.
Best seasons
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
Common techniques
- Boat fishing
- Shore fishing
- Spinning
- Trolling
Access and Public Fishing Rights
West Branch State Park documents public ramps and shore fishing. Catalog coordinates are the state-park / dam corridor, not a USGS thermal site.
Stocking information
ODNR stocks muskellunge here; West Branch led 2024 Fish Ohio muskie entries. Confirm current official stocking records.
- Stocked
Muskellunge
Stocked · Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife
- Stocked
Walleye
Stocked · Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife
Official sources
Ohio inland fishing regulations apply. Confirm current ODNR inland limits. Berlin Lake is a different destination.
conditionPublicationPolicy=static-value-structural-unavailable. West Branch Reservoir is the Portage County USACE Michael J. Kirwan pool inside West Branch State Park and Ohio's leading 2024 Fish Ohio muskie water (101 qualifying muskies), which is destination-specific official angler-use evidence, not a copied Berlin paragraph. inlandHasCompleteStaticFisheryValue passes. No same-lake live USGS 00010 exists; Mahoning River stations are not pool temperature. HIGH plus PATH B does not auto-approve; public Unavailable is approved because West Branch is a distinct Kirwan muskie reservoir, not Berlin, not Mosquito, and not Lake Milton. This justification is West Branch-specific and does not copy Berlin or Mosquito prose.
Location and Access
Cataloged lake location
Portage, Ohio
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
Lake Details
County
Portage
Management Category
USACE / ODNR flood-control reservoir
Regulation Scope
West Branch Reservoir
Regulation Summary
West Branch Reservoir: Ohio inland fishing regulations at West Branch State Park. Confirm current official regulations.
Target Species
Muskellunge, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Channel Catfish, Black Crappie, Bluegill
Public Access
Public
Boat Launch
Available
Shore Fishing
Available
Description
West Branch Reservoir (Michael J. Kirwan Reservoir), Portage County, Ohio, inside West Branch State Park. Catalog-visible Unavailable: no same-lake live USGS water temperature (00010). Mahoning River gauges are not pool thermal. Not Berlin Lake and not Lake Milton.
