Hinckley Lake

Boat Ramps: 2
Access Points: 2
Species: 9

Hinckley Lake, located in Medina County, Ohio, is an 87-acre man-made impoundment created in 1926 on the East Branch Rocky River within Hinckley Reservation. Originally built from land donated by entrepreneur John F. Johnson in 1923, this historic lake has served as a premier fishing destination for nearly a century. The lake is jointly managed by Cleveland Metroparks and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife, which entered into a fishing agreement in 1998 to provide comprehensive fisheries management services. While the lake has experienced some sedimentation over the decades, reducing its original size by approximately 25%, it remains the largest inland lake within Cleveland Metroparks and offers excellent fishing opportunities for both novice and experienced anglers.

Ohio licenses and regulations4 to check before you go

Species & education

Learn what type of fish are at Hinckley Lake and what's needed to catch them.

Find which waters have the species you want to catch

Largemouth Bass

Micropterus salmoides

Rainbow Trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Black Crappie

Pomoxis nigromaculatus

Bluegill Sunfish

Lepomis macrochirus

Channel Catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

Common Carp

Cyprinus carpio

Golden Redhorse

Moxostoma erythrurum

White Crappie

Pomoxis annularis

Yellow Bullhead

Ameiurus natalis

Fishing spots, boat ramps & amenities

Learn how to get on Hinckley Lake. Uncover great fishing access points, boat ramps, and all the facilities you need for an unforgettable day on the water. Some locations shown may border or include private property. Always check property boundaries and applicable regulations before visiting. onWater's Public & Private Land layer can help you plan your access with confidence.

Stone House Lodge

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Know where you can legally fish on Hinckley Lake

See public and private land boundaries along the water, turn on private parcels with owner details to know where permission is required, and find land-trust parcels that offer permitted fishing access.

Ohio licenses and regulations

Ohio Boating Regulations

When using any type of watercraft to access a body of water, it is important to follow all federal, state, and local rules and regulations. These rules and regulations include boat permitting and licensing, invasive species inspections and stamps, life jacket and PFD rules, motor size and horsepower restrictions, noise limitations, restrictions on personal watercraft, and many more. Visit the web link below for the most current rules and regulations for this body of water.

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Ohio Fishing License

Persons under 16 years of age are not required to purchase a fishing license.

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Ohio Fishing Regulations

This river has a variety of species and regulations, including potential floating and/or watercraft restrictions. Because this river is specially managed for species, seasons, angling methods, and watercraft, it is strongly encouraged you check all federal, state, and local regulations before fishing. Visit any of the links below, inquire locally, or contact a local fly shop to learn current regulations and restrictions.

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Ohio Stream Access Laws

Ohio does not believe there is a precise definition for navigability, so it is determined on a case-by-case basis. However, the state generally accepts waterways capable of recreational boating, with a history of recreation and with public access. The public is allowed to recreate freely on all navigable waters but streambeds are not publicly owned.

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Take Hinckley Lake with you

The onWater Fish app keeps this water's access points, species and conditions in your pocket, with the tools you use once you're there.

Use the map without signal
Download the map around Hinckley Lake to use it offline when coverage drops.
Log your catches here
Keep a private fishing journal for Hinckley Lake to find where and when fish are biting for you.
HD depth charts from Garmin
Find drop offs, ledges, channels, points and shallow flats with Garmin depth charts in the app.