If you want to fish without leaving the campground, look for a park built around its own water. Just off I-80 and the Ohio Turnpike in Newton Falls, Ridge Ranch Campground sits on a 17-acre lake with lakefront campsites, a separate pond, and a camp store that sells bait and fishing supplies. Fishing there is catch and release. If you want to keep fish for dinner, several public lakes in Trumbull, Portage and Mahoning counties are a short drive away.
Below: what you can catch at Ridge Ranch, where on the lake to fish, the rules, Ohio license basics, and the public lakes nearby.
Fishing at a campground near I-80 in Ohio
Most campgrounds along I-80 in Ohio are built for an overnight stop: you park, hook up and get back on the road in the morning. A lake campground lets you cast a line in the evening and again at sunrise before you pull out. That’s a big part of why Ridge Ranch gets so many cross-country RVers on weeknights, along with weekend campers from Cleveland, Akron, Youngstown and Pittsburgh.
A few things set fishing at Ridge Ranch apart from fishing at a state park or a big public reservoir:
- You can fish from your site. The lakefront sites (138–156 are the most requested) sit right on the water.
- It’s a paddling lake. Bring your own kayak, canoe or paddle boat. The shallow water stays calm, which is good for both paddling and fishing.
- Bait is on site. The camp store carries bait and basic fishing supplies, along with ice and groceries.
- It’s all catch and release, in both the lake and the pond.
What fish are in Ridge Ranch Lake?
The lake holds the fish you’d expect in a Midwestern spring-fed lake:
- Largemouth bass, a favorite target
- Crappie
- Bluegill and other sunfish, which are easy for kids to catch from shore
- Carp, some of them big
The lake is not stocked with trout and there’s no guiding service. It’s a relaxed lake for bank and kayak fishing. It can still produce good fish, though: one guest told our staff he qualified for a Fish Ohio pin with a fish he caught in Ridge Ranch Lake. Fish Ohio is the Ohio Division of Wildlife’s program that recognizes trophy-size catches. For example, a largemouth bass has to be over 20 inches and a crappie over 13 inches. Current minimum lengths and the entry form are at fishohio.gov.
Where to fish on the lake
Most of the 17-acre lake is shallow, about 2 to 6 feet deep. The swimming area is the exception. It was dredged to 8–10 feet, and several springs come up through the shale bedrock there, which keeps the water cool. The beach and the Wibit water park are in that section, so it’s off-limits for fishing during swim hours.
The best fishing is usually along the far shoreline, opposite the campsites. It gets the least foot traffic and has the most cover. A kayak or canoe makes it easy to work that bank. From shore, try the lakefront sites early in the morning before the park wakes up.
Keep an eye out for turtles. The lake has plenty of large ones, including snapping turtles along the back shoreline. A land bridge separates the swimming area from the main lake, and that keeps the snappers away from swimmers. Herons, geese, swans and the occasional eagle work the lake too.
When is the best time to fish?
- Spring (May–June): Ridge Ranch opens in May. Bass and panfish move shallow to spawn, and the shallow lake warms quickly.
- Summer: fish early and late. Midday on a summer weekend is beach and Wibit time, so the lake is busy and the fish go deep or into cover.
- Fall (September–October): the campground stays open through October, and the lake is quieter after Labor Day. The trees along the back side of the lake turn color, and a sunrise cast with the leaves changing is hard to beat.
Fishing rules at Ridge Ranch
- Catch and release only, in both the lake and the pond. Wet your hands, unhook quickly and get the fish back in the water.
- Give the swimming area and the Wibit a wide berth during beach hours (9 a.m. to 9 p.m. or sunset). There’s no lifeguard, so swimmers need the space.
- Bring your own boat: kayaks, canoes and paddle boats are welcome. The campground doesn’t rent boats.
- Children under 13 must have an adult with them to swim.
The full park rules are on the map and rules page.
Do you need a fishing license in Ohio?
Ohio requires a fishing license for anglers 16 and older. Kids under 16 fish free. The lake at Ridge Ranch is private and completely surrounded by our land, so you don’t need a license to fish it. You will need one at every public lake listed below, so if you plan to fish more than one spot on your trip, buy one before you go. Licenses are sold online through the Ohio Division of Wildlife and at many sporting goods and bait stores. Ohio also holds free fishing days each year, when no license is needed; check the Division of Wildlife for this year’s dates. Size and bag limits on public water vary by lake and species, so look up the current regulations before you keep anything.
Public fishing lakes near Ridge Ranch
If you want to fish bigger water, or keep a few fish within the legal limits, there are several well-known public lakes nearby:
- Mosquito Creek Lake (Trumbull County, north of Warren): a big lake best known for crappie, and a regular producer of Fish Ohio crappie.
- West Branch Lake (Portage County): one of Northeast Ohio’s top muskie lakes.
- Lake Milton (Mahoning County): known for smallmouth bass, and part of the state’s muskie stocking.
- The Mahoning River: better known locally for tube and kayak floats, but you can fish it too.
Check ODNR’s lake pages for boat ramps, horsepower limits and fishing maps before you go.
Best sites for anglers and RVers off I-80
- Lakefront sites 138–156: the closest you can get to the water, and the most popular sites in the park. Many are full hookup.
- Sites 22–26: gravel pull-throughs with 50-amp service, easy for big rigs and one-night I-80 stops. You’re a short walk from the lake.
- Tent sites: there’s a family tent area up front and a quieter wooded tent area near the creek.
Every site has a fire ring and a picnic table. Check the rates page for current pricing.
Getting there from I-80
For big rigs, the easiest route is the Newton Falls exit on I-80 and then through the village of Braceville. You’ll cross over the interstate twice on the way in. If you’re eastbound in a smaller rig, you can exit at Ravenna and follow State Route 303, which runs parallel to I-80, straight to the campground. When you book, you give your license plate number, and the gate reads it on arrival, so you can drive straight to your site. That helps when you roll in after a long day of driving.
More than fishing for the rest of the family
If not everyone in your group fishes, the lake has plenty else going on: the sandy beach, the Wibit inflatable water park (summer weekends), the Kangaroo Jumper bounce pillow, a new playground, an arcade in the camp store, and themed weekends with food trucks. See amenities and the events calendar. For more lake campgrounds in the region, see our guide to lake campgrounds near you and our list of campgrounds along I-80 in Ohio.
Fishing campground FAQ
Can you keep fish at Ridge Ranch Campground?
No. Fishing in the lake and the pond is catch and release only. If you want to keep fish, try one of the nearby public lakes, and follow Ohio’s size and bag limits.
Can I bring my own boat?
Yes. Kayaks, canoes and paddle boats are welcome on the lake. The campground doesn’t rent boats, so bring your own.
Does the camp store sell bait?
Yes. The store sells bait and fishing supplies, along with ice, groceries and firewood.
Is Ridge Ranch a good overnight stop on I-80?
Yes. It’s close to the interstate, and the 50-amp pull-through sites suit big rigs. If you stay a second night, there’s plenty to do.
