Sandusky River (Fremont) fishing conditions · Ohio

Now until 4 pmWalleye

The bite peaks at 80. Water is 56°, inside their 50–72° range, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Right now: 80 for walleye, worth the trip · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Walleye, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

803 am
80
80
806 am
80
80
809 am
80
80
8012 pm
80
80
803 pm
72
72
726 pm
80
80
809 pm
80
80
80Tue
80
80
803 am
80
80
806 am
72
72
809 am
80
80
8012 pm
80
80

Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Water: 56°F
Wind: 5 mph
Flow: 65.7 cfs
Light: Dark
Sky: Partly Cloudy
Air: 48°F
Barometer: Steady
Moon: 100% lit

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Ohio regulations for these waters.

Walleye

Sander vitreus

80Worth the tripNow until 4 pm

Water

56°

40°50–72° · ideal 62°82°

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Inside walleye's active range. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 10–40 ft down.

Keep

15" minimum · 6 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Lake Erie Sport Fishing District, the Maumee and Sandusky runs included: walleye, sauger and saugeye combined, 15" minimum, 6 a day (May 1, 2026–Apr 30, 2027).

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Ohio

Season here: Mar–May, Oct–Nov, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on walleye

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

80Worth the tripNow until 4 pm

Water

56°

45°55–78° · ideal 68°88°

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Inside smallmouth bass's active range. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 3–30 ft down.

Keep

14" minimum · 5 a day (Jan 1–Apr 30, Jun 27–Dec 31); 18" minimum · 1 a day (May 1–Jun 26)

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Lake Erie Sport Fishing District, tributaries included up to the listed end points (Maumee to the Grand Rapids dam, Sandusky to the Tiffin waterworks dam). Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass combined: 14" and 5 a day Mar 1–Apr 30, 18" and 1 a day May 1–Jun 26, 14" and 5 a day Jun 27–Feb 28.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Ohio

Season here: Apr–Nov, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on smallmouth bass

White bass

Morone chrysops

74Worth the tripNow until 4 pm

Water

56°

45°55–80° · ideal 68°90°

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Inside white bass's active range. Holds 4–30 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Ohio Lake Erie Sport Fishing District, the Maumee and Sandusky runs included: striped, hybrid and white bass are open all year with no daily limit and no minimum length.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Ohio

Season here: Apr–Oct. More on white bass

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

74Worth the tripNow until 4 pm

Water

56°

42°52–86° · ideal 72°96°

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Inside common carp's active range. Holds 1–15 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Ohio classes common carp as a forage fish. Neither the statewide nor the Lake Erie limit table sets a carp limit or size, and forage fish may be taken by most methods, bowfishing included.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Ohio

Last checked 8 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on common carp

The water

Water temperature56°F
River65.7 cfs · steady · -5% in 24 h
Barometer30.36 inHg, steady

Sun, moon & solunar

Sunrise today7:56 am
Sunset today6:36 pm
MoonFull, 100% lit
Minor solunarToday 8:00 am–9:00 am
Major solunarToday 12:30 pm–2:30 pm
Minor solunarTonight 6:00 pm–7:00 pm

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Ohio DNR Division of Wildlife has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

The Sandusky is the Maumee’s quieter twin — the other major Lake Erie tributary that fills with spawning walleye each spring below the dam at Fremont. Walleye in March–April, white bass in May, and smallmouth through summer, with live USGS flow at Fremont to read the run.

Spring run (Mar 1–Apr 30): single hook only, no hooks over ½", sunrise-to-sunset only in the designated stretch — see ODNR.

WaterRiver
AccessPier, shore and ramp
RulesOhio
WhereSandusky County · 41.3520, -83.1230

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Catawba Island State Park (Port Clinton)21 mi · OhioBest now until 7 am

96Go

Maumee River (Side Cut Metropark)31 mi · OhioBest now until 7 am

82Worth the trip

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Sandusky River (Fremont)?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Sandusky River (Fremont) you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Sandusky River (Fremont)?

Sandusky River (Fremont) is listed on this site for 4 commonly-targeted species: Walleye, White Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Common Carp. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Sandusky River (Fremont)?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Sandusky River (Fremont) against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Sandusky River (Fremont) have?

Sandusky River (Fremont) has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Spring run (Mar 1–Apr 30): single hook only, no hooks over ½", sunrise-to-sunset only in the designated stretch — see ODNR.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Sandusky River (Fremont)?

state agency regulations apply at Sandusky River (Fremont). Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Sandusky River (Fremont) tidal water?

No. Sandusky River (Fremont) is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.