Vintage Outdoors

 
 

Fishing

Fishing has been a popular past time for as long as anyone remembers. The Defiance Reservoir is stocked with Perch.  Below Independence and Power Dams is good fishing and one can catch Walleye, Pike, Gar, Crappie, Bass and Catfish.  The Tiffin, Maumee and Auglaize Rivers have a lot of Catfish, Carp, Suckers and Sheepshead

 

Paul’s Supply

Locals frequent Paul’s Supply just south of Defiance on Ottawa Avenue for fishing gear, poles, bait and licenses. Paul can sell licenses and print them out in his store while you wait. Closed Tuesdays.

Oxbow Lake Wildlife Area

Oxbow Lake is located in Defiance County, Ohio. This lake is 40 acres in size. It is approximately 10 feet deep at its deepest point. When fishing, anglers can expect to catch a variety of fish including Bluegill, Channel Catfish and Largemouth Bass.

 

Dey Road Bridge

The Dey Road Bridge is on the National Register of Historic Places because of its Pratt Through Truss engineering design manufactured in 1906 by the Massillon Bridge Company. There has been a bridge at this location since 1835; it began as a toll bridge across the Tiffin River accessing the Village of Brunersburg. It was washed out earl on in flooding.

The iron bridge is built on concrete supports. Surveyors placed a benchmark on the northwestern abutment in 1907 and have used it as a survey point ever since. The bridge was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. The site is a popular launch point for canoes and kayaks.

Photo from Paulding Progress

Boating

The Sand Bar is a popular hangout on the Auglaize River for boaters. Above is a very busy day on the river. The Auglaize is one of the clearest, longest, and calmest sections of the rivers in the area. Local boating clubs do a good job marking known hazzards such as old bridge remains. The Maumee between downtown Defiance and the Independence Dam is another good, deep, low hazard stretch.

River Boat Launches:

  • Pontiac Park downtown Defiance on the Maumee. Rig Parking Available.

  • Independence State Dam east of Defiance on the Maumee. Plenty of Rig Parking available.

  • West Side of the Auglaize on 111 south of Defiance.

  • Five Span Marina on the Auglaize just south of the Defiance County line. Rig Parking available.

Canoe & Kayak Launch

  • Dey Road Bridge (National Register Site) on the Tiffin River just west of Defiance on High Street.

Five Span Marina

Welcome to Five Span Marina, where the variety of watersports products is second to none. In all of Defiance, OH, there isn't a friendlier or more knowledgeable staff than ours. We're happy to help you find either the perfect boat or the parts you've been looking for. Check out our catalogs to see what we have. If you need help in making your selection, call or stop in—we're always ready to help!

Family-owned and operated and conveniently located just south of Defiance on the Auglaize River;  Five Span Marina can provide you with the latest and best in watersports products to make your outdoor living more enjoyable.

Complete service includes: repairs, winterization, shrink wrap and winter storage, prop repairs, pontoon restoration and more.

Old Time Pirogue Making

Our Rivers

The City of Defiance sits on the confluence of the Maumee and Auglaize Rivers. The Maumee flows west through the county until it reaches the St. Joe River near Fort Wayne, IN. The Auglaize winds its way south to the Power Dam near the south edge of Defiance County and on into Paulding County. The Auglaize south of the Power Dam is prime boating river. It’s wide and fairly clear. The Sandbar near Five Span Marina is a fun weekend hangout.

Auglaize Canoe & Kayak Rentals

WALK-INS WELCOME - FIRST COME BASIS OR BY RESERVATION (Recommended)

There are many trips to choose from as you plan your water adventure just south of Defiance County with the best canoe and kayak rentals in Northwest Ohio. The Auglaize and Blanchard Rivers are favorable to the beginner and also to the advanced paddling enthusiast. Nature provides you with a great way to see the wildlife and the plants and trees that are flowering during this season. Enjoy a day away with us for that welcoming change from the fast pace of today's life!  

Maumee Water Trail

We don’t see the pirogues, dugouts or bark canoes of old these days, but plenty of people still enjoy boating, canoeing and kayaking from Ft. Wayne to Toledo on the Maumee, down the still waters of the Auglaize River or up the shallow still waters of the Tiffin River or “Bean Creek” to the locals. This informative map details access points with markers at every mile to help you plan your trip.

Power Dam

This popular fishing area lies just below the hydro-electric power dam on the AuGlaize River.