T_boy
09-11-2008, 03:27 PM
Central Ohio
Deer Creek (Fayette and Pickaway counties)—Fish will become active as water temperatures decrease in the next few weeks. For crappie, target woody cover in the old creek channel. Start deep and move to shallower water as water temperatures cool; try minnows or jigs suspended under a bobber. Largemouth bass can be caught on spinner baits, crank baits and plastics. Fish shoreline cover, secondary points and riprap. Bluegill can be caught on wax worms and night crawlers.
Indian Lake (Logan County)-Saugeye are being caught along south bank and around the Moundwood and Dream bridge areas. Try crank baits and worm harnesses trolled near the bottom. Anglers are catching largemouth bass in the canals around cover, try spinner baits, tubes, and crank baits. Bluegill are still being caught in the channels using wax worms, night crawlers or crickets.
Northwest Ohio
Maumee River at Mary Jane Thurston State Park (Henry County)—Channel catfish are being taken during the daytime hours by still fishing worms. Try fishing the deeper holes.
Bressler Reservoir (Allen County)—Bluegill are being caught in good numbers. Fishing mealworms or night crawlers under a bobber is working nicely. Casting is working as well. Daytime is great and they seem to be biting everywhere. Catfish are being caught here also. Fish with night crawlers or shrimp on the bottom. Fish are being caught day or night. Try the south and west shorelines.
Metzger Reservoir (Allen County)—Bluegill are being caught by fishing night crawlers or wax worms 1-3 feet below a bobber. Casting small jigs is working as well. Anywhere around the shoreline is producing good results. Yellow perch are being caught during the daylight hours. Fishing wax worms deep or casting small jigs is working great.
Northeast Ohio
West Branch Reservoir (Portage County)—This lake offers great muskellunge fishing with decent bass and channel catfishing. Fishing from the riprap produces well for bass while fishing near the muddy flats at dusk and dawn is good for catfish. Fishing the humps in the middle of the lake produces larger muskies this time of year. Anglers should try casting bulldogs, spinners, or larger stick baits for muskies. Bass are biting on shad-imitating baits such as spinner baits and crank baits. Catfish will go for hot dogs, stink baits, power baits, chicken liver, or shrimp.
Lake Erie tributary streams (Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Lake, & Lorain counties)—Anglers should start rain dancing. With the cooling fall temperatures and shortening days, the steelhead from Lake Erie should be making their annual trips into Lake Erie’s tributary streams. But, the one thing they need is increased flow in the streams due to runoff. The stream levels are low as we speak, but look for river levels to rise over the upcoming weeks. Until then, focus on breakwalls and piers along Lake Erie that border mouths of tributary streams. Popular baits this time of year include casting spoons, jig and maggots, and other live bait.
Southwest Ohio
Acton Lake (Preble County)—Channel catfish are biting on creek chubs or night crawlers fished along the bottom or between eight to 19 feet deep during the late evening or early morning hours. Fishing for channel catfish is productive anywhere in the lake. Bluegill are being caught by anglers using wax worms or night crawlers as bait. Bluegill fishing is bountiful along the banks. Saugeye are active in this lake. Currently, saugeye are being caught by anglers using night crawlers, bass minnows, or jigs as bait. Fish the bait by trolling it through in water that is eight to 10 feet deep.
East Fork (Clermont County)—Crappie are being caught by anglers using wax worms, tube jigs, or medium to large sized minnows tipped on chartreuse jigs as bait. Fish the bait six to eight inches deep or 16 to 20-feet deep. Also look for good crappie fishing back into the cove areas as well as up and into Tunnel Mill, Cabin, Barnes, Poplar, and Cloverlick creeks. Channel catfish are being caught by anglers fishing tight-line at night using night crawlers, large minnows, or chicken liver as bait. Use a No. 1/0 long-shanked hook. Fishing is best in water between eight to 20 feet deep. Bluegill are hitting on wax worms or red worms on a No. 8-sized hook. Keep the bait under a bobber and about two to three feet deep. Cast anywhere around the docks, standing wood, or downed trees. Hybrid striped bass are being caught by anglers fishing the near the campground and main beach and the flat near the Army Corp of Engineers boat ramp located close to the dam. Chicken liver or deep diving crank baits that resemble shad are working well. The early morning or late evening hours are the most productive times. Largemouth bass are being caught by anglers using six-inch plastic worms, spinner baits, or deep diving (six to 10 feet) crank baits colored shad or fire tiger.
As part of the Musky stocking program that has been initiated at East Fork Lake a stocking will take place on Friday Sept. 12, at 2 p.m. Hatchery personnel will stock 10 to 12-inch fish and will be on hand to answer questions about the program as well as this popular game fish. The release will take place at the campground boat ramp on Old state Route 32. Park staff will allow the media only in without a camping permit. For more information please call Wildlife District 5 at 937-372-9261.
Southeast Ohio
Jackson City Reservoir/Hammertown (Jackson County)—Fishing opportunities in this 190-acre lake have been enhanced this week with a stocking of approximately 4,000 yearling channel catfish. Channel cats are stocked alternate years in this lake, so anglers are likely to experience success fishing off the bottom of the lake using night crawlers, cut baits or livers.
Hocking River (Hocking and Athens counties)—Anglers fishing the Hocking River have reported success fishing for smallmouth bass with some catches in the 17 to 19-inch range. Try using soft craws or light colored twister tails. Good numbers of rock bass and sunfish were also caught using jigs, try casting into slower waters that have cover and submerged structure.
Lake Erie
—The steelhead trout daily bag limit Sept. 1 through May 15 is 2 fish. The minimum size limit for steelhead is 12 inches.
—The black bass daily bag limit is five fish with a 14-inch minimum size limit.
—The daily bag limit for Lake Erie yellow perch is 25 fish per angler in waters west of the Huron pier. The daily bag limit is 30 fish per angler in Ohio waters from Huron eastward. Any boats landing west of Huron, Ohio will be subject to the 25 fish daily bag limit, while boats landing at Huron or points east will be subject to a 30 fish daily bag limit. Shore-based anglers west of the Huron pier will be subject to a 25 fish daily bag limit, while those on the pier and eastward will remain at 30 fish daily.
—The walleye bag limit is 6 fish per day. The minimum size limit for walleye is 15 inches.
Western Basin—Walleye fishing has remained slow over the past week. The best fishing was north and northeast of Kelleys Island, and around Northwest Reef (northwest of West Reef). Most fish have been caught by trolling. Trollers have been catching fish on spoons with divers, or worm harnesses fished with inline weights, snap weights, bottom bouncers, or divers.
Yellow Perch fishing has been good in the western basin. The best spots have been the turnaround buoy of the Toledo shipping channel, between Green and Rattlesnake Islands, around “C” can of the Camp Perry firing range, west of West Reef, the northeast corner of Kelleys Island, and southeast of Kelleys Island. Perch spreaders or crappie rigs with shiners fished near the bottom produce the most fish.
Central Basin—Walleye fishing has slowed west of Cleveland with the best area being the sandbar between Vermilion and Lorain. Fishing continues to be slow in the Cleveland area this past week so there are no locations to report. Very good fishing has been reported 7-10 miles north of Ashtabula in 69 to 72 feet of water, and 7 to 12 miles north-northwest of Conneaut in 71 to 75 feet of water. Trollers are using worm harnesses, spoons or stick baits off jet divers, dipsy divers, planer boards and downriggers. Worm harnesses and spoons continue to be the top baits. The best action has been about 25 to 50-feet down, and the best colors have been watermelon, purple, orange, green, and black with copper or blue/silver.
Yellow perch fishing has remained slow from Huron to Avon. The most consistent action has been on the south end of the sandbar. Fishing has been very good offshore in the Cleveland area and east to Conneaut. The best spots to fish are northwest of Gordon Park in 38 to 42 feet of water, northwest of Edgewater Park in 40 to 50 feet of water, north of Fairport in 38 to 48 feet of water, north of Geneva in 38 to 48 feet of water, and north of Conneaut in 60 to 65 feet of water. You may try fishing further offshore this week than normal. Fish may also be suspended in the water column until the recent upwelling of low oxygenated water settles back down to the deeper portions of the lake. Perch spreaders or crappie rigs with shiners fished near the bottom usually produces the most fish, however, this week you may want to fish 5 to 10 feet up from the bottom due to the conditions. Fish have ranged from 8 to 13 inches.
White bass fishing has been spotty off Eastlake CEI power plant in 15 to 30 feet of water. Anglers are using agitators with blue/silver spoons and jigs tipped with twister tails.
Smallmouth bass fishing has been very good in 16 to 26 feet of water around Cleveland, Fairport Harbor, Ashtabula and Conneaut harbors. Fish are being caught on watermelon, pumpkinseed and green tube jigs and drop-shot goby imitations.
Based on the nearshore forecast the water temperature is 69 off of Toledo and 71 off of Cleveland.
Ohio River
New Richmond to Meldahl (Clermont County)—Catfishing is best at night. Try cut bait, chicken livers, dead shiners and shrimp. Sauger are being caught in the late afternoon and evening. Anglers are reporting success on crank baits, Rapala Shadrap or Xrap.
Riverbend to Downtown Cincinnati (Hamilton County)—Anglers are catching a few Channel catfish on cut shad and chicken livers.
Meigs County—Night fishermen are having great success catching catfish, particularly flatheads. Bank fishermen are using cut baits, night crawlers, goldfish, and a variety of homemade baits. These fishermen have also been successful in catching turtles.
Washington County—The stretch of river behind the Lafayette Hotel in Marietta is a great site for catching large catfish. Catfish the 10 to 31-pound range can be caught on bluegill, shad, or goldfish. The Devola Dam (on the Muskingum River) has also been a successful site for catfishing using cut baits fished tight line.
Deer Creek (Fayette and Pickaway counties)—Fish will become active as water temperatures decrease in the next few weeks. For crappie, target woody cover in the old creek channel. Start deep and move to shallower water as water temperatures cool; try minnows or jigs suspended under a bobber. Largemouth bass can be caught on spinner baits, crank baits and plastics. Fish shoreline cover, secondary points and riprap. Bluegill can be caught on wax worms and night crawlers.
Indian Lake (Logan County)-Saugeye are being caught along south bank and around the Moundwood and Dream bridge areas. Try crank baits and worm harnesses trolled near the bottom. Anglers are catching largemouth bass in the canals around cover, try spinner baits, tubes, and crank baits. Bluegill are still being caught in the channels using wax worms, night crawlers or crickets.
Northwest Ohio
Maumee River at Mary Jane Thurston State Park (Henry County)—Channel catfish are being taken during the daytime hours by still fishing worms. Try fishing the deeper holes.
Bressler Reservoir (Allen County)—Bluegill are being caught in good numbers. Fishing mealworms or night crawlers under a bobber is working nicely. Casting is working as well. Daytime is great and they seem to be biting everywhere. Catfish are being caught here also. Fish with night crawlers or shrimp on the bottom. Fish are being caught day or night. Try the south and west shorelines.
Metzger Reservoir (Allen County)—Bluegill are being caught by fishing night crawlers or wax worms 1-3 feet below a bobber. Casting small jigs is working as well. Anywhere around the shoreline is producing good results. Yellow perch are being caught during the daylight hours. Fishing wax worms deep or casting small jigs is working great.
Northeast Ohio
West Branch Reservoir (Portage County)—This lake offers great muskellunge fishing with decent bass and channel catfishing. Fishing from the riprap produces well for bass while fishing near the muddy flats at dusk and dawn is good for catfish. Fishing the humps in the middle of the lake produces larger muskies this time of year. Anglers should try casting bulldogs, spinners, or larger stick baits for muskies. Bass are biting on shad-imitating baits such as spinner baits and crank baits. Catfish will go for hot dogs, stink baits, power baits, chicken liver, or shrimp.
Lake Erie tributary streams (Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Lake, & Lorain counties)—Anglers should start rain dancing. With the cooling fall temperatures and shortening days, the steelhead from Lake Erie should be making their annual trips into Lake Erie’s tributary streams. But, the one thing they need is increased flow in the streams due to runoff. The stream levels are low as we speak, but look for river levels to rise over the upcoming weeks. Until then, focus on breakwalls and piers along Lake Erie that border mouths of tributary streams. Popular baits this time of year include casting spoons, jig and maggots, and other live bait.
Southwest Ohio
Acton Lake (Preble County)—Channel catfish are biting on creek chubs or night crawlers fished along the bottom or between eight to 19 feet deep during the late evening or early morning hours. Fishing for channel catfish is productive anywhere in the lake. Bluegill are being caught by anglers using wax worms or night crawlers as bait. Bluegill fishing is bountiful along the banks. Saugeye are active in this lake. Currently, saugeye are being caught by anglers using night crawlers, bass minnows, or jigs as bait. Fish the bait by trolling it through in water that is eight to 10 feet deep.
East Fork (Clermont County)—Crappie are being caught by anglers using wax worms, tube jigs, or medium to large sized minnows tipped on chartreuse jigs as bait. Fish the bait six to eight inches deep or 16 to 20-feet deep. Also look for good crappie fishing back into the cove areas as well as up and into Tunnel Mill, Cabin, Barnes, Poplar, and Cloverlick creeks. Channel catfish are being caught by anglers fishing tight-line at night using night crawlers, large minnows, or chicken liver as bait. Use a No. 1/0 long-shanked hook. Fishing is best in water between eight to 20 feet deep. Bluegill are hitting on wax worms or red worms on a No. 8-sized hook. Keep the bait under a bobber and about two to three feet deep. Cast anywhere around the docks, standing wood, or downed trees. Hybrid striped bass are being caught by anglers fishing the near the campground and main beach and the flat near the Army Corp of Engineers boat ramp located close to the dam. Chicken liver or deep diving crank baits that resemble shad are working well. The early morning or late evening hours are the most productive times. Largemouth bass are being caught by anglers using six-inch plastic worms, spinner baits, or deep diving (six to 10 feet) crank baits colored shad or fire tiger.
As part of the Musky stocking program that has been initiated at East Fork Lake a stocking will take place on Friday Sept. 12, at 2 p.m. Hatchery personnel will stock 10 to 12-inch fish and will be on hand to answer questions about the program as well as this popular game fish. The release will take place at the campground boat ramp on Old state Route 32. Park staff will allow the media only in without a camping permit. For more information please call Wildlife District 5 at 937-372-9261.
Southeast Ohio
Jackson City Reservoir/Hammertown (Jackson County)—Fishing opportunities in this 190-acre lake have been enhanced this week with a stocking of approximately 4,000 yearling channel catfish. Channel cats are stocked alternate years in this lake, so anglers are likely to experience success fishing off the bottom of the lake using night crawlers, cut baits or livers.
Hocking River (Hocking and Athens counties)—Anglers fishing the Hocking River have reported success fishing for smallmouth bass with some catches in the 17 to 19-inch range. Try using soft craws or light colored twister tails. Good numbers of rock bass and sunfish were also caught using jigs, try casting into slower waters that have cover and submerged structure.
Lake Erie
—The steelhead trout daily bag limit Sept. 1 through May 15 is 2 fish. The minimum size limit for steelhead is 12 inches.
—The black bass daily bag limit is five fish with a 14-inch minimum size limit.
—The daily bag limit for Lake Erie yellow perch is 25 fish per angler in waters west of the Huron pier. The daily bag limit is 30 fish per angler in Ohio waters from Huron eastward. Any boats landing west of Huron, Ohio will be subject to the 25 fish daily bag limit, while boats landing at Huron or points east will be subject to a 30 fish daily bag limit. Shore-based anglers west of the Huron pier will be subject to a 25 fish daily bag limit, while those on the pier and eastward will remain at 30 fish daily.
—The walleye bag limit is 6 fish per day. The minimum size limit for walleye is 15 inches.
Western Basin—Walleye fishing has remained slow over the past week. The best fishing was north and northeast of Kelleys Island, and around Northwest Reef (northwest of West Reef). Most fish have been caught by trolling. Trollers have been catching fish on spoons with divers, or worm harnesses fished with inline weights, snap weights, bottom bouncers, or divers.
Yellow Perch fishing has been good in the western basin. The best spots have been the turnaround buoy of the Toledo shipping channel, between Green and Rattlesnake Islands, around “C” can of the Camp Perry firing range, west of West Reef, the northeast corner of Kelleys Island, and southeast of Kelleys Island. Perch spreaders or crappie rigs with shiners fished near the bottom produce the most fish.
Central Basin—Walleye fishing has slowed west of Cleveland with the best area being the sandbar between Vermilion and Lorain. Fishing continues to be slow in the Cleveland area this past week so there are no locations to report. Very good fishing has been reported 7-10 miles north of Ashtabula in 69 to 72 feet of water, and 7 to 12 miles north-northwest of Conneaut in 71 to 75 feet of water. Trollers are using worm harnesses, spoons or stick baits off jet divers, dipsy divers, planer boards and downriggers. Worm harnesses and spoons continue to be the top baits. The best action has been about 25 to 50-feet down, and the best colors have been watermelon, purple, orange, green, and black with copper or blue/silver.
Yellow perch fishing has remained slow from Huron to Avon. The most consistent action has been on the south end of the sandbar. Fishing has been very good offshore in the Cleveland area and east to Conneaut. The best spots to fish are northwest of Gordon Park in 38 to 42 feet of water, northwest of Edgewater Park in 40 to 50 feet of water, north of Fairport in 38 to 48 feet of water, north of Geneva in 38 to 48 feet of water, and north of Conneaut in 60 to 65 feet of water. You may try fishing further offshore this week than normal. Fish may also be suspended in the water column until the recent upwelling of low oxygenated water settles back down to the deeper portions of the lake. Perch spreaders or crappie rigs with shiners fished near the bottom usually produces the most fish, however, this week you may want to fish 5 to 10 feet up from the bottom due to the conditions. Fish have ranged from 8 to 13 inches.
White bass fishing has been spotty off Eastlake CEI power plant in 15 to 30 feet of water. Anglers are using agitators with blue/silver spoons and jigs tipped with twister tails.
Smallmouth bass fishing has been very good in 16 to 26 feet of water around Cleveland, Fairport Harbor, Ashtabula and Conneaut harbors. Fish are being caught on watermelon, pumpkinseed and green tube jigs and drop-shot goby imitations.
Based on the nearshore forecast the water temperature is 69 off of Toledo and 71 off of Cleveland.
Ohio River
New Richmond to Meldahl (Clermont County)—Catfishing is best at night. Try cut bait, chicken livers, dead shiners and shrimp. Sauger are being caught in the late afternoon and evening. Anglers are reporting success on crank baits, Rapala Shadrap or Xrap.
Riverbend to Downtown Cincinnati (Hamilton County)—Anglers are catching a few Channel catfish on cut shad and chicken livers.
Meigs County—Night fishermen are having great success catching catfish, particularly flatheads. Bank fishermen are using cut baits, night crawlers, goldfish, and a variety of homemade baits. These fishermen have also been successful in catching turtles.
Washington County—The stretch of river behind the Lafayette Hotel in Marietta is a great site for catching large catfish. Catfish the 10 to 31-pound range can be caught on bluegill, shad, or goldfish. The Devola Dam (on the Muskingum River) has also been a successful site for catfishing using cut baits fished tight line.