The Fish Ohio Report
October 14, 2009
CENTRAL OHIO
Hargus Creek Lake (Pickaway County) - A dense population of largemouth bass measuring eight to 12 inches, with some larger, can be found at this lake of 146 acres near Circleville. Fish main lake points, secondary points with riprap, and drop-offs using crankbaits, spinner baits and tubes for consistent catches. Fishing at night with traditional baits for channel catfish can be productive, most fish range from 12 to 22 inches. With water temperatures decreasing crappies are active in shallower water around woody cover. Use jigs and minnows suspended by a bobber. Largemouth bass must be 15 inches or longer to keep. Electric motors only.
Knox Lake (Knox County) – Largemouth bass are being caught at this 481-acre lake in Knox County. Target shoreline cover and the stump field in the east end of the lake using spinner baits, plastics, and crankbaits. Largemouth bass must be 18 inches or longer to harvest. Channel catfish are biting on prepared baits and night crawlers, night is the best time to catch them. The crappie bite has increase as water temperatures decreased. Use minnows and jigs around woody cover. Motors greater than 10 horsepower must use idle, no wake speeds.
NORTHWEST OHIO
Maumee River (Wood County) – Channel catfish continue to be caught in good numbers in the Maumee. Early mornings and dusk are the best times to catch some of these great fish. Fish night crawlers or minnows under a bobber in the deeper holes. Below the Mary Jane Thurston Sate Park dam is an ideal location, as is Weirs Rapids.
Paulding Reservoir (Paulding County) – Saugeyes have been hitting pretty good here recently. Fishing leaches about 8 feet below a slip bobber is working well. Morning and evenings are best with successful results happening along the wave washed shoreline.
Norwalk Reservoir #1 (Huron County) – Channel catfish in the 12 to 15-inch range have been taken here recently. Fishing minnows under a slip bobber is producing the best results. The best catches have been near the water discharge.
Shelby Reservoir #3 (Richland County) – Some nice catches of catfish in the 14 to 18-inch inch range have been caught here. Late afternoon to dusk seems to produce the best results. Fish night crawlers, chicken livers, cut shad or shrimp four to eight feet below a slip bobber. Fish the windy side of the reservoir. Bluegills are also being caught in good numbers. Wax worms or ½ ounce tube jigs are working well. Again, the late afternoon to dark seems to produce the best results.
NORTHEAST OHIO
Division of Wildlife has started stocking northeast Ohio waterways with 10 to 13-inch rainbow trout. The trout stocking program targets small inland waters, including state and community park lakes, as well as other easy-access lakes throughout the state. A bag limit of five trout per person per day and anglers 16 and older must posses an Ohio fishing license. For more information about the stocking program, or to obtain directions to specific trout lakes, visit
ODNR Division of Wildlife - Hunting, Fishing, Trapping, Birding, Wildlife Viewing & Research in Ohio. October 10 - Ohio/Erie Canal (Cuyahoga County); October 15 - Granger Pond (Lake County); October 15 - Painesville Rec Park (Lake County); October 16 - Petros Lake (Stark County). For additional information call Wildlife District Three in Akron at (330) 644-2293.
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. Bluegills 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) – Crappies 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. Channel catfish are being caught by anglers fishing tightline at night using night crawlers, large minnows, or chicken liver as bait. Fishing is best in water between eight to 20 feet deep. Bluegill are hitting on wax worms or redworms. Keep the bait under a bobber and about two to three feet deep. Cast anywhere around the docks, standing wood, or downed trees. Largemouth bass are being caught by anglers using six-inch plastic worms, spinner baits, or deep diving (six to 10 feet) crankbaits colored shad.
SOUTHEAST OHIO
Flagdale, St. Joseph’s and Twin Churches (Perry County Water Conservation District Lakes) - Although these lakes can be difficult to access during low water levels, anglers using canoes usually have excellent success fishing for bluegill while using worms fished under a bobber.
New Lexington Reservoir A and B (Perry County) – Night fishing for largemouth bass has been historically productive for anglers using top-water poppers, frogs, buzz baits, and jitterbugs. Boat launch can be difficult during low water levels.
Wills Creek (Coshocton County) – Anglers are having good success fishing for largemouth bass using chartreuse colored spinner baits cast over fallen trees and woody debris and other submerged structure. Nice catches – in size and number - of crappie have also been caught on spinner baits.
LAKE ERIE
** The daily bag limit for Lake Erie walleye is 6 fish per angler. The minimum size limit for walleye is 15”. **
** The daily bag limit for Lake Erie yellow perch is 25 fish per angler in waters west of the Huron pier. The limit will remain at 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 steelhead daily bag limit is 2 fish September 1 through May 15. The minimum size limit for steelhead is 12 inches. **
** The daily bag limit for Lake Erie black bass (largemouth and smallmouth) is 5 fish per angler. The minimum size limit is 14”. **
Western Basin
Walleye: There were very few walleye fishing reports from the western basin over the past week. Migratory walleye will return to the Kelleys and Bass Islands area as water temperatures drop. Expect fishing to improve in historical fall walleye areas within the next few weeks.
Yellow perch fishing remains good with the size of fish mostly from 7 to 8” with a few up to 12”. The best areas have been the gravel pit W of West Sister Island, the Toledo water intake, around Niagara Reef, W of Green Island and Rattlesnake Island, Kelleys Island, around the Catawba green can, and off of Cedar Point. Perch spreaders or crappie rigs with shiners fished near the bottom produce the most fish.
Central Basin
Walleye fishing was best from Huron to Cedar Point in 40 to 45’ of water. Walleye were caught by trollers using worm harnesses with inline weights, jet or dipsy divers with spoons, or deep diving crankbaits. There were no reports targeting walleye this past week from Cleveland to Conneaut due to the storms and being so late in the season.
Yellow perch fishing has been very good when the weather permits E of Vermilion off of the condos, in 45-50 feet northeast of Edgewater Park, 45-50 feet north-northwest of Wildwood State Park, 42-48 feet northwest of Fairport, and 45-49 feet north-northeast of Ashtabula. Perch spreaders or crappie rigs with shiners fished as far up as 6 feet off the bottom have been producing the most fish.
Steelhead fishing from shore is picking up as fish begin to move up into the rivers and anglers are catching fish at the mouth and downstream locations in the Chagrin River, Grand River, Geneva State Park, Euclid Creek (Wildwood State Park), Conneaut Creek and along the Conneaut west breakwall. Anglers are using small spoons and jigs and maggots rigged with a split shot under a light bobber.
For the most current steelhead information visit:
Ohio Steelhead Fishing
Based on the nearshore forecast the water temperature is 53 degrees off of Toledo and 59 degrees off of Cleveland.
Anglers are encouraged to always wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device while boating.
To view the predicted weather forecast for Lake Erie visit:
http://weather.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/fmtb...cle.glf.le.txt
To view Lake Erie boating information, safety tips, and launch ramps visit:
Ohio DNR Division of Watercraft: Boating in Ohio
OHIO RIVER
Western Ohio River: River is high from rains last week and more is expected on Wednesday. Anglers are still taking channel catfish. They are being caught on chicken livers and cutbait around warm water discharges. Carp are biting on dough balls and corn. Hybrids are hitting Rapalas and rattletraps.
The Fish Ohio Report
Fish Ohio Report 10/14
apprentice
Thats alot of ground that you don't have to worry about covering. lol
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