Grand Lake St. Marys: The crappie bite has been strong with some of the hot channels being Behm's, Anderson's, Windy Point and Rustic Haven. Use split-tails or minnows and fish 18 inches deep around brush. Bluegills have been biting on waxworms around docks. Catfish are hitting cut shad all over the lake. Last week's Outdoorsman catfish tournament drew 70 teams with all catching fish. It took more than 40 pounds to win it.
Rocky Fork Lake: Work the wood and other structure for crappies. The best action has been on the south side of the lake in 2-5 feet of water. Use waxworms and fish the coves for bluegills. For bass, work the rocky points with jigs. A few white bass have been caught in the creeks.
Paint Creek Lake: The lake is still at winter pool, so only the ramp near the dam is open. Crappies have been hitting minnows and jigs around structure. The campground wall has been a good spot, along with the Pioneer Farm channel and Plum Run. Bass are just starting to hit jigs fished around stumps. For channel catfish, try the island near the beach and use cut shad or nightcrawlers. In the spillway, saugeyes and crappies have been hitting small twisters.
Caesar Creek Lake: Crappie fishing has been very good with many large, heavy crappies being caught on minnows and jigs. Muskie action has been good in the coves, using large spinners. Saugeyes have been caught in shallow water near the Wellman ramp.
C.J. Brown Reservoir: Crappies are hitting deep and shallow. Boaters have been limiting out, catching crappies 18 feet deep on minnows and jigs. But you can also fish around the marina two feet deep and catch them. Walleye fishing has been good over the old roadbeds, jigging with nightcrawlers, Vib-E's and Wiggle Warts. White bass have been hitting minnows, twisters, Roostertails and Kastmasters.
Acton Lake: There is plenty of crappie fishing from banks around the fishing pier and the sugar camp. Boaters are concentrating in the east end of the lake, south of the lodge. Bass fishing is starting to pick up.
Rush Run: Rainbow trout were stocked on March 16, so there is still plenty of action. Use waxworms, prepared trout baits or small spinners.
Lake Erie: Walleye fishing is excellent right now. Anglers trolling around the reefs in the Camp Perry firing range have had success with crankbaits in the top 15 feet of water; deep husky jerks and Reef Runner Ripsticks 30 feet back at 1.0-1.6 miles per hour are working best. Jig fishing is picking up, particularly in 8-10 feet of water along the shoreline from Davis-Besse to Turtle Creek. Jigging on the reefs is improving as the water temperature increases. Yellow perch are being caught around Marblehead.
Maumee River: Many limits are being caught daily. The river is at normal level, but rising. It's muddy, but fishing pressure and success rates are high. Use a floating jighead with a brightly colored twister. Take a ruler, because the 15-inch limit is being enforced.
Sandusky River: The Miles Newton Bridge area is the best spot. The river is running high and muddy. Fishing pressure is moderate. To check on Maumee or Sandusky walleye runs, visit wildohio.com or maumeetackle.net.
Outdoors columnist Jim Morris can be reached through his Website at www.examiner.com/outdoor-recreation-in-dayton/jim-morris or by email at sports@DaytonDailyNews.com.
About the Author