Indian Lake: Several days of rain have left the lake high and muddy. Anglers have been catching catfish, including shovelhead, on nightcrawlers, cut shad, chicken liver and Powerbaits. Fishing for bluegills and crappies continues to be good in the old game reserve.
Paint Creek: Plenty of crappies are still being caught, but most are small. Look for laydowns and fish 7-9 feet deep with minnows or black/chartreuse jigs. Saugeyes have been caught between the beach and the island by trolling Shad-Raps. Bluegills are hitting waxworms in shallow water around brush. For bass work the wood at depths of 4-6 feet with green/pumpkin plastics. Fish the creek arms for catfish with nightcrawlers or cut shad.
Rocky Fork: Saugeye fishing has slowed, but a few are still being caught off of the south beach in 7-10 feet of water by trolling crawler harnesses. Crappies are deep – 14-16 feet around laydowns. Bass anglers are working the stumps and logs with Shad-Raps at depths of 5-8 feet. Plenty of catfish are being caught all over the lake on nightcrawlers, cut shad and chicken liver.
C.J. Brown Reservoir: Bluegills up to 9 inches are being caught around rocks close to the banks. Use waxworms or redworms. A few smallmouth bass have been caught on buzzbaits around the marina. For walleyes, troll over the humps with a crawler harness or jig with minnows or Vib-E's. Crappies are still hitting minnows around the marina.
Lake Loramie: As the creek below the spillway rises with recent rains, the saugeye fishing should improve. Try tossing a twister tipped with a minnow. Use dark or bright colors when the water is muddy. Plenty of catfish are being caught on cut shad, nightcrawlers and chicken liver. Bluegills are still around the banks, hitting waxworms and redworms. Bass fishing has slowed. Try tossing topwater lures early or late.
Rush Run Lake: Bluegills and catfish are biting. For bluegills, fish close to the banks with waxworms or redworms. Catfish are hitting nightcrawlers and cut shad.
Acton Lake: Fish around the creek mouth with nightcrawlers or creek chubs to catch channel cats. Bluegills are still close to the banks, hitting waxworms. For bass, use a topwater bait and fish early or late. Saugeye and crappie fishing are slow.
Caesar Creek Lake: The best fishing has been for channel cats around the creek mouths. Use nightcrawlers, cut shad or Powerbaits and fish just off the banks and over ledges. Crappies are deep. Use large minnows and fish around structure – as much as 25 feet deep. Look for jumps to catch white bass with a Roostertail, Mepps or white twister. Bass fishing has been best at first light with topwater lures. Saugeye fishing has been slow.
Lake Erie: The best walleye fishing in the western basin has been northeast of West Sister Island, east of Middle Sister along the Canadian border and 3-5 miles east, northeast of Kelleys. In the central basin, walleye fishing has been excellent between Ruggles Reef and Lorain in 28 to 36 feet of water. The best perch reports have come from Marblehead, Kelleys Island and Green Island.
For Lake Erie information, visit wildohio.com or call (888) HOOK-FISH.
Outdoors columnist Jim Morris can be reached through his Web site at www.tinyurl.com/ylh2rol or by e-mail at sports@DaytonDailyNews.com. Send us your photos
Reel in a big one? The Dayton Daily News is accepting photos of local people and their catches. Send them to sports@DaytonDailyNews.com for a chance to be featured on Jim Morris' fishing report. You can also submit fishing photos to be viewed online by logging on to: DaytonDailyNews.com/go/fish
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