Grand Lake St. Marys: Crappie fishing has been very good and should get better as fish move into shallow brushy areas to spawn. Use minnows around banks and docks. Bass have been hitting crankbaits and jigs along the banks. Good size bluegills are still being caught off of docks with and waxworms and redworms. Catfish are hitting cut shad and chubs all over the lake.
Acton Lake: Bass fishing has been good, although the largemouth spawn is in progress. You should find them close to the banks. Jigs, crankbaits and plastics have all been effective. Try trolling a crawler harness or a crankbait for saugeyes. Crappies are moving back to the banks.
Lake Loramie: Crappie fishing is heating up as fish move in to spawn. Work brushy areas with small minnows and chartreuse jigs. The evening bite is best. Bass are also close to the banks, hitting crankbaits, jigs and jig-n-pig. Bluegills are biting waxworms on ice jigs. Catfish are biting on nightcrawlers and chicken liver.
Cowan Lake: Crappie fishing continues to be good. Work the north side with small minnows. The area from the island to the shore has been productive. For bass, work the banks with crankbaits and plastics. A few saugeyes have hit minnows.
Rocky Fork Lake: Bass fishing continues to be the big draw, Some good size largemouth (3-5 pounds) have been caught close to the banks on shad-colored crankbaits. Look for wood. Crappies are deep – 8 to 14 feet – hitting minnows and small tubes. A few saugeyes have been caught by trolling and casting the south beach and around the island.
Paint Creek Lake: Plenty of crappies are being caught, but not many exceed the 9-inch limit. Work the banks around brush with minnows and small tubes, 3-6 feet deep. Work the points to find bass with green/pumpkin worms. Spillway fishing has been good for saugeyes. Use a chartreuse twister with red flecks.
Caesar Creek Lake: Crappies are still deep – 20 feet around structure. Use minnows. Bluegills are around stickups, hitting waxworms and redworms about 8 feet deep. For saugeyes, fish the flats and around the island. Troll with a Hot-N-Tot or a crawler harness. White bass have been hitting minnows, shiny spoons and spinners.
Lake Erie: Walleye fishing slowed over the past week as weather conditions limited fishing opportunities on the main lake. The best reports have come from trolling with crankbaits or worm harnesses around the outer buoys of the Camp Perry firing range and west of the Bass Islands. Fish are still being caught with jigs on the Camp Perry firing range reefs, but catch rates have slowed as the spawning season ends and walleye begin moving off the reefs.
For Lake Erie information, visit wildohio.com or call (888) HOOK-FISH.
Outdoors columnist Jim Morris can be reached by email at sports@coxohio.com.
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