Lake Loramie: Bluegills are biting around the brush and rocks on waxworms and red worms. Several saugeye have been caught in the spillway. The best bass bite is early and late. Bass fishermen are using crankbaits and soft plastics. Catfish are hitting stink baits, nightcrawlers and cut shad. Crappies hit best at dusk around brush.
Rocky Fork Lake: Bass fishing is almost always good. The best areas have been around the points and along the edge of the weed beds. Use plastic worms or Flukes. Crappies are deep, 10-17 feet around wood, but many are small. Bluegills have been caught around docks and in brushy areas of the coves. The best saugeye bite is early in the morning in front of the south beach and around the island. Try trolling a Shad-Rap or crawler harness. Also try working the weed lines.
Caesar Creek Lake: Saugeyes are hitting nightcrawlers tightlined and jigged on the flats. They are also picking some up by trolling with a crankbait or crawler harness around the island and over the flats. Bass fishing has been good early and late along the banks. Use soft plastics or try a crankbait. Crappies are deep around structure, still hitting minnows. For white bass, look for jumpers and cast an inline spinner or white twister. Fish in the creeks for catfish with nightcrawlers or bass minnows.
Acton Lake: Crappies are deeper, but still biting on minnows around the pier, rocky points and areas with plenty of wood and cover. Most are 6-8 feet deep. Bluegills are close to the banks in the brush, hitting waxworms. For saugeyes, anglers are trolling with brightly colored crankbaits or twisters. The best bass bite has been early or late with topwater baits. Soft plastics and spinnerbaits are also catching bass. Catfish are hitting strawberry chicken, chicken liver and nightcrawlers all over the lake.
Paint Creek Lake: Crappies are scattered, so it is best to keep moving from spot to spot. Fish early or late in the day with minnows or small chartreuse tubes about 5-10 feet deep around wood. For bass, try to follow the old creek beds and fish around structure. Use crankbaits, plastics or jigs. Catfish are hitting nightcrawlers, bass minnows and cut shad on the flats near the campground ramp. In the tailwaters, anglers are catching crappies, saugeyes, bluegills and catfish.
Cowan Lake: Anglers are using minnows and jigs to catch crappies. Look for deep structure, 12-16 feet deep. The coves on the north side of the lake and the area around the dam have been the best spots. Bluegills are taking waxworms and red worms along the banks in the brush. The best fishing for channel cats has been at night with chicken liver, shrimp and nightcrawlers.
C.J. Brown Reservoir: Crappies have moved to deep water, about 15 feet. They're still biting on minnows and small tube jigs. Walleye fishing has picked up. Anglers are trolling with Hot-N-Tots and crawler harnesses over the humps and old road bed. They're also hitting on Vib-E's. Catfish are biting on chicken liver, nightcrawlers and shrimp. Some nice largemouth bass have been caught near the Visitor Center and in shallow water on the north side of the lake. A few white bass have been caught off of the rocks.
Lake Erie: Walleye fishing has been good north of West Sister Island, "B" and "C" cans of the Camp Perry firing range, Northwest Reef (west of North Bass Island), and 2-4 miles east of Kelleys Island. For yellow perch, the best areas have been around the Toledo water intake, northeast of West Sister Island, "C" can of the Camp Perry firing range, between South Bass Island and Green Island and 1-3 miles east of the Kelleys Island airport. Smallmouth Bass fishing has been very good around South Bass Island. Anglers are using soft-craws, tube jigs and crankbaits.
About the Author