“This is the best time of the year,” said Marc Colwell, WOWC’s vice president and tournament director. “June and July are the best times to be out here to catch walleye. Their metabolism increases as the water temperature increases. They’ve got to feed a lot more during the day.”
Each year, WOWC members vote where they want to hold tournaments, and C.J. Brown, along with Indian Lake, is always among the most popular places to fish.
That’s because while some lakes are stocked with saugeyes (a cross between a walleye and a sauger), the Ohio Division of Wildlife stocks only walleyes at C.J. Brown.
“It’s the only walleye lake there is. On top of that, there’s a lot of quality fish in this lake,” Colwell said. “You’re not just catching 3- and 4-pounders. There’s a lot of 8- and 10-pounders that come out of here every year. The boys like that.”
Colwell, pre-fishing for the tournament Friday, June 26, said small jigs tipped with nightcrawlers will catch walleyes right now. Trolling in the middle of the lake can produce larger, but fewer, fish.
The catch might hit a snag if predicted thunderstorms soak the area this weekend, which potentially could wipe out a walleye bite. At the very least, it “really tends to slow down,” Colwell said. “You’ve really gotta get jigs on them and just keep it in front of their nose.”
Colwell estimated a six-fish limit of 20 pounds are needed to win Sunday, and up to 30 boats are expected. The tourney is open only to members, and starts at 7 a.m. at the boat ramp. Weigh-in is at 3 p.m.
This is the third stop on the WOWC this year. The circuit wraps up in September with its championship at Indian Lake.
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