Jim Morris’ Fishing Report

This 20-inch, 2-pound saugeye was no match for Tanner Workman of West Liberty. The 10-year-old caught and netted this keeper at Indian Lake while visiting his grandparents.

Contributed photo This 20-inch, 2-pound saugeye was no match for Tanner Workman of West Liberty. The 10-year-old caught and netted this keeper at Indian Lake while visiting his grandparents.

ENLARGE PHOTO

H1N1 flu suspected in Preble County officer’s death, sheriff says
11:18 a.m.
First Financial's 3Q gains soar
11/6/09
Casino issue OK’d in most areas
11/6/09
Mason woman heard Fort Hood gunfire as husband hid
11/6/09
No Ohio Guard members injured at Fort Hood
11/6/09
> More headlines

By Jim Morris, Staff Writer 12:52 AM Thursday, June 25, 2009

Caesar Creek Lake: The best time to catch bass has been at first light when the haze is still hanging over the water. Use a crankbait and fish around stumps for best results. Saugeyes, crappies and bluegills have been caught on minnows around stickups. Crappies are deep, 20-22 feet around structure. Bluegills are about 8 feet down and saugeyes could be anywhere. Fishing on the flats and around the island for saugeyes is slower as the water heats up. Catfish are being caught on cut bait and nightcrawlers from the banks.

C.J. Brown Reservoir: Walleye fishing has been decent with most anglers trolling over the humps with crawler harnesses or jigging with shiners. Walleye fishing has also been good in the deep water near the dam by casting a Hot-N-Tot. Crappies have been hitting minnows and bluegills are biting on waxworms around the marina. There have also been some catfish caught on nightcrawlers near the marina.

Acton Lake: Saugeyes are still being caught all over the lake. They are going after large minnows, nightcrawlers and Blade Dancers. Bright colors have worked best. Catfish are close to the banks, hitting stinkbaits, nightcrawlers and minnows. The best time to catch bass is early in the day with topwater baits.

Grand Lake St. Marys: Crappies are being caught from under pontoons and docks on jigs and minnows. Use waxworms around docks to catch bluegills. Catfish have been hitting shrimp, cut shad and nightcrawlers all over the lake. Most have been caught from shallow areas, 1-2 feet of water. Bass fishing has been slow.

Lake Loramie: The best fishing is early and late, not in the heat of the day. For crappies, seek some shade, such as a bridge, and fish with minnows or jigs. Saugeyes and bass have been hitting crankbaits on the east end of the lake. Bluegills have been coming to the banks in the evening. Fish early in the morning at the spillway to catch saugeyes. Throw a Husky Jerk No. 8 for best results.

Indian Lake: Look for shady spots. With temperatures high, fish are going deep or camping out under docks and bridges. Crappies and bluegills have been caught under Dream Bridge and around docks and pontoons. Use minnows for crappies and redworms, tiger worms or waxworms for bluegills. Catfish, including shovelheads, have been caught on nightcrawlers, softcraws and shrimp. Saugeye fishing is slow.

Paint Creek Lake: Crappie fishing is still fair to good along the channel banks. Use minnows or pumpkinseed jigs and fish around brush near the channel banks 7-10 feet deep. Bass are also on the banks, 5-7 feet deep and hitting green/pumpkin Brush Hogs. Channel cats are biting on the flats, usually on nightcrawlers or cut bait. In the spillway, catfish are hitting nightcrawlers and chicken liver. For saugeyes, cast a jig with a chartreuse/red fleck twister.

Rocky Fork Lake: Saugeye fishing continues to be good, especially around the island. Troll with a small crankbait or a leadhead jig with a chartreuse/red fleck twister. Also find a weed bed and cast along the edge with a Shad-rap. The edge of the weeds is also a good spot for bass. Also try the points and channel banks. Bluegills are plentiful in the coves. Crappies are deep, about 22 feet, and scattered.

Cowan Lake: Plenty of 7-8 inch crappies are being caught on small tube jigs or minnows around submerged trees 6-15 feet deep. Bluegills can be caught on red worms or wax worms near boat docks or the edges of lily pads. Saugeye action is heating up, with anglers taking better numbers of 13-20 inch fish. Try casting a 1/8 ounce jig tipped with a piece of night crawler, and hop it along the bottom in 5-12 feet of water near the beach. If you prefer trolling, saugeyes can be taken on shad pattern medium or deep diving crankbaits.

Lake Erie: Walleye fishing has slowed. The best action in the Western Basin has been 5 to 10 miles east of Kelleys Island shoal up to the Canadian border. Farther west the best fishing has been north of West Sister Island to the Canadian Line.

Yellow perch fishing has been best around Green Island and between Kelleys Island and Marblehead.

For Lake Erie information, call (888) HOOK-FISH or visit wildohio.com. To view the weather forecast for Lake Erie, visit weather.noaa.gov.

Share this article