WEEKLY OHIO FISHING REPORT

WEEKLY OHIO FISHING REPORT
COLUMBUS -- The weekly fishing report provided by the Division of Wildlife of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
NORTHEAST OHIO
Stormy Weather Alert - Heavy rains have swollen many of the rivers, streams, and lakes of northeastern Ohio, muddying the waters and making fishing difficult. Still, some opportunities abound for the intrepid angler.
Grand & amp; Chagrin Rivers (Lake County) -- Before the heavy rains, good numbers of steelhead were still coming in to spawn. These fish could still be around when the waters return to normal levels.
Mentor Lagoons (Lake County) -- Anglers here have been able to catch some largemouth bass and crappies.
Shreve Lake (Holmes County) -- This lake has been yielding some small bluegills.
Firestone Pond (Summit County) -- This is a good place to take young anglers as it is open only for anglers 15 years of age and younger. The park system recently stocked this lake with trout.
Spencer Lake (Medina County) -- Persistent anglers are taking some largemouth bass from this lake.
Leesville Lake (Carroll County) -- Fishing has been tremendous this spring at this famed muskie lake. Successful muskellunge anglers typically troll large muskie lures over weed beds, close to shore. Some perch are also being caught here on minnows and lead-headed jigs.
Atwood Lake (Tuscarawas County) -- Crappies are still being caught on minnows and jigs and tube worms. Some bluegills are being picked up on night crawlers and wax worms. Anglers are also starting to catch good numbers of saugeyes by trolling crank baits and blade baits, as well as using jig heads tipped with a curltail and a minnow. Try fishing around bottom structure near the sandy points in the lake. The saugeye are averaging 10 to 15 inches in length.
Pleasant Hill Lake (Ashland County) -- The marina has been closed here due to high water, so boat fishermen should check before going here to launch.
LAKE ERIE
Central Basin-Cleveland (Cuyahoga County) --Walleye, perch, and bass are all coming on. Anglers are able to pick up good numbers of walleye right off the Cleveland break walls at this time of year. The night bite is hottest from about 8:30 p.m. until 1 a.m. For good results, try casting 6-inch husky jerks. Boat anglers are picking up smallmouth bass in 14 to 15 feet of water and the perch are starting to bite for both boat and shore anglers.
Headlands Beach Breakwall (Lake County) --Anglers are catching limits of perch on a regular basis by fishing areas past the lighthouse. Over on the Fairport side of the Grand River, the short wall anglers aren't limiting out but they are catching large sized perch.
OHIO RIVER
Due to recent heavy rains, the river is high, muddy, and at flood stage in most areas. In addition to swift currents, there is a large amount of debris in the water. It will take 7 to 10 days for the river to return to normal conditions. Just prior to the heavy rains, the following report was received:
Greenup Tailwaters (Scioto County) -- Fishing for hybrid striped bass in this area is excellent. Hybrids are ranging from as small as 10-inches in length to as large as 9 pounds in size. Anglers are casting a bobber with a 3-foot leader baited with 8-inch white rattlesnake artificial baits. Best method is to cast and retrieve slowly, twitching the rod while retrieving, which makes a jerking motion causing fish strikes. Anglers are also using white twister tails with 1/8 ounce jig heads to catch hybrids. Striped bass are being caught on cut shad and inline white and chartreuse spinner baits. Fish from the tailwater of the dam down along the bank to the sandbar.