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.
CENTRAL OHIO
Hargus Creek Lake (Pickaway County) -- Deep-water areas that have submerged structure are good places to fish for crappies when using minnows as bait. A fair population of bluegill are present. Anglers can fish from the shoreline with small worms and larval baits beneath a bobber to take these fish. Channel catfish can be taken lake-wide when fishing along the lake bottom with traditional baits such as night crawlers and chicken livers. Electric motors only.
Hoover Reservoir (Franklin County) --Saugeye, bass, catfish, and crappies are the mainstay fish species for anglers fishing in this northeast Franklin County lake. Largemouth bass fishing pressure is light mainly due to the 10-horsepower boat motor limit. Areas that have aquatic vegetation and submerged structures are good places to fish for largemouth bass during the early morning and evening. Use small spinners, surface plugs, minnow imitations, 6-inch plastic worms and live bait for best results. Saugeye can be taken at various depths when using minnows or night crawlers. Use jigs and minnows in the upper end of the lake for crappie. Ten horsepower limit.
NORTHWEST OHIO
Wauseon Reservoirs 1 and 2 (Fulton County) -- These two reservoirs are side by side, south of the City of Wauseon, off State Rte. 108. Some nice crappies are being caught in these reservoirs. Try fishing with minnows under a slip bobber set at about 4 feet deep and moving around the shoreline of the reservoir until you locate some crappie. You might also catch some saugeye, channel catfish or yellow perch using this method.
Maumee River (Henry, Wood, Lucas Counties) -- This time of the year fishing the Maumee River is like fishing in a grab bag--you never know what treasures you might catch! You might catch walleye, crappie, channel catfish or even a trophy flathead catfish. Try fishing in the deep holes using minnows. The areas below the Grand Rapids and Independence Dams usually hold a lot of fish. For Flathead catfish, small bluegill usually makes the best bait. Channel catfish and a variety of other species will bite readily on worms. You may also catch smallmouth bass, northern pike and a variety of other species fishing in the Maumee River in the fall.
NORTHEAST OHIO
Lake Erie (Lake and Cuyahoga Counties) -- While there are still some reports coming in of anglers catching perch in 40 to 50 feet of water northwest of Fairport Harbor, the majority of the reports coming in from this region of Lake Erie have been for steelhead. Many reports from the Rocky River, the Grand River, the Chagrin River and other of the lakes tributaries in the area are for nice size steelhead being caught using a variety of methods and baits. Also, a popular steelhead fishing spot this time of year is the 72nd Street Pier in Cleveland near the warm water discharge of the power plant.
SOUTHWEST OHIO
Acton Lake (Preble) -- Anglers using plastic worms and spinner baits are catching largemouth bass near the boat ramp located next to the ranger station and along the eastern shore between the lodge and the dam. Fish near submerged trees and brush keeping the bait about 3 to 4 feet deep. Bass must be 15 inches to keep.
Rocky Fork Lake (Highland County) -- Saugeye are being taken in 8 to15-foot depths near the islands and along main lake points. Try trolling silver-colored crank baits so that the lure occasionally bumps bottom. Largemouth bass can be found along rocky shorelines and near fallen trees. Cast jigs, rubber worms, and crank baits for bass.
SOUTHEAST OHIO
Tuscarawas & amp; Muskingum Rivers (Coshocton County) -- Water levels in these rivers are still receding, but are currently 8 to 10 inches above normal pool. Water temperature is in the mid to low 60's. Saugeye in the 2 to 3-pound range are being caught on shad and blue-colored crank baits, such as shad-raps and rattle-traps. Smallmouth bass in the 12 to 15-inch range are hitting on jigs and twister tails. Live minnows are also good bait for the smallies.
AEP ReCreation Lands (Morgan County) -- Ponds throughout this area are producing nice catches of bass up to 6 pounds in size. Anglers are using a variety of top water lures to catches these lunkers. Water conditions are clear and at normal level.
Muskingum River (Morgan County) -- River conditions are clear and at normal pool. Water temperatures are plummeting along with air temperatures. Saugeyes and walleyes up to 4 pounds in size are being caught on cicadas below the McConnelsville Dam. A few 9 to 16-pound shovelhead catfish are being caught on goldfish.
Jackson City Reservoir (Jackson County) -- With the water temperature at 69 degrees, catfish are hitting chicken liver, night crawlers, and cut baits. A local newspaper picture of a 65-pound catfish caught in this lake recently has prompted more angler interest in the catfish fishery at this lake.
LAKE ERIE
Western Basin -- No walleye fishing reports have been received in the past week. Walleye fishing should improve in the Bass Islands area and in the area between Kelleys Island and the Huron River.
Perch fishing in the western basin has continued to be excellent when conditions have allowed. The best areas include the Toledo water intake and West Sister Island, Marblehead stone docks to the Marblehead lighthouse, and 2 to 4 mile east-northeast of Kelleys Island in 35 to 45 feet of water. Spreaders tipped with shiners have been most productive for 7 to 12-inch fish.
For smallmouth bass try fishing Kelleys Island shoal, Gull Island shoal, and near-shore areas around the Bass Islands, Kelleys Island and Marblehead.
Central Basin -- Walleye fishing in the central basin has been best 4 to 6 miles north of Huron to Vermilion in 40 feet of water, and 8 to 15 miles north of Ashtabula to Conneaut in 65 to 75 feet of water. Anglers have been trolling dipsy divers with spoons (most color schemes with copper, blue, gold and fire tiger have been best) for fish from 16 to 28 inches.
Yellow perch fishing continues to be excellent in the central basin. Best areas have been Avon Point in 40 to 46 feet of water, Vermilion to Lorain in 40 to 50 feet of water, 4 miles north of Edgewater State Park around the Cleveland water intake crib in 50 feet of water, 2 to 3 miles north of Gordon Park in 43 to 49 feet of water and 3 to 4 miles north from Fairport to Conneaut in 45 to 55 feet of water. Spreaders tipped with shiners are taking fish from 8 to 13 inches.
Smallmouth bass have been caught on Ruggles Reef in 15 to 25 feet of water, and in harbor and shoreline areas in 15 to 30 feet of water near Lorain, Conneaut, Ashtabula, Geneva, Fairport and Cleveland. Fish 14 to 18 inches have been caught on green tube jigs, crank baits, jigs tipped with shiners, and crayfish.
Anglers are catch steelhead in the Grand River from the short pier in Fairport Harbor up to the Painesville dam, and on the Chagrin River and Conneaut Creek. Anglers are using small spoons, jigs and maggots, and egg (spawn) sacks. Check with local bait shops for up-to-date river conditions.
OHIO RIVER
Greenup Dam & amp; Tailwaters (Scioto County) -- Water conditions on this level of the river look good and water temperature is running around 65 degrees. Hybrid striped bass up to 10 pounds in size are being caught by throwing casting bobbers up against the dam wall while using silver and black flukes and white rattlesnake plastic baits. Anglers are using a 3-foot line leader with a 1/8 ounce jig head on this rig. Saugers are being caught at the dam on river shiners held on bottom with a one ounce lead.