FISHING REPORT

FISHING REPORT
COLUMBUS -- The weekly fishing report provided by the Division of Wildlife of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
CENTRAL OHIO
Kokosing Reservoir (Knox County) -- Areas with drop-offs along the old creek channel remain good places to fish for largemouth bass. Most of these fish will measure 12 to16 inches. Try using small crank baits, buzz baits, 6-inch plastic worms and jig-and-pig combinations for best results. Areas along the shoreline with brush and fallen trees can produce fair fishing action for crappies when using a minnow suspended beneath a bobber. Ten horsepower limit.
Rush Creek Lake (Fairfield and Perry counties) -- The 273-acre lake in Fairfield and Perry counties offers a fair population of bluegills that averages 7 inches in length. Use red worms and larval baits beneath a bobber in areas with drop-offs, aquatic vegetation, and submerged structures. Channel catfish may be taken at night when using night crawlers, chicken livers, prepared baits, and cut baits fished along the bottom. Ten horsepower limit.
NORTHEAST OHIO
Lake Erie (Lake & amp; Cuyahoga County) -- Conditions have been ideal for steelhead fishing in all of Lake Erie's tributaries. Anglers are reporting an abundance of luck using a variety of fishing techniques, baits and lures, including, spawn bags, jigs and maggots.
Highlandtown Reservoir (Columbiana County) -- Crappies are still being caught in good numbers using twister tails, jigs and minnows.
Atwood Reservoir (Tuscarawas & amp; Carroll Counties) -- Crappies are also being caught in good numbers in this reservoir.
LAKE ERIE
Western Basin -- As temperatures drop, the potential to catch trophy walleye increases around Kelleys Island, the Bass Islands and Marblehead.
Perch fishing in the western basin was excellent during the recent calm weather. Best areas were northeast and northwest of Kelleys Island in 30 to 40 feet of water, around the Marblehead lighthouse and northeast of Cedar Point in 30 to 40 feet of water, north of West Sister Island in 25 feet of water, and around the Toledo Shipping Channel Turnaround Buoy in 20 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 nearshore areas around the Bass Islands, Kelleys Island and Marblehead. A few largemouth bass continue to be caught in East Harbor and the East Harbor channel.
Central Basin -- Walleye fishing in the central basin has been very good from Huron to Lorain. Best areas have been 8 to 19 miles north of the Huron River mouth and 12 to 14 miles north of the Vermilion River mouth just west of the Lorain Sandbar. Both trollers and casters are catching walleye from 17 to 30 inches with a few larger trophies. Trollers are catching fish on divers with spoons and casters are using weight forward spinners or drifting harnesses. Expect the walleye to move west as water temperatures drop.
Yellow perch fishing continues to be excellent in the central basin. Best areas have been within 1 1/2 to 5 miles of Lorain in 35 to 45 feet of water, within 1 to 3 miles of Vermilion in 32 to 47 feet of water, 2 to 3 miles northwest of Gordon Park in 43 to 49 feet of water, 2 to 3 miles north from Fairport Harbor to Conneaut in 42 to 50 feet of water, and 3 to 4 miles north of Edgewater St. Park in 50 feet of water. Spreaders tipped with shiners are taking fish from 8 to 12 inches.
Smallmouth bass have been caught in harbor and shoreline areas in 15 to 30 feet of water near Conneaut, Ashtabula, Geneva, Fairport Harbor and Cleveland. Fourteen to 18 inch fish have been caught on green tube jigs, crank baits, jigs tipped with shiners, and crayfish.
Steelheads have been caught by trollers in harbors using dipsy divers with spoons at Fairport Harbor and Conneaut. The steelheads have ranged in size from 20 to 28 inches. Steelhead fishing has also been good on the Grand River from the short pier up to the Painesville dam, along with the Chagrin River and Conneaut Creek. Anglers are using Little Cleos, jigs tipped with maggots and egg (spawn) sacks. Check with local bait shops for up-to-date river conditions.
OHIO RIVER
Belmont County -- Smallmouth bass can be caught along the riprap or by casting out with crank baits resembling minnows or shad.
Gallia County -- River conditions in this area are high and muddy. Fishing should pick up as water recedes and temperatures fall.
Lawrence County -- River conditions are 1 1/2 feet above normal pool, stained in clarity, and approximately 58 degrees in temperature. Saugers are hitting in the mouths of the creeks along the river on jigs, grub tails, and minnows. Spotted bass and largemouth bass are hitting buzz baits and crank baits.