WEEKLY OHIO REPORT

WEEKLY OHIO REPORT

COLUMBUS — The weekly fishing report provided by the Division of Wildlife of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

NORTHEAST OHIO

Mosquito Lake (Trumbull County) — White crappies in the 10-to 12-inch class range are being caught on shiners or jigs with minnows. The western side of the lake, past second point south of the causeway is offering a good spot. Bass in the 10-to 12-inch class range are biting on shiners (emerald or golden colored) as well, in 15 to 20 feet of water. Channel catfish in the 12-to 14-inch class range are biting on minnows on the western side of the lake in 10 to 15 inches of water. Good fishing is in the early in the morning. This lake has unlimited horsepower limit and has wheelchair accessible shoreline facilities.

Tappan Lake (Harrison County) — Panfishing is picking up with bluegill averaging about eight inches in length. This is a great time for kids to try bobber fishing by using a medium size hook tipped with small pieces of night crawlers (two to three inches long). If you prefer to cast your line out, tighten the line and wait for it to start moving, and then set the hook. The reason for using two different techniques is that its hard for the kids to keep the line tight and watch it move. Its a lot easier for them to watch the bobber, but sometimes bobbers can spook the fish. This lake has a 299 horsepower limit. Wheelchair accessible shoreline facilities are available.

East Branch Reservoir (Geauga County) — Shoreline access is abundant for six-to 10-inch bluegill fishing. Medium (size six to eight) hooks tipped with meal worms or minnows are working best. Both sides of the lake near the spillway are about 10 to15-feet deep, a good depth for panfish.

LAKE ERIE

Central Basin—Walleye fishing has been excellent from Cranberry Creek to Beaver Creek in 26 to 32 feet of water, including Ruggles Reef and Vermilion. Trolling dipsys or jets with spoons or worm harnesses has been productive. Drifters are catching fish on bottom bouncers with worm harnesses. Walleye have also been caught trolling in 10 to 30 feet of water off Eastlake, Fairport, Cleveland and Rocky River, also two to three miles off Ashtabula in 50 to 60 feet of water. Anglers are trolling jet divers with silver and gold spoons. Anglers are also catching walleye along the piers at Eastlake, Cleveland and Lorain at night using surface Rapalas.

Yellow perch fishing has been best off of the Lorain lighthouse, off of the Vermilion breakwall, and in 20 to 30 feet of water off of Fairport Harbor and Conneaut. Shore anglers are catching yellow perch off the piers in Lorain. Perch spreaders with shiners fished near the bottom produce the most fish.

Smallmouth bass fishing has been good in harbor areas and in 15 to 25 feet of water along the shoreline in Conneaut, Ashtabula, Geneva and Fairport Harbor. Fish were caught on tube jigs, crank baits, and jigs tipped with minnows or leeches.

Surface temperatures range from 62 degrees off of Toledo to 55 degrees off of Cleveland.