C.J. Brown Reservoir: Walleye fishing has picked up. Anglers are trolling over the humps with nightcrawler harnesses or jigging with chartreuse jigs tipped with nightcrawlers or large minnows. A number of smallmouth bass have been caught just outside the marina on Teasertabs and Teasertab frogs. Crawdad color seems to work best. Plenty of catfish are being caught on nightcrawlers and cut bait with the larger fish hitting at night. For crappies, find deep structure. Bluegills are hitting waxworms and redworms in the marina.
Other lakes
Indian Lake: With the water temperature up and storms moving in and out, the only reliable bite is catfish. You can catch them anywhere on the lake with nightcrawlers, cut shad, chicken liver or Powerbaits. Use chubs or goldfish to catch shovelheads. Bass fishing has been good, but most are in deeper water, hitting crankbaits. Or fish early in the day with topwater lures. Crappies and bluegills are hanging out in deep water. Saugeye fishing is very slow.
Grand Lake St. Marys: Blue-green algae has moved in to shallower, protected areas, bringing the fishing in those areas to a halt. But the bloom isn't everywhere. You can still find clear areas, and the bluegill fishing in those spots has been good. Use a jig or minnow and flip it under pontoons and docks to catch crappies. Shady, deeper water is the ticket. Catfish have been biting all over the lake on nightcrawlers and cut shad.
Cowan Lake: Crappie fishing has slowed. Look for structure in deep water and jig with minnows. Catfish have been hitting night and day on nightcrawlers, cut shad, chicken liver or Powerbaits. For bass, use a deep-diving crankbait and fish in deep water off of points.
Lake Loramie: Muddy water has slowed fishing all over the lake, except for catfish. Channel cats and bullheads are biting on nightcrawlers, chicken liver and shrimp just about anywhere in the lake. Saugeye fishing should improve as the spillway fills up. Try tossing a 3-inch chartreuse twister. Bass have been hitting dark plastics around brush in the channels.
Rocky Fork Lake: Bass fishing has been good, but most have moved off of the banks and points to 5-7 feet of water. Anglers are throwing Shad-raps and other crankbaits. Most saugeye fishermen are trolling with crawler harnesses around the south beach and Yinger's Bay on the north side. Look for weed beds and fish the outside in deeper water. Channel cats are hitting nightcrawlers and cut shad all over the lake. Bluegills are still in brushy areas near the banks, hitting waxworms and redworms.
Paint Creek Lake: Bass fishing along the channel banks and near rocks has been good. Green/pumpkinseed worms have been the top baits. Crappies are hitting off of the channel banks 6-8 feet deep. Most are still under the 9-inch limit. Saugeyes are being caught in the main lake from the beach to the island or in the hazard zone. Try trolling or casting Shad-raps. For white bass, look for the jumps and toss a Roostertail or Mepps into the area. Catfish are hitting chicken liver and nightcrawlers in the spillway.
Rush Run: Good bluegill fishing has been reported in brush near banks. Use waxworms or redworms. Catfish have been hitting nightcrawlers.
Acton Lake: Muddy water has limited fishing all over the lake. For catfish, fish the north end with nightcrawlers and bass minnows.
Lake Erie: Walleye fishing has been off a bit from the week before with muddy water throughout the Western Basin. The best areas have been northwest of West Sister Island, east of Middle Sister along the Canadian line and east-northeast of Kelleys Island. The best perch reports have come from Marblehead, Kelleys and Green Island. For Lake Erie Information, visit wildohio.com or call (888) HOOK-FISH.
Outdoors columnist Jim Morris can be reached through his Web site at www.tinyurl.com/ylh2rol or by e-mail at sports@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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