area fishing report

Paint Creek Lake: Crappie fishing has been outstanding along channel banks and in the creek arms. Use minnows or chartreuse jigs and fish around wood, 5-9 feet deep. Many are small, but some keepers are in there, too. For bass, work the rocky points with shad-colored crankbaits or blue fleck worms. Most are 5-7 feet deep. Anglers are catching catfish, on the campground flats with cut shad and nightcrawlers.

C.J. Brown Reservoir: Anglers have been picking up some walleyes by trolling, jigging and drifting with crawler harnesses over the humps. Crappies are deep around the marina, mostly hitting minnows. Use ice jigs tipped with waxworms to catch bluegills around the boat ramp and off shore in the marina. A 21-inch smallmouth was caught in the marina on a minnow. Catfish are hitting all over the lake.

Lake Loramie: Bluegills are hitting all over the lake on little rubber spiders and bugs tipped with waxworms. The best crappy bite is with minnows early in the morning or late in the evening. Bass are hitting black spinnerbaits fished close to the banks. Catfish are being caught on nightcrawlers, cut bait, chicken liver and large minnows.

Grand Lake St. Marys: Bluegills are biting around docks and rocks or waxworms and redworms. For catfish, use nightcrawlers or cut shad. A few crappies have been caught with minnows in deep water. For bass, work the channels with spinnerbaits or plastic worms.

Caesar Creek Lake: Good fishing has been reported, especially during mid-week when there are few boats on the lake. Saugeyes are hitting nightcrawlers on the flats and crankbaits trolled around the island. Fish in deep water – 20 to 25 feet – around structure to catch crappies on jigs tipped with large minnows. Catfish are hitting chicken liver and prepared stink baits. For bass, work the banks with spinnerbaits and plastics. A few muskies in the 40-inch range have been caught on large spoons and released. Try trolling or casting in the mouths of coves.

Rush Run Lake: There is some good bass fishing early and late using topwater baits. Catfish are hitting chicken liver and nightcrawlers. Use waxworms to catch bluegills in shallow water.

Acton Lake: The best crappie fishing is in deep water near the dam, 16-20 feet, with minnows at around 10-12 feet down. Catfish are hitting all over on nightcrawlers and prepared baits. The best bass bite is early in the morning with spinnerbaits and topwater baits.

Indian Lake: It's all catfish this weekend with the annual catfish tournament going on. They are hitting all over the lake on nightcrawlers, chicken liver, leeches and chubs. Try some night fishing. Crappies have been biting on minnows off of Long Island and in the old game reserve. Bass and saugeye fishing have been very slow.

Rocky Fork Lake: Anglers are using swimbaits fished over and around weedbeds to catch bass. They're also throwing crankbaits off of rocky points in water 5-9 feet deep. Crappie fishing has been good around laydowns. Use a minnow or black/chartreuse tube jig and work the deep water, 9-11 feet down. Saugeyes have been caught by trolling twisters, crawler harnesses and crankbaits around the island and in front of the beaches. Plenty of catfish have been caught around Kelly's Cove and in the Fisherman's Wharf areas. Channel cats are hitting nightcrawlers and cut shad; flatheads are going after chubs, goldfish and bluegills.

Cowan Lake: Anglers are catching crappies in the morning and evening on minnows in the coves on the north shore. Bass fishing has been good early and late along the banks with spinnerbaits or topwater baits. Catfish are hitting nightcrawlers and chubs.

Lake Erie: Walleye fishing has been good north of West Sister Island, off Magee Marsh, west and north of "A" can of the Camp Perry firing range, around northwest reef and west of Rattlesnake Island. Yellow perch fishing has been good just off Turtle Island, between Green and Rattlesnake islands and from Marblehead to Kelleys Island. Smallmouth bass are being caught north of Kelleys Island, around South Bass Island and around Marblehead. Largemouth bass are being caught in the harbors and bays in the western basin and also along the main lake shoreline around Catawba.

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