The Fish Ohio Report
Updated Weekly April through October
September 15, 2010


CENTRAL OHIO

Deer Creek Lake (Fayette, Madison, and Pickaway counties) –Crappie isproviding the action at Deer Creek right now as we wait for the saugeye fishing to pick up later this month. Fish woody structure using a jig or minnow suspended by a bobber. Remember, at this lake crappie must be nine inches or longer to keep. Baitfish abound right now creating a challenge to anglers. Channel catfish are being caught in the upper end of the lake using cut bait in the evenings.
Olentangy River(Delaware and Franklin counties) – Smallmouth bass and rock bass are two fish species that provide action to the angler on this river that runs through Columbus. The best angling can be found from Highbanks Metropark to the Delaware Lake Dam. Try spinners and crayfish-imitating crankbaits around rocks and other cover in pools and runs. Other fish present include crappie, saugeye, carp and channel catfish.

NORTHWEST OHIO

Findlay Reservoir #2 (Hancock County) –White bass are being taken during the late afternoon by trolling worms on a worm harness. Try the east side. Walleye and channel catfish have been taken here as well. Trolling worms in the early evening is working the best.
Sandusky River (Seneca County) – Smallmouth bass are being taken in the river during the daytime by fishing minnows under a bobber or casting crankbaits. Try the deep pools near riffles anywhere from Tiffin to Old Fort.
Beaver Creek Reservoir (Seneca County) – Crappies have been taken here recently by slowly trolling minnows on the bottom. The northern third of the reservoir seems to be producing the best catches.

NORTHEAST OHIO

Leesville Reservoir (Carroll County) - The native muskellunge, also known as the muskie or “the fish of a thousand casts”, is very sought after for its huge size, unpredictable nature, and difficulty to catch. For anglers at Leesville Reservoir, muskie fishing can be very productive in this 1,045-acre lake located off of State Route 212 near Carrollton. Anglers casting large spinners or crank baits for bass have discovered that 18 to 30-inch muskies can’t resist these lures. Anglers who do not plan on keeping muskellunge should wet their hands and gently release the fish immediately.
Shreve Lake (Wayne County) – Channel catfish are keeping anglers’ reels busy all over northeast Ohio right now and at Shreve Lake, there is no exception. Although this body of water is small at 62-acres, shoreline access and catfish are both abundant. Channel catfish are stocked in good numbers during alternate, even-numbered years. Shreve Lake is located one mile west of Shreve, north of State Route 226. A boat launch is accessible from Township Road 316 on the southeast corner of the lake (electric motors only). A fishing pier, designed for people with disabilities, is located near the boat launch.

SOUTHWEST OHIO

Buck Creek State Park (Clark County) - Channel catfish are being caught by anglers using chicken livers, cut bait, or earthworms as bait. Fish the bait slowly along the bottom and into deep pools. Fishing is good near the mouth of Buck Creek. Keep the bait greater than 10 feet deep.
Cowan Lake (Clinton County) –Channel catfish are being caught by anglers using chicken livers, cut bait, shrimp or earthworms as bait. Cast from the pier area. Keep the bait off of the bottom and about three to six feet deep.

SOUTHEAST OHIO

Hammertown Lake (JacksonCounty) - Fishing is definitely picking up in this 157-acre lake, especially in the bay area and in the evening hours. Anglers have caught the occasional trout casting Powerbait or wax worms along the edges. Largemouth bass are moving into deep water – try casting spinner baits or any top water lures like buzzbaits or floating Rapalas. For channel catfish use chicken livers or night crawlers fished on the bottom. Fishing in this lake will continue to improve as water temperatures cool.
Seneca Lake (NobleCounty) Saugeye fishing has really picked up with several anglers reeling in fish in the 14 to 16 inch range. Try fishing off structure in about 10 feet of water using whistle jigs or anything with a spinner on it and a night crawler. Bluegill up to nine inches have been caught by anglers using wax worms or night crawlers fished under a bobber.
LAKE ERIE

** The daily bag limit for Lake Erie walleye is 6 fish per angler. The minimum size limit for walleye is 15”. **
** The daily bag limit for yellow perch is 30 fish per angler on all Ohio waters of Lake Erie.**
** The steelhead daily bag limit is 5 fish per angler through August 31. The minimum size limit for steelhead is 12 inches.
** The Lake Erie black bass (largemouth and smallmouth) daily bag limit is 5 fish per angler with a minimum size limit of 14”.**

Western Basin

Walleye: There has been very little walleye fishing effort in the western basin recently. The best reports have been from Gull Island Shoal. Expect fishing to improve around Kelleys Island and the Bass Islands as temperatures drop and fish start returning to the area.

Yellow perch: Recent weather (as of 9/14/10) has limited western basin perch fishing. The best reports have come from the Toledo water intake, the gravel pit W of West Sister Island, “B” can of the Camp Perry firing range, Green Island, N of Kelleys Island, E of Kelleys Island on the airport reef, and off of the Marblehead lighthouse. Most fish have been in the 7 to 9” range. Perch spreaders or crappie rigs with shiners fished near the bottom produce the most fish.

Central Basin
Walleye fishing has been fair in 72 to 75’ NE of Conneaut. Anglers are fishing down 54-60’. Trollers are using pink, yellow, red, green, copper spoons and stick baits off dipsy divers, planer boards and jet divers.

Yellow perch fishing has been good 9 miles N of Vermilion, around the 31N/13 to 14W lines off of Lorain, 34-38’ N-NW of Edgewater Park, 38-40’ NW and NE of Wildwood State Park, 50-53’ NW of Fairport Harbor (the hump) and 48-52’ NW and NE of Ashtabula. Perch spreaders with shiners fished near the bottom produce the most fish.

White bass fishing has been fair off the Eastlake CEI and Fairport Piers. Always difficult to predict when they will come in close to shore. Anglers are using agitators and small yellow or white jigs along with small spinners. Mornings and evenings have been the best.

Based on the nearshore forecast the water temperature is 65 degrees off of Toledo and 68 degrees off of Cleveland.

Anglers are encouraged to always wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device while boating.


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Lake Erie Fishing Report
Updated September 15, 2010

Western Basin

Walleye: There has been very little walleye fishing effort in the western basin recently. The best reports have been from Gull Island Shoal. Expect fishing to improve around Kelleys Island and the Bass Islands as temperatures drop and fish start returning to the area.
Yellow perch: Recent weather (as of 9/14/10) has limited western basin perch fishing. The best reports have come from the Toledo water intake, the gravel pit W of West Sister Island, “B” can of the Camp Perry firing range, Green Island, N of Kelleys Island, E of Kelleys Island on the airport reef, and off of the Marblehead lighthouse. Most fish have been in the 7 to 9” range. Perch spreaders or crappie rigs with shiners fished near the bottom produce the most fish.

Central Basin
Walleye fishing has been fair in 72 to 75’ NE of Conneaut. Anglers are fishing down 54-60’. Trollers are using pink, yellow, red, green, copper spoons and stick baits off dipsy divers, planer boards and jet divers.

Yellow perch fishing has been good 9 miles N of Vermilion, around the 31N/13 to 14W lines off of Lorain, 34-38’ N-NW of Edgewater Park, 38-40’ NW and NE of Wildwood State Park, 50-53’ NW of Fairport Harbor (the hump) and 48-52’ NW and NE of Ashtabula. Perch spreaders with shiners fished near the bottom produce the most fish.

White bass fishing has been fair off the Eastlake CEI and Fairport Piers. Always difficult to predict when they will come in close to shore. Anglers are using agitators and small yellow or white jigs along with small spinners. Mornings and evenings have been the best.

Based on the nearshore forecast the water temperature is 65 degrees off of Toledo and 68 degrees off of Cleveland.

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Ohio River Fishing Report
September 15, 2010


Hamilton County – Anglers on the west side of the county are reporting nice size catches of blue catfish on frozen skipjack. They are also taking flathead catfish on chicken livers.

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/Home/Fish...6/Default.aspx