ODNR Weekly Fishing Reports

ODNR Fishing Reports-These are updated weekly and come straight for the ODNR website. If you have anything to add to the reports please do so. Also if you see a report before I get around to posting it please let me know.
:note: I will not be posting new reports on a new post. I will erase the last weeks post and put the updated one in its place. THANKS-O.F.

CENTRAL OHIO
AntrimLake(FranklinCounty) – AntrimLake, on the north side of Columbus, will be stocked with 10 to 13-inch rainbow trout on Thursday, October 29th. A variety of baits prove successful for these hatchery-raised fish. Try corn, cheese, marshmallows or prepared baits. The bag limit is five trout and anglers 16 and older need to have a fishing license. No boats are permitted at AntrimLake.
DelawareLake (DelawareCounty) – Crappies are active again in this lake north of Columbus. Minnows fished under a bobber around woody cover can put these active fish in the boat. Crappie must be nine inches or longer to keep. Largemouth bass are also around woody cover. Use creature baits and spinner baits to catch these fish. A large population of channel catfish can be caught on shrimp, prepared baits, and chicken livers.
IndianLake(LoganCounty) – Saugeye are being caught along the south bank and around the Moundwood and Dream bridge areas. Try using crankbaits and worm harnesses trolled near the bottom. Vertical jigging around the bridges is productive for saugeye. Bluegills are still being caught in the channels on wax worms, and night crawlers. Crappies are moving into channels and coves. Use minnows and jigs around any cover in these areas.



NORTHWEST OHIO

Bellevue Reservoir #5 (Huron County) – Crappie and perch are being taken in the evenings by fishing minnows under a slip bobber. The Westside of the reservoir is producing the best catches.
Clearfork Reservoir (Richland County) – Very nice catches of crappie are continuing at Clearfork. Fishing minnows under a bobber or casting tube jigs are working great. The best spot seems to be under Orewiler Bridge.
Charles Mill Lake (Richland County) – The fishing continues to be good at Charles Mill. Hybrid striped bass are being caught in good numbers. Chicken livers suspended under a bobber are working great. The Old Bell Lake area south of the Marina is the best bet.



NORTHEAST OHIO


Leesville Reservoir (Carroll County) – Anglers looking for some premier fishing as well as impressive autumn scenery should visit this 1,045-acre lake located in southern Carroll County. In 2008, a total of 332 muskellunge were reported through the Ohio Huskie Muskie Club. A total of 34 fish measuring 42-inches or greater were also reported. Trolling or casting muskie-sized lures into weed beds proves successful results this time of year. Other lakes in northeast Ohio providing good muskie fishing include Berlin (boasting natural reproduction!), Lake Milton, Pymatuning, and West Branch. Visit www.wildohio.com for more information and to view maps of these lakes.
Little Beaver Creek (Columbiana County) – River fishing for smallmouth bass is usually good this time of year for anglers fishing a few miles upstream from the Ohio River, near Grimms Bridge in the state forest. Anglers should also try fishing near Beaver Creek State Park (Echo Dell Rd. bridge and near Gretchen's Lock) where there is significant fishing pressure but often good results. A variety of other fish including carp, channel catfish, sauger, and white bass may be caught as well. Shore fishing after a short hike is available, but floating a canoe while casting is a good option too. Go to www.ohiodnr.com for more information about Beaver Creek State Park.

SOUTHWEST OHIO

Grand Lake St. Marys (Auglaize and Mercer counties) – Channel catfish are being caught by anglers using night crawlers, cut shad, or chicken liver as bait. Fish the bait along the bottom of the lake. Keep the bait along the sides of underwater structure such as the stumps in the shallower bays. Bluegills are being a caught by anglers using wax worms or redworms as bait. Fish the two to three feet deep and under a bobber. Fish the bait along the shore, near any type of structure including the rocky areas and seawalls, and into the channels. Yellow perch are being caught by tipping a jig with night crawlers, minnows, redworms, tiger worms, or wax worms. Cast anywhere along the state beaches and fishing piers. Successful anglers are fishing the shorelines where the wind is blowing into them. Fish the bait in three to five feet of water and about six-inches off of the bottom. Largemouth bass are being caught by anglers using slow baits such as jig, jig and pig, Carolina Rigs, rubber worms, in the back of the bays. Shad color variations, pink, purple with green head, or a black or white head colored lures are working well. Fish the main lake points.
East Fork (Clermont County) – Crappies are being caught by anglers using wax worms, tube, jigs, or medium to large sized minnows tipped on white or chartreuse jigs. Fish the bait three to six feet deep, 10 to 14, or 18 to 22 feet deep. Also look for good crappie fishing on the points and back into the cove areas as well as up and into Poplar and Clover creeks. Bluegills are hitting on wax worms or redworms. Keep the bait under a bobber and about two to three feet deep. Cast anywhere around the docks, standing wood, or downed trees. Channel catfish are being caught by anglers using night crawlers fished along the bottom in the mouths of the creeks.
Stonelick Lake ( Clermont County) – Anglers are having success on trout released last week. Try minnows or black doll fly jigged up against the rocks.



SOUTHEAST OHIO

AEP ReCreation Land (Morgan, Muskingum and Noble counties) – Cooler temperatures have spurred bass and bluegill activity in these smaller ponds. Use worms or wax worms suspended under a bobber for the best bluegill results. For largemouth bass, fish close to shore using crankbait in the late evening. Nice catches of largemouth bass were reported over the weekend, with some bass weighing in over five pounds.

Muskingum River (Washington County) – Fishing for saugeye, white bass and hybrid stripers is improving below the Devola Dam. Try casting jigs or crankbaits into the current and floating them back



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 Lake Erie yellow perch is 25 fish per angler in waters west of the Huron pier. The limit will remain at 30 fish per angler in Ohio waters from Huron eastward. Any boats landing west of Huron, Ohio will be subject to the 25 fish daily bag limit, while boats landing at Huron or points east will be subject to a 30 fish daily bag limit. Shore-based anglers west of the Huron pier will be subject to a 25 fish daily bag limit, while those on the pier and eastward will remain at 30 fish daily. **

** The steelhead daily bag limit is 2 fish September 1 through May 15. The minimum size limit for steelhead is 12 inches. **

** The daily bag limit for Lake Erie black bass (largemouth and smallmouth) is 5 fish per angler. The minimum size limit is 14”. **

Western Basin

Walleye: There were very few walleye fishing reports from the western basin over the past week. Migratory walleye will return to the Kelleys and Bass Islands area as water temperatures drop. Expect fishing to improve in historical fall walleye areas within the next few weeks.

Yellow perch fishing remains good with the size of fish mostly from 7 to 8” with a few up to 12”. The best areas have been the gravel pit W of West Sister Island, the Toledo water intake, around Niagara Reef, W of Green Island and Rattlesnake Island, Kelleys Island, around the Catawba green can, and off of Cedar Point. Perch spreaders or crappie rigs with shiners fished near the bottom produce the most fish.


Central Basin

Walleye fishing was best from Huron to Cedar Point in 30 to 42’ of water. Walleye were caught by trollers using worm harnesses with inline weights, jet or dipsy divers with spoons, or deep diving crankbaits. There were no reports targeting walleye again this past week from Cleveland to Conneaut due to the storms and being so late in the season.

Yellow perch fishing has been very good E of Vermilion off of the condos, in 45-50 feet northeast of Edgewater Park, 45-50 feet north-northwest of Wildwood State Park, 42-48 feet northwest of Fairport, 45-55 feet northeast of Ashtabula and 40 feet north-northwest of Conneaut. Perch spreaders or crappie rigs with shiners fished as far up as 6 feet off the bottom have been producing the most fish.

Steelhead fishing has been good from shore and anglers are catching fish at the mouth and downstream locations in the Chagrin River, Grand River, Geneva State Park, Euclid Creek (Wildwood State Park), Conneaut Creek and along the Conneaut west breakwall. Anglers are using small spoons and jigs and maggots rigged with a split shot under a light bobber.

For the most current steelhead information visit: http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/Home/FishingSubhomePage/fisheriesmanagementplaceholder/fishingfairportsteelhead/tabid/6166/Default.aspx

Based on the nearshore forecast the water temperature is 48 degrees off of Toledo and 54 degrees off of Cleveland.

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

To view the predicted weather forecast for Lake Erie visit: http://weather.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/fmtbltn.pl?file=/raw/fz/fzus61.kcle.glf.le.txt

To view Lake Erie boating information, safety tips, and launch ramps visit: http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/default/tabid/2062/Default.aspx



OHIO RIVER


Western Ohio River: Anglers are still taking channel catfish. They are being caught on chicken livers and cutbait around warm water discharges. Carp are biting on dough balls and corn. Hybrids are hitting Rapalas and rattletraps.