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Jim Morris’ Fishing Report for March 17

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By Jim Morris, Contributing writer Updated 1:24 PM Thursday, March 17, 2011

Editor’s note: This is the first fishing report for the spring/early summer season.

Lake Loramie: Spillway fishing has been very hot. Many limits have been taken by bank fishermen tossing twisters, often tipped with a large minnow. The best twister colors have been chartreuse, black and orange. Catfish have been biting on nightcrawlers and tiger worms. Crappie and bluegill fishing have been picking up.

C.J. Brown Reservoir: Fishing has been very good for crappies, bluegills, walleyes and catfish. Crappies up to 13 inches have been caught around the marina on minnows, waxworms, spikes and jigs. Bluegills are hitting mostly waxworms. Walleye fishing has been good over the old roadbeds and in the spillway. Anglers are using nightcrawlers and VibE’s. The best catfish fishing has been on the north end of the lake. A few perch have been caught in the spillway.

Indian Lake: There is plenty of muddy water, which makes it good for catfish fishing, but not much else. A 6-pound saugeye was caught off the bank in the donut shop harbor last week. Anglers are catching saugeyes in the spillway on jigs, twisters and large minnows.

Paint Creek Lake: Earlier this week the lake was 30 feet over summer pool with all ramps under water. The Army Corps of Engineers began releasing water through the dam a couple of days ago. That makes the spillway too turbulent for fishing. Expect conditions to improve in about a week.

Rocky Fork Lake: Good crappie fishing has been reported. Anglers are fishing the brushy areas at varying depths with minnows and jigs. Also, some crappies have been caught around docks. Water levels are close to normal.

Grand Lake St. Marys: Crappies have been caught around docks on minnows, jigs and waxworms. Fish about 18 inches deep. Catfish have been hitting all over the lake on nightcrawlers and cut shad. The first catfish tournament of the season will take place Saturday. For information, call (419) 394-5769.

Rush Run Lake: Trout are being caught, some up to 20 inches. These are rainbows stocked last year or perhaps some from previous years. Use Powerbaits, waxworms or small spinners. Catfish are hitting nightcrawlers.

Caesar Creek Lake: High water has curtailed fishing. The boat ramps are under water, but the Army Corps of Engineers is dropping the lake level, so the ramps might be in use by the weekend.

Lake Erie: Remnant ice is still limiting access to the western basin. Within the next few weeks the lake should start opening up to allow the beginning of early season jigging and trolling for walleyes.

For Lake Erie information, visit wildohio.com or call (888) HOOK-FISH.

Outdoors columnist Jim Morris can be reached through his Website at www.examiner.com/outdoor-recreation-in-dayton/jim-morris or by e-mail at sports@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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