C.J. Brown Reservoir: Crappies have moved into the marina area, mostly biting on small minnows. Walleye fishing has been spotty with a few caught over the humps and old roadbed about 15 feet deep. Anglers are trolling Reef Runners, Vib-E's. Erie-Dearies and nightcrawler harnesses. Catfish are hitting nightcrawlers and bluegills and crappies are going after waxworms around the sunken trees.
Grand Lake St. Marys: Fishing has been very good for crappies and bluegills around the docks and under pontoons. Anglers are using black/chartreuse and black/red tube jigs. Some are tipping them with waxworms. Bass have been hitting jigs fished around wood. Catfish are all over the lake, biting on nightcrawlers and cut shad.
Paint Creek Lake: You can catch crappies, but you will have to work for them. Use black/chartreuse or blue/chartreuse tubes and fish deep, always about two feet off of the bottom. Try tipping the jigs with minnows or waxworms. For bass, work the rocky banks with jigs and plastics. White bass are going after shad, so look for the jumps.
Rocky Fork: Bass fishing continues to be very good along the banks with shad-colored crankbaits or green/pumpkin plastics. Crappies are 14-15 feet deep, hitting minnows, but the action has been slow. Bluegill fishing has been good in the coves around brush and wood. Fish the west end of the lake for catfish with cut shad, chicken liver or nightcrawlers. White bass have been hitting shiny spoons and spinners.
Cowan Lake: Crappies have been biting on minnows and jigs. Fish the drop-offs at varying depths. The area in front of South Shore Marina has been popular. Saugeyes have been hitting minnows – mostly those fished by crappie anglers. Try trolling or casting with a Vib-E.
Acton Lake: Crappies are hitting minnows fished 5-8 feet deep around the lodge and off of the pier. Bass have been going after spinnerbaits along the shoreline. For saugeyes, fish the deep points with large minnows or nightcrawlers. Catfish have been hitting minnows and nightcrawlers.
Rush Run Lake: Bluegill fishing has been excellent. Use tiny jigs tipped with waxworms or redworms. A few leftover trout are being caught on waxworms, too.
Caesar Creek Lake: Crappie fishing has been good. Most are suspended about 12 feet down in 25 feet of water. Use jigs tipped with minnows. Saugeyes have been caught by slow trolling crawler harnesses around the island or jigging with nightcrawlers on the flats. Work the banks for bass with spinners or plastics. There have been unconfirmed reports of muskies being caught that measure 51, 40 and 34 inches.
Lake Erie: Perch fishing has been fair in the western basin. It might be even better if anglers could find the right bait. There is a shortage of emerald shiners all along the north coast. Perch fishermen are substituting golden shiners and fatheads. Some are using frozen emerald shiners. The best spots have been northwest of West Sister Island, east of Niagara Reef, around Rattlesnake Island, off of West Reef, off of Ballast Island and east of Kelleys Island. There have been very few walleye reports from the western basin recently. Try Kelleys Island Shoal and Gull Island Shoal.
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 email at sports@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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