Northwest Oho Fishing Report - May 9th, 2013

Posted on Thu, 09 May 2013

Sandusky River (Sandusky County)

The river level is high and the water clarity is poor. Recent fishing has been poor due to the water level. Most anglers use a floating jig head fished on an 18-24-inch leader with a quarter- to half-ounce weight depending on the water current. Anglers seem to have the best success tipping the jig head with a Twister Tail of white or chartreuse color. The best area to try is around the Miles Newton Bridge. The daily bag limit is four fish. Do not keep any walleye shorter than 15 inches.

Maumee River (Lucas County)

The river level is still high and walleye fishing has been poor as a result. The river conditions should improve and the fishing should improve as well. Try the Orleans Park and White Street Landing area. Most anglers use a floating jig head fished on an 18-24-inch leader with a quarter- to half-ounce weight depending on the water current. Anglers seem to have the best success tipping the jig head with a Twister Tail of white or chartreuse color. 

Clear Fork Reservoir (Richland and Morrow Counties)

Located just eight miles south of Mansfield along State Route 97, this 971-acre reservoir is well known for its muskellunge population. It is one of the eight lakes stocked with muskellunge in Ohio. However, the reservoir has good populations of largemouth bass as well. Quite a few five-pound largemouths have been caught recently. A boat ramp and marina are located on the south side of the reservoir east of Bowers Road. In addition, there are three picnic areas with access to the lake located along the south side of the reservoir. Shore fishing is only allowed along the south and west shorelines from the Orewiler Road bridge to a point 1,000 feet upstream of the dam. There are no motor size restrictions, but an 8 mph speed limit is enforced by the city of Mansfield. 

Northeast Ohio Fishing Report - May 9th, 2013

Posted on Thu, 09 May 2013

Leesville Lake (Carroll County)

If you are looking for a rush, come out to Leesville Lake and try hooking into a muskie. These fish are known as “the fish of a thousand casts,” but during springtime these fish are a little easier to target helping reduce that ratio. Muskie, during the spring, move in shallow to spawn and hold tighter to structure. Try casting four- to six-inch sized minnow crankbaits.

Tappan Lake (Harrison County)

Both shore and boat anglers are sharing the same amount of success for catching crappies at Tappan Lake. With 2,100-plus acres of water, Tappan Lake has well over 32 miles of shoreline. If you can find the fallen timber along the shoreline, there is a good chance you will find crappies around and in that timber. Minnows fished 3-5 feet under bobbers have produced consistent crappie action with a bonus catfish here and there. Anglers specifically targeting catfish have also reported consistent action. Shad, chicken liver, and nightcrawlers on the bottom have all produced well.

Spencer Lake (Medina County)

If you don’t mind taking the time to fillet smaller crappies, Spencer Lake can offer you coolers full of 6-9-inch fillets. Crappies are being caught all over the lake in large quantities. Crappie tubes and tinsel jigs are producing so well right now you can leave the minnow bucket at home. A couple fishing from a boat also reported a good evening’s catch of largemouth bass with two of the eight bass caught breaking the 3.5-pound mark. They reported catching them off of the stump field on the south side of the lake.

Central Ohio Fishing Report - May 9th, 2013

Posted on Thu, 09 May 2013

Delaware Lake (Delaware County)

This 1,017-acre lake north of Columbus is known for large crappies. Fish the old river channel and deep water with woody cover using a jig tipped with a minnow. Crappies must be nine inches or longer to keep and only 30 may be possessed. Channel catfish can be caught using cut bait; target the north end of the lake.

Kiser Lake (Champaign County)

Fish plastic baits and crankbaits for largemouth bass in and along lily pads on the south side of the lake and near woody cover on the north shore. As the water warms, bluegills can be caught in shallow water areas using nightcrawlers or wax worms fished under a bobber. Fly-fishing for bluegills using floating flies and spiders can also be very productive and exciting. Chicken livers fished on the lake bottom can reward an angler with channel catfish or hybrid striped bass. No motors are allowed on this lake.

Knox Lake (Knox County)

Areas of woody shoreline cover are good locations to fish for largemouth bass at this time of year. Try dark-colored creature baits and jig-and-pigs fished shallow for the best results. Most of these fish measure 12 to 18 inches. There is an 18-inch minimum for keeper largemouth at this lake. Use jigs and minnows in brushy areas to take crappies. Crappies will be moving shallow as the temperatures warm. Use cut bait, chicken livers, or nightcrawlers fished along the bottom to take channel catfish. Some channel catfish weigh up to 10 pounds. Boats greater than 10 horsepower must travel at no wake speeds.

Southeast Ohio Fishing Report - May 9th, 2013

Posted on Thu, 09 May 2013

Salt Fork Lake (Guernsey County)

Now is the perfect time of year to fish for crappies around submerged brush piles and structure using pink and chartreuse Twister Tails tipped with a minnow. Most crappies are in the nine- to 10-inch range but fish up to 14 inches can be found.  Spring fishing for saugeyes is best near the beach or shallow flats using twisters, stick baits, or blade baits. Muskie fishing should also be kicking into gear. Try trolling shallow crankbaits near the shore at 10 feet or less. Please note the new regulations for 2013: a daily bag limit of four largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass, with two fish less than 15 inches and two fish greater than or equal to 15 inches.

AEP ReCreation Area (Morgan, Muskingum, and Noble Counties)

Largemouth bass and sunfish should be biting well. Better fishing is found in ponds that are “off the beaten path” since these lakes do not receive as much fishing pressure as lakes adjacent to campsites. Bass can be caught on spinner baits and jig-and-pig combinations. Bluegills can be taken with live bait such as redworms or meal worms or small spinners and poppers. A permit is required to fish the AEP ReCreation Area. Please note the new regulations for 2013: a daily bag limit of three largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass, with two fish less than 14 inches and 1 fish greater than or equal to 20 inches; and a daily bag limit of 20 sunfish, all species.

Piedmont Lake (Belmont County)

Saugeyes in the 20-25-inch range can be taken near the dam by shore and boat anglers. Best fishing is at dusk or dawn, or all day if there is cloud cover. Most fish can generally be caught on jigs and minnows fished 6-8 feet deep using a slip bobber. Fair numbers of nice black crappies in the 12-14-inch range can be caught in the same area with minnows fished 3-4 feet deep. A few largemouth bass from 12-19 inches have been caught on spinner baits fished slowly in shallow water.

Southwest Ohio Fishing Report - May 9th, 2013

Posted on Thu, 09 May 2013

Paint Creek Lake (Highland County)

Crappies should be biting from one side of the lake to the other in three to 10 feet of water on minnows and jigs. Look for wood and rocks. Bass should be hitting black jigs with blue pork in the five to seven feet depths. In the spillway, plenty of saugeyes can be caught on chartreuse twisters, and crappies are hitting minnows. White bass are in the creeks. Try minnows and shiny spinners.

Grand Lake St. Marys (Auglaize and Mercer counties)

Bass should be biting. Try fishing along the shoreline in less than 3 feet of water using soft plastics, (pumpkinseed, watermelon) and white spinner baits. The bass are starting to spawn, so concentrate your efforts in the back of channels and bays where there is brush and rock. For panfish, good numbers are being caught with cork and live bait. Try fishing 1-2 feet deep along any rocky or brushy channel. For catfish, try using cut bait, raw shrimp, and nightcrawlers. Fishing tight-line is best.