October 9, 2014

Hannibal Lock and Dam tail water (Willow Island Pool,  Monroe County) – Hybrid striped bass: Look for jumping schools of bait fish as a sign of hybrids feeding on the surface. Use surface baits or near surface baits. Soft bodied swim baits (fished below a “launcher float”) and shallow running or surface stick baits such

Western Basin Walleye Where: Walleye fishing has been slow in the western basin. The best reports have come from northwest of North Bass Island and north of Kelleys Island. How: Anglers trolling are using worm harnesses with inline weights, divers, or bottom bouncers, and spoons pulled behind divers. Anglers casting are using mayfly rigs or

Acton Lake (Preble County) – Channel catfish: are biting on creek chubs or nightcrawlers fished along the bottom or between eight to 19 feet deep during the late evening or early morning hours. Bluegills: are being caught by anglers using waxworms or nightcrawlers. Bluegill fishing is bountiful along the banks. Saugeye: are active in this

Seneca Lake (3,584 acres; Guernsey and Noble counties) – Saugeye: As the water temperatures start to decrease, fishing will start to pick up. Try trolling shad-colored crankbaits or worm harnesses along the face of the dam, around the islands, and in Cadillac Bay. Largemouth bass: Try fishing buzzbaits and spinnerbaits, and the occasional white or

Northeast Ohio Reservoirs – Largemouth bass: are biting well across the region, if your timing is right. Target areas with visible baitfish activity, looking for actively feeding bass. Experiment with aggressive reaction baits like crankbaits and rattle baits, or slower presentations like unweighted finesse worms or topwater baits, to determine the mood of the fish.

Lake McKarns (70 acres; Williams County) – Largemouth bass: activity is beginning to pick up. Try fishing along the edges, particularly in the southwest area of the lake. Anglers should try using topwater lures fished along the structure edges. The lake features a boat ramp and boats are limited to 10-horsepower engines.  Lake LeComte, Fostoria

Delaware Lake (963 acres; Delaware County) – Crappie: 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. Crappies must be nine inches or longer to keep. Largemouth bass: are feeding for winter, follow the bait fish and target backs