CENTRAL OHIO
Indian Lake (Logan County) Saugeye and crappie are the two most active fish right now in this 5040-acre lake northwest of Columbus. Saugeye are being taken with tubes and jigs tipped with a minnow in deep water. Fish the Old Indian Lake area, south of Dream Bridge, and Moundwood areas. The riprap along Southbank is also worth a try. Crappies are being caught using jigs or jigs and minnows around woody structure and boat docks. As water warms crappie will move toward canals.
Rush Creek Lake (Fairfield County) Fish this small, secluded lake north east of Lancaster for crappie, largemouth bass, and channel catfish. Crappies are located around woody structure. Try using minnows suspended under a bobber or crappie jigs for the best success. As water temperatures warm, fish will move into shallower water. Largemouth bass can be caught using creature and tube baits around woody stickups. For catfish, fish the east end of the lake around woody cover using night crawlers and cut bait for the best results. Outboard motors are limited to 10 horsepower or less.
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NORTHWEST OHIO
Sandusky River (Sandusky County) The water temperature is 46 degrees and the water level is low. Walleye fishing has slowed down except for Walter Young and Walsh Parks. Only the deeper pools are holding any fish. Ό oz. jigs with 3 inch tails produced some fish the past few days. A few limits have been taken.
Maumee River (Lucas and Wood Counties) The water temperature is 44 degrees and the water level is high. Walleyes are biting well on all areas of the Maumee. Males in the 16 22 inch range and females in the 24 29 in range are being caught. Bright colored twister tails are working the best. Blue Grass Island is inaccessible but the other areas are producing great catches.
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NORTHEAST OHIO
Berlin Lake (Mahoning, Portage, and Stark counties) - Anglers are catching nice white bass (measuring 12-inches on average) and crappie at this 3,321-acre lake. Parking is available off of Lowe Road as well as German Church Road. Standard crappie rigs are working (minnow and bobber). Berlin Lake lies at the junction of Stark, Portage, and Mahoning counties. The lake is located on and is accessible from U. S. Route 224 and State Routes 14 and 225.
Deer Creek Reservoir (Stark County) Crappies are biting at the north end of this 314-acre lake located near SR 183 and SR 225. Small minnows fished under a bobber are the preferred method. Special note: The fishing pier is off limits to night fishing this year due to litter issues in the past. Please be responsible and take trash out with you or place in the many trash containers at the lake. No fires or camping are allowed on the lake shores. Wheelchair accessible shoreline fishing facilities are available.
Mosquito Reservoir (Trumbull County) Walleyes measuring 15 inches or more are being caught in good numbers at this 7,241-acre lake. Trolling crankbaits near the bottom have produced great results. Anglers should stick to shallow waters in the south end of the lake. Other species such as pike, bluegill, crappie, bass, and catfish may be caught as well, especially as the weather improves throughout spring. Boat anglers are reminded to watch weather reports prior to heading out and to contact local bait and tackle stores for latest reports. Rough waters recently made fishing difficult and unsafe for unprepared anglers.
Rainbow trout have been stocked in the following lakes recently, but a recent cold front has slowed fishing. Trout can be caught in a variety of ways but casting jigs with maggots while using a stop and retrieve approach will produce good results.
Forest Hill Pond (Cuyahoga County), Westlake Recreation Center (Cuyahoga County), Hinckley Lake (Medina County), Jefferson Lake (Jefferson County), Glacier Lake (Mahoning County), Silver Creek Lake (Summit County), Little Turtle Pond youth only (Summit County)
Rainbow trout will be stocked in the following lakes:
Shadow Lake (Cuyahoga County) - 4/16/09, Punderson Lake (Geauga County) - 4/18/19, Canal Fulton (Stark County) - 4/25/09
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SOUTHWEST OHIO
C. J. Brown Reservoir (Clark County) Walleye fishing continues to improve. Early morning boat anglers fishing jigs tipped with a night crawler over the mid-lake humps and in the north end of the lake are beginning to catch some nice walleye. Remember there is a 15-inch minimum size limit and daily bag of six on walleye. Bluegills are being caught around the rocky shorelines of the dam and the marina. Also, try fishing the wooden piling structures near the boat ramp and campground. Use wax worms or redworms for bluegill, fished under a bobber. Anglers are still catching a few white bass along the rocky shorelines. Try using small spinners, jigs, or minnows.
Paint Creek Lake (Highland and Ross Counties) Anglers are being successful catching crappie, channel catfish, and saugeye in the tailwaters below the dam. Crappies, 8 to 11 inches, are being caught on live minnows or jigs with twister tails. Catfish are being caught using cutbait. Saugeye, 9 to 17 inches, are being caught on 1/16 to Ό ounce jigs with chartreuse twister tails.
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SOUTHEAST OHIO
Dow Lake (Athens County) Trout will be stocked into this 153-acre lake this weekend. Fishing for channel catfish, especially during high water inflow periods can be very productive. Try a variety of baits including chicken livers, night crawlers, crayfish, or cut bait.
Monroe Lake (Monroe County) Rainbow trout anglers are still having some success from the recent trout stocking using Rooster Tail spinners and Berkeley PowerBait. Anglers are targeting the three to six foot depth range either by fishing on the bottom with a light sinker or suspending their bait under a small bobber. Chartreuse or orange PowerBait seems to generate most strikes. Bluegill and crappie are also starting to hit. Wax worms fished below a bobber or small jigs tipped with wax worms are working well.
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LAKE ERIE
**From March 1 through April 30 the walleye bag limit reduces to 4 fish per day, returning to 6 fish per day on May 1. 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.**
**From September 1, 2008 through May 15, 2009 the steelhead trout daily bag limit is 2 fish. The minimum size limit for steelhead is 12 inches.**
**The black bass (largemouth and smallmouth) daily bag limit is 5 fish through April 30, 2009 with a 14 minimum size limit. May 1 through June 26 is closed to possession (catch and release only) with the limit returning to 5 fish on June 27, 2009.**
Western Basin
Weather has continued to hinder April fishing on Lake Eries western basin as of 4/15/09. Poor water clarity and cold weather have limited both jig fishing and open water trolling for walleye. When conditions stabilize fishing should improve. During the month of April jig anglers typically have success in spawning and staging areas such as the Camp Perry reefs, Maumee Bay, the Bass Islands, and various nearshore areas from Toledo to Cedar Point. Early trollers will have success fishing the open water around the Camp Perry reef complex and the Bass Islands. Limited perch fishing success has been reported east of Kelleys Island.
Based on the nearshore marine forecast the water temperature is 43 off of Toledo and 40 off of Cleveland.
Steelhead
For up-to-date steelhead reports, click here.
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...kcle.glf.le.txtTo view Lake Erie boating information, safety tips, and launch ramps visit:
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/default/tabid/2062/Default.aspx--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OHIO RIVER
Ohio River at Cincinnati - The River is rising and is at 34 and is expected to reach 36 by Thursday. Fishing should improve as the water levels drop and the water begins to warm. Some anglers have been successful fishing for hybrid striped bass in warm water discharge areas. For the most recent forecasts go to
http://www.erh.noaa.gov/ohrfc/ . Click on the area of the Ohio River you would like to fish and check the latest reports.
Ohio River at Marietta The River is at 17 and will rise to around 19.6 on Thursday. Anglers are reporting success around warm water discharge areas.
Report by ODNR.