Jim Morris' Fishing Report

This report will be updated weekly during the better part of the year. It provides reports for most SW and central lakes and lake Erie

Hot spots

Paint Creek Lake: With the water level more consistent over the past two weeks, the crappie bite has improved. There are still plenty of small fish, but the amount of keepers (9-inchers) has increased. Look for brush and fish at varying depths with minnows or tubes. Bass fishing has been good along rocks on steep banks with black/blue jigs and Carolina rigs. White bass are running in the creek arms, hitting spinners, white twisters and minnows. Plenty of saugeyes have been caught in the spillway on chartreuse twisters.

Lake Erie: When conditions have allowed, walleye fishing has been exceptional. Limits are still being caught by anglers jigging hair jigs (with and without shiners) or vibrating blade baits in Maumee Bay, nearshore around Turtle Creek and on some of the Camp Perry reefs. Trolling has improved from the outer buoys of the Camp Perry firing range to Kelleys Island, using both crankbaits and spinners. Good catches of yellow perch have been reported between Marblehead and Kelleys Island and east of Kelleys.

Beginning Saturday, May 1, the walleye limit goes from 4 to 6 and the perch limit returns to 30 on all Ohio waters of Lake Erie.

For Lake Erie info, visit wildohio.com or call (888) HOOK FISH.
Other lakes

Indian Lake: The cold front and rain shut down fishing over the weekend. Up until then, the west side of the lake had been hot for saugeyes. The best spots were off of the south and west banks with boaters trolling and jigging with Vib-E’s, Husky-Jerks, Rat-L-Traps and jigs tipped with bass minnows. Panfish were hitting in the old game reserve and around Orchard Island Bridge. Fish anywhere for catfish with nightcrawlers, cut shad, chicken liver and Powerbaits.

C.J. Brown Reservoir: White bass are running up the creek and have started to bite on a frequent basis in most parts of the lake. Use a Mepps or Roostertail (something flashy) or a minnow. The marina and the north end of the lake seem to be the best spots. Crappies are hitting minnows around the marina with the larger fish in the deeper holes. Walleye fishing has been slow.

Grand Lake St. Marys: Bass fishing has been good. Anglers are working the channels, around docks and wood with small crankbaits and plastics. Crappies are scattered in brushy areas. Bluegills have been hitting waxworms around docks. Catfish have been biting all over the lake on cut shad and nightcrawlers.

Rocky Fork: As usual, bass fishing has been good. Work the banks with black lizards, black/blue jigs or Shad-raps. Saugeyes are being caught by trollers with worm harnesses off the south beach. Crappies are still a bit deep, but fishing has improved. Look for brush and fish with minnows or chartreuse tubes. Plenty of catfish are being caught from the west end of the lake.

Cowan Lake: Crappie fishing hasn’t slowed down much, even with weekend rain. Anglers are working the drop-offs in front of the marina and in the coves on the north side. Bass fishing has been very good along the banks at the east end of the lake. Fishermen are using mostly plastics and crankbaits.

Lake Loramie: Crappie fishing has been good and the larger fish seem to be showing up. One angler said he caught 25 crappies during a trip and 18 were keepers (9-inch or larger). A couple topped the 13-inch mark. He was fishing 16 inches deep around brush with minnows and jigs tipped with waxworms. Bluegills have been hitting waxworms around brush and lily pads. Look for cover to find bass, fishing with jigs and spinners. Catfish are hitting all over on nightcrawlers and cut shad.

Acton Lake: Saugeyes are being caught from the spillway on floating jigheads tipped with bass minnows. Crappies are now in shallow water, hitting minnows at 2-4 feet deep. Fish off the Sugar Camp pier or between the camp and the beach.

Caesar Creek Lake: The lake level is still down, but fishing has begun to pick up. Anglers are catching saugeyes by trolling with crawler harnesses across the flats and around the island. Crappies are deep, 15-16 feet around structure. Bluegills are found around the stickups, but are still 8-10 feet deep. Bass fishermen are working the banks around wood with plastics and spinners.
Walleye run

Maumee River: The walleye run is about over, but the white bass are coming on strong. High water made fishing almost impossible early in the week. For information, visit maumeetackle.net or wildohio.com.

Sandusky River: A few walleyes are being caught, but the white bass are starting to take over. For information, visit