FishingRomantis

By Jim Morris

Staff Writer

As water temperatures continue to drop, fall fishing will improve. Here is the first look at area lakes and streams for the 2007 fall fishing season:

Indian Lake: With the water temps around 70 degrees, saugeyes have been hitting in the evening around Moundwood and Dream Bridge. Boaters have been using Rat-L-Traps and Husky Jerks and those on the banks are using large minnows. Perch fishing has been good off of Oldfield Beach and Pew Island. Use waxworms or pieces of nightcrawlers. For crappies, fish around brush with minnows or jigs.

Grand Lake St. Marys: Evening crappie fishing has been good around docks and pontoons. Look for shady areas during the day. The best bet is to flip a jig under a docked pontoon boat and let it flutter. Catfish have been hitting all over the lake on nightcrawlers and cut shad. Bass fishing has been good in the channels around wood. A few perch have been caught in the bay next to the Wright State Lake Campus.

Paint Creek Lake: Some of the best fall crappie fishing around has begun, although the lake has been so low that only the U.S. 50 boat ramp has been in use. Fish around brush and wood to catch crappies on minnows and jigs in 2-6 feet of water. Bass are hitting spinners and grape-black plastics around rocks. Saugeyes are being caught in the lake and spillway. For lake fishing, work the flats between the beach and the island or around the campground with Shad-Raps or 1/8-ounce jigheads on twisters.

Rocky Fork Lake: Bass fishing has been very good all year and continues to produce large numbers of nice fish around the South Wall and Fisherman's Wharf areas at 5-7 feet deep. Shad-colored crankbaits have worked best. Troll the south and north beach areas for saugeyes with crankbaits and twisters. Crappies are deep, 12-14 feet, being caught off of treetops and laydowns. For bluegills, fish around docks with waxworms.

Lake Loramie: Bluegill fishing has been very good all over the lake. Fish in brushpiles with waxworms. For crappies, use minnows or jigs and fish in brushy areas about 5-6 feet deep. The best saugeye fishing has been in the evenings around the Luthman Road Bridge. Try casting a Road Runner around the dredged areas and into shallower water. Large minnows have also been effective. Catfish are biting on shrimp and chubs.

C.J. Brown Reservoir: Walleyes are very deep. Fish the area where the creek feeds into the lake with jigs tipped with a minnow or leech. Also work the humps early in the morning. Be patient and work the bait slowly. Crappies and bluegills are showing up in the marina early and late. Out in the lake, crappies have been found at depths of 14-18 feet. For bluegills, use waxworms. For crappies use minnows. Fish the north end of the lake for catfish with shrimp, stinkbaits and nightcrawlers.

Caesar Creek Lake: Saugeyes have been hitting all over the flats near the island. Drifting and jigging with nightcrawlers has been most effective. Crappies are shallow at depths of 4-6 feet, hitting minnows. Muskies have been going after large shiners around the bridge and over the submerged trees in the morning. Catfish are being caught in the creeks on chicken liver and stinkbaits. For bluegills, work the stickups in the coves with waxworms fished at varying depths. Bass fishing has been good along the deep banks with plastics and crankbaits.

Cowan Lake: Catfish fishing has been good in the evenings with nightcrawlers off of the south bank. Crappies are deep. Use minnows and fish the cove west of the marina at depths of 14-18 feet around structure. For bluegills, use waxworms and fish the brushpiles close to the bottom. Muskie fishing has been good by trolling or casting big spinners or crankbaits in about 8 feet of water. Fish early in the morning for bass in the sailboat cove with surface lures.

Lake Erie: Perch fishing has been spotty, mostly due to high wind at times and muddy water. The best perch fishing has been around "B" and "C" cans of the Camp Perry range, around the turnaround buoy of the Toledo shipping channel, north of the Toledo water intake, between Green Island and Rattlesnake Island, off of Kelleys Island shoal and airport reef and just off the Vermilion breakwall. Walleye fishing has been good from North Bass Island to "F" can on the Canadian border and on the sandbar between Vermilion and Lorain. Smallmouth bass fishing is beginning to pick up off of the reefs, around the islands and in the harbors.

For Lake Erie conditions and information, call (888) HOOK-FISH or visit wildohio.com.