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Jim Morris' fishing report for July 15

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By Jim Morris, Staff Writer 2:22 AM Thursday, July 16, 2009

Editor’s note: This is the final fishing report of the summer. The report will return this fall.

Cowan Lake: Crappie fishing has been decent, but you have to look for deep structure. Anglers have been working the drop-offs on the south side of the lake and the deeper coves on the north side. Large minnows and jigs have been catching fish. Saugeyes have been caught by trolling with Hot-N-Tots, Shad-Raps and worm harnesses. Bass have been hitting on the east end of the lake early in the morning. The best time to catch catfish is at night, using chubs and nightcrawlers.

Lake Loramie: For largemouth bass, fish the points with a crankbait. Crappies are deep with a few being caught from under bridges. A few saugeyes have been caught early in the morning around Luthman Road bridge. Catfish have been biting all over the lake on nightcrawlers, leeches, chicken liver and suckers.

Caesar Creek Lake: Anglers continue to catch saugeyes, but the action has slowed. Try trolling with a spinner around Walker Island. Bass fishing has been good in the evenings with topwater baits. Crappies are around deep structure in 20-22 feet of water. Use a large minnow. Bluegills are still hitting waxworms around stickups. For catfish use cut bait, goldfish, chubs or nightcrawlers and fish the creeks.

C.J. Brown Reservoir: Anglers are still catching crappies around the marina. Look for some of the deeper spots and fish with minnows or waxworms. Walleyes have been caught mostly by trolling a Hot-N-Tot or worm harness. A few anglers are jigging over the humps and old road bed with nightcrawlers and large shiners. Catfish have been biting along the banks on the north side of the lake on bloodbaits, nightcrawlers and leeches.

Acton Lake: Most fish have moved to deep water. For crappies, try jigging with minnows around structure. Saugeyes have been caught by casting crawler harnesses. Bass fishing has been fair, using topwater lures early and late. Also try working a crawdad-like bait around stumps. Catfish have been hitting cut bait and large minnows.

Grand Lake St. Marys: Catfish have been biting on chubs and shrimp. Look for areas where streams enter the lake. You can catch crappies, but you will work for them. Fish under pontoons and in heavy brush with small jigs. Anglers have been pulling in a few perch, but most have been small. Use a piece of nightcrawler, look for hard bottom areas and fish close to the bottom.

Paint Creek Lake: Look for shad activity and jumps to catch white bass. Use inline spinners or small white twisters. Crappies have been caught by trolling spinners along the banks or by jigging with minnows in deep water around stumps. Most are 10-15 feet deep. Bass fishing has been good around rocky points in 5-8 feet of water. Green/pumpkin plastic worms have worked best.

Rocky Fork Lake: Bass fishing continues to be good. Anglers are working the points with green/pumpkin plastic or various crankbaits. Crappies are very deep. Try vertical jigging with a minnow or a jig at 16-22 feet. A few saugeyes have been caught by trolling with small crankbaits around the island and off of south beach. For catfish, use cut bait or nightcrawlers and fish the Fisherman’s Wharf area. Bluegills are still hitting waxworms in the coves.

Indian Lake: Fishing for all species has slowed. A small number of saugeyes have been picked up by trolling in the Dream Bridge area. A few reports of successful crappie and bluegill fishing have anglers catching them by drop fishing around lily pads with minnows, jigs and waxworms. Early morning fishing around docks has also produced some bluegills.

Lake Erie: Walleye fishing has been good from five miles west and northwest of West Sister Island to the turnaround buoy and west of North Bass and Rattlesnake Islands. For yellow perch, try the area off of Niagara Reef, south of Green Island and around Kelleys Island.

For Lake Erie information, call (888) HOOK-FISH or visit wildohio.com. To view the predicted weather forecast for Lake Erie, visit weather.noaa.gov.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2409 or jmorris@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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