Fishing Report: 5-30
5/30/2014The best angling information from area experts
■ Maumee River: Regular river watcher Joe Roecklein has seen the white bass run taper off significantly in recent days, with just a few anglers and even fewer fish being caught. As the white bass run has been winding down, anglers are starting to switch their attention to the resident species in the river, according to Bob Barnhart of Netcraft. The catfish bite has been terrific, Barnhart said, with a few big flatheads showing up and cats taking anything from night crawlers to chicken livers and even bass tackle.
■ Sandusky River: Bernie Whitt at Anglers Supply in downtown Fremont reports that although one of the better runs in recent memory is slowing, he is still seeing white bass in the catch, but most of the fish are smaller males. Whitt said there are good numbers of catfish in the river, with anglers taking cats from the dam all the way down to Sandusky Bay.
■ Sandusky Bay: Anglers are finding largemouth bass in the marinas, harbors and bays, using soft plastic lures, spinners and crankbaits, according to the DNR. Fishermen are reminded that the bass season is closed through June 27 so all largemouth and smallmouth must be released immediately.
■ Lake Erie: Charter captain Dave Spangler said walleye fishing has remained very good throughout the western basin, with some anglers drifting with bottom-bouncers or casting around the area of A-can, and working through the white perch nuisance bite. Capt. Spangler reports that the area off Niagara Reef in the direction of Green and Rattlesnake islands has been good for trollers using jet divers and spoons, as long as walleye anglers are patient enough to work through some white bass.
He reports the water temperature has passed 60 degrees, and clarity in some areas is at 14-16 feet.
■ Inland waters: Bob Barnhart at Netcraft said the customary spawning locations for crappies and bluegills are producing fish on local ponds and area reservoirs.
He recommends small twister tails or hair jigs, or jigs tipped with maggots or wax worms, fished in the shallow, warmer water areas.
■ Ohio steelhead rivers: There are still some steelhead in the rivers as the harsh winter and lingering cold has extended the run later than in most years.
Fishing pressure has been light, and the fish surprisingly aggressive. Spinners and crankbaits are producing smallmouth bass in the Rocky River.
■ Irish Hills: The crappies are still being found around the weed beds for persistent anglers using minnows, but bluegills are getting the most attention now, according to veteran fisherman and former charter captain John Zuelke, who now makes his home in the region. Wax worms fished under floats in 3-5 feet of water were working much better than artificials this week, Zuelke said.
■ Detroit River: Guide Jon Bondy reports that white bass have essentially taken over some of the Detroit River, making walleye jig fishing tougher, but not impossible. Guide Spencer Berman said his clients are still finding walleyes in the river, but every day there are less and less big fish in the north end of the river.
■ Lake St. Clair: Guide Spencer Berman said many smallmouth bass are on the beds, and the start of weed growth in the shallow areas has made working baits through those sections of the lake tougher. Berman said that on good days his boat is hooking up with close to 100 smallmouth, and seeing mostly males in the catch.
■ Michigan Free Fishing:The free fishing days are June 7 & 8, with residents and non-residents permitted to fish that weekend without a license. All other fishing regulations apply and will be strictly enforced.