Fishing Report For Alum Creek Lake, OH

Current Report: Good

FALL. As Fall arrives, smallmouth here follow schools of baitfish into coves and bays 8 to 25 feet deep. Rip rap cock along the face of the dam is a popular spot for catching smallmouth bass at Alum Creek Lake. Anywhere around the lake where you find rocky shoreline, near deep water, is a good place to fish for smallies. They thrive in the cold, clean water, which is an ideal environment for them. Locals report that tube jigs are a great choice when the bass are in 15' or shallower. Drop shot rigs with small worms or shad shaped plastics are also popular in 10' water or deeper. Jerkbaits, deep-diving crankbaits, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits, are also successful, when bass are shallow to mid depth. The lake is an exceptional smallmouth bass fishery, with plenty of quality fish being caught regularly - many over 4 or 5 pounds. Later in Fall, smallies move to slightly deeper water, around 15 to 35 feet deep. Fishing shallow for smallmouth is often good on cold, windy, cloudy and rainy days.

WINTER. Winter will isolate them around deeper structure, points, flats and creek channels, often suspending in open water above these features. They can generally be found from 20 to 55 feet deep. Jigging spoons, tube baits, drop-shot worms, jigs and Ned rigs tend to temp smallmouth in deep water. I like to work these deeper haunts very slowly, as the bass are somewhat sluggish. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring.

SPRING. After ice out, when water temperatures rise into the 50's, smallmouth move from deep wintering spots to shallower water, just outside spawning areas. They feed heavily in 3 to 15 feet of water at this time, and are typically caught on jerkbaits, crankbaits, tube baits, Ned rigs, and crayfish imitating plastics. Once water warms into the high 50's, they move into shallower water, and create nests in gravel or sand areas, then lay their eggs. Females then move to deeper water and males remain to guard the eggs, and then the fry. After a couple weeks, the males also move into 10 to 25 feet deep, and feed aggressively. Crankbaits, tube baits, Ned rigs, plastic worms, spoons and swimbaits are catching smallies during this period.

SUMMER. Smallmouth bass are currently feeding shallow early and late in the day in 8 to 10 feet of water. They are being caught on topwater, crankbaits, swimbaits, Ned rigs and tube baits. Smallmouth bass here feed on crawfish, gizzard shad, and small sunfish. They prefer rocky or gravel bottom areas, as this is where crayfish live. During the hotter parts of the day, they are being caught on points, humps, and ledges around 35 feet deep. Often these deeper fish tend to school, so finding them can deliver some fast action. Anglers fishing around the section of the lake around the dam, are reporting good catches.

Current Report: Good

FALL. Early Fall brings cooler temperatures to shallow water, drawing saugeye and baitfish into the shallows. Saugeye, much like walleye, like to slowly cruise flats 8 to 20 feet deep, close to deeper water. They actively feed at night, and in low-light conditions. They primarily feed close to the bottom on baitfish and small sunfish. As Fall continues, saugeye migrate 5 to 10 feet deeper. Jigs, swimbaits, and spoons are all catching saugeye.

WINTER. This Winter, fishing for saugeye was decent through the ice. Saugeye often migrate to slow-moving waters below dams, during winter. They primarily feed on gizzard shad and other small fish, close to the bottom. Blade baits, jigs, swimbaits, spoons, live bait, and worm harness spinners all work well. Trolling, slow drifting and anchoring along drop offs are all popular options..

SPRING. Anglers are finding saugeye in the shallows, especially rocky areas and inlet channels, where they will spawn once the water warms to the mid 40's. Afterwards, they move to shallow points, flats, shoals and ledges just off shore nearby their spawning location. Bright colored jigs, tipped with minnows or nightcrawlers are catching them in 5 to 15 feet of water. Spinnerbaits, jerkbaits and crankbaits are also working when saugeye are up shallow. Later in Spring focus on deep points, drop offs, submerged structure, rock ledges, deeper flats and edges adjacent to deeper water.

SUMMER. Throughout Summer, early in the morning, and from dusk until long after dark, are the best times to catch saugeye. This is when they move shallower to feed. Anglers report good catches on crankbaits, and jigs tipped with minnows in 15 to 20 feet of water. They are being caught up shallow around the mouth of coves, and on shallow flats, early and late. The rest of the time they are cruising flats and creek channel edges, where they are harder to locate. Most saugeye caught during the middle of the day are holding in 20 to 35 feet of water, where blade baits, spoons and jigs tipped with minnows are the ticket.

Current Report: Fair To Good

FALL. Baitfish, which are moving into shallow flats, coves and bays, are drawing crappie into these areas. Recently, crappie fishing has been on the rise in Alum Creek Lake. They are feeding heavily in preparation for the cold Winter, in 8 to 20 feet of water. Minnows, hair jigs, and crappie jigs, are good options during this feeding marathon. Late fall starts the migration deeper, toward winter holding areas, for both crappie and baitfish. Small flutter spoons, fished in 15 to 30 feet of water, are a good option during this transition. Good results are coming around points, creek channels, and brush piles.

WINTER. Once the shallows start cooling rapidly, crappie will migrate to deeper holding areas, mostly off shore. At this time they are typically caught using a very slow presentation, in 20 to 40 feet of water. Most are caught around deep brush piles, creek channel bends, submerged timber, and main-lake structure. If they are suspending in open water, they often relate to some cover, or structure change, directly below them. During warming trends, especially warm afternoons, they are drawn into 12 to 18 feet of water to feed.

SPRING. In early Spring, crappie begin staging in 5 to 15 feet of water, just outside spawning bays and shallow flats. Spring is prime time to be on the water, as both black crappie and white crappie have moved shallow to spawn. At that time, they are typically caught in 2 to 8 feet of water. Vegetation, docks, brush and wood are where most anglers catch crappie using small crappie jigs or live minnows. After the spawn, crappie typically move outside the spawning area and hold on cover close by, in 12 to 25 feet of water. Once they move deep, anglers report success using fish finders and forward facing sonar to locate schools of crappie, which tend to stack vertically around cover. Light tackle, with 4 lb to 8 lb line, is a popular choice.

SUMMER. Water temperatures get quite warm, and crappie fishing is usually pretty good. They feed in 8 to 15 feet of water early and late in the day, until the hot Summer sun causes them to retreat to depths of 15 to 30 feet. Also, a few have embedded in the shade of slightly shallower vegetation. This is a good time to focus around brush piles, standing timber, and deep lay downs. Anglers are also locating schools of crappie hanging over deep structure and around creek channel edges, using fish-finder electronics.