Fishing Report For Deer Creek Lake, OH

Current Report: Very Good To Excellent

There is a very healthy population of big crappie here, and catching a limit is often easy.

WINTER. The current water temperature is in the mid 30's. Now that the shallows have turned cold, crappie have migrated to deeper holding areas, mostly off shore. Currently they are being caught using a very slow presentation, in 8 to 16 feet of water. Most are caught around creek channel bends, submerged timber, deep brush piles, and main-lake structure. The area from the Deer Creek State Park Marsh Walk Trailhead to the Deer Creek Dam has nice drop offs into the channel. When they suspend in open water, they often relate to some cover, or structure change, directly below them. Ice fishing should be available soon.

SPRING. In early Spring, crappie begin staging in 2 to 10 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 1 to 4 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 10 to 12 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 2 to 8 feet of water early and late in the day, until the hot Summer sun causes them to retreat to depths of 152 to 15 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, deep lay downs, bridge pilings and deeper docks. Anglers are also locating schools of crappie hanging over deep structure and around creek channel edges, using fish-finder electronics.

FALL. As Fall begins warming the shallows, baitfish, move into shallow flats, coves and bays, which draws crappie into these areas. They will be feeding heavily in preparation for the cold Winter, in 2 to 14 feet of water. Minnows, hair jigs, and crappie jigs, are good options during this feeding marathon. Late Fall which turns the shallows cold, starts pushing crappie deeper, toward winter holding areas. Small flutter spoons, fished in 10 to 14 feet of water, are a good option during this transition. Good results typically come around points, creek channels, and brush piles.

Current Report: Good

Largemouth are the dominant bass species here, but the smallmouth fishing is pretty fair.

WINTER. The cold of Winter has isolated largemouth around deeper structure, flats, points and creek channels. Water temperatures are cold, and bass are holding from 8 to 16 feet deep, around main-lake channel edges, rock piles, stump fields and brush piles. Often, some of the larger bass will isolate from the group in a few feet deeper water. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring. Slow presentations with drop shots, jigs or finesse worms are often the key to getting bites. When the lake freezes over, anglers focus on other species.

SPRING. Once water temperatures rise into the low 60's, largemouth will move from deep wintering holes, to shallower water nearby spawning areas. Anglers report good topwater action from mid Spring through Summer, especially early in the morning, and on cloudy days. Vibrating jigs, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits typically get bites just away from the shoreline. At this time they are feeding aggressively in about 4 to 12 feet of water, and preparing for the spawn. Once water warms into the mid to high 60's, they will move into 1 to 6 feet of water, and create nests, then lay their eggs. Immediately afterwards, females move to deeper water and males remain to guard the eggs, and then the fry. After a couple weeks, the males also move to slightly deeper water, around 10 to 16 feet deep. Deep-diving crankbaits, vibrating jigs, plastic worms, jigs, spoons, and swimbaits catch bass during this period.

SUMMER. Water temperatures will warm considerably in Summer. Bass will feed shallow, early and late in the day, where they will be caught in 1 to 8 feet of water, on topwater lures, square-bill crankbaits, spinnerbaits and a variety of other lures. Wacky-rigged stick worms always catch finicky bass when the bite is slow. During Summer, keep an eye on the thermocline to determine the maximum depth to fish, as there is very little oxygen below the thermocline. Largemouth bass here feed on shad, small sunfish and crawfish. During the hotter parts of the day, they are being caught around shady cover, channel edges, and ledges 6 to 16 feet deep. Some of the best reports typically come from anglers fishing around flats and weedlines with frogs and buzzbaits.

FALL. When Fall arrives, bass here will follow schools of baitfish into coves and shallow bays where crankbaits, swimbaits, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits have been successful in prior years. In early Fall, anglers typically have success in 2 to 14 feet of water, around points and shallow flats leading to deeper water. As deeper water cools, bait and bass move out to ledges, channel edges, points and humps, flutter spoons are often the ideal bait in 10 to 15 feet of water. Some of the larger bass will seclude themselves away from the school, often in slightly deeper water.

Current Report: Good

Bluegill are one of the primary food sources for bass, catfish and saugeye in Deer Creek Lake. As a sport fish, they are fun for all ages, and make excellent table fare. Local anglers report good size bluegill being caught with some frequency. Small pieces of nightcrawlers make an ideal bait, on a small hook tied to light line. Add a bobber to set the depth and you're in business.

WINTER. Cooling shallows have driven the bluegill back to deeper structure with cover, in water ranging from 8 to 16 feet deep. In areas with no cover, anglers are finding them along points and humps with sharp drops into deeper water. In areas where the lake ices over, ice fishing can produce nice catches. Most successful anglers are slowing down their presentation in this cold water.

SPRING. In early Spring, bluegill migrate from winter holding areas toward the shoreline areas, and are typically caught around 2 to 8 feet deep. As the water warms to the mid 70's they will begin the spawning ritual, building nests in 1 to 4 feet of water. Many of the bigger bluegill prefer to spawn a bit deeper, depending on water clarity. After the spawn, bluegill drop to 5 or 10 feet deep. Small spinners and swimbaits, or jigs tipped with small pieces of nightcrawlers are good choices for catching a lot of bluegill in Spring.

SUMMER. Following the spawn, most of the bigger bluegill migrate to deeper water, around 4 to 12 feet deep. They prefer rocky or weedy areas, often hanging out on steep, rocky banks where they can move up and down to feed without having to travel a great distance. Small spoons, underspins, and mini-crankbaits are catching some of the bigger bluegill. Earthworms are also catching good numbers. Early and late in the day, anglers catch them in 1 to 6 feet of water.

FALL. Cooling, Fall weather drops the water temperature in the shallows and bluegill move shallow to feed, 2 to 6 feet deep. Steeper banks and shallow, weedy areas with drop-offs, hold bluegill this time of year. Later in Fall, as the shallows get colder, bluegill will move into 6 to 14 feet of water, in the same general areas.