Fishing Report For Lake Milton, OH

Current Report: Fair

FALL. Fall brought cooler temperatures to shallow water, driving walleye and baitfish back toward deeper haunts. Walleye continue to be a major draw here. Locals report catching nice walleye on long points and flats along the Mahoning River channel and intersecting creek channels. Jigs, swimbaits, spoons, deep-diving crankbaits, jerkbaits, and spinnerbaits are all catching walleye this time of year. Early and late in the day finds them in 6 to 12 feet of water, mid day they hold 8 to 20 feet deep. Dragging jigs, bottom bouncers, or worm harnesses with nightcrawlers or leeches, around ledge drop-offs is catching walleye fairly consistently. Watch for the bigger walleye to be slightly deeper than the majority of the school.

WINTER. This Winter, fishing for walleye has been pretty good through the ice, as it has been for the last few years. Before, during and after the ice, anglers report catching them in the main basin area, in 10 to 25 feet of water, along deep creek channel edges, rocky humps and ledges. Steep drops in the area toward the dam are also producing during these cold months. They primarily feed on small fish, staying close to the bottom. After ice-out blade baits, jigs, swimbaits, spoons, deep-diving crankbaits, and worm harness spinners, all work while deep trolling or drifting.

SPRING. As the ice started melting, anglers are finding walleye in the shallows. They will spawn in Spring, then move to flats, shoals and ledges off shore, especially rocky areas and inlet channels. In Spring work points, drop offs, submerged structure, rock ledges, flats and flats adjacent to deeper water. Here, in 6 to 16 feet deep, they will spawn once the water warms to the mid to high 40's. When they move shallow, bright colored jigs, tipped with minnows or nightcrawlers typically catch them. Spinnerbaits, jerkbaits and crankbaits are also working when walleye are up shallow. Afterwards, they move to 12 to 20 feet deep around creek inlets, shallow rock reefs, windblown rocky points and flats, shoals and ledges, nearby shore. They often stay in close proximity to their spawning locations. Main lake drop offs are producing nice fish.

SUMMER. Water temperatures rise in Summer, and walleye fishing is good if you can get your bait deep enough. Throughout Summer, early in the morning and from dusk to long after dark are good times to catch walleye, as they move shallow to feed, concentrating in 6 to 15 feet of water. They primarily feed on shad and other small fish, searching close to the bottom. Throughout Summer, early in the morning, and from dusk to long after dark are good times to catch walleye. At those times they move slightly shallower to feed in low-light conditions,especially around wind-swept points. Night fishing is often good in Summer, as well. The rest of the time they are cruising flats and creek channel edges, 12 to 25 feet deep , preferring the cooler temperatures. When the bite is slow, grubs and nightcrawlers, fished just off the bottom typically catch walleye.

Current Report: Good

FALL. Considered by many avid muskie anglers to be the best time to fish for muskie, Fall finds these predators feeding heavily in preparation for winter. Early in Fall they were being caught in 6 to 12 feet of water. Now, warm afternoons are the best time to focus on structure, 10 to 25 feet deep. Noisy, flashy, and bright color lures are ideal during this time as they are quite aggressive. Jerkbaits are also a good choice.

WINTER. As Winter chills the water, muskie move deeper and hold on structure in 20 to 30 feet of water. Points, deep weedbeds, drop-offs, channel edges and corners around the mouths of rivers are good places to find them this time of year. Ice fishing can be productive when the ice is safe, but muskie are being caught all through cold-winter season. Cold water causes muskie to be less active in winter, due to slowed metabolism. Slow moving, or motionless presentations are in order. Jigging spoons, ciscoes, shiners and suckers are favorites of muskie enthusiasts.

SPRING. Muskie move from their deep wintering habitat into shallow bays and flats for Spring spawning. They prowl 4 to 18 feet deep, once water temperatures get into the 50's. Noisy, flashy, and bright color lures are ideal during this time as they are very aggressive. After the spawn is over and water temperatures rise, concentrate on weed lines, and drop-offs along the edges of weedy flats. Muskie will feed early and late in the day in 4 to 12 feet of water. Big spinners, bass assassins, and Johnson spoons will all attract hungry muskie.

SUMMER. Early and late in the day, muskie cruise shallower cover in search of food in 4 to 12 feet of water. During mid day they prefer the cooler water 15 to 30 feet deep. Ledges, reefs, weedbeds, islands, humps and deep channel edges are the primary areas to find muskie during the warmer months of Summer. Some of the larger muskie may also suspend in open water, just outside these areas. Trolling or drift fishing reportedly produces some nice catches, using spoons, big spinners and deep diving crankbaits.

Current Report: Fair To Good

Lake Milton is considered a pretty good smallmouth bass fishery, and has the population to support the reputation.

FALL. Late Fall is taking over, and smallmouth have followed schools of baitfish out of coves and bays into 6 to 18 feet of water. They thrive in the cold, clean water, which is an ideal environment for them. Locals report that tube jigs, and drop shot rigs with small worms or shad shaped plastics, are popular in 10' water or deeper. Worms, jigs, deep-diving crankbaits, swimbaits, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits, are also successful, when bass are shallow to mid depth. Later in Fall, smallies move to slightly deeper water, around 10 to 25 feet deep. Nice smallmouth are now being caught on ledges, along side the Mahoning River channel. 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. Before, during and after ice fishing season, they can generally be found from 10 to 25 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. The best reports for smallmouth come from anglers fishing rocky banks, where smallies search for crawfish. They feed heavily in 3 to 12 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 6 to 18 feet deep, and continue feeding 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 3 to 12 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 10 to 25 feet deep. Often these deeper fish tend to school, so finding them can deliver some fast action. Anglers fishing windy points, shallow rocky shorelines, and channel ledges, are reporting good catches.