Mogadore Reservoir Fishing Report

Current Fishing Report: Fair To Good

Bass fishing is currently experiencing major changes in the way anglers are approaching the sport. The expanded use of high-tech fish finders is giving anglers, who fish from a boat, a distinct advantage. The fishing hasn't really changed, but the catch rate has increased considerably. The advent of new lures and equipment has improved success for anglers fishing from the bank as well. Savvy anglers, who study bass patterns, continue to catch nice fish, with or without the new gadgets.

FALL. Now that Fall has arrived, bass here are following schools of baitfish into coves and shallow bays where topwater, vibrating jigs, crankbaits, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits are catching most of the bass. Later in Fall, as deeper water cools, bait and bass move out to ledges, channel edges, points and humps where flutter spoons and jigs are often good choices.

WINTER. Winter will isolate them around slightly deeper structure, flats, points and creek channels. They can be found from 10 to 24 feet deep. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring.

SPRING. Once water temperatures rise into the low 60's, largemouth will move from the deep water, to shallows nearby spawning areas. Vibrating jigs, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits typically get bites just away from the shoreline. At this time they are feeding aggressively and preparing for the spawn. Once water warms into the mid to high 60's, they will move into 1 to 4 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. Crankbaits, vibrating jigs, plastic worms and swimbaits are catching 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 on topwater, crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Largemouth bass here feed on gizzard shad, threadfin shad, small sunfish and crawfish. During the hotter parts of the day, they are being caught on points, channel edges, and ledges 10 to 15 feet deep, even shallower in areas with heavy cover and shade.

Current Fishing Report: Fair To Good

Although forward-facing sonar and other high-tech fish finders were designed for bass fishing, many catfish anglers, who fish from a boat, are now using them to locate channel catfish. With this they are now catching more catfish, by focusing on productive water. The catch rate has increased considerably, and anglers are picking their targets to catch the bigger cats. New baits, line and rigging methods have also improved success for bank fishing enthusiasts. Savvy anglers, who study catfish life cycle and patterns, are still managing to catch nice fish, with or without these new tools.

FALL. Fall is one of the better times of year for catching channel catfish. Early in Fall they cruise the shallows, in search of food. Later, in the season they migrate away from the shallows and current, to moderately deeper holes in the main body of the lake. They remain in these areas and feed aggressively in preparation for Winter.

WINTER. In Winter, the channel cats gather in deep holes and go virtually dormant. They hole up in pockets from 15 to 24 feet deep and await warmer water. Slow presentations, especially cut bait, may still entice strikes while ice fishing, early and late in the day.

SPRING. In Spring, when water temperatures rise into the high 40's, channel catfish start their migration up to shallow water, often feeding around in-flowing water. They hold here, and feed aggressively, around relatively shallow cover until water warms into the mid 70's, at which time they begin the spawn process. Anglers are using slip sinkers, 3-way rigs, or Carolina rigs.

SUMMER. In Summer, they are scattering, locating cover in slightly cooler water. Reports indicate the most successful anglers are fishing 10 to 15 feet deep using nightcrawlers, cut bait or shrimp. Fishing from late in the day until midnight is producing some of the best results, as this is their prime feeding time.

Current Fishing Report: Good To Very Good

FALL. Baitfish, which are moving into shallow flats, coves and bays, are drawing crappie into these areas. Here they will feed heavily in preparation for the cold Winter. Small spoons, 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. Flutter spoons are ideal during this transition.

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 18 to 24 feet of water. Ice fishing can be good, especially during the middle of the day.

SPRING. In early Spring, crappie begin staging in 4 to 8 feet of water, just outside spawning bays and around shallow flats. Spring is prime time to be on the water, as crappie have moved shallow to spawn. During the spawn, they are typically caught in 2 to 4 feet of water. Docks, brush, wood and vegetation are where most anglers are catching good numbers using small crappie jigs or live minnows. After the spawn, crappie typically move outside the spawning area and hold on the closest cover. Once they move deeper, 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 warm, and crappie fishing is usually pretty good. Now that the spawn is over, and the hot Summer sun is warming the shallows, crappie have retreated to depths of 12 to 15 feet, or embedded in the shade of heavy vegetation. This is a good time to focus around deeper docks. Later in Summer, anglers are finding locating schools of crappie hanging over deeper structure and around creek channel edges.