They’re really red-eared sunfish (look close and you’ll see why), but the locals down South call them ‘shellcrackers’. They get big, and they’re fun to catch. (Press Pros File Photos)
Prompted by mail sent to Press Pros about past fishing posts, I’ll try to answer a few of the best and most c9mmon questions about where to fish in the Buckeye state.
By Ray Reilly for Press Pros
If you’re a daily reader of Press Pros you’ve probably seen the page devoted to readers’ comments on posts about all the other sports.
So I was curious, and contacted publisher Sonny Fulks recently to ask…does anyone ever write about the outdoors posts? And if they did, why aren’t they part of the ‘Reader Speaks’ page?
Well, he assured me that people do write, and forwarded some of those questions to me. But he also suggested…why not do your own post about FAQs on fishing, since spring and summer are the most prevalent months for most people to go to the ponds and lakes.
You may not catch a record breaker, but Smallmouth fishing in waters like Greenville Creek and the Stillwater River are as much fun as you can have.
So that’s what we’re doing this time, with appreciation for those who write, and I’ve selected some of the ones most common from those who fish in Ohio.
Starting with…
“Is Ohio a good place to fish to start with?” … Ray Evans
Ray, I would begin this way. There’s a lot of variety with Ohio fishing, from perch and walleye in Lake Erie, to lakes like Grand Lake, Loramie, Salt Fork, and Vesuvius, all about which I’ve previously written. And then, of course, I think Ohio is 9ne of the best for small farm ponds if you’re seeking bass and healthy bluegills. My biggest issue with the lakes is the competition, and when you go. If you go during the 4th of July weekend the fishing is going to be miserable, so you have to pick your times and spots. Go when you have the water to yourself, and take the time to fish the out-of-the-way places.
And I’ll add, that one of the best places that I fished last year was Greenville Falls, in Miami County, and near the home office. I had a great couple of hours catching smallmouth bass. No record breakers, mind you, but a lot of action, and I nearly had the place to myself.
“What’s the best way to have a successful experience fishing Lake Erie?” … Bob Levering
Get the right hookup with boat and captain and it’s not hard to have a good day on Lake Erie.
Bob, in my experience it’s always about the time of year, and who you charter with. Always go with a recommended boat and captain who knows how to navigate the obstacles and put you on fish. In my own experience, I’ve had the best days late in the year, for both walleye and perch, and smallmouth bass. But if you’re going for the first time, make sure you ask around and get ‘that’ guy who can make it a day to remember.
“Do you fish tournaments?” … Steve
Never have, and probably never will. I’m not against them, but it doesn’t fit my personality. I’m not the competitive type, and I like to figure out why I’m not catching fish sometimes…as much as I like catching fish. To me fishing is a pleasurable experience, and competition fishing is just too much stress…and expensive if you do it right. The only boat I own has oars!
“Where have you had the most luck catching bigger bass?” … Thomas Moulter
Thomas, my first impulse is to suggest mature farm pounds that are a couple of acres in size. The problem is that there aren’t many that big, and the other issue is people that have them are pretty selective about who they let fish. Of the public lakes in Ohio, I think I’ve had as much luck at Vesuvius, outside of Ironton, as any of the other, more well-known lakes. Put it this way. I’ve caught more bass five pounds and bigger at Vesuvius than at Salt Fork, which has some big fish. My biggest, all-time, is just under ten pounds, and still on my bucket list.
“Bluegill or crappie?” … Dale Smith
LOL, Dale and I have had some good times catching both, but if I had to pick one I’d pick bluegills in the ten-inch-or-bigger category. Crappies at the right time of year are great, but bluegills are more aggressive, fight harder, and on light gear are as much fun as a five-pound largemouth. If you can find some bigger ones (what they call shellcrackers, or sunfish), even better. The best fishing I’ve ever had was on the Ludowici River in Georgia, which is public, where it’s not uncommon to catch twelve to fifteen-inch ‘Crackers (red-ear sunfish). Also the best shore lunch I’ve ever had.
“If you could have one bait in your tackle box, what would it be?” … Lee Detwiler
Really hard, and everyone has their own favorite. It depends, however, on what fish you’re after, and I’d say some kind of jig combination that’s good for both bluegill and crappie. For bigger fishing, I’ve lost a lot of plastic worms and crank baits over the years…because they work.
Thanks for the questions, and ’til next time…I’ve enjoyed it.
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