Fishing Report July 7

This fishing report was compiled for the week of July 7, 2013

Editor’s note: One of the benefits of the odd spring-like rains we have experienced the last few weeks is higher than normal oxygen levels in the water. Along with the expansion of the thermocline, many lakes are reporting topwater action even in the middle of the day. If you see fish striking at the boat or following your lure as they come up, you should think about tying on a buzzbait, it just might surprise you.

Cave Run Lake: While the main lake fishing reports are indicating fair to slow activity for bass, those we received for the Licking River paint a different. Cave Run has had a lot of thunderstorms but the Licking River remains in good shape. Some areas are stained but it has produced some good catches this week. Musky: The muskie fishing was fair this week. As water temperatures break 80 degrees, more anglers will elect to fish at night or the low-light periods where water temperatures fall into the high 70s. Spinnerbaits, topwater, and bulldawg type baits remain productive. Largemouth Bass: Unchanged this week. More fish are moving to summer patterns. The best fishing has been early and late, using weightless worms, tub jigs, crankbaits and spinnerbaits, top-water in the low-light periods have also reported good success. White Bass: We will be doing a follow up as soon as more is known about the recent White Bass fish kills on this lake. Crappie: We are starting to get reports of moderate success from angler’s fishing under lights at night with live minnows at 18 to 25 feet. Catfish: Catfish have been active this week. Jug fishing and limb-lines both have reported good catches.

Grayson Lake: Spring like rains has made some upstream areas muddy. However, the main lake area remains clear. The lake is just over summer pool with water temperatures in the low 80s. Bass: The bass fishing is reported slow, with some fish being caught on Texas-rigged worms fishing points during the low-light periods early and late. We also had reports of some anglers fishing at night but they have had little success so far. Crappie: Fair to good, fishing swim jigs around down timber and brush piles. Crappie fishing is improving at night fishing under crappie lights with live bait. Catfish: Reported to be improving fishing spawning areas with nightcrawlers and minnows. Catfish are also spawning in the river.

Greenbo Lake: This lake is largely unchanged from last week. Bass: The bass have been reported to be in summer patterns. Many anglers are starting to fish this lake at night with Texas-rigged worms and jigs dressed with swim minnows. Trout: Fair, trout are showing up using live bait and small spinners in the heads of coves.  Catfish: Good, fishing very early and at midday.  Fish live bait, chubs, small bluegill and cut bait. Bluegill: We didn’t have any reports on the bluegill this week. If you had success write us and tell us how you did.

Ohio River: The river has been the most difficult to report about these last few weeks as conditions change rapidly on the water. July is usually one of the best periods for fishing the river ad we will try our best to stay on top of the ever-changing condition. Largemouth Bass: Active fishing small spinnerbaits and buzzbaits in the low-light periods. Below the Dam: Twin tail grubs on ¼ oz. ball jigs are still the best producers of Sauger and Walleye. Use slow bump the bottom retrieves. Running a two jig setup continues to produce better strikes. One of the two baits needs to be a little off the bottom. White Bass: Becoming active as they begin to chase shad. Continued reports of schooling fish are coming in.  Bass: Above the dam has been fair and improving this week. Use small buzzbaits fishing weeds and sandbar areas in the low-light periods. Catfish: Catfish have been active this week with reports of good catches in backwater areas using live bait.

Yatesville Lake: Reports continue improving this week. Bass have been moving to summer patterns, which has scattered fish, making them hard to pinpoint.  Bass: The big news on this lake this week has been the topwater action. We have received reports of good catches using ¼ oz buzzbaits even in the middle of the day! We also had reports of bass being caught on shakey head jigs with many bites coming as the bait was on the way up to the boat. Crappie: good. Fish the edges of flats in channel bends and old fish attractors using 32 oz. white crappie jigs or live bait. Bluegill: The bluegill have spawned for the second time this year, some good catches were reported last week using nightclawers and crickets. Look for hard bottom areas in water about 8 to 10 feet. Catfish: The catfish have really been active this week. We got reports of good catches on both live bait and small spinnerbaits fishing coves with standing timber along with fishing flats with live bait. Fish just off the bottom.

Reports and pictures of your catch can be submitted to: trimmer308@windstream.net