Ohio’s renowned muskie population gets transfusion: NE Ohio fishing report

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Ohio has nine lakes that feature the mighty muskellunge, thanks to good populations of the game fish provided by the Kincaid and London state fish hatcheries that have raised 20,000 10-to-12-inch yearling muskies to maintain their excellent numbers.

Muskies grow quickly, and the toothy predators can attain lengths of up to 50 inches.

In Northeastern Ohio, lakes receiving the young muskies included Clearfork Reservoir, Lake Milton, Leesville Lake and West Branch Reservoir. Also stocked again will be Alum Creek Lake, C.J. Brown Reservoir, Caesar Creek Lake, Piedmont Lake and Salt Fork Lake. Pymatuning Lake, on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border, is also a top muskie reservoir.

Buddie competes in LEWT, Ireland Airline pilot and fishing tournament angler Ryan Buddie of Amherst will be competing with rod and reel around this world this week and next.

This weekend, Buddie will join a four-angler USA squad in the 15th World Championships of Predator Boat Fishing with Lures on the waters of Upper Lough Erne in Northern Ireland. The international three-day competition wraps up on Saturday and big fish, primarily pike, are expected to be the winning game fish.

Buddie's USA team includes John Hoyer, Max Wilson and Nick Schertz

Buddie and his partner in the Lake Erie Walleye Trail, custom home builder Jason Kopf of Avon Lake, are the Team of the Year leaders heading into the LEWT Championship on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 11-12. The LEWT boats will launch in downtown Sandusky, but the daily 3 p.m. weigh-ins will be held at Bay's Edge Bait & Tackle 5359 E. Bayshore Dr., Port Clinton.

Bay's Edge and the LEWT will also be hosting a fishing show that includes the Fall Brawl Sign-up Party on Saturday, Oct. 12 from 2-5 p.m.

"The big walleye have been in the Central Basin, but they're coming back west now that Lake Erie is cooling," Kopf said. "We're confident a lot of big walleye are migrating toward the usual fall areas, and we'll be scouting all of the prime waters."

Trout Club and steelhead flies The Cleveland Museum of Natural History Trout Club is having its first meeting of the season on Thursday, Oct. 10, at Gormley's Pub, 19500 Center Ridge Rd., Rocky River. Featured from 7-9 p.m. will be the Steelhead Fly Time program to help kick start the steelhead trout fishing in the Northeast Ohio rivers and streams.

Fly tiers should bring a vise and show anglers how to tie favorite steelhead fly patterns, or visit to watch how the creations are made. Experts will also discuss how to rig tackle and present flies for the best chance for success. The event is free and non-members are welcome.

Walleye, steelhead moving in As the temperatures cool off at night this time of year, the Lake Erie walleye and steelhead trout have been moving closer to the Ohio shore. Some trout are showing up in the lower stretches of the Northeast Ohio rivers and streams, but the waters are still too warm for them to stay.

The schools of walleye are continuing to slowly migrate west, and Cleveland area fishermen are doing best in 53 to 59 feet of water while trolling Dipsy Diver diving planers and spoons, reports Shine's Bait & Tackle in Cleveland. A few perch are biting off the Rocky River, but very few.

Off Lorain there's a good walleye bite going on three to four miles offshore in 48 to 52 feet of water, with fish suspending at about 30 feet. Trolling diving planers and spoons and weighted diving plugs has been productive, with some of the biggest walleye from Lorain to Huron falling for nightcrawler harnesses trolled low and slow.

The break walls in the Cleveland area have been good for shoreline anglers casting Little Cleo and KO Wobblers spoons for trout, as well has jig-maggot and jig-minnow rigs under a float and in-line spinners. The night walleye bite has yet to fire up.