Fishing report
MARION RESERVOIR
CHANNEL CAT: good, 12 inches and larger catfish have been caught around the feeder in Cottonwood Cove using dip baits and liver. Don't overlook the chum hole; catfish are being caught on stink bait as well.
WHITE CRAPPIE: fair, up to 15 inches. Look for crappie over deep brush. Try using jigs or roadrunners. Live minnows have been working as well.
WALLEYE: fair to good, 15 to 18 inches. Walleye fishing has slowed down with the hot weather. Trolling crank baits, drifting nightcrawlers, and casting sassy shad have been working well on main lake points, flats, and submerged structure (road beds and homesteads). Remember to measure your catch, all walleye less than 18" must be released.
WHITE BASS: fair to good, up to 2 pounds. Try using crank baits or anything that resembles a minnow on main lake points. Make sure you can identify your catch.
WIPERS: fair to good, up to 8 pounds. Wipers continue to be caught in large numbers using crank baits, sassy shad, and spoons. Some nice wipers are also being caught on minnows.
General Comments: Remember the 18 inches minimum length limit on walleye. Fish feeders are in the lake and are attracting catfish and carp. These feeders are located in Hillsboro and Cottonwood Coves.
MARION COUNTY LAKE
CHANNEL CATFISH: good 13 to 18 inches. Fishing for catfish has slowed down with the hot weather. The best time to fish is at night on the points using prepared baits and liver.
WHITE CRAPPIE: fair, 5 to 13 inches. Crappie have been caught using jigs around docks. Don't overlook the many brush piles in the lake using a roadrunner.
LARGEMOUTH BASS: good, 8 to 16 inches. Largemouth bass are very active and can be caught on spinner baits and floating worms. Keep an eye out for breaking fish and try top water lures.
SAUGEYE: fair, up to 18 inches. A few saugeye were caught this spring and hopefully will continue to get better. Several thousand saugeye were stocked this spring and should be about 8 to 10 inches by this fall.
WIPERS: good, 1 to 5 pounds. Lake-wide using crank baits. Also, look for breaking fish early and late in the day. Try using top water lures like a Zara Spook.
GENERAL COMMETNS: lake level is at normal pool. Water temperature is 82 degrees.
