The fishing has picked up with the warmer weather, the WB are (or were) running in Buck Creek on the N end of the reservoir. The 2cnd set of posts (#25)  nearest to the old N boat ramp are producing some very nice WB and crappies and several cats as well. The Crabill House beach hosted 6 boats at one time today (#8A and B) , apparently poking around the edges and mass of the graveyard just off shore, several were possibly tied off together, perhaps playing cards. Crappie City (#12) produced afew crappie and a nice smallmouth. The `Burbs (#14) was smoking as well, producing at least 17 crappies over 12" and one WB over 17", courtesy of Jason and the Sugar Shackers who helpped sink over 300+ of the forrest littering select parts of CJ. The Handicap Fishing area was only handicapped by a shortage of Bass and Crappie minnows as the crew there just kept catching them; one gentleman came in to get his second 4 dozen minnows after getting laughed at offering 3.00 a dozen to anyone willing to sell some. He seemed concerned someone might take his spot!! He did buy a bag of ice for his 20+ keepers the biggest was a 15' WB, the 13 crappies all topped 11+"- he said he doesn`t keep "small ones". That`s the spirit. And also another large wallyeye was caught just inside the mouth of the Marina this morning on a smoke with fleck twister by Intimidator, his 12th of the year, 5? of which were taken in or just outside of the same. Well done, Brent. Lastly, thank you to the two gentlemen in the extreme SW corner of the Marina for 4 hrs, a study of how to fish the deep side of the brush blocks- wasn`t super, just steady. 25 keepers. Very good show, old boys! An inspiration to all of us watching: as far as  saw, the deadly duo missed almost no bites. Hope to see you catching a few yourself.

"Of meek things on swings the hinges of fate"; unfortunately for us seems ongoing, if anyone`s in good standing with any Higher Powers in as politically and ethically korrect method possible humblely ask for said supernateral and/or "Divine" intervention on the part of us vs the fish, with somewhere the same meek results Patton ask for (and GOT, in spades), we should perchance throw back those under 10" and most of the 11". OK, HALF the 12" Good Luck and tight lines!

OK, maybe a little premature with the title but heart felt to be sure. Rumor has it an honest 10+ lb wallygator was taken Sat. early morn, was weighted in at Bird House, multiple witnesses including Marty confirned solid above 10. ODNR netting disc have from Debby Walters implys 10+ lb fish as a ratio of total of netted wallyeye  was better than 1 in 9 ?  Fairlly good chance of 8lber would like to think.  So, down to it...please feel free to spill yer guts (perhaps figureatively) ANY BODY do any good at CJ?  (Had to stay home and do due "honey do" stuff.) Am probably suffering withdrawl, casting arm seems to have an involuntary cast flick-like tick, and am having momentary subbliminal images of hoisted 14" crappies shaking off minnows from  twin glow in the dark 1/16th  snagless jigs `bout 12" apart; a REAL double header and yes actually did that once last year on top of #12, "Crappie City" . Help a fellow addict out here!

Watched over 200+ crappies caught today in and just outside Marina, will admit 4/5ths were smallish males taken 2-7` deep; most of larger females 11" and bigger (up to 15.5") taken below 8`- `bout 12` fow, those deadly snagless 1/16th oz black-dark greenish jigs and smoke with flecks doing serious execution to the stouter finned female crappies. Several of the larger females were spilling their eggs and incidently tommorow is the full moon. Keeping in mind generally a prespawn crappie will almost always rise to a bait but will but seldom dive to a deeper offering ; this is where believe tiniest bobber rigged as a slip bobber set to 10+` with longer shank preferably glo orangeish jigs with an eye hooked large female fathead (or a small shiner hooked thru the upper lip) and 12-14" below a twin size and color jig WITH...a small leach. Yes, have heard it before, again, this has tempted a couple of completely unexpected wallyeyes over the years to save a couple of crappies` lives that day by valiently inhauling the afore mentioned jig rig before they could, like she would kindly let them. Twice with very similar rigs have hooked 10" crappies deep and recovered them with twin gashes 4" apart diagonally on both sides while reeling them in off #15A. The wallyeye fingerlings they stock annually are HEAVILY preyed on by mostly white bass and crappies are very deadly to juvenile wallyeyes, they can consume more than half of the fingerlings their first year. It is of course a fish eat fish underwater world down there, and yup, your`e right the few survivors return the favor with gusto as those spices each spawn themselves, preoccupied. One last thing about the rig; if properly rigged, this will sink if a smallish crappie or bluegill breathes on it. Good Luck and let us know how you do. And do please be safe.

Stand corrected, former 10 lb 3 oz  known to haunt the NW corner of the Camper`s Point was taken on an Erie Deary with 1/2 of your garden variety canadian? night crawler. Further inquireies were meet with "What Fish?"Thank you Lord with the rich endoulmemt and even perhaps over stocking sometimes of hysterically funny "associates" one meets in baitshops. And  too along the shores and waterways this nation and region is blessed with. Am sure will be very busy; help host kid`s fishing program 10AM to `bout noon; am hoping for a pack of small crappies and or white bass, The  light`s shadow  was producing some 12' white bass just before sundown, 45 minutes prior a 15" wallyeye was caught casting a Rebal type shallow diving lure just past and barely on the deep edge of the set Smost riprap 3rd cast didn`t come back alone saw the swirl and thought decent bass, saw the seductive glint of her eye and ran to offer to clean the fish. Guy laughed and gently tossed  would have been supper back in. Probably doesn`t know what wallyeye costs a lb WHEN you can find it. Am hoping afew of you all outthere post (modestly, of course) upon any significant sucess at CJ Brown. Thanks, and please if yall boat please wear your personal floatation device- they are called LIFE PRESERVERS for a simple reason. And many persons have drowned with a PFD in their hands instead of ON them, doing it`s simple job. Nice choise of colors too. Eye catching. Forgive me , former USN aviation LIFE support technition 7+ yrs. Put it on and bring  `um back alive!

Perhaps more accurately "And  so on and on..." informal permission has unoffically been given to commense "Lake Erie South 2+, will start meeting after 9pm CJ Brown Marina by the fuel dock every Sat night will invite general public  to help if willing; the dozen or so current Friends are already drooling over 1964 original Army Corps of Engineer maps of the then  to be submerged  real estate that has been littered  sparsely,  to be generous. Most will be dried cedar shrubs and/ or cedar limbs on heavy 12" block castable from shore, on top of the 7/8ths of Debby Walters` "drop in the bucket" (proportional to the overall size and depth of the lake) this would be closer to 1.5 drops in said same bucket, figureatly figgerin` that is. . The Friends will jostle together starting in June Sat nights 9PMish to begin our seemingly less than socially upper class gatherings  to politely and courteously exchange ideas publiclly with good will to all (while slyly failling to mention one particular location just awaiting the peaceful quiet tranquility and stunning beauty of a just risen full moon  to be lustily  shattered, unloaded upon with the subtulty and stealth  of a pre Normandy squadron of B-26 Mauraders all  dropping together at once at meduim altitude  ( or depth, depending on your particular point of view) Assuming a further extension is granted OFFICIALLY  would finish by Oct 31. Assembly is the choke point. Still hoping to have Boy Scouts earn Merit badges both building and fishing them.  It is a chance to post more #`s and hopefully get to fish "afew" of them soon. Hope you do too.  Forgive me, but a famous line from a movie comes to mind..."Who is more foolish? A fool, or the fool who follows him?"  Hmm. And look what happened there!  Remember please, wear the PFD on a watercraft. Respectfully, the Friends of CJ Brown Reservoir.

No one fishes CJ? Have trouble believing that. Too bold, doing 1,000?  Nah!

"...with or without you..." Bono, and a group called U2. We will delay posting GPS`s untill we are done. Respectfully, The Friends of CJ Brown Reservoir

19" crappie off of #16 (Handicap Platform) set of 8 supers 40` W of platform - old sign post- in 12 fow. Now THAT is a crappie! 15" off #11C (E end of Main Boat Ramp breakwater) Sat Memorial wkend slip bobber 14` deep. Good luck!

We will attempt to place 100 more cedar brush blocks into Marina CJ 3rd weekend of July, and possibly some more in cove N of Marina. The Friends of CJ Brown Reservoir.

Still awaiting official permission to begin operations again, should know tommorow. A friend was upon the waters of CJ today, he and a buddy were checking out a side scan sonar the boat owner just bought and installed. According to him, the difference is night versus day; he said "I could SEE my 1/16th oz jig down in the cover!"" They started around the Main boat ramp, hitting #12, #13, and #14, then the #11 series, then down to #10. Said saw fish all over the cover, but no takers, and only afew hits. They then looked at the W retaining wall of the dam- pretty much barren; they then turned N following the shore, and again marked all kinds of fish on the #9 series- the greatest concentration was in mouth of the emergency spillway in 10-20 fow. They promply threw everything they had at their disposal at the fish and finally got a small bass. Further N in front of Crabill House- #8A and B they marked even more fish than before! And again, no solid bites. The fish are obviously using? holding on them, and between the 2 of them they SHOULD have swamped the boat with fish. Brent has limited out using snagless jigs in and around the Marina more than a couple of times, by rights it should have been a slaughter. Any thoughts? suggestions?

We are preparing to do the "+" part of "Lake Erie South 2" we ware asking for volunteers and materials- unpainted new and used cement blocks, and whole cut cedar and taccis? trees and shrubs. We have the steel cable and clamps coverd. The cedar trees and shrubs will last 2-3X longer than the best "C" tree, and generally are denser too. If there are any local (Springfield Ohio area ) tree service persons here we need 350+ of them, all we can promise in return is a detailed map of where we sink them- C and S Tree service helped us last yr. Help us just to get the material and by next spring will confidently promise the fishing will be outstanding, particularly the Crappie spawn. It will be a slaughter, to be precise. Thank you to all those who have already helped and to those willing to help us finish this. Contact me at FLAKBAIT1960@Aol.com. Respectfully, the Friends of CJ Brown Reservoir

Fished SW corner Baitshop shadow line with spouse caught 5 -9" crappies, all she got was 1 4+lb flathead that all but snapped her line and then a 7+lb carp that bent her hook straight as netted it for her; she insisted we were going for tonnage,not numbers that time. OK. 3 boats out on #18 series when arrived 11:30ish, middle boat saw lights on and came in for more bass minnows and leeches, they had 14 11" or better crappies, they said 3 locals in furthest boat were locals whom when asked replied in 3hrs had caught 78 crappies, kept 65 over 11+". upon expressing some reasonable doubt they were shown a livewell busting at the seams with "crappies that made ours look small"; they were also told "why, no, we have plenty of bait" and "we ain`t moving off#18C (or D) for the next week or so" and "find your own honey hole with BB`s at 17-22 fow next to a spring with heavily oxygenated 56 degree water flowing all year long" All 3 boats were STILL there when we left at 3:30ish AM. Also, walleye tourney today, rumor has it several 7lb fish off #19 and 19A (NW corner Camper`s Point and along southern stretch of former Buck Creek Lane roarbed, bottom bouncers and weight forward spinner worm harnesses , couple on slip bobbers with twin jigs leech on bottom 12" belowminnow. Surprizingly several bigger crappies also fell for same tactics, 16+ fow. Please WEAR your PFD

Just spoke with ODNR- we are a "GO" to start "+" part ASAP, we will need help and materials...

Aug 7 and 8th E end of Marina 8AMwill "splash first 50? Stop on down if you can.

We are a"GO" for tommorow- hoping an army AND a forest of cedars show up...

So much for the army of 3- 120 more blocks are now in the park; no cedars showed up BUT had a call from Lawn Masters stating they WILL provide cedars yew and tactis shrubs as they get them; they are 2 miles from the lane. Looking more and more like we WILL pull a cedar forest out of an empty hat with no top. The words of Winston Churchill of RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain again come to mind. Thank you Steve and Fritz, you are made of stout stuff, sirs. Will begin to move the cedars into the lane Monday.

Heard from a guide for an Adventurers troop, they are looking for a field project into fall, he suggested putting a demo togethre and enlisting their aide assembling some of the cedars and helping to load them for placement in the Marina, earning credits. More than willing; hope they fish! Using cedar shrubs and small trees, they will still be producing fish when these kids graduate collage. Just hope we are ready with the cedars when they come in numbers...

Scouted W boundary of Park, many young cedars on RR right of way owned by Corps 200+ of them. Hmm.

A gentleman named Matt has had "some" luck on the previous drops, apparently he thinks "more" should be placed in various spots in lake. Matt works foe and/ or runs? Lawn Masters on Old Columbus Rd, he is making any cedar, yew, and tactis? trees and/ or shrubs available to us as they come into the mulching yard behind the CalArk terminal just N of the RR tracks heading towards CJ. He is having his crew cut off the root balls to facilitate loading and assembling them in the lane just N of the Maint area in the Park. Hope to begin "splashing them in Marina within 10 days. 3 loads already there.

Fritz and Steve and me assembled 10 cedar attractors today, we will try to sink 20 in E end of Marina Thursday `bout 5PMish.

Got 2 more loads in, assemled 8 more, won`t be able to sink them Thurs, will work on assembling them for now. Cables, clamps and tools are in lane. Will try to sink any assembled before Sept 1. S L O W G O I N G.

We are pleased to be graced by the presence of the Sugar Shackers a.k.a. "5 Star" and co once again. we will be splashing any we have assembled Mon afternoon, and hopefully next Friday BOTH. (And of course, looting a couple of the prior placements.

Steve, Fritz and self will be haulling in more tactis? tommorow. Sugar Shackers were delayed, hopefully Friday.

Lowell, did you see my post on the fishing tournament at indian Lake on Oct. 9th. You are welcome to join us. let me know.

FFish, am gratefull for the invitation, alas, (literally!) am requiered to pretend to work on afore mentioned date, however, if may, do allow us to invite any and/ or all whom in any of adozen(or more) different ways assisted in the escapades so far, it is to be at 1PMish Sept 18th in the Visiter`s Center lower parking lot shelter house, unless we`re all out fishing. The general public is also invited, but do please bring a covered dish, ect. Adult supervision will be provided, unless they`re out fishing too. Bring a fishing pole  and BAIT if not a covered dish. If everyone`s out fishing, help yourself. Thank You to all who have helped get the project this far. Respectfully. the "Friends of CJ Brown Reservoir"

Assembled another 10. Slow going.

9 more assembled- thank you Fritz. More nice BIG shrubs at Lawn Masters terminal- thank you Matt and co. Looking forward to seeing some of the crew who helped do this increadible feat over the last 2 yrs tommorow at Visiter`s Center lower parking lot shelter house at 1PM. The public is invited, but please bring a covered dish/ pop/ chips, ect.

Another load of cedar in the lane. Had a good turn out for the get together; 16 turned up. We were priviledged to hear some high praise from the Park Manager and others as a group. We will try to finish by Nov. 1rst. Thank you to those whom helped. CJ Tackle donated close to $100 worth of prizes to be split up to those present. As a group we are awaiting the Spring walleye netting results and crappie spawn; THEY will tell the tale more so than any thing else. We shall see...all will KNOW the POWER of the DARK (deeper) SIDE of the FISH ATTRACTORS......(evil laughter sound effect here)

50 more assembled in lane, the "few" are down to 4...waiting to hear if deadline will be extended.

Got out today with son and his girlfriend, fished off #11C, 3 bites, 1  8" crappie, fished in shadow line from brakewater, 10- 15 mph wind out of W made things interesting. caught `em on an orange floating head jig 8- 10" off bottom, was hoping the tooth fairy might soon be there... better luck next time. Tight lines, not lips...

A good friend reports 18.5" smallmouth taken off #11A, well done Intimidator!! And NO, he ain`t a tail folder! He`s making us PROUD! (And maybe a little- hellL, ALOT jealous!!!)

Anyone fish the bass tourney at CJ today? Would love to hear how anyone did...

Back to the lane tommorow, will try to sink somemore Wed, will pass 700+...

Lake Erie! I was there summer before last, went through the Trent and over to the Georgian Bay. Tied up in Sandusky, weather was not good for fishing, but I did finaly get some pikes. It was my first trip there and I hope to return some day!

A long, long time ( a couple of decades ) ago, was serving in the "play army" upon said general area and was very gratefull to be in that specific  fishing locale. Prior to the Nat`l Guard being obviously desperate, had done 7 1/2 yrs active USN, had honestly seen some bad weather out at sea(ok, big nuke carrier), saw several GIANT tooth fairies in the Camp Perry Ohio breakwater rocks, several with fresh lures ("jaw jewelry") still dangling. Did go charter fishing;  To all my former fellow deep water sailors must confess, THAT body of water is weather temperMENTAL, with emphisis on MENTAL! On the outer reefs we saw a rock sticking 4-6 feet at least half the time we were there that was normally 5 fow, snagged several times, 5 of us (several involuntarily chumming, luckily overboard ) and we CAUGHT some LARGE wally gators- biggest 9.1, best could personally do was a nice stout 6.7, was delicous!  Pretty sure we took a limit (at that time) or very close to it, cut the anchor line to leave. Great trip, and yes, Definately still the walleye capital of the world! Still, somday want to catch a zander- european walleye realitive goes 65+ish lbs, bigger ones fished for with Kevlar or light steel wire lines...

"Splash"  52! Repeat , "splash "52 (more)!  Thank you to the Sugar Shackers, Steve, Fritz, and to the Intimidator, James and Rose. More later.

You guys keep up the good work Lowell.

Thank you, sir. Hopefully you will get to loot afew this winter, or spring at latest. With the full moon tonight wanted to try them, but have to be "good", have some "honey do" stuff to do in AM. Shortly will meet with Debra Walters to negotiate for approval to "splash" 300 more on 12 more "bonus points" targets... this coming Spring should see a wholesale slaughter the likes of which haven`t been seen at CJ in years...try to join us if you can...this will be GOOD11

Rough proposal of targets for the last 300 to go into "Lake Erie South"...#1A- 1 set of 10 double blocked trees on S end of channel current riprap just S of mouth of creek. 10 total. #2A  2 sets of 10 ea both ditch rows of old RR just S of #2. 30 total so far. 20 ( 4 sets X 5 trees 2 on each side) N to S levy starting between #21 and #22.  50 total. 10 trees on/ in 2cnd set of old cedar posts E of Camper`s Beach; double blocked (windward shore) 60 total. 10 trees on/ in Eastern most set of old cedar posts below cabins; double blocked (windward shore) 70 total. 3 sets trees X 10 each  on W end of #18 series  100 total. 20 in 2 sets (10 each) inside opposite corners of old barn foundation off old Buck Creek Lane. 120 total. 30 in 3 sets (10 each) on W end of #18 series. 150 total. 20 in 1 set on/ in / around old gravel pit/ spring area. 170 total. 30 in 3 sets; 10 on #16D infront of E sign post by Handicapped Platform shallow to deep, 1 set of 10 40-50` directly N of platform, and 3rd set of 10 40-50` W of W sign post from Platform. 180 total. 10 in "wash out" hole approx. 110- 120 ` from tip of Marina S breakwater. 190 total. 20 in 1 set shallow to deep in "bass cove" just E from Main Boat Ramp; set will run towards #12 ("Crappie City"). 210 total. WOULD LOVE to put 10 cedars infront of S "Forbidden Zone" sign on S retaining wall, but so far answer is"NO!! NO!! NO!!"  Would be a winner, am sure! Oh well! 20 in 2 sets X 10 each NW shore of Visiter`s Center lower parking lot turn around, shallow to deep. 230 total. 30 in 6 sets X5 each, on N and S shore of Emergency Spillway. 260 total so far. Any ideas on alternative placement are as always welcome. Will meet with Corps, ODNR early Dec to discuss these sites. If you fish CJ Brown, this is your chance to have imput where we`re gonna put the last 300. This chance  may not come again for a while. KEEP  IN MIND- we are REQUIRED to GPS and turn in positions to Corps, ODNR and Park Office. Thank you. Respectfully, The Friends of CJ Brown Reservoir.

Several walleyes caught tip of Marina S breakwater duskish, jigs and twisters, on or very close to #15A. Good Luck!

Several walleyes caught tip of Marina S breakwater duskish, jigs and twisters, on or very close to #15A. Good Luck!

Reports of 100+ day Thursday (40 keepers) by a very reliable source, today only 50+, 25 keepers all from below 15 fow, small bluegill pattern soft bodies on jigs. Waiting on a MASSIVE shad kill to begin soon...

Reports of 100+ day Thursday (40 keepers) by a very reliable source, today only 50+, 25 keepers all from below 15 fow, small bluegill pattern soft bodies on jigs. Waiting on a MASSIVE shad kill to begin soon...

GPS coordinates for cover in CJ Brown Marina, ALL are in N 39 57*** W 083 43*** area, starting with inside N breakwater closest to cement wall; N437 W 310; N 426 W 303; N415 W 310; from last inside turn S breakwater N394 W 354; N 386 W356; N 376 W358; N 366 W 360; N 356 W 362: N 353 W348; in front of Baitshop closest to fuel pier N358 W312; N356 W 314; N 354 W315; just off boat ramp wall, N346 W234; SE corner of Marina N 346 W 282; NE corner of Marina, N 400 W 181. Good luck and if you do any good let us know!

I might have to purchase a GPS devise. LOL

PM me and will send you a map. Did you check out Ohio Game Fishing- "CJ Brown  water temps"? Brent WALKED back to Crabill House and DID IT again!! Hope he DON`T take up ice fishing, there won`t be any fish left come spring...we`ve created a FISHENSTEIN! He`s GOOD to say the least...you got to read that stuff! Culling 10.5" crappie this time of yr...

Lowell I got on the ohio game fish site. I am new to it. I was on the forums, but could not locate the post you were talking about. I am sure I just missed it or was looking in the wrong place. Could you give me some direction where it is on the forums or is it somewhere else on there.

FFFisch, www. ohio game fishing. com >regional fishing reports (top of right hand column)> Sout west ohio> CJ Brown water temps, would suggest page #33- 35! you are likely going to be somewhat impressed, would think...and YES, if didn`t personally KNOW these guys, would be very doubtful myself. Hope you get to meet Brent aka "the Intimidator", think you will find he TENDS to understate his results- he would tell you RMS "TITANIC" had some paint scraped by some ice cubes; yes it did, and a WHOLE lot more! Hold onto your seat; and literally, this is just the BEGINNING of the show to come...

Forgive the double dipping, here`s 1 more that MAY be of interest; www. crappie.com> state forums> ohio> "To the Intimidator" and of course "Lake Erie South 2", the last couple of pages of each, if you are interested. Good luck and enjoy!

OK I will check them out. Thanks.

Any sucess, FFFisch? Went out by #10 today, saw someone catch a fish from a boat there, had traffic behind us, couldn`t slow down to get a good look, wasn`t a crappie or `gill, threw some water; would have liked to have known what it was.

Yep! I found the thread. That is some impressive fishing down there. I am hoping to get down there to ice fish this winter. Got to get this knee fixed first. Getting a MRI done next Tuesday on it.

Hope to see you soon, will enjoy meeting you, sir. Tell Mr Bill he is welcome too; if you want to fax him (or anyone else). a copy of the map, please do. Would FAX but don`t know how; since can barely chicken peck and have melted down? froze up, and otherwise inflicted electro- mechanical mayhem and/ or death on our last computer am not allowed to "play" with this one.(Other wise am "banished for life") Good luck with the knee!

Thanks Lowell I appreciate the map. You will have tp post the ice conditions on CJ when we get to that point. I hope they have my knee better by then. I am having an MRI done on Tuesday. Hopefully they just need to trim off some tattered cartilage and I will be good to go. I don't know if you ever met member named River. He lives in Dayton and is big into ice fishing. I sure he would love to come along as well.

Haven`t had the pleasure, but River is more than welcome to come on along, wouldn`t mind doing an "ice fishing- a -thon" for a couple of hrs, with all the cover just in and around the Marina (17 seperate sets) am CERTAIN several at a time should hold some fish; my best bet would be #15A, hands down, then #16...we could post and invite whom ever`s up to going on out, short of a blizzard or "whiteout" . Let me know when, we`ll post a couple of days prior.

Lowell the map came in the mail yesterday. Thanks again. Ok that sounds good on the ice fishing outing. Alot depends on Mother nature to give us safe ice. When she provides that for us we will get things set up. Sounds like a fun day.

Sir, you can BET that won`t go out on UNSAFE ice, and won`t go out on safe ice without the proper safety gear, weather permitting think we SHOULD be able to find fish and get "afew" keepers into a bucket; there any number of good spots within EASY walking distance in and around the Marina, as well as atleast 10 other spots around the lake, would think we won`t have too hard a time finding some willing biters...

Brent aka the "Intimidator" of OGF fame apparently got 3 MORE walleyes, w dam face, several crappies...woul hope there are afew fish left for ice fishing season! Way to go, Brent! #30- 32 for the year. TASTY!

Brent sounds like he is a pretty dedicated fisherman. Which is why he does so well. He has paid his dues so to speak, so he gets to benefit from that with fsihing success.

FFisch, Al Linder he AIN`T (yet), but he`s working on it! Luckily he don`t ice fish, or there just wouldn`t be any fish LEFT in CJ! Will admit, have watched him catch 35+ crappies in 1 hr during the spring spawn; mostly a jig fisherman...think you`d like him.

Sounds like we have alot in common. I got called into work at 2 am this thanksgiving day, much thanks to about 2 inches of rain flooding me here at the wastewater plant. have a very Happy Thanksgiving Lowell.

And to you and yours, sir! Look on the bright side?, holiday pay?! Used to work for a septic tank company; many times in the spring we doubled as a basement dewatering service during heavy rainstorms...also made the tanks and helped install them...

Hope you outside my home are in your own, warm, safe and enjoying a good meal with family and friends; was blessed to do so myself. ( Especially the food part.) Happy holidays to come and hard enough water to be SAFELY out upon....anyone else patiently awaiting a some what generous decline in the area`s bulgoning shad population? Count me in on that one...

howdy lowell, i had a good day with the wife and the eating wasn't to bad....for i was able to have some eats.
i see i can come on this site to give you and fffisch a hard time as well as on the chapter site......lol
yes i too is waiting fer the hard water ta form.....so for the mean time i'll go and wet a line fer a few steelies when ever i can

I think we about the only 3 or 4 with turnip that use the sites much. Don't know what happened to everybody else. You all have a good weekend.

Am sure there is a variable "silent majority" from all the views, and to all those, forgive me, don`t want to personally seem... eh, well.. "longwinded", although am/ are guilty as charged, just LOVE the sport and "fisheries improvement" and/ or "littering enmass with permission"....and imagine as the weather cools substantually more will post, if may suggest, CTom of "crappie. com" has a thread called "3 Principles of icefishing" that are rather simple that are applicible to all year; VERY well spoken. Was impressed, yet very basic...reread several times and enjoyed alot! Will try to apply more methodically this yr ahead...

i believe we are having allot of people that are facing some sort of a crisis. i just know that if i was closer to my folks-- where they live-- then i think i would be doing so many things for them that i wouldn't have much time to be on here either. so i must remember that the good LORD is in charge and to be giving HIM the many thanks that are deserved. plus remember to be humble to those that are helping and mean what they say when they will pray for us.

now as for hitting the water, i think i'll go and wet a line for a few steelies in this afternoon sun shine and then make some plans on going after a few gills and crappy tomorrow.

Is anyone seeing Shad die offs anywhere yet? Let us know, please post if you see this occuring! And Good Luck Mr Bill! Go easy on the shoulder, ok? And will have maps in the mail tommorow.

Only from the crappies and Bass eating them. There will be some die off during the winter. Are you looking to collect some bait when they do. I knew a guy who keep a zip lock bag with them in and would dip his bait into the juice it formed as an attractant. I tried it and it seemed to work.

lowel, as long as i don't slip and fall i think i will be alright. nope i haven't seen any die offs yet, but the minnows sure are balling up in really tight schools.

i kind of did the same thing years ago with steelhead eggs. i would dip my baits i used for catching steelies

Have used fresh dead and dying shad as bait, but have to confess never used a lure dipped in shad "juice"; seems like it would work... might try it. By the way, if you look in Webster`s dictonary under "fishy" why, there`s a picture of ...a SHAD! Imagine that!

My ice fishing may get messed up this year. My MRI came back. There is a tear in a ligament, a tear in a tendon, some cartilage issues, some sort of sprain and a cyst filled with fluid. have to go see a surgeon. Major BUMMER!!!!

FFisch, they haven`t found a cure for gettin` older, but they`re working hard on everything else; do what you must and get healed up; there will be time to get back on out there.... just do us (and YOU!) a favor and DO what Doc tells you to do. We`ll leave a fish or 2...by the way, several persons were upon CJ Sat? and again did ok, not as well as previously, but 35 fish in 3 hrs from a rocking boat ain`t TOO bad!

I am just hoping to get this taken care of by the end of the year. Insurance deductibles start over in January. Still waiting for an appointment to be set up with the knee doc. Don't know why I can't call and make the appointment myself instead of the doc 's office having to make my appointment. Toooo much red tape in this country.

Forgive my second guessing, but probably involves the doc being able to squeeze in as many rounds of golf before @$$ deep snow as possible and / or as many Holiday parties as possible. That and due to the economy they are trying to keep as many paper shufflers employed as possible, at least untill expenses finally force them to go soley computerized. (You aren`t a doctor or paper shuffler, are you? NO offence intended!) Anyway, for now sir, just go with the flow...Have had some good news, we are going to meet with Debra Walters of ODNR sometime next week to make our pitch for placing our last 300 next spring in CJ Brown. Hopefully, she will go for it....1,000 total.

either way and what ever is their delay....good luck to ya ffisch.
try to give them a bit of a push. if ya have a good doc. he should be willing ta work with ya and have an understanding for yer push.

They got me an appointment with the knee doc. I see him at 2:30 this afternoon. See what happens!

hope you got a good doctor! my buddy got 2 knees after 2 clean outs & 1 aint right yet been 3 months. dont worry though they are pretty good@ orthoscopic surgery. all else fails get some duct tape. get well soon larry

My Grand mother had there knees replaced, 10 yrs ago? She had more problem with her left one, but only for about 3 monthes. Now, she don`t do ball room dancing, but last summer she got up from where she was sitting and kicked a stray ball back to her great- great grandkids who were playing with it; if my memery serves me correctly, she is 93 this yr, doubt will be TOO bad if ya` DO what the Doc TELLS ya` to do...

And good to hear from you, Larry! Was REALLY wanting to get out onto #18 (the gravel bar N of the Marina) with ya for some cats this fall; but there`s always next yr, sir....

The doc said yesterday that I will just need to get it scoped out, no knee replacement. But I have to go see another doc next week for that.

Well, FFisch. that`s SOME good news, shouldn`t take nearly as long to recover from THAT as having them replaced. What, 3-4 wks vs 3-4? monthes? Between the 2 evils, let`s see....

that's true............lets see......hHHHHHhhmmmmmmmm how about door number 3

Good one, Mr Bill!

Man she is a cold one out there today. Now I remember why I have always wanted to move to southern Florida.  Bbrrrrrrrr!!!!

Agreed, wind chills here are 5+ degrees, positively butt numbing cold! At least the ice should be forming, admit just haven`t been out to CJ; am seeing some smaller ponds appear to be frozen over, but probably not safe ice (5+") yet...

Apparently no ice on CJ at all yet. Patiently awaiting ice my overly generous butt! Am ready forsafe HARD WATER!!

Yea me too. Although I am hating this ugly winter weather we are getting today and tomorrow.

Could be worse! At least it ain`t an ICE storm...BOO! HISS!!

or 2' of snow

anyone see the reports from Buffallo NY? 5` and STILL climbing...who in their right minds....

it's coming fast here right now..........got an 1" in less than a half hr. just a bit ago.

i love snow but not that much at once

CJ Marina is 90% skim ice today, main lake is 80%. `Bout 1 wk to go.

MAY be able to speak with Debra Walters of ODNR District #5 to INFORMALLY discuss the "+" part, 300 more into 9 more spots and "reenforce 2 others

Heard reports that people are on the ice at Loramie , Indian and Kiser lakes. With fishing doing the best at Loramie so far. Getting the knee done this afternoon and the maybe in a couple weeks I can get into the game.

FFisch, the fastest way you`ll get out on it is obviously to do what the "saw bones" says; heal back up COMPLETELY and you`ll get out there FASTER that way...good luck, sir!

ffisch, what lowel said is what i'm going ta say.......be patient grass hopper for it is best for it to come to you not you to it........

My post op appoitment is Jan 4th and my first rehab day is Monday morning. I know fishing will be after that and I won't venture out until the leg is stable. 2 winters ago I missed 90 percent of the ice fishing season with ankle surgery. So I am prepared. I will get my fishing in this next year so I am not tooo worried about right now.

so all went good for ya and ya got plenty of mags to read and the video games set up and ready ta go and the tv remote with'n easy reach.........oh ya the computer is on and running.


fffisch ya should check out the so called chat rm sometime. i get in there a couple times a week. most of the time in the evening around 8

Several persons on the docks in the Marina, ice is only 2- 2 1/2", not alot being caught just yet. Hopefully by New Years... heal up FFisch, we`re root`n for ya!

Thanks Lowell. I am off to my first therapy here in a few minutes. I hope they can work this hugh knot out that is just above my knee. Can't even bend my knee with that thing binding everything up.

Well, at the risk of sound`n like a broken record, do what they tell ya!

By the way, informally, we are a "GO" by ODNR

thats great lowel

A buddy told me this morning that Indian Lake has 7 inches of ice on it now.

Hopefully can find the manpower to pull this out of an empty hat with no top 1 last time; we will TRY to make it our best effort to finish with...

Some luck in Marina for crappie in AM, more details as get them...

Hope you find them Lowell and Merry Christmas to you.

And you and yours, sir, and all whom read these pages!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO THOSE THAT STOP IN AND REMEMBER WHO'S DAY THIS TRUELY IS
happy birthday to the CHRIST CHILD

please be safe and have a joyful holiday

Trust you all had a happy holiday! Several gentlemen are heading to Cj Marina tommorow, unfortunately have some things to see to, will keep you posted. And my "refugee from the scrap yard" crapped out again...BUMMER! Be SAFE and FFisch, let that FULLY heal up, sir...

Intimidator said 50 persons were in the Marina today, most on the fuel pier; it USED to have 18 "C" trees under it, no longer the case, several persons fishing the insides of both breakwaters scored well again; most keepers taken on brush with waxys and spikes fished very near the bottom rigged VERY lightly...ice is RAPIDLY thinning, suggest that it will be UNSAFE by morning and GONE by Monday morning if the rain keeps up...Be SAFE!

Good ice back in Marina (5+") not many reports of sucess...80+ trees in maint lane, awaiting slightly warmer weather...

A "Friend" called to tell me how difficult/ dangerous it is trying to clean a dozen BIG `gills AND talking on the phone at the same time...DUH! Said he and a friend got them opposite the large tree on the INSIDE of the S breakwater in the Marina on spikes on a #12 hook 18" below a micro split shot in 10 1/2 fow at the transition...then hear a blood curddling scream and the line goes dead...(just kidding `bout the last part!)

Ha ! Ha1 LOL ! But you know that could happen.

any ice fishing being done near toledo ohio?

you might try going on www.icefishohio.com . They have all kinds of ice fishing reports.

A "Friend" James let me know we now have close to 100 trees in the lane, weather permitting we will be there Friday or Sat urday to begin once again; not the 300 we had wished for, but we`ll make do...10 AMish...how`s the knee coming along, FFisch?

hope ya have fun playing in the trees lowel

We manage to; but have even MORE fun LOOTING them after they go in; the Handicap fishing platform on the N outside of the Marina only has 10 "C" trees and 8 "supers" in 3 sets all in lines from shallow to deep. This last May in an area 40` X 50` they produced over 300 crappie in 24 hrs, several keeper "green carp" and quite a few cats; 1 crappie was 16". Keeping in mind that supposedly they aren`t any good the 1st yr, over 430+ of the 700 will reach that mark come mid April; we are awaiting ice out intently...we honestly believe this will be a year at CJ to remember...

Slight change in time; will be in the lane 11 AMish; if you get there 1st, sit tight; will be there shortly...drag any "C" trees you can get along with you. James said he MAY be available Sat, I have to go do some "honey do`s"; James has been in on this from the beginning and knows what he`s doing; he has a "few" (hundred) under his belt...

James and Rose and I went into the lane, lopped all the trees there (85). Went down to Marina afterwards, 6- 7 guys fishing, 3 near fuel pier. "Suggested" to 1 to look at last inside turn of S breakwater at the mouth of Marina. He takes his auger and flasher on over, punches 2 holes and put his transducer in the deeper hole...He RUNS back, grabs his stuff, leaving his shanty and gets back and hauls up a 12" crappie... in the 8- 9 minutes till left, as he caught 6- 7? other crappies a mass "migration" took place; "suggested" 5 other spots; all are GPSed and on the first couple of pages of this thread- try not to get writer`s cramp. Wish the guy whom decided to try #15A good luck; he wanted to have a 1 sided conversation with the "tooth fairy"...

Hey Lowell, I am interested in hearing more of the tooth fairy story. LOL

Am not sure how the gentleman did on ye ole #15A, none of them posted anything that saw either here, Ohio Game Fishing (am "banished for life" there!) or Crappie.com (a VERY good website!) But for the record, #15A in the 2 3/4ths years worked at the Marina baitshop produced more walleyes than about ANYWHERE else on the lake and more consistantly than anywhere else. Not necessarily the biggest ones, but the most numbers, overall...and with the 36 "BB`s" placed there seems to be getting better...last yr SAW 20-23? `eyes caught there...sure there were more than that taken there that didn`t see; biggest saw and the guys brought in was 8 1/3rd lb and 30 1/2" in early April; was a female that had just spawned (no eggs). Am SURE it went 10+lb WITH eggs...taken on an orange "glo" jig and minnow, 40` off the very end of the tip of the S breakwater of the Marina...

Several "Friends" have been down in the Marina area over the last wk, most days there have been 5-20+ persons fishing, yesterday #15A, #16 and #18C and D were being fished, many bluegills and smallish perch being caught, some crappies; most of the bigger "specks" were being taken just pre- dawn up to an hr after or in 15 fow later in the day; no reports of any walleye...

Due to the weather, will try to assemble some in the lane next Fri the28th; BRRR!

BbRRrrrrrr is right. Better bring in the brass monkeys for a couple days.

Have confidence River will do well in the Marina once he finds cover, just hope he doesn`t have any problems getting back out if the rd is bad...he`s 1 TOUGH guy to go that early in the morning with those kinda wind chills...

33 more assembled, will be back in the lane tommorow noon. Brian of Crabill House fame (walked in twice with 2` of snow on the ground !) is bringing us 10 "LARGE" tactis shrubs/ trees.

60+ more assembled, 50 to go...

Due to a lack of help we only got 120 assembled. They await us in the lane. 2 persons whom offered to help sink them have backed out, but DID request maps...we are going to try to place them May22 starting at 10AM. We need at least 2 boats, several trucks and 6- 7 persons to help move and load them onto the boats...

Got a great deal done on the basement, awaiting tommorow; would like to meet you all `bout 1PM at the Boat Ramp. Maps of the lake will be available in the Marina bait shop. Good Luck, guys! See you tommorow!

Seems strange and a little sad that the beginning of the end of the "project" is now in sight; on final approach, bomb bay doors snap open, and the last salvo will very soon be "away"...hope to SAFELY complete it and have GPS positions posted in a few days.

"SPLASH" 118 of 128 attractors; new spots are #9G and H, #11D, #18AA and #18AAA; in addition, #15A, B, and C, #16 and#17 were "reenforced'. We were NOT able to do #26A and B due to the pontoon boat being a "no show; the tactus shrubs we hope to place on this old barn foundation are just TOO large to SAFELY carry on anything but a pontoon...will add the GPS locations to the list soon...and to EVERY ONE whom helped us, even for 1 hr, we owe you ALL a profound debt of gratitude we hope to repay in fish...sincerely, THANK YOU ALL!