Berlin Lake Ohio Fishing Report

Alum Creek Lake (Delaware County) – As water temperatures decrease, the crappie bite has increased. Use a jig and minnows in and along woody cover or in water six feet or less in coves. Smallmouth bass are being caught off points in the southern basin and along the east shore of the middle basin. For saugeyes, troll crankbaits and worm harnesses just off the bottom in the evening for best results.

Indian Lake (Logan County) – Saugeye should start to be caught along the south bank and around the Moundwood and Dream bridge areas as water temperatures decrease. Try using crankbaits and worm harnesses trolled near the bottom. Vertical jigging around the bridges is also productive for saugeye. Anglers are catching largemouth bass in the canals around cover with buzz baits and tubes. Bluegills are still being caught in the channels on waxworms and nightcrawlers. Crappies are moving into channels, coves, and any remaining lily pads. Use minnows and jigs around any cover in these areas.

Kiser Lake (Champaign County) – This 394-acre lake in Champaign County is perfect for a quiet day on the water since no motors are allowed. The lake has a good population of largemouth bass; try plastics, light-colored spinnerbaits, and crankbaits along the lily pads or cover on the north side of the lake. Crappies are becoming more active. Fishing with minnows in the old creek channel or around woody cover is best. Bluegills are also being taken around aquatic vegetation and cover using waxworms and red worms.

O’Shaughnessy Reservoir (Delaware County) – This 912-acre reservoir north of Columbus is a good place to catch largemouth bass and channel catfish. For largemouth bass, try tubes and creature baits around shoreline cover targeting drop-offs and points. Channel catfish can be caught on cut baits, nightcrawlers, and shrimp fished on the bottom. Crappies are also being caught around woody cover using minnows and jigs.

Delaware Lake (Delaware County) – This 1, 017-acre lake north of Columbus provides excellent crappie fishing. Fish the primary points of the old creek channel using jigs and minnows suspended by a float around woody cover. Largemouth bass can be caught on tubes and other plastics around woody cover and primary points. If we get good ice cover sometime in late December/early January, Delaware would be a good spot to try for panfish, particularly in the lake’s many coves.

Hoover Reservoir (Delaware and Franklin Counties) – For crappies, target creek channels with wood that are close to shallower water. Try jig and minnows around submerged timber. Saugeye are located by the dam in good numbers right now. Use plastics or crankbaits fished close to the bottom for best results.

Northwest Region

Van Wert Reservoirs #1 and #2 (Van Wert County) – These two reservoirs are on State Route 127 at the south edge of the city of Van Wert. Anglers should have success catching sunfish at Van Wert Reservoir #1. Anglers should try using waxworms under a slip bobber set to seven feet during the mornings and evenings. Try fishing along the southeast bank. Bass anglers should head over to Van Wert Reservoir #2. Try casting crankbaits around structure from a boat. Boats are permitted on both reservoirs; however, no boat ramps are available. Boaters must obtain a permit from the city of Van Wert.

Lake LeComte (Hancock County) – Lake LeComte is situated in northeast Hancock County, three miles southwest of Fostoria on Hancock County Road 23. Decent populations of bluegill, crappie, bass, and channel catfish can all be found in the reservoir; however, Lake LeComte also has a pretty good population of saugeye. As the water temperatures begin to drop, these fish should start to feed more heavily. Boats are allowed on the reservoir, with a 10-horsepower motor restriction.

Beaver Creek Reservoir (Seneca County) – This pond is northeast of the village of Marseilles, one mile east of State Route 67 on former County Road 75. Largemouth bass anglers usually have the best success early in the morning along the south dike and on the fishing piers. Try fishing with a jig and pig slowly off points, logs, and other structure, or casting buzzbaits over weedbeds. The pond has a boat ramp with a floating dock. Boats are limited to 10 horsepower motors. Shore fishing is available from the dike and piers. Wading along the north shore is also popular.

Willard Reservoir (Huron County) – Walleyes and perch should be biting now at the reservoir, which is located on State Route 61, two miles north of New Haven. Fish for walleyes along the contour breaks located throughout the reservoir. Try casting diving crankbaits and jigs with minnows or vertical jigging blade bits. Anglers can fish from shore or from a boat. There is a boat ramp available, but only electric motors may be used. A boat permit must be obtained from the city of Willard at City Hall.

Nettle Lake (Williams County) – Nettle Lake is 115 acres in size with 3.8 miles of shoreline. Most of the shoreline is privately owned, which limits public access. A public boat ramp is off County Road 4.75 at the southwest corner of the lake. Anglers should have good luck this time of year fishing for crappies. Try fishing under the privately owned boat docks from a boat. Anglers should also try for crappie using minnows along the edges. Nettle Lake has some unique boating regulations that anglers need to be aware of. There is no horsepower limit; however, between 6 p.m. and 10 a.m., boats must operate at an idle speed. Between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. there are no speed restrictions.

Pleasant Hill Reservoir (Richland-Ashland county line) – With 781 acres of water and 13 miles of shoreline, Pleasant Hill Reservoir has plenty to offer. The reservoir is next to Mohican State Forest, two miles southwest of Perrysville. The boat ramp and marina are on Covert Road, right off State Route 95. Crappie should be biting this time of year. Try fishing for crappie along the rocky ledge on the southern shore near the southern bend and in the small coves along the southern part of the reservoir.