Saugeyes are on the move at Indian Lake in central Ohio as well as over 60 other lakes across the state. It happens every fall and begins in earnest in late September and early October, when the ideal water temperature and flow occurs. The saugeye is a naturally occurring hybrid between a female walleye and a male sauger and grows like a weed. In three year’s time they can weight as much as 5 pounds.
Saugeyes are popular with anglers because they are easy to catch and can count on reeling in 10 to 15 inch saugeye. Anglers don’t need a lot of equipment to catch these fish. Small crankbaits, jigs and plastic trailers or minnows under a bobber with a sinker is all you need.
Here’s a list of Ohio’s Saugeye hotspots for this fall:
Indian Lake
Over 500,000 saugeye fingerlings are released into the lake annually. Fish in the 14 to 16 inch range are common. Mornings and evening are prime times on the water. The area west of route 68 is the deepest spot in the lake at about 12 feet and holds a lot of saugeyes in early fall. Moundwood Marina has reported a lot of caught fish near where the Great Miami River flows into the lake.
The current lake water temperature is 70 degrees, prime choice for saugeyes who are actively feeding and biting well. Fishing is also good now for Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, and Walleye. There are four public ramps; Lakeview Harbor at state route 235 and U.S. route 33, Moundwood Marina at state route 368 at Lake Ridge Island, Chippewa Marina from Chickasaw St, and Blackhawk Marina from state route 366.
Indian Lake covers 5,800 acres in Logan County northwest of Columbus on state route 235 N. Take US route 33 from Columbus and is about 1 hour from Marysville. For more information, contact the Indian Lake State Park at (937) 843-2717 or visit their web site.
Alum Creek Lake
This popular destination gets its share of the annual stocking of saugeyes by the Ohio Division of Wildlife. Alum Creek can grow big saugeyes. In 2002 a 12.84-pounder was taken and was a record catch until a 14.04-pounder was caught in Antrim Lake in 2005. To take Alum Creek Lake saugeyes, fish deep with bottom-bouncing jigs tipped with plastic trailers or minnows.
Alum Creek Lake covers 3,192 acres in Delaware County north of Columbus off Interstate Route 71 on state routes 36, 37 and 521. Boat ramps may be found where Hollenback Road dead-ends into the lake, off Africa Road north of the dam, and from Africa Road north of Cheshire Road. The lake has no motor restrictions. You can contact Alum Creek State Park for more information at (740)548-4631 or (614) 644-3925.
Buckeye Lake
Buckeye Lake is another popular spot for saugeye. These fish are not only fun to catch, but they have reached a length of 12 to 16 inches and average from 1 to 3 pounds making them easily rival perch and walleyes. Try fishing by the dam in deeper water using sinking crankbaits or jigs tipped with bright plastic trailers or minnows near or on the bottom. Buckeye Lake is one of the best places for ice fishing. The lake freezes quickly due to its shallowness. Check Ice Fishing in Ohio for freezing reports.
Boat ramps are available on Lakeshore Drive at Laurel Road and the North Shore Ramp on state route 79. Buckeye Lake is only 15 miles east of Columbus, Ohio in Fairfield and Perry counties. Use state routes 13, 37 and 79 to reach it.
Contact Buckeye Lake State Park if you need to know more.
Pleasant Hill Reservoir
Pleasant Hill is better known for its bass and panfish, but its saugeye population is pretty impressive as well. The saugeyes grow big and fast at the reservoir and are expected to be in the range of 22 to 26 inches long this year. Saugeyes swim in schools in deeper water, so when you catch one expect more to be close by.
The hot spots are the lake bottom where the reservoir makes a bend near the dam and off the sandy beach areas in deeper water. The western part of the lake is shallow, while the southern section near the dam reaches 35 feet.
Pleasant Hill Reservoir covers 850 acres and is two miles southwest of Perryville and 12 miles southeast of Mansfield, Ohio. Contact Pleasant Hill Lake Park office at (419) 938-7884 or the Pleasant Hill Marina at (419) 938-6488
Visit Ohio’s Go Fish! Your Guide to Ohio Fishing for when, where, and how fishing reports.
