It might feel like winter won’t end, but things are beginning to happen beneath the surface of our lakes. Water temperatures are slowly rising and we have 45 degree surface temperature at Miami Whitewater Forest. In addition, our days are getting longer. More daylight hours triggers spring pre-spawn fishing patterns…and some of the best action of the year! If you have a trophy catch on your mind, there is no better opportunity than during April in southwest Ohio.

The second Panfish Cup Tournament of the year was held at Miami Whitewater Forest Lake on Saturday March 30. Weights were significantly up over the first event two weeks earlier. DJ Hegel and his Grandfather, Frank Yates won the event with a basket full of beautiful Crappie totaling 32.28 pounds! They caught them near the golf course on 1/32 ounce tube jigs tipped with wax worms.

Tom Doersam of Cincinnati and Jonathan Keller of Harrison finished second with 30.96 pounds of bluegill and crappie. Chris Heller of Cincinnati and Justin Brenner of Okeana finished third with 11.64 pounds. The top third place teams took home trophies, Park District prize certificates and Bass Pro Shops gift cards.

The next Panfish Cup event will be at Miami Whitewater Forest Lake on Sunday, April 7. Entry fees are $40.00 per team, which includes boat rental. Ohio fishing licenses are required at this lake.

Friday, March 29marked the final trout stocking of this spring at Lake Isabella. Cool weather will insure a few more weeks of good trout fishing. Channel cats will be stocked weekly beginning this Friday, April 5. There will be 500 pounds stocked every week, with the average fish weighing about three pounds.

Neal Ramsey, District Recreation Manager