CJ WATER TEMPS AND FISHING THREAD!

[INTIMIDATOR]

C-max is right. Not a good year to be a river fisherman. My heart goes out to the poor people in Ripley that got washed away.

Agreed...my heart goes out to all the victims of the flooding and their families.

This has been a disastrous year and it just seems to continue...crops in the fields are hurting and may just rot away...with all the bad weather, droughts, etc, I imagine food prices will be skyrocketing soon also.
I can't remember a year like this where the rain is just steady and constantly heavy over an entire summer....seems like each season, we say that nowadays.

The water at CJ is high but the quality is good...Dale and I went out last night to eat and it is still very fishable...of course he didn't want to fish.
Good fishing

[crappiemax]

Surprisingly the water at EF isn't muddy either. I have no idea why it's not muddy but it isn't...of course it went up 4 1/2 feet last night so it may be muddy now

[downtime]

I was out with the family yesterday until the storm was ready to roll in ( before 2pm) while taking them tubing and idling in the north end I was able to mark a few more spots (the unit can back track and mark spots ) to add to the list of structure,humps ect that CJ has. It still surprises me how people think that by leaving their boat tied up on dock and blocking those who are backing their trailers in expect to get out.My son backed my trailer at and angle so I could go between and load my boat up.(less than 2min at ramp) WOW !!!!I hope to be out in the morning and at least on other day this week and plan on fishing till 11am or so.

[jab]

What thread are you referring to? I haven't noticed anyone complaining about the cover in CJ over there.
I think the same fishermen over there, are over here too

It is in the 'Central Ohio' forum ...

[crappiemax]

It is in the 'Central Ohio' forum ...

It looks to me like there were a few guys who weren't happy about the drops but about 1/2 way through fished-out pointed out the benefits and the tone of the thread changed to the positive. Even at that it didn't look like anyone was blaming the cover for their lack of fish catching as the OP stated. It more seemed like the OP over there was unhappy with all the snags. Since not everyone fishes the same I can see where all the cover doesn't fit into everyone's plans. Just because they don't like all the cover and just because they voiced their opinion, doesn't make them "cry babies". These guys like their style of fishing too.

Personally I agree with fished-out, just adapt and learn to fish the cover but I'm a crappie guy and I like cover. All that cover actually has me wanting to make a trip up there. I've only been up to CJ one time and that was on a weekend and I swore I would never go back there unless it was during the week. That launch ramp was crazy to say the least.
I also wish Ohio would make it easier to drop cover, most of these lakes really need it.

[kycreek]

Never been to the lake you guys are discussing but I've always heard if you aren't getting hung up you're fishing in the wrong spot.

[Lowellhturner]

I always try to make it a point to remember 2 things: #1 "It`s a "contact" sport " and #2 "The fish (NOT you !) are 100% RIGHT 100% of the time...if you`re catching fish consistently at the moment then for THAT moment you` re 100% right ! (GOOD LUCK with tomorrow and the day after that...)"

[INTIMIDATOR]

It looks to me like there were a few guys who weren't happy about the drops but about 1/2 way through fished-out pointed out the benefits and the tone of the thread changed to the positive. Even at that it didn't look like anyone was blaming the cover for their lack of fish catching as the OP stated. It more seemed like the OP over there was unhappy with all the snags. Since not everyone fishes the same I can see where all the cover doesn't fit into everyone's plans. Just because they don't like all the cover and just because they voiced their opinion, doesn't make them "cry babies". These guys like their style of fishing too.

Personally I agree with fished-out, just adapt and learn to fish the cover but I'm a crappie guy and I like cover. All that cover actually has me wanting to make a trip up there. I've only been up to CJ one time and that was on a weekend and I swore I would never go back there unless it was during the week. That launch ramp was crazy to say the least.
I also wish Ohio would make it easier to drop cover, most of these lakes really need it.

Not going to continue beating a dead horse, but you should have seen/see my PM'S that I got/get...I get stopped in the parking lot and at the restaurant, by "crybabies"(people complaining that they can't catch fish at CJ anymore because of the cover)
Before the Projects, the fish had NO WHERE to use, except for the humps, creek beds, a a few boulders.
The vegetation was all gone to to building the Marina etc.
The ODNR was dropping 3/4 million Walleye fingerings a year ( Have a nice post about all of this in the first 10 pages of this thread)...now we get 1/3 of that if we're lucky. (2 of 10 years)
People were sitting on the humps catching 100 Walleye a day....this is not sustainable fishing.
The Marina was the main cover for Crappie...before limits people were taking 3-4 full baskets a day....this is not sustainable.
The lake was slowly dying...true fishermen could see it happening.
Lowell started the ball rolling along with others, then we all joined in an with the blessings of the ODNR and COE started the projects FOR ALL FISH.
We have habitat for Crappie, Walleye, Bass, Cats, minnows, fingerlings, and craws.
The lake is populated from one end to the other...we have increased the fish holding capacity...it is healthy and has a huge surplus of food for the predators.
That is why CJ is tough....you will be challenged to catch fish, if you are not a true fisherman, then you will get discouraged and not fish her....but if you are up for a challenge and know your species, patterns, etc, then you will do just fine.
CJ can now hold fish in places never before...fish have adapted, alot of fishermen haven't.
If you know what is going on with the lake, you know what the fish are doing.
Right now the lake is at perfect condition s for all fish.....high water, 70-75 degrees from top to bottom, highly oxygenated, flowing fresh water, extra nutrients and food, exceptional spawns resulting in perfect easy food right now...CJ also has a Monster shad and craw population, AND NATIVE BAITFISH that have come back strong (shiners, logperch, etc,...then add all the insects .....no wonder it is tough!
But, you can still catch fish!

[fished-out]

Have been on CJ a few times, met Intimidator who took me on a land tour of the lake, always willing to help, good guy. After the land tour, got on the lake with my tournament partner and had no trouble finding and staying on fish. Our problem in the one tournament we fished wasn't quantity--we just got outclassed in the size department (as my partner would say, that's what she said ) Had all the 10-12 inch white crappie we wanted, but we needed 13's!

[INTIMIDATOR]

Have been on CJ a few times, met Intimidator who took me on a land tour of the lake, always willing to help, good guy. After the land tour, got on the lake with my tournament partner and had no trouble finding and staying on fish. Our problem in the one tournament we fished wasn't quantity--we just got outclassed in the size department (as my partner would say, that's what she said ) Had all the 10-12 inch white crappie we wanted, but we needed 13's!

I'll tell you Frank, with all this food, perfect weather, and vegetation coming back, we are working on those World Class Crappie....the bad thing about the Big Slabs, is that they are feeling comfortable and just move around the lake with other Big fish, following the Shad Schools.
You have to have Luck on your side, to be where they are at a certain time....
We have managed to hit them in different areas all over the lake....normally it starts when the White Bass schools are destroying a Shad School close to dusk...then you have to put on a quarter oz head and get that swimmer through the WB school, then under the school of WB you will find HUGE Walleye and Crappie.
Then some days as you know, they will disperse and a single Huge fish will sit by a boulder...just digesting, resting, and waiting!