In case you guys didn't hear the Walleye tourney on C.J. yesterday was a bust. Eighteen boats of experienced Walleye guys caught exactly ZERO keeper Walleyes. I went by for the weigh in. Everyone seemed to be taking it in stride.
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In case you guys didn't hear the Walleye tourney on C.J. yesterday was a bust. Eighteen boats of experienced Walleye guys caught exactly ZERO keeper Walleyes. I went by for the weigh in. Everyone seemed to be taking it in stride.
Actually they started out with 20 boats...They didn't know what the COE had been doing or some wouldn't have shown...that is exactly what I am talking about. The SW Walleye and Saugeye guys say they will not be back to CJ.
CJ is still down about 4 feet from where it was supposed to be on April 1st...the gate was finally closed yesterday!
On a brighter note, my Buddy Pat and his Nephew caught 47 Walleye yesterday....in the creek from the spillway to the Park. NOT A SINGLE FISH WAS OVER 12 INCHES.... BUT, Pat put every single fish back into CJ, bucket after bucket. That wasn't the case for a couple other guys who kept a basket of small Walleye. Also had a couple guys with baskets of WB from the creek going into the park.
It is really nice to know we have put all that work into CJ so guys downstream have good fisheries!
Went out last night under an almost full moon and visited an old haunt, the light on the Tower was off which didn't help me and the temperature was falling rapidly. Still, tried Keitechs on the surface and on the bottom, 4 hits but alas no success. Several large splashes close by showed that something was actively feeding but just couldn't connect. There will be other nights...
Crappie are biting...22 in an hour of fishing, all legal but most around 10 inches...same color as last year, white Keitech and Jeff's bright yellow jig head...pretty much lifting off the bottom and letting it drop....all fish cold.
Stupid lake is still 2-3 foot down...with all the coming heat the fish will start to spawn...then the lake will rise and the spawns will suffer.
Better stop!😎
Will the marina or bait shop at the lake be open this year?
The state run Marina bait shop is unfortunately a joke, they didn't even have minnows last year and no real tackle or lures. They don't even sell jigs... As for the food concession it hasn't been open for 2 years now. It's appliances are all either non operating or are so energy inefficient that the utility bills eat up the profits. Keep in mind the building was designed in the mid 1970s, it was built in 1980 and the grill and other appliances are original . When Mike and Kathy ran it it the utilities were very expensive and is even more so now. Coupled with being run by persons who don't fully utilize it to its limited potential it's a money loser and it unfortunately will probably stay that way...
That's OK, if the COE keeps managing the lake with orders from the 1950's, there won't be any fish left anyway!
CJ on all accounts, has been piss poorly run!...shameful!
Hello everyone! Long time lurker, but first time poster. This is my first year fishing in the Dayton/Springfield area as my family just moved here last year. I was looking to take a trip to CJ this weekend to do some bank fishing and was wondering if anyone had any recommendations on good areas to try. Right now I'm thinking about trying by the dam, but wondering how the access is as I may have my 3 & 4 year old with me. Any information would be appreciated, thanks!
The Dam area itself is not a good idea for a young child...you have to climb down the entire face of the dam on unstable big rocks. The State did not stabilize the rocks with gravel or substrate. Broken ankles, legs, and other bones, happen there all the time.
The overlook area to the North of the dam has several spots that can be easily fished...all the way down to the Emergency Spillway.
Probably your best bet right now would be the Marina...the entire Marina and Breaker Wall area can be fished, they have sidewalks, and a wooden platform to fish off of....you can also fish around the Old Restaurant and Bait-shop complex. Plus they have restrooms close.
Crappie and WB are hitting EVERYTHING right now, so enjoy and make Memories!