Posts: 172
Location: Chagrin Falls, Ohio | I fished West Branch the 15th and 16th. Had a tough couple of days with the weather conditions. It was my first couple of days out and it was great to be on the water again.
I focused on the North Side of the Lake exclusively with the exception of Silver Creek in the south which warms usually warms up quickest. The water temps ranged from 40 to mid 40's Tuesday, and mid 40's to low 50's Wednesday. The ever changing wind directions with it blowing from 20-30 mph and swinging to the south and then back north on Wednesday didn't help the stability of the bays, and killed most of the effects of our two day warming trend. Most fish I marked were staging in creek channels and ditches, with swings against bluff walls with pockets holding most of the fish.
Silver Creek seemed to be the most stable in the south, so I concentrated there Wednesday but still struggled to boat a fish. I focused on slow rolling spinnerbaits, some gliders, and twitchbaits. I think the key is really slowing down and getting it a bit deeper in the water column than I was until it warms up a bit more. The activity zone was primarily in 6'-8' of water. Water clarity varied greatly, from muddy to two feet in some spots where it's settling down a bit.
I didn't give up on the flats in time to put anything together in the channels, but will be starting there tomorrow. It should be picking up soon.
Good fishin',
Tyler Campbell
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West Branch