FISH and TALES
Home of “The Hoover Fishing Report”
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We will attempt to keep you abreast of news regarding fishing and boating activities that are available to the public at Hoover Reservoir, via this page, which we hope to update at least weekly. This information comes from ODNR- Div. Of Wildlife, Watershed Management, Old Dutchman Bait and Tackle and from sharing members of the public.
To help everyone receive maximum enjoyment when fishing Hoover Reservoir, we ask for your support. Please take a minute and share some of the information of your recent fishing experience in the form provided for below. To be helpful to everyone, it would be appreciated if you would include some information about "patterns". (If you do NOT want your name published, please inform us in the “Comment” box and we’ll refer to you as “An angler” and we'll honor your wishes. However we do have to have your name submitted with the report.) We will also appreciate your input on ways we can make this page more beneficial to you. Please submit reports by Tuesday evening as we would like to report only current information.
Please fill in form to report your Hoover results....
If you would like to be added to our "notification" list, please "EMAIL” us with just the word "ADD", and your full name, and we will notify you when updates occur. Because of mistakes in email addresses, we ask that you do NOT use the report form above to request being added to the notification list. We will not sell or share your names. (NOTE: If you have requested to be added to the list and have NOT received a HFR email, you'll need to contact your ISP and have "jhoran@fishandtales.net" put on a "safe" list (not spam) or for most folks, just add that email to your address book. We add every request to our 1000+ group list but we can not overcome your ISP's spam filter without your assistance.) NOTE: If you are an AOL user, you may not be able to receive our email as we have experienced many "rejected" emails to subscribers. We request you send us another email address as we will NO LONGER add AOL addresses.
Hoover Fishing Report Copyright © 2023 All Rights Reserved.
CODES:
FO = Fish Ohio. A program for anglers, with ODNR awarding a certificate and hat pin for catching fish of a specified minimum length. Details available at local bait and tackle stores.
LOTW = Lake of the Woods, East side, Middle section of lake across from Red Bank Ramp.
C&R = Catch and Release, allowing fish to be enjoyed another day by anglers.
Riprap =Rock works around roadways and bridges to prevent erosion.
2023 Hoover Sports Anglers (HSA) (C&R Fish Ohio species at Hoover)
NOTE: You can now go online and print a very attractive certificate of your FO catch and also reserve your hat pin. Go to FISH OHIO. (New URL)
Following are minimum size requirements for Fish Ohio species available at Hoover.
PLEASE MAKE NOTE OF CHANGES IN QUALIFYING SIZES FOR FISH OHIO AS OF 2018
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CARP - 28”
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LARGEMOUTH BASS - 20"
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SMALLMOUTH BASS - 18"
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CHANNEL CATFISH - 26"
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WALLEYE - 25"
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MUSKY - 40"
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CRAPPIE - 13"
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ROCK BASS, SUNFISH - 9"
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WHITE BASS - 14"
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FLATHEAD CATFISH - 35"
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SAUGEYE - 21"
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YELLOW PERCH - 12"
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BLUE CATFISH - 35"
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LONG NOSE GAR - 34"
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SUCKER - 20"
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CHANNEL CATFISH
Pete Wilms - 28"
Mike Bloomfield - 29"
Michael Cole– 26”
Steve Licata – 36”
Scott Furst - 29"
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CHANNEL CATFISH
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CHANNEL CATFISH
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BLUE CATFISH
Michael Cole - 42.25"
Jeremy Baker - 35"
Earl Evaline - 38.25"
Matt Miller - 37"
Rork Matthews - 43"
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CRAPPIE
Michael Gifford - 13.5"
Pete Wilms - 13.5"
Jeff Tennant - 13"
Rick Stelzer - 13.5"
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CRAPPIE
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BASS
Brian Annis - LM - 21.5"
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SAUGEYE
Scott Furst - 21.5"
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WHITE BASS
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FLATHEAD CATFISH
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CARP
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BLUEGILL, ROCK BASS, SUNFISH
Jeff Tennant - Rock Bass - 10"
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LONG NOSE GAR
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YELLOW PERCH
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2023 Contributing Reporters (CR)
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Don Abrams
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Elayna Stierhoff
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Walt Alexander
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Jeff Tennant
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Brian Annis
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Huey White
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Al Bachman
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Pete Wilms
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Jeremy Baker
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Lorraine Winters
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John Biteman
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Mike Bloomfield
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Stanley Bulejski
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Bill Canfield
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Michael Cole
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Jay Dixon
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Earl Evaline
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Scott Furst
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Michael Gifford
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Jack Hollerich
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Amanda Johnson
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Matt Kessler
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Steve Licata
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John Logan
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Chris Lucus
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Rork Matthews
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Michael Meyer
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Matt Miller
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Nick Radabaugh
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Rick Stelzer
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Next HFR Spring 2024
Week ending 8/16/23
The lake is – 2.23 feet from full pool. On Saturday Brian Annis found water temp was about 77.5 early to about 79.0 and seemed to vary more with location than time of day. There will be a new Moon today (8/16).
CRAPPIE: Michael Gifford fished Friday and reported, “I trolled a Minnow and drag weight in M-E sections of the lake and caught 20 fish. Only 3 were big enough to keep, so I released all of them. I trolled an Erie Dearie tipped with a Night Crawler for about a half hour, but didn't catch anything.” Jack Hollerich reported that he and his Daughter used “#7 Flicker Shads and were trolling at 1.8-2 mph in 10-12’ of water in the M-E and M-W sections Friday. The colors were Tennessee Shad and a Blue Tiger color and we caught a handful of fish up to 12”.” Brian Annis,”Trolled in the M-E, and M-W sections over 10-32’ of water on Saturday with various Crankbaits and C&R 11 fish 7"-12".”
WHITE BASS: No reports.
SAUGEYE/WALLEYE: On Friday Jack Hollerich’s Daughter caught 2 fish up to 13” while trolling #7 Flicker Shads in Middle section. On Saturday Brian Annis, “Trolled a Flicker Shad in the M-E section over 8’ of water and C&R 1- 17” fish.”
BLUEGILL/ PERCH/ROCK BASS: No reports.
BASS: Jack Hollerich’s Daughter caught a 14” LM Friday while fishing for Crappie. Brian Annis fished Saturday and reported, “Trolling Salmo Hornets and a Bandit 300 in the M-W & M-E sections over 10-14’ of water C&R 3 LM, 18", 12" and a FO (21.5").” It was Brian’s 2nd FO LM this year.
CHANNEL CATFISH: Jack Hollerich’s Daughter caught a 21” fish while trolling for Crappie Friday. Brian Annis told us, “Trolling Salmo Hornets in the M-E section over 8-12’ of water Friday I C&R 2 fish 17 and 22".”
BLUE CATFISH: While trolling for Crappie Friday, Jack Hollerich’s Daughter caught a 20” fish. On Saturday Mike Bloomfield fished the North section and caught 1 21” fish on a dead Blue Gill.
FLATHEAD CATFISH: No reports.
CARP/GAR: No reports
Next HFR 8/16/23
Week ending 7/26/23
The lake is –1.21 feet from full pool. On Sunday Brian Annis found water temp was about 67.5 early to about 69.5 midday.
CRAPPIE: Huey White fished the N-E section and reported he caught, “10 fish, 9-1/2” to 12” trolling small Silver Crank Baits in 12 -14’ of water Wednesday morning”. Walt Alexander told us that he and his wife Cathy fished Saturday a.m. in the , “M-E, using Minnow under Slip Bobber, 12' down in 20' of water around lay downs and drop offs. We C&R 117 up to 11.5", ~ 30 were over 9".” Scott Furst, “fished Saturday and Sunday mornings. This is a summary of both days. I fished the North Pool and the Middle Pool. In the North Pool I caught 7 fish before heading to the Middle Pool. Both days combined I caught 42 fish. Largest was 12 1/2".” On Sunday Brian Annis, “Trolling In the M-E, and M-W sections over 12-16’ of water with a Bandit 300, C&R 9 fish 8" to 12".” Rick Stelzer reported that he, “C&R a FO (13.5”) on a Strike King Tadpole in 9’ of water on Monday in N-W section”.
WHITE BASS: No reports.
SAUGEYE/WALLEYE: On Saturday & Sunday Scott Furst C&R, “16 fish, the largest being a FO (21-1/2"). I caught a few fish on a Perch colored Hair Jig. The best results came from trolling # 7 Flicker Shads and #7Jointed Flicker Shads in 13 -17’ of water. Those Crankbaits run about 13 -14’ deep about 135 feet behind the boat, with my gear. Main lake points and sharper breaks into deeper water seemed to hold more and larger fish. Speed of 1.5 to 1.8 MPH.” Rick Stelzer fished Monday and got “8 fish 12-13” in Middle pool 8-10’ deep on plastics”.
BLUEGILL/ PERCH/ROCK BASS: Several anglers reported getting some small Perch while trolling Crank Baits.
BASS: On Sunday morning Brian Annis reported that he, “fished from 5:45 a.m. – noon in his kayak and trolling a Berkley Money Badger in the M-E section over 14-16’ of water, C&R a FO (21.25") LM.”
CHANNEL CATFISH: On the weekend Scot Furst, “C&R 6 fish with the largest being a FO (29") trolling # 7 Flicker Shads and #7 Jointed Flicker Shads in 13 -17 feet of water”.
BLUE CATFISH: On the weekend Scott Furst C&R 3 fish up to 20” trolling in the N and M sections. Brian Annis on Sunday, “trolled a Bandit 300 in the M-E section over 12-25’depths and C&R 1 fish 29.5".”
FLATHEAD CATFISH: No reports.
CARP/GAR: No reports
Next HFR 7/26/23
Week ending 7/12/23
The lake is – 0.84 feet from full pool.
CRAPPIE: Al Bachman reported, “Went out Friday with Don Grant and my son in law Sean Trombley. Trolled mostly the M-E area with assorted Crank Baits. Caught 24 up to FO (13”).” They went out again on Tuesday and Al reported, “Trolled M-E and S-E with assorted Crank Baits. We caught 36 generally small fish.” On Saturday morning, Walt Alexander told us, “John Biteman and Andy (Vietnam Vet), C&R 63 fish using Minnows under Slip Bobber 8' down in 15-20' of water in M-E section.” Michael Gifford sent us, “My buddy Bill Yuhas and I, on Monday, trolled M-E with Drop Weight and Minnows. Caught over 30 fish, most 9"- 10" and one 12 3/4".
WHITE BASS: No reports.
SAUGEYE/WALLEYE: While trolling the M-E with Crank Baits Al Bachman and Sean Trombley caught 2 fish including Sean’s FO (23”). On Tuesday they went out again in M-E & S-E sections and caught 3 fish. On Monday Michael Gifford trolled an Erie Dearie tipped with a Night Crawler in M-E and caught 1 fish.
BLUEGILL/ PERCH/ROCK BASS: Several anglers reported getting small Perch while trolling the M-E section.
BASS: On Tuesday, Don Grant caught an 18.5” LM while trolling Crank Baits in M-E section.
CHANNEL CATFISH: On Saturday morning Steve Licata fished with Shrimp in a cove in M-E section and C&R 2 FO (28”, 36”). While trolling the M-E & S-E pools on Tuesday with Crank Baits, Al Bachman, Don Grant and Sean Trombley caught 3 medium sized fish.
BLUE CATFISH: Al Bachman, while trolling Crank Baits in M-E section on Friday, caught a 26.5” fish.
FLATHEAD CATFISH: No reports.
CARP/GAR: No reports.
Week ending 7/5/23
The lake is – 0.5 feet from full pool. Full moon was July 3.
CRAPPIE: Jay Dixon fished in N-W section from a kayak in the evening and caught 6 fish using an inline Spinner and an ultralight Shad Crankbait in 5’-8’ depth. Walt Alexander and a friend fished a cove in M-E on Thursday using minnows under a Slip Bobber and caught 100 fish.
WHITE BASS: No reports.
SAUGEYE/WALLEYE: Jay Dixon fished from a kayak Thursday in N-W and caught 3 Walleyes (photo confirmed), each 11-13” in length using an ultralight Shad Crankbait in 10’-12’ of water. Rick Stelzer sent this report, “On the 4th me and my partner caught 14 Saugeyes but only one keeper size. The number of 12”-13” size we’ve been catching this year is remarkable and hopefully bodes well for the future. Less than 8’ on points on Jigs and Plastics in M-E.”
BLUEGILL/ PERCH/ROCK BASS: While fishing for LM Bass on Tuesday in S-E section, Jeff Tennant used a Soft Plastic bait to catch a FO (10”) Rock Bass.
BASS: On Tuesday Jeff Tennant fished the S-E section using all Soft Plastics and caught 3 LM up to 16”.
CHANNEL CATFISH: No reports.
BLUE CATFISH: John Logan reported that he caught a 28” fish in North pool using a Blue Gill head in 16’ of water Wednesday while fishing with Mike Myers. On Friday a.m. Matt Kessler fished the M-E section and reported that he, “Caught a 21.5" fish on Chartreuse Flicker Shad in 10’ of water”.
FLATHEAD CATFISH: No reports.
LONG NOSE GAR: Matt Kessler fished the M-W section on Friday and caught a 33.5" fish on a Flicker Shad around noon.
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SAUGEYE NEWS - HOOVER 2023
5/10/23 From Nick Radabaugh, the Fisheries Management Supervisor for District 1 (central Ohio), Div. Of Wildlife: “Hoover will receive a stocking of saugeye fingerlings, likely next week or the week after. It is scheduled to receive a minimum of 100 fingerlings/acre and potentially 200 fingerlings per acre, dependent on hatchery production this year. This will result in somewhere between 290,000 – 580,000 saugeye going in to Hoover this year.”
5/31/23 - From Nick Radabaugh - “I just wanted to provide you with another quick update now that we are done with our walleye and saugeye stocking around the state. Our hatcheries had a good production year, and we were able to stock Hoover with its full complement of 200 saugeye fingerlings per acre. On May 10th Hoover was stocked with 288,957 fingerlings and a week later on May 18th it was stocked with 288,273 fingerlings, for a total of 577,230 saugeye fingerlings. These fish were about one inch long when stocked and will be 8-10 inches by October.”
CATFISH NEWS - HOOVER 2023
5/10/23 From Nick Radabaugh, Div. of Wildlife sent us this “The Catfish regulation is changing this year at Hoover. In this year’s regulations you will see there is no longer a special regulation for Channel and Blue Catfish in Hoover. That is because we have removed the previous regulation and reverted back to the separate statewide regulations for Channel and Blue Catfish. As a reminder the statewide regulation for Channel Catfish is no daily limit, but only 1 fish over 28” can be harvested. The statewide regulation for Blue Catfish is no daily limit, but only 1 fish over 35” can be harvested. This regulations are currently in effect for Hoover and replace the previous split limit of 1 fish over 28” and 3 fish under 18” for Blue and Channels.” He added, “We are still stocking Hoover with Blues, but on an every other year basis. Last October, Hoover received 28,859 advanced Blue Catfish fingerlings that averaged about 5 inches. We will stock Hoover again in 2024 and continue to monitor and adjust our management to maintain the exceptional Blue Catfish fishery we see today.”
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From Rich Zweifel - We have conducted numerous surveys of gizzard shad, blue cats, and channel cats at Hoover over the last several years. These surveys have provided a lot of insights … I’ll try to briefly summarize.
Gizzard shad:
We have done a lot of shad surveys at Hoover. In fact, we conducted a shad survey last Monday night (8/12/19). There are lots of shad in Hoover. Preyfish don’t appear to be limiting.
Blue catfish:
We have been surveying the Hoover blue catfish population every year since 2016. Stocking success of blue catfish advanced fingerlings has been high in Hoover. We stocked fish in every year from 2011 – 2017 (except 2014 because of hatchery production failure) and have gotten returns from all of those stockings. We recently started alternate year stocking at Hoover because 1) the initial stockings have developed a good population there, and 2) also to allow us to expand blue cat stocking to other reservoirs. The blues are growing fast and are starting to produce the trophy-size fish we were hoping for.
We have been assessing the Hoover blue cat population every year for the last 4 years and there is no evidence that they are successfully reproducing in Hoover. Which is fine; we don't stock blue cats (or any fish really) to establish a self-sustaining population. That is not the goal. The goal is to diversify the catfishing opportunities and to provide some trophy-sized fish. It seems as though we are meeting that goal at Hoover
10/23/19- Marty reminded me yesterday that we did not plan to stock blue catfish in Hoover this fall. We are happy with the current population of blue cats in Hoover and have pulled back the stocking to every other year. So from here on out, Hoover will be stocked with blue cats in even-numbered years (stocking in 2020, 2022, etc...). The every other year stocking approach allows us to expand the blue catfish program to other reservoirs throughout the state. We are still trying to expand this program, so switching to the every other year approach after a good population is established following 5-6 years of annual stockings gives us the flexibility to stock more total acres of water. We have been assessing the Hoover blue cat population every year for the last 4 years and there is no evidence that they are successfully reproducing in Hoover. Which is fine; we don't stock blue cats (or any fish really) to establish a self-sustaining population. That is not the goal. The goal is to diversify the catfishing opportunities and to provide some trophy-sized fish. It seems as though we are meeting that goal at Hoover
Channel catfish:
There are a lot of channel catfish in Hoover; it’s a high density population. Hoover channels can live into their early 20s, but they don’t grow super fast. Growth appears to have been average long before blue catfish were ever stocked in Hoover. It takes 18-20 years for channel catfish to get to Fish Ohio size in Hoover, on average. Generally, what we’ve seen with channel catfish populations throughout Ohio, is that the more fish there are, the slower they grow. Its not surprising that the channel catfish growth in Hoover is average.
Also, reproductive success of channel catfish appears to be very inconsistent from year to year, which is pretty typical for most freshwater fish populations. While there are some fish spawned in every year, the spawns in a few years produce a majority of the fish. It appears that there were big spawns in 2002-2004 and 2008-2011, so most of the fish in Hoover right now were produced in those 7 years. Catfish don’t live forever and there are just very few of those older/larger fish in the population right now. The fish from the 2002-2004 year classes should just now be starting to reach some trophy sizes.