Maumee river report, 2 October 2026- Time to fish

Wow! Look at these walleye taken from the river yesterday! So the rain we have had ove r the summer has kept the river levels just about perfect all summer . If you recall the last 3 years have been drought. As a result of this years rain the walleye , steel head , pike , whitebass and smallmouth bass have been thriving in the river.  Now that fall is just about here all these species are feeling the need to start feeding to fatten up for winter, that means gooood fishing for at least the next 2 months.

 

Spreaders and crappie rigs with minnow bait and flies near the bottom have produced the best catches. Most yellow perch are averaging 7-9’’ long. A lot of total catches have been smaller and released. I know most anglers have to have EMRERALD SHINERS, well just so you know emerald shiners and fatheads get eaten by yellow perch in lake Erie too, they work just fine .

3 TYPES OF MINNOWS IN THE AREA

*click to enlarge image*

Pike: The Northern pike is a long and slender fish with a duckbill shaped mouth and lots of needle sharp teeth. Pike prefer clear water with dense cover like grass , logs and tree limbs. In the past  pike were more abundant than they are today but they are still found in the western basin of Lake Erie including Sandusky Bay, Maumee Bay, and the remaining marshlands, seem to be making a comeback . They can also be found in tributaries to Lake Erie in late winter or early spring during their spawning migration, locally that means the maumee river and swan creek.  They feed heavily on fish, but will take nearly anything they can fit in their mouth, including frogs, muskrats, and small ducks, getting active right now to get ready for winter-think big baits.

 

Muskie:  Another one that is hopefully making a comeback.

Oh man these toothy critters can be tough to catch. Historically, the muskellunge  was abundant in the bays and tributaries of Lake Erie and in many streams in the area.  Excellent muskellunge fisheries are maintained in the state through stocking since reproduction is rare in Ohio reservoirs.  Prime muskie habitat is found in heavily vegetated lakes with lots of tree stumps and bays. The muskie is native to Ohio and is found in both the Ohio River and Lake Erie drainage basins. Here it feeds primarily on soft-rayed fish such as suckers and gizzard shad. Again big baits.

 

28 inch walleye out of the river . Water levels are perfect. Hit areas with rapids and pools. Buttonwood, Bluegrass for walleye and smallmouth bass. Jerome rd rapids for Catfish and Samllmouth. Farnsworth for big cats and walleye. Weirs rapids for walleye, smallmouth and pike. Grand Rapids dam are for walleye , whitebass and steelhead. Start with a 1/8 -1/4 oz lead head jig and a twister tail- green, pink, motoroil colors.  Topwater choppos in pools below rapids for smallies.

Cant catch ’em  from the couch.

 

 

 

2nd annual Maumee River Fest Saturday April 10th 2027- Maumee Tackle Walleye Tournament same day.

Have fun, be safe , and take a kid fishing.