A LEGENDARY FALL HAUL

We've heard more than a few fishing stories over the years at Charles Mill Lake. Tales of the lake coughing up monstrous fish, both real and fabricated, stream steadily through our door.

After this weekend, we can officially add one more story to the list after the legendary crappie haul that these local anglers caught in just a few hours on Sunday morning in early October. With no daily limit on crappie in Ohio, the guys conservatively estimated their catch to be in the neighborhood of around 80 fish in just two hours on the lake.

Although the pair were tight-lipped about their strategy, they did concede that the cooling weather and increased appetites of the fish weighed heavily in their success. And while there was also no mention of their bait,  its a safe bet that they were sinking minnows to entice the feeding crappie.

Dick Martin, outdoor enthusiast and local fishing expert, wrote in his weekly column that Charles Mill Lake was “the top all-around lake in north central Ohio” and had “just about everything”. Martin also offered up a few tips on catching the crappie, recommending anglers try fishing the fallen trees and brush along the peninsula adjacent to the marina and going deeper with their lines to attract the fall crappie.