my brother went to east fork

[Isaiah Edwards]

i told my brother today i was jealous he went there
the other day.... hes 25 mins from there didn't catch nothing
his neighbor owns a boat he said there's crappies, LM bass
and a few smallies

[fished-out]

i told my brother today i was jealous he went there
the other day.... hes 25 mins from there didn't catch nothing
his neighbor owns a boat he said there's crappies, LM bass
and a few smallies

East Fork is full of good crappie, decent hybrid stripers, and catfish. I'm surprised they didn't do well.

[Isaiah Edwards]

if i was they woulda caught something

[fished-out]

if i was they woulda caught something

I've fished East Fork for crappie for about 10 years, virtually year round. I've also fished for crappie in Caesars, Paint, Rocky, Delaware, Alum, St. Mary's, Indian, Buckeye, Salt Fork, and other lakes on a semi-regular basis (3-4 times a year-I'm generally on the water 40-50 times a year). Honestly, any other species I catch, it's an accident, unless you count the times I go to Dale Hollow for smallmouth or Canada for walleye.

I also fish Cowan once a year in June for a charity event--there are alot of crappie, but they run very small on average and it seems to be a white crappie lake. Of those, Indian has the best number of consistently big crappies, Buckeye is the best in terms of numbers of 10" fish (although they're the skinniest black crappies I've ever seen), and East Fork is the best combination lake--lots of really healthy 9-11" fish, primarily blacks with some good whites thrown in. In addition, I can catch them year round on East Fork. Everyone has their favorites, but I'd fish Indian in April, Buckeye in May, and East Fork the rest of the time, given a choice. The rest all have something going for them--Delaware is a good lake with good size blacks, but can be inconsistent (at least for me). Alum has some huge white crappie in the 14-15 inch range, but I can never seem to catch more than a couple in an outing and everything else I catch seems to be under 10". St Mary's has some really healthy black crappie-almost round! But I have trouble locating them after March and April. Caesars---tough lake most of the time. Paint is good, but you have to know the lake really well to be consistent, otherwise you catch alot of small fish.

I think if you keep after East Fork, eventually you'll learn the lake and do well. Anyway, that's just my experience. The folks who really know these other lakes probably do much better than I do. We all like the ones we do well at.

fished-out

[Deerslayer45102]

Any tips as far as bait for East Fork fished-out? I live 10 minutes from the lake and still am learning the lake.

[Isaiah Edwards]

deerslayer looks like your closer than my brother

[fished-out]

Any tips as far as bait for East Fork fished-out? I live 10 minutes from the lake and still am learning the lake.

I seldom use live bait--just tubes and twisters on jigs.

[shawn_b]

We fish at night with a light with minnows on the boars head ramp did ok
i to am still learning this lake i like stonelick a lot better

[fished-out]

We fish at night with a light with minnows on the boars head ramp did ok
i to am still learning this lake i like stonelick a lot better

The Macedonia ramp might be better than the Afton ramp if you're shore bound. There are big laydowns next to the ramp and near deeper water. Should be good at night for crappie with lights, but I don't do any night fishing, so don't know for sure.

[I_AM_LEGEND]

I've taken my kayak out on the East Fork Lake fishing a few times in the big inlet just to the right from the Boar's Head boat ramp, one of you guys may have seen me, big blue sit on top kayak... bout the only one ever out there in one but I always bass fish and never have any luck, even with minnows.... any tips on good baits or good spots for bass on the lake?? I get so frustrated because I'm an avid bass fisherman and do well anywhere I got but always get skunked on the lake, I feel like it's fished out sometimes...

[CARPN-JAKE]

Can anyone give me any info on the Buffalo at eastfork...I've taken the boat there to bowfish a couple times but its always been muddy...Never even saw any buffs just carp. Is the lake usually dirty or have i just had bad timing when I've went there.

[paston1]

As far a muddy it will get that way after heavy rains and melts it is a flood control lake. Lake isnt fished out. Just fish are a little pickier here than most other places;)

[Kevin in Ohio]

The water clarity depends on the time of year, I was there in April a few years ago and the water was more like hot chocolate it was so stirred up. (I think that's what they call spring turnover.)
As far as bait goes, I went back to basics last year and used a hook, a worm, and a bobber. I caught more fish, than in all my previous years combined. So, I'm hauling less tackle in, and bringing more fish home. There are things to be said for keeping it simple.

[Isaiah Edwards]

miami white water forest was the same way

[I_AM_LEGEND]

maybe I'm just stupid and need to keep it simple, found out that inlet I've fished the most is nothing but mud bottom, figured all the standing timber would hold a lot of bass but maybe not, gonna try and fish the Bethel side more this year...

[jecart1972]

Large mouths in Eastfork are hard to find. You are better of going to Rocky Fork, Brookville, or Ceasars creek. If you start at the Macedonia ramp go west around the corner and then south. You will find a large area full of trees and stumps. There is a small creek channel that runs through here. A fish finders helps alot to find the drops offs and below water cover. This has been a productive area for me. Good luck. Let me know how you do.