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Caesar Creek Lake Fishing Map |
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LOCATION
Caesar Creek Lake is situated four miles east of Waynesville and two miles west of I-71 along S.R. 73. The lake is about 30 miles northeast of Cincinnati and 15 miles southeast of Dayton.
HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION
Caesar Creek is a multi-purpose reservoir serving the functions of flood control, water quality, and recreation, including fish and wildlife. The lake was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and leased to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. At normal summer pool the lake covers 2,607 acres, fed by a drainage area of 237 square miles, and has 40 miles of shoreline. The dam site is located three miles above the mouth of Caesar Creek, a tributary of the Little Miami River.
Construction of the dam began in October 1971, and water impoundment started January 1978. The dam is an earth and rock fill embankment 2,750 feet long and 165 feet high. An open-cut spillway was constructed to the east of the dam to prevent severe flood waters from topping the dam. Water release is controlled by a series of multi-level gates in the outlet structure, which permit control of water quality in the stream below the dam. In addition to the main dam, four dikes were constructed along the northwest drainage divide between Caesar Creek and the Little Miami River.
Caesar Creek is the deepest lake in Ohio, with a normal water depth of 115 feet near the dam. Steep shorelines falling off rapidly into deep water are characteristic of the lake, especially in the lower end below S.R. 73. Numerous bays and inlets are present around the lake, ranging in size from less than one acre to more than 70 acres. Most of the bays contain standing timber and brush, which provide excellent fish habitat. Stump zones and some areas of standing timber have been provided along areas of the shoreline and in the lake. There are three islands, the largest of which is 40 acres.
FISHES OF INTEREST TO ANGLERS
Caesar Creek Lake has populations of largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, Kentucky Spotted bass, bluegill, white and black crappie, white bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, and carp. Fish stocked annually include saugeye and muskellunge. Gizzard shad is the main forage species.
FISHING FORECAST
| Type of Fish |
|
Size |
Largest
(inches) |
Fishing Tips/Comments |
| Channel Catfish |
Good
|
Excellent
|
30.0
|
|
| Crappie |
Fair
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Excellent
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12.2
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A 9-inch minimum size limit and 30 daily bag limit is in effect. Except for spring when shallow woody cover is productive, look for crappies in 10-20 foot depths adjacent to cover. |
| Largemouth Bass |
Fair
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Excellent
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20.5
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Kentucky spotted bass and smallmouth bass are also present. Fish shoreline woody structure and wooded bays during spring. In summer, try dropoffs and points with structure 10-16 feet deep. A 15-inch minimum size limit is in effect. |
Muskellunge
|
Good
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Good
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49.0
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Cast spinners and jerk baits in wooded coves or near woody cover along mainlake shorelines. |
| Saugeye |
Good
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Good
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25.4
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Catch rates peak during May-July. Troll crankbaits or bottom bounce with jigs or nightcrawler rigs. A 15-inch minimum size limit goes into effect starting March 1, 2011. |
| Sunfish |
Fair
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Good
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7.7
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Try 8-16 foot depths for larger fish. In 2009, the average length of bluegills kept by anglers was only 5.7 inches. |
White Bass
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Excellent
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Poor
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14.0
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In April and May, try tributary area in upper end of lake. In summer, troll crankbaits or cast spinners or jigs with curly tails. |
Fish Survey Report
| Types of Fish |
Percent Seeking |
Catch Rates |
Fishing Pressure |
| Catfish |
3%
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Poor
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Average
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| Crappie |
28%
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Fair
|
High
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Hybrid Striped Bass
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3%
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Fair
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High
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Largemouth Bass
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24%
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Poor
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High
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| Muskellunge |
7%
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Excellent
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High
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| Saugeye |
9%
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Excellent
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Average
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| Sunfish |
6%
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Good
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High
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White Bass
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1%
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Excellent
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High
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Angler Survey Report
METHODS OF FISHING AND BEST FISHING SITES
In the lower end, the most promising fishing areas are in the bays and around cover near the shoreline. In the upper end of the lake, flooded timber, rocky shorelines, and dropoffs associated with long points or underwater humps are good areas. Crappies are found throughout the lake and can be taken in the spring in areas with brush or timber by using small jigs or still fishing with small minnows or wax worms. Bluegills are taken on redworms and waxworms in summer around cover (stumps, brush, and trees), sometimes as deep as 12-18 feet. Bass can be taken from spring through fall by casting artificial lures and live nightcrawlers near shoreline cover, dropoffs, and bays with flooded timber. In spring, white bass can be caught on small jigs or spinners in the two main tributary streams in the upper end of the lake. In the summer, saugeye can be caught by trolling deep diving crankbaits or by bouncing a night crawler spinner harness along the bottom. Muskie anglers cast large spinners near submerged timber or troll oversized crankbaits along main lake dropoffs.
RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES
The four public launch ramps are located at Wellman Meadows (near the dam), off S.R. 73 on the west side (Furnas Shores and North Pool), and off Young Rd. (Haines Boat Ramp) at the upper end. Caesar Creek State Park offers a Class A campground, group camping, horseman's camping, swimming beaches, picnic areas, shelter houses, horse riding trails, hiking trails, and a nature center. The historic Pioneer Village is located on the south side of the lake off Oregonia Road.
The area below the dam is a scenic gorge, owned by the state of Ohio. In the dam area, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers offers a Visitor Center and fishing access to the dam and tailwater area.
FISH OHIO
Anglers who catch big fish should enter their prize in the Fish Ohio angler recognition program. A fish qualifies for an award if it meets the minimum size requirements set for the Fish Ohio program. Applications are available online at FishOhio.org.
FISH MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES
Extensive habitat work prior to impoundment resulted in an abundance of fish habitat in the lake. Trees were left standing in most bays and along the islands and shoreline in the north end, and several old bridge abutments are present throughout the lake. Stumps of three to five feet were left in zones around the shoreline and in the open areas in the upper end.
Fish management activities by the ODNR Division of Wildlife include extensive monitoring of the fish community, stocking, and conducting studies to determine spawning success, survival, and growth of important game species.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The nearest District office is located at Wildlife District Five, 1076 Old Springfield Pike, Xenia, OH 45385; telephone 937/372-9261. A Caesar Creek Lake Wildlife Area map is available.
Horsepower limits and other boating regulations are subject to change. Contact the ODNR Division of Wildlife for the most current information.
TURN IN A POACHER
Ohio’s TIP, “Turn In a Poacher,” program is helping to control poaching throughout the state. TIP is designed to involve the public in reporting wildlife violations. Citizens who observe wildlife violations should call the TIP toll-free hotline, 1-800-POACHER. |
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