dunno about the bass fishin dont do it...but the bullheads that is a true statement for sure.

 

worms in 12-15 ft of water works pretty good also, deep crankin'

 

Cheeze loves to deep crank!

 

Arch...if your kayak suddenly flips over in the Ohio this year, don't go blaming me...

 

That won't happen, I will just anchor like you do (from behind).

 

there are so many variables out there, but i have done good on shallow cranks, med. cranks, deep cranks, jigs and worms. honesly, so much depends on the day and the shad

 

I agree with johnboy. This is the best early morning buzzbait lake Ive ever fished though.

 

2) Is it normal to catch 50 million bullheads when channel catfishing?[/QUOTE]
If you want to stop catching bullheads you should use larger livebaits. If you have a cast net it is possible to catch many shad to use. Other than that you can use bluegills from 3-6 inches or more to catch the many big channel cats that swim the lake. Also if you start catching really small bullheads like 3-7" long you can use them for bait as well! Just take their spines and nip off the sharp tips to create more scent and less deterent for big cats. I would be sure to use hooks, preferably mustad ultra points, in sizes 2/0-7/0 depending on the size of the bait you're using. Last but not least in spring time especially april to the end of may. Fish very shallow like less than 3 feet deep. Most of the time I fish less than 10 feet from the shoreline. Catfish will use the shallow water to pin easy meals like frogs, shad, crayfish, and any other likely meal. Once channel catfish reach more than 5lbs you may notice their feeding habits will reflect more closely to walleyes or bass. They become active hunting and feeding machines! Good Luck!

 

Long Lake can be a terriffic topwater lake...I like using a purple rat with a hula skirt or a skirted, weedless Zara-Spook...I fish right over heavy cover, milifiore, deadfall, and pads, most often fishing from the shoreline out, but deeper weedbeds can produce too, anywhere the pads are there can be explosive hits and the edges are open territory for all kinds of baits...stay away from the neon and darker Green growth thats been springing up the past couple years...the fish do anyway. I often fish 3/8oz.white Red-eye Spinnerbaits with white or clear glitter trailers on shorelines, edges and stumps and deadfall cover with good results especially morning or evening when I am working my way in or out of the river or the many channels. I've been using 4 and 5" Berkely Powerworms (twistertails) Texas Rigged in Green or Blue to good effect when fishing deep. Long Lake is one of the two original lakes (the other is Hower) and has always been my favorite of the Poratge lakes...Fishing is more interesting too and takes a twist because the Tuscarawas river passes right through the heart of the lake.
Wherever you are, you are probably going to get bullheads too if you are fishing for channels...the advice offered above about using larger live baits can help to sort things out, but heck I took a couple ten pounders last year just fishing the bottom with crawlers...who can complain? I think there is a good chance of maybe hooking into a larger bass on Long Lake too.
Good Fishing,
Woody in Akron

 

Thanks for all the replies, very informative!.....Believe it or not, I will probably head out there this weekend to fish for some channels near the tusc. Heck, with the recent warm weather I may even try throwing some texas rigged plastics...

 

I'm out here in the lakes too...been fishing for crappie on a Long Lake tributary channel...(and catching a lot of Bluegill)...this past couple weeks (a few Crappie too)...The water on the Tusc before the lake at S. Main St. is running what looks a little more than two foot high and is over the banks in lots of places. Good luck with your Channelcat fishiing...a few things that nobody has mentioned much are the Walleye/Saugeye and Muskie in there, who have no problem with cold weather, Carp will bite in the cold too and provide anybody who hooks one with a good run for their money...(LOL). Keep us posted.
Good Fishing,
Woody in Akron