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09-14-2005, 03:56 PM
Lake Erie Fishing Report
Updated September 14, 2005
LAKE ERIE
Western Basin
Walleye
Walleye fishing effort is still low, with few fish being taken. Anglers are picking a few up off of Kelley’s Island Shoal. Elsewhere, most harvested fish are coming as incidental catch while perch fishing. Look for fishing to improve as the water cools, as fish from the 2003 year class surpass 15 inches, and when the migratory walleye return from the east.
Yellow Perch
Perch fishing is good, with limit catches coming from many different locations. The best areas include Little Cedar Point, the Turnaround Buoy, the Firing Range, the area between Green and Rattlesnake Island, and west of Kelley’s Island. Most fish are still running on the small side, but larger fish (10 to 12 inches) are starting to appear in the catch. A perch spreader tipped with shiners is the most popular set-up.
Smallmouth Bass
The best smallmouth bass fishing has been around the Bass Islands, Kelley’s Island and Sandusky Bay. Largemouth bass have been caught in Sandusky Bay, East Harbor and West Harbor.
Central Basin
Walleye
Walleye fishing has been good in Ohio waters of the central basin. The best areas were east of the sandbar off Lorain and five to 12 miles north of Ashtabula and Conneaut in 63 to 72 feet of water. Trolling 30 to 50 feet down with spoons, crawler harnesses or stickbaits, using planer boards, dipsy divers, or jet divers have produced the best catches. Fish have ranged from 15 to 24 inches.
Yellow Perch
Yellow perch fishing has been good from Vermillion to Lorain in 30 to 40 feet of water. Further east, excellent perch fishing can be found one to two miles north of Wildwood State Park in 38 to 42 feet of water, four to seven miles north of Ashtabula to Conneaut in 50 to 65 feet of water, and two to six miles north between Eastlake and Fairport Harbor in 40 to 60 feet of water. A perch spreader tipped with shiners is the most popular set-up. Fish have ranged from six to 13 inches.
Smallmouth Bass
The best smallmouth bass fishing has been around break walls and rocky drop-offs from Lorain to Avon point. Tube jigs and drop-shot rigs with goby imitations have been the most productive lures.
Steelhead
Steelhead were caught by walleye anglers in the same areas mentioned in the walleye report. Fish have ranged from 16 to 28 inches.
Lake Erie surface temperatures are in the low to mid 70’s.
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/wildlife/fishing/freport/lakeerieweekly.htm
Updated September 14, 2005
LAKE ERIE
Western Basin
Walleye
Walleye fishing effort is still low, with few fish being taken. Anglers are picking a few up off of Kelley’s Island Shoal. Elsewhere, most harvested fish are coming as incidental catch while perch fishing. Look for fishing to improve as the water cools, as fish from the 2003 year class surpass 15 inches, and when the migratory walleye return from the east.
Yellow Perch
Perch fishing is good, with limit catches coming from many different locations. The best areas include Little Cedar Point, the Turnaround Buoy, the Firing Range, the area between Green and Rattlesnake Island, and west of Kelley’s Island. Most fish are still running on the small side, but larger fish (10 to 12 inches) are starting to appear in the catch. A perch spreader tipped with shiners is the most popular set-up.
Smallmouth Bass
The best smallmouth bass fishing has been around the Bass Islands, Kelley’s Island and Sandusky Bay. Largemouth bass have been caught in Sandusky Bay, East Harbor and West Harbor.
Central Basin
Walleye
Walleye fishing has been good in Ohio waters of the central basin. The best areas were east of the sandbar off Lorain and five to 12 miles north of Ashtabula and Conneaut in 63 to 72 feet of water. Trolling 30 to 50 feet down with spoons, crawler harnesses or stickbaits, using planer boards, dipsy divers, or jet divers have produced the best catches. Fish have ranged from 15 to 24 inches.
Yellow Perch
Yellow perch fishing has been good from Vermillion to Lorain in 30 to 40 feet of water. Further east, excellent perch fishing can be found one to two miles north of Wildwood State Park in 38 to 42 feet of water, four to seven miles north of Ashtabula to Conneaut in 50 to 65 feet of water, and two to six miles north between Eastlake and Fairport Harbor in 40 to 60 feet of water. A perch spreader tipped with shiners is the most popular set-up. Fish have ranged from six to 13 inches.
Smallmouth Bass
The best smallmouth bass fishing has been around break walls and rocky drop-offs from Lorain to Avon point. Tube jigs and drop-shot rigs with goby imitations have been the most productive lures.
Steelhead
Steelhead were caught by walleye anglers in the same areas mentioned in the walleye report. Fish have ranged from 16 to 28 inches.
Lake Erie surface temperatures are in the low to mid 70’s.
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/wildlife/fishing/freport/lakeerieweekly.htm