Bass can be targeted, but none can be kept. Sometimes the weather of the day will dictate which. But main-lake areas are also holding green bass, particularly ones that feature cover that includes submergent vegetation with rocky structure. May is the best month for Lake Erie smallmouth fishing because the bass will be in relatively shallow water, and they tend to be aggressive during this pre-spawn period. However, autumn weather is often increasingly uncooperative and anglers are advised to pay particular attention to the forecast when planning their trip. Consistently productive colors are those that imitate the basss natural prey items, colors like smoke/charcoal with flecks and greens (baitfish) or browns (crayfish, round goby). Depending on depth, combine a to ounce leadhead jig (3/8 oz. 0000145464 00000 n Central basin perch fishing often gets better as the summer progresses. Lake St. Clair, Michigan. Last year the C&R ran from May 1 through June 24. Be sure to have both Ohio and Pennsylvania licenses if you wander over the border. Whether you are fishing Erie's main-lake shoreline or one of the large, protected bays, springtime smallmouth movements revolve around the spawn. Now is the perfect time to be on Lake Erie for smallmouth bass in the 5-pound class. St. Clair, sometimes referred to as the "Sixth Great Lake," abuts Metropolitan Detroit and extends into Ontario. All Rights Reserved. Lake Erie Smallmouth Bass Fishing Hotspots Buffalo to Angola Legend Campground Break Walls/Piers Public Boat Launch City/Village Major Road I 90 Exits Waterbody Municipal Park State Park County Recreational Land 0 2 4 Miles Map not for navigational use. 0000001314 00000 n Bass fishing is also good in harbor and canal areas in May and early June. It wasn't long before a rod bent back, indicating the first walleye of the morning had engulfed a trolled crankbait. Oh, sure, there were largemouth populations within embayment areas such as Sandusky Bay. Turn the legs and thighs of a freshly killed gobbler into comfort food for a chilly spring night. In this area of the lake, between Conneaut, Ohio and the Pennsylvania border, an . What could be better than a deep-fried nugget? Unlike walleyes, perch from the record 2003 hatch are now gone.". 0 The previous record, a 9.25-pound smallmouth, was caught on Long Lake. "So, when you have some years with below-average spawns, you feel it. On calm days, you can see the bottom in 35 feet of water. In shallower, clear water, a boat might spook shoreline smallmouths. One of the popular launching sites east of Cleveland is at Fairport Harbor. One that's smoked first. Tube jigs, drop-shot rigs with soft plastic bodies (ones that mimic round gobies excel), jigging spoons and blade baits can all work when working these deeper ledges. Give a Gift Add weight 18 inches in front of the lure to get them down. With strong populations of both species, however, it's likely good action will continue for both in 2017 a nice situation. This turns out to be a bed fishing trip and one of the best trips on the big pond of my life.. Supporting a diverse fishery comprised of both warmwater and coldwater species, Erie provides anglers great fishing for smallmouth bass, walleyes and yellow perch upon the arrival of spring. Smallmouths invade the shallow water to feed heavily on shiners, smelts, shad, crayfish and, more recently, round gobies. Other popular starting points for smallmouth anglers are at Ashtabula and Conneaut. Unique places like Erie, Pennsylvania, have days when the weather permits Lake Erie November fishing. Sharp drop-offs to the east of Conneaut, near the Pennsylvania state line, hold bass throughout the summer. Some of the largest bass are caught in spring; anglers have a better chance of catching a 6 pound plus trophy bass in spring than any other time during the year. This is a turkey hunter's take on the classic Swiss dish. Depending on depth, combine a to ounce leadhead jig (3/8 oz. They caught 65 smallmouth bass in two days with 4 fish over 5 pounds. Boat ramps are available in the Vermillion River. May anglers often get into yellow perch just outside the bay, off the lighthouse, in depths ranging from 40 to 50 feet. OHIO The bottom of the western basin is mostly vast expanses of silt and sand. Hartman said Erie's smallmouth fishery is difficult to assess. "I love it when a plan comes together:" Thomas Allen may have missed a day-starting coffee and chill time, but his planning before a recent turkey hunt in Minnesota had him ready when gobblers showed up earlier than expected, and just before an April winter storm blew in. In general, basins to the east of the island/reef complexes and river systems (Detroit and Maumee) gather many of the spawning walleyes and are prime spots from late April through May. It shows up on most electronic mapping programs. But the largemouth fishery has been in expansion for several years, so much so that now that it's common to catch western basin largemouths within main-lake areas, ones that previously displayed a smallmouths-only sign. This is a turkey hunter's take on the classic Swiss dish. One major exception to lure choices occurs in some of the bays or harbors where springtime smallmouth action starts first. Male fish cruise the spawning flats in search of prime bedding locations, which are usually found in depths between 10 and 20 feet, while the larger females feed heavily in the deeper water surrounding the flats. Normally less than 6ft of water, drifting, approximately 10ft from shore. Like Erie walleyes, the heaviest angler attention for perch in Pennsylvania waters happens later in the year, once the water warms up. In Lake Erie, finding smallmouth bass is a matter of finding the right bottom structure. Suspending jerkbaits are often tops here, as well as soft swimbaits or swimming grubs. This year, the rifle will be chambered in 7mm PRC, the hot new load that was a hit at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. The word spreads quickly when perch schools are located, particularly with today's social media. Jigs with plastics fished under a float is a top tactic for drift anglers. For information about area services, contact the Lake County Visitors Bureau, 1610 Mentor Avenue, Painesville, OH 44077, or call (800) 368-LAKE. Anglers report that the tributary smallmouth bass bite is on, with good numbers of fish pushing up and excellent catches. Channel edges are key to success. Each map includes depth contours, structure, boat ramp locations, fishing info and GPS points. Winchester's Nathan Robinson talks features with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. The central basin includes several jumping off points that make access to the lake convenient. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Below is a list of fishing hot spots during the spring months in the Central and Western Basin of Lake Erie. Fly anglers do very well drifting or swinging woolly buggers and minnow patterns, especially emerald shiner patterns. Smallmouth bass are the most frequently caught fish species in Lake Erie and fishing trips for smallmouths make up about 25% of all Lake Erie fishing trips for the entire year. Join Thomas Allen and son Tommy on an Iowa turkey hunt that resulted in big toms for both hunters. These Major League Fishing pros share the best tips and advice they've ever received. Minnows and crayfish are top live bait offerings, but nightcrawlers and leeches will also work. Items that factor in include fish populations as well as recent harvest, both from sport anglers and commercial fisherman. A popular strategy is to be prepared to fish the bay, but venture out into the lake if the winds are light. ", Best New Baitcasting Rods & Reels for 2022, Backyard Ready: Grilling the Perfect Steak, DIY: Earthworms Can't Hide When 'Grunters' Are Hunting, Western Whiskerfish: Trophy Flatheads, Channels, Even Blues, Sweet Streams: 5 Hot Rivers for Midwest Smallies, Spin to Win: Panfish Secrets for Catching Limits on Spinners, Bass Crash Course: Topwater Pointers for Buzzbaits, Walking Baits, Euro Nymphing 101: Trout Tactics from Across the Pond, Awesome Start to Minnesota Turkey Hunting, Bass Crash Course: How to Properly Tune a Baitcasting Rig, Winchester Big Bore: Backcountry Bear Protection. When water temperatures reach between 55 and 60 degrees, female bass filter onto the flats and begin to spawn. These Major League Fishing pros share the best tips and advice they've ever received. 0000374305 00000 n Main-lake anglers should be prepared to work depths from 30 feet to 5 feet. Bass nests can be in 10 or more feet of water due to the clarity. Unlike young walleye and yellow perch which inhabit off-shore areas accessible to the agency's open water trawl efforts young smallmouth bass frequent near-shore shallows. Route 2 provides access through Sandusky. The "Dumping Ground" is found a relative short distance to the northeast of Presque Isle Bay and is popular with anglers launching from this area. The breakwalls at Lorain tend to hold bass throughout much of the summer; such places often offer up sport for anglers not equipped for taking on the main lake. Reel in the slack line so you can directly feel the weight on the bottom and any strike on your bait. As noted, younger walleyes, such as those from the 2014 and 2015 hatches, tend to stay tighter to shore. I can't emphasize enough the importance of keeping good records. Lawrence River Fishing, Great Lakes and Tributaries Special Fishing Regulations, Lake Erie Smallmouth Bass Fishing Hotspots Map (710 KB pdf file), Railroad trestle (between Route 20 and I-90) to mouth. The water in this section of the lake warms quicker, so the bass should be further along in the spawn by June, perhaps even in the post-spawn period. After ice-out, smallmouth bass begin to seek out areas where water warms up faster than the open lake. A tube jig, hair jig, or soft swimbait, worked down the side of this edge, is often productive. The rig consists of a hook tied directly to the line with a Palomar knot with hook point facing up and a weight/sinker ( to oz) tied to the end of the line below the hook. Personal defense in the hunting woods could involve taking down a charging bear. Give a Gift Whether you launch from the shores of Pennsylvania or Ohio, you'll have some great places to fish for smallmouth bass, walleyes and yellow perch. The daily creel limit is five bass, combined species, with a minimum size of 14 inches. The cameras can be used to identify schools of bass, find bedded fish on spawning flats, or examine irregular bottom features. Do It CNC Pro Series Soft Plastic Lure Molds, Live Bait Traps/Storage, Minnow Buckets, Aerators, Do-It Pro Series CNC Soft Plastic Lure Molds, Do-It Essential Series Soft Plastic Molds, FISHING HOT SPOTS MAP-LAKE ERIE BASS ISLANDS AREA. Turn the legs and thighs of a freshly killed gobbler into comfort food for a chilly spring night. Underwater cameras are great tools for smallmouth fishermen. This provides access to numerous excellent smallmouth hotspots. From late February through April, your prey will be close to land, feeding and looking for the perfect spawning spot. However, many smaller rocky areas along Lake Erie's coast also hold bass. Fishing Hotspots This page is available in other languages, Great Lakes/Niagara River/St. Consistent perch production of late, combined with the fast growth rates of Lake Erie, should combine to provide western basin anglers with good numbers as well as size structure of yellow perch. From mid-April into early May, fish start to migrate from wintering areas, which are usually the first major dropoffs adjacent to spawning areas, and begin to stage on underwater points between 15 and 30 feet deep. The number of bass caught can be outstanding due to the higher concentration of bass in those areas. targeting humps and ridges that collect smallies. I've caught plenty running a Tail Dancer back about 150 feet on thin, braided line. And this kind of action takes place all along the southern shore of the lake, from the western basin east through Pennsylvania. In fact, studies have shown that the invasive gobies have become the major dietary item for Lake Erie smallmouths. Various shades of brown have been productive lately, perhaps because of the shift in the smallmouths' diet to gobies, or perhaps because it resembles crayfish. All Game & Fish subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. Main lake waters off Catawba and Marblehead are good bass areas, as is Sandusky Bay. Both are west of the City of Erie. Lake Erie - Central Basin East. Information must be accurate and the more details that you can include, the easier it will be to piece the smallmouth puzzle together. "Tubes" are a top artificial bait for Erie smallmouths and can be used effectively through cast and retrieve, vertical jigging or combined with a drop-shot rig. Perch populations in central basin waters may be down somewhat. Lake Erie has some of the best smallmouth bass fishing in the U.S. Also known as M. dolomieu, bronzeback, bareback bass, or brownie. After ice-out, smallmouth bass begin to seek out areas where water warms up faster than the open lake. 0000001148 00000 n startxref Take Dutch Road or Manchester Road off Route 5 to this area. As Lake Erie waters warm, post-spawn smallmouths move to deeper water zones where they will hold during the summer months (late June through August). By May bass will be on the move, leaving the deeper main-lake sanctuaries in favor of shallower zones where they will eventually spawn. Steve and I make a trip to Lake Erie to catch smallmouth bass. The success of walleye hatches varies greatly on Lake Erie, the reasons for which remain somewhat of a mystery. Depending on wind conditions, Smallie anglers have the availability of fishing both the north and south side of the lake. Avoid backlashes by making simple adjustments to your reel and matching your lures to your rod's power and action. This great Smallmouth Hotspot is a deep water area along a major breakline in Lake Erie. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. Live bait combined with a drop-shot rig is another popular method. (Photo by Ron Sinfelt). Like Lake Erie, the Bay is now designated a "big bass" water. A "parking lot" of anchored boats is indicative of a school of biting perch. As Lake Erie waters warm, post-spawn smallmouths move to deeper water zones where they will hold during the summer months (late June through August). Boat fishing isn't productive right now because the fish are swarming the shallows. Top lures include tube jigs, twister tails or deep diving stickbaits, spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Smallmouth bass are the most frequently caught fish species in Lake Erie and fishing trips for smallmouths make up about 25% of all Lake Erie fishing trips for the entire year. Hartman also said that while walleye production varies greatly, in general, nesting success has been more consistent in recent years. As with areas to the west, breakwalls at access sites are worth investigating, particularly on days when the lake is too rough to fish.
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