ODNR Lake Erie Fishing Report 7/23/03: OH

Article Posted: July 23, 2003

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Western Basin-

The best walleye fishing in the past week has been in the area NW of West
Sister Island and between Middle Sister Island and West Sister Island in 30
feet of water. Best methods have included casting weight-forward lures,
drifting bottom bouncers with crawler harnesses and trolling spoons. Fish
have ranged from 14 to 22".

Yellow perch fishing has been best E of Kelleys Island off of airport reef
in 40 feet of water and N of the Marblehead lighthouse in 30 feet of water.
Spreaders tipped with shiners have been most productive for 7 to 12" fish.

For smallmouth bass try fishing the east side of Kelleys Island in 13 to 16
feet of water and nearshore areas around the Bass Islands. Tube jigs have
been used to catch fish between 15 and 20". Largemouth Bass fishing has
been very good in East Harbor around thick beds of vegetation and in the
harbor channel.

Central Basin-

Walleye fishing in the Central Basin has been best on the sandbar 7 to 15
miles NW of Lorain in 35 to 45 feet of water, between Cranberry Creek and
Vermilion in 21 to 39 feet of water, 7 to 8 miles NW of Euclid and Eastlake
in 58 to 66 feet of water, and 5 to 7 miles N of Geneva and Ashtabula in 70
feet of water. Anglers have been trolling dipsy divers with spoons (most
color schemes with copper, blue, watermelon, chartreuse or gold have been
best) or crawler harnesses for fish from 15 to 28".

Yellow perch fishing has slowed recently, but typically improves in August.
Best areas to try include 1 miles N of Beaver Creek, 2 to 3 miles N of
Fairport and Geneva in 44 to 50 feet of water, in 42 to 46 feet of water 3
miles NE of Wildwood State Park, and 2 miles N-NE of Conneaut in 42 feet of
water. Spreaders tipped with shiners are taking fish from 8 to 12".

Smallmouth bass are being caught near Ruggles Reef in 12 to 20 feet of water
and in nearshore breakwall and harbor areas from 10 to 20 feet of water
around Conneaut, Ashtabula, Geneva, Fairport and Cleveland. 14 to 18 inch
fish have been caught on tube jigs, jigs tipped with shiners and crankbaits.

Steelhead have been caught by trollers using dipsy divers with spoons 8 to
10 miles NW of Euclid and Eastlake in 64 to 68 feet of water and 5 to 7
miles N of Geneva and Ashtabula in 70 feet of water. The steelhead have
ranged in size from 23 to 29".



Source: ODNR






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