ODNR Fishing Report for 05/20/2008: OH

Article Posted: May 20, 2008

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**The black bass (largemouth and smallmouth) season is closed to possession (catch and release only) from May 1 through June 27. Beginning June 28 the daily bag limit is 5 fish with a 14” minimum size limit.**

**The steelhead trout daily bag limit is 2 through May 15. From May 16 through August 31 the bag limit is 5. The minimum size limit for steelhead is 12 inches.**

**The walleye bag limit is 6 fish per day. The minimum size limit for walleye is 15”.**

**The yellow perch daily bag limit on Lake Erie is 30 fish per day.**

Western Basin

Walleye are post-spawn and fish are migrating towards summer locations. Over the past week the best fishing has been in the area west and north of West Sister Island, west of South Bass Island between Green Island and Rattlesnake Island, and along the Canadian border from North Bass Island to Gull Island Shoal. Drifting with worm harnesses or casting mayfly rigs will be productive as fish move off of spawning grounds and into surrounding open water. Trollers have been catching fish on worm harnesses fished with inline weights, snap weights, bottom bouncers, or divers. Crankbaits seem to be catching larger fish, but numbers are going to harnesses. Spoons are catching fish as well.

Yellow perch reports have been sparse due to the weekend weather. Try fishing some of the traditional spots around Marblehead and Kelley’s Island. Some nice fish were caught east of Kelley’s near Airport Reef early last week.

Central Basin

Walleye have been caught trolling nearshore in 15-25’ off Eastlake, Cleveland and Rocky River. Trollers are using stick baits, spoons and worm harnesses off planer boards and also flatline trolling. Fishing is picking up on the piers at Eastlake and Cleveland. The best times are in the evening and early morning with anglers using surface rapalas.

Yellow perch fishing has been best in 30-40’ off Fairport to Conneaut, and 30-40’ off Cleveland. Perch spreaders with shiners fished near the bottom produce the most fish.

Smallmouth bass fishing has been good in 15 to 25’ around harbor areas in Conneaut, Ashtabula, Geneva and Fairport Harbor. Fish are being caught on jigs tipped with minnows, leeches, tube jigs, and by trolling crankbaits.

Based on the nearshore forecast the water temperature is 58 off of Toledo and 55 off of Cleveland.

Anglers are encouraged to always wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device while boating.




Source: ODNR






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