Lake Erie Fishing Report: May 22, 2002:

Western Basin:
Lake Erie water temperature is 53* F. Mother Nature is finally
cooperating with Lake Erie anglers. The water has cleared up and the
walleye fishing has picked up. Walleyes are being caught, but some anglers
are having better success than others. Fishing should improve as water
temperatures rise. Much of the angling pressure is in the "Triangle Area"
west of West Sister Island, particularly along the Toledo Shipping Channel
north of the Toledo Harbor Light. Other spots that have been good when the
weather is favorable include A Can, north of Kelleys Island, off Davis
Besse, and the Reef Complex. Anglers are casting and drifting
weight-forward spinners, mayfly rigs, and crawler harnesses tipped with
nightcrawlers, as well as trolling deep diving lures. Catches are 15 to 20
inches with some larger fish. The legal bag limit for walleyes for Lake
Erie and its tributaries is six fish from May through February.
Anglers also continue to take yellow perch. Best perch fishing locations
are around the islands including Kelleys Island to Middle Island,
Rattlesnake Island, and Ballast Island. Perch anglers are catching many
limits of nice-sized perch in the 9- to 13-inch range using perch spreaders
tipped with minnows. The yellow perch bag limit is 30 perch per angler per
day.
Smallmouth bass fishing is fair to good around the islands. Most catches
will measure 14 to 18 inches. Anglers are using softcraws or leeches. The
legal limit for smallmouth bass is five fish per angler with a minimum
length requirement of 14 inches.

Central Basin: Water temperature is 52* off Cleveland. Perch fishing has
been good off Lorain, Cleveland and Fairport Harbor areas when the weather
cooperates.
Once the weather improves, smallmouth bass angling should be good at Ruggles
Reef, the artificial reefs in the Lorain/Cleveland area and harbor
breakwalls from Cleveland to Conneaut. Most catches will measure 14 to 18
inches.

National Safe Boating Week is May 18-24. Boaters and anglers are reminded
to Boat Smart From the Start; Always Wear A Life Jacket.

Source: ODNR