Lake Erie Fishing Report: June 26, 2002 Western Basin - Lake Erie water temperature off Toledo is 66* F. The best walleye action of the season has occurred in the past week . The Toledo Shipping Channel near the Michigan line and in the "Triangle" area from Niagara Reef to Middle Sister Island to West Sister Island are the best Western Basin locations. Anglers are trolling with deep diving crank baits, spoons and drifting with weight-forward spinners, mayfly rigs, and bottom bouncers with worm harnesses tipped with nightcrawlers. Most fish are 18 to 22 inches with some larger fish. The legal bag limit for walleyes on Lake Erie and its tributaries is six fish from May through February. Yellow perch fishing continues to be good at many locations with some limit catches. Some good perch fishing locations include Kelleys Island, Gull Island Shoal, Rattlesnake Island, Ballast Island, and Starve Island. Perch catches are in the 8- to 11-inch range. Anglers are using perch spreaders tipped with minnows. The yellow perch bag limit is 30 perch per angler per day. Smallmouth bass fishing is reported as fair. Best locations are around the islands and on Sandusky Bay. Most catches measure 14 to 18 inches. Anglers are using tube jigs, soft craws or leeches. The legal limit for smallmouth bass is five fish per angler per day with a minimum length requirement of 14 inches. Central Basin - Water temperature is 63* off Cleveland. Walleye fishing has improved at Ruggles Reef, Vermilion and the sandbar 8 miles northwest of Lorain. Anglers are using dipsey divers and jet divers with spoons in silver, chartreuse, watermelon and purple, eight miles north of Eastlake in 65 to 70 feet of water, and north of Geneva 10 to 12 miles. Trollers are also picking up some steelhead trout. Walleyes and steelhead are measuring 23 to 28 inches. Perch fishing has been good off Vermilion, Lorain, Cleveland, Wildwood, Fairport Harbor (1-3 miles out), Geneva (1-2 miles out) and Conneaut. The bite has been best in the early morning and evening. Smallmouth bass anglers have been most successful at Ruggles Reef and Vermilion. Anglers are jigging lures tipped with minnows, tube jigs, small spinners, crankbaits, and crayfish at Conneaut, Geneva, Ashtabula, and Fairport harbors in 10 to 30 feet of water.
Source: ODNR
|