Western Basin- The best walleye fishing in the past week has been in the area NW of West Sister Island in 30 feet of water and also on the reef complex in 8 to 16 feet of water. Best methods have included casting weapons or drifting bottom bouncers with crawler harnesses, and trolling blue, pink, copper or chartreuse spoons. Fish have ranged from 14 to 22". Yellow perch fishing has been best N of Kelleys Island in 30 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 11" fish. The east side of Kelleys Island and the Bass Islands have produced the best smallmouth bass catches. Tube jigs have been used to catch fish between 15 and 20". Catches of largemouth bass have been reported in East Harbor. Central Basin- Walleye fishing in the Central Basin has been best on the sandbar 7 to 15 miles NW of Lorain in 38 to 50 feet of water, 8 to 10 miles NW of Euclid and Eastlake in 64 to 66 feet of water, and 4 to 6 miles N of Geneva and Ashtabula in 55 to 62 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 are being caught 1 to 2 miles N of Lorain in 35 to 40 feet of water, 2 miles N of Geneva in 44 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 7 to 13". Smallmouth bass are being caught near Ruggles Reef in 20 to 33 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. The steelhead have ranged in size from 23 to 29".
Source: ODNR |