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Western Basin- Walleye fishing in the western basin continues to be very good in the West
Sister Island area. The most consistent action has been between Middle
Sister Island and West Sister Island, and also farther east towards North
Bass Island in the Northwest Reef area. 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 improving in the western basin. Best areas
have included the reef complex in 18 feet of water, S of Kelleys Island in
28 to 30 feet of water, N of Gull Island Shoal, 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 and Marblehead.
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 miles NW
of Lorain in 30 to 50 feet of water, between Huron and Vermilion in 30 to 40
feet of water, 9 to 10 miles N of Eastlake in 68 to 72 feet of water, 7 to 8
miles N of Gordon Park ramp (Cleveland) in 65 to 70 feet of water, and 7 to
8 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 pink 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 2 to 3 miles N of Fairport and Geneva in 45 to 50
feet of water and 3 miles N of Gordon Park ramp (Cleveland) in 48 to 51 feet
of water. Spreaders tipped with shiners are taking fish from 8 to 11".
Smallmouth bass are being caught near Ruggles Reef in 15 to 25 feet of water
and in nearshore breakwall and harbor areas around Lorain, 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 9 to
10 miles N of Eastlake in 68 to 72 feet of water and 7 to 8 miles N of
Gordon Park ramp (Cleveland) in 65 to 70 feet of water. The steelhead have
ranged in size from 23 to 29".
Source: ODNR
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