** The 15" walleye minimum size limit remains in effect for the entire
season. The smallmouth and largemouth bass season opened on June 26. The
daily bag limit for bass is 5 with a 14" minimum size limit.** Surface temperatures are in the lower 70's. Western Basin Walleye
The best walleye fishing has been in the area around West Sister Island from
the island north to Middle Sister and from the island northwest to the
turnaround buoy of the Toledo shipping channel. Drifting mayfly rigs and
trolling spoons or worm harnesses produce the most fish. Walleye hatched in
2003 (ranging in size from 5 to 10 inches) are already being caught. Please
handle these sub-legal fish as gently as possible and quickly return them to
the water. Yellow Perch
Yellow perch fishing has been best at the Kelleys Island airport reef,
around Ballast Island, and around the cans along the north boundary of the
Camp Perry firing range. Fish just off the bottom using perch spreaders
tipped with shiners. Smallmouth Bass
The best smallmouth bass fishing has been around the Bass Islands, Kelleys
Island and Sandusky Bay. Central Basin Walleye
The best walleye fishing has been N of Lorain between the old trash dump and
the sandbar, 10 to 12 miles N of Ashtabula in 70 feet of water, 1 to 3 miles
N of the Chagrin River in 38 to 50 feet of water, and 3 to 4 miles W of
Fairport Harbor in 35 to 45 feet of water. Trolling spoons or worm
harnesses using divers or downriggers has produced the best catches. Yellow Perch
Yellow perch fishing has been best 2 to 3 miles N of Cleveland in 35 to 48
feet of water, 3 to 4 miles N of Fairport Harbor in 50 to 56 feet of water,
and 3 to 4 miles out from Ashtabula to Conneaut in 50 to 55 feet of water.
A perch spreader tipped with shiners is the most popular set-up. Smallmouth Bass
The best smallmouth bass fishing has been around Ruggles Reef and the
shoreline and harbors in 15 to 30 feet of water from Fairport Harbor to
Conneaut. Jigs tipped with shiners, tube jigs and crankbaits have been the
most productive lures. Steelhead
Steelhead have been caught occasionally by walleye anglers trolling spoons 8
to 9 miles N of the Chagrin River in 52 to 70 feet of water. Target areas
with schools of baitfish where walleye are also being caught. White Bass fishing has been very good along the Edgewater and Cleveland
lakefront in 15 to 30 feet of water.
Source: ODNR
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