** 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 near the US/Canada border
south of Middle Sister Island around where "F" and "G" cans were, and in the
northwest reef area west of North Bass Island. Drifting mayfly rigs, bottom
bouncers with worm harnesses, or weight forward spinners tipped with worms
has been productive. Trollers have done best using spoons or worm
harnesses. 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 in 32 to 36 feet of water between Gull
Island Shoal and Ballast Island, around "C" can of the Camp Perry firing
range, and SE of West Sister Island. 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 along the east side of the
sandbar, 12 to 13 miles N-NE of Ashtabula in 70 to 72 feet of water, and 3
miles E of Conneaut in 34 to 40 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 Lorain and Beaver
Creek, 4 to 5 miles N of Cleveland in 48 to 57 feet of water, 3 miles NW of
Fairport Harbor in 45 to 50 feet of water, and 4 to 5 miles out from
Ashtabula to Conneaut in 52 to 60 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 by anglers trolling spoons 12 to 13 miles N-NE of
Ashtabula in 70 to 72 feet of water and 10 miles N of the Chagrin River in
65 to 70 feet of water. Target areas with schools of baitfish where walleye
are also being caught. White Bass
White bass have been caught by anglers using shiners at Edgewater and the
Cleveland lakefront in 15 to 30 feet of water.
Source: ODNR
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