**From May 1 through Friday June 24 there is a no-possession season for
black bass (smallmouth bass and largemouth bass) on Lake Erie. Anglers
can legally target black bass, but they must be immediately returned to
the water.** Western Basin Walleye
Not much changed during the past week. The best walleye fishing
continues to be W and NW of West Sister Island, W of Rattlesnake Island,
along the E side of the Camp Perry firing range (including the Niagara
Reef area), and SW of Kelleys Island. Drifting or trolling worm
harnesses and trolling crankbaits or spoons produce the most fish. Yellow Perch
Yellow perch fishing has been best near Starve Island, near the Sandusky
Bay foghorn, and near the Gull Island Shoal buoy. 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. Largemouth bass have been caught in
Sandusky Bay, East Harbor and West Harbor. Central Basin Walleye
The best walleye fishing has been around Ruggles Reef E of Huron, 3 to 5
miles N of Fairport Harbor in 50 to 60' of water, 3 to 5 miles NW of
Ashtabula in 50 to 60' of water, and 1 mile N of Eastlake in 20 to 30'
of water. Trolling spoons, crankbaits, or crawler harnesses, and
drifting crawler harnesses have produced the best catches. Yellow Perch
Yellow perch fishing has been best 1 to 2 miles N of the Vermilion River
mouth, 1 to 2 miles off of Lorain, 1 mile N of the E 72nd street
lighthouse of Cleveland in 30' of water, 1 mile N of Eastlake in 20 to
30' of water, and 1 to 3 miles out from Fairport Harbor to Conneaut in
30 to 45' of water. A perch spreader tipped with shiners is the most
popular set-up. Smallmouth Bass
The best smallmouth bass fishing has been around the shoreline and
harbors in 15 to 30 feet of water around Fairport, Geneva, Ashtabula and
Conneaut. Jigs tipped with shiners or leeches, tube jigs and crankbaits
have been the most productive lures. Lake Erie surface temperatures range from 57 to 67 degrees.
Source: ODNR
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