Western Basin Walleye Walleye fishing has been slow. Expect fishing to improve as the large 2003 year class begins to surpass the 15" minimum size limit. The best walleye fishing has been around the Toledo water intake in 21' of water, S of "F" can on the Canadian border, and along the northern border of the Camp Perry firing range from "A" can to "C" can. Drifting or trolling worm harnesses and trolling spoons produce the most fish. Yellow Perch Perch fishing has remained slow, but occasional decent catches have come from W and NW of Kelleys Island and around West Reef near North Bass Island. A perch spreader tipped with shiners is the most popular set-up. 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 W of Vermilion, 10 to 16 miles N from Fairport Harbor to Geneva in 70 to 72' of water, and 10 to 20 miles N of Ashtabula in 70 to 72' of water. Trolling 30 to 50 feet down with spoons or crawler harnesses using planer boards, dipsy divers or jet divers, have produced the best catches. The best spoon colors have been confusion, watermelon and black/silver. Fish have ranged from 15-28 inches. Yellow Perch Yellow perch fishing has been best 3 miles N of Eastlake in 37 to 44' of water, 2 to 4 miles N-NE of Ashtabula in 45 to 56' of water, and 2 to 4 miles N-NE of Conneaut in 44 to 55' of water. A perch spreader tipped with shiners is the most popular set-up. Fish have ranged from 7-11 inches. Smallmouth Bass Smallmouth bass fishing has been good around breakwalls and rocky drop-offs from Lorain to Avon point. Tube jigs and drop-shot rigs with goby imitations have been the most productive lures. Steelhead Steelhead have been caught by walleye anglers in the same areas mentioned in the walleye report. Fish have ranged from 22 to 30". White Bass The best white bass fishing has been from shore at the Eastlake CEI wall and in Cleveland on the E 72nd and E 55th street piers. Anglers are using agitators with small spinners and twister tails. Fish have ranged from 8 - 14 inches. Lake Erie surface temperatures are between 76 and 80 degrees.
Source: ODNR
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