Fishing slowed last week as Hurricane Katrina’s remnants made their way through the area. Stable weather over Labor Day weekend has stimulated improvement in catches across the board.
Western Basin Walleye
Walleye fishing effort has been low recently, with few limits being taken. Look for fishing to improve as the water cools, as fish from the 2003 year class surpass 15”, and when the migratory walleye return from the east. Yellow Perch
Perch fishing is improving since last week’s weather, and should start producing many limit catches. The best areas should be similar to pre-storm: the Toledo shipping channel turnaround buoy, the cans of the Camp Perry firing range, E of Ballast Island, NW of Kelley’s, and just N of Cedar Point. Most fish are still running on the small side, but anglers fishing deeper water (40’) are picking up slightly larger fish. 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
Walleye fishing has been good in Ohio waters of the central basin. The best areas were the sandbar NW of Lorain near the 35/15 and 38/19 lines, and 5 to 15 miles N of Ashtabula and Conneaut in 60 to 72’ of water. Trolling 30 to 50 feet down with spoons, crawler harnesses or stickbaits, using planer boards, dipsy divers, downriggers or jet divers, have produced the best catches. Fish have ranged from 15-24 inches. Yellow Perch
Yellow perch fishing has been excellent N of Lorain in 37 to 43’ of water, 1 to 2 miles N of Wildwood State Park in 38 to 42’ of water, 3 to 6 miles N of Ashtabula and Conneaut in 50 to 60’ of water, and 3 to 5 miles NE and NW of Fairport Harbor in 40 to 60’ of water. A perch spreader tipped with shiners is the most popular set-up. Fish have ranged from 7-11 inches. Smallmouth Bass
The best smallmouth bass fishing has been 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 16 to 28”. Lake Erie surface temperatures are in the low to mid 70’s.
Source: ODNR
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