Western Basin Walleye Walleye fishing has remained slow with little targeted effort. Walleye have been caught incidentally by perch anglers around Kelleys Island shoal. As water temperatures drop larger adult walleye will migrate back towards Kelleys Island, the Bass Islands, and the area around Marblehead and Lakeside. Yellow Perch Perch fishing was good the week of 9/19, with limit catches coming from many different locations. The recent wind has slowed fishing. Last week the best areas included the turnaround buoy of the Toledo shipping channel, the northern cans of the Camp Perry firing range, between Green and Rattlesnake Islands, and between Gull and Kelleys Island shoals. Most fish are still running on the small side, but larger fish (10-12”) are starting to appear in the catch. A perch spreader tipped with shiners is the most popular set-up. Central Basin Walleye Walleye fishing has been good in Ohio waters of the central basin. The best areas were E of the northern end of the sandbar off Lorain and 8 to 10 miles N Conneaut in 68 to 70’ of water. Trolling 30 to 50 feet down with spoons or crawler harnesses, using planer boards, jet divers, or dipsy divers have produced the best catches. Fish have ranged from 15-24 inches. Yellow Perch Yellow perch fishing has been good on the southern end of the sandbar off of Lorain. Further east, excellent perch fishing can be found 5 miles N of E 72nd Street of Cleveland in 48’ of water, 2 to 4 miles N of Ashtabula to Conneaut in 48 to 52’ of water, and 2 to 3 miles N between Eastlake and Fairport Harbor in 45 to 50’ of water. A perch spreader tipped with shiners is the most popular set-up. Fish have ranged from 7-13 inches. Steelhead Steelhead are starting to be caught by casting off of the Fairport Harbor pier with small spoons or spinners. Fish have ranged from 16 to 28”. Lake Erie surface temperatures are in the upper 60’s and lower 70’s.
Source: ODNR
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