ODNR Fishing Report for 08/18/2010:

** The daily bag limit for yellow perch is 30 fish per angler on all Ohio waters of Lake Erie.**

** The steelhead daily bag limit is 5 fish per angler through August 31. The minimum size limit for steelhead is 12 inches.

** The Lake Erie black bass (largemouth and smallmouth) daily bag limit is 5 fish per angler with a minimum size limit of 14”.**

Western Basin

Walleye: There has been very little walleye fishing effort in the western basin recently. The best catches have come from E of Kelleys Island along the Canadian border and also between Kelleys Island and South Bass Island. Casters are using mayfly rigs or drifting bottom bouncers with worm harnesses. Trollers are catching fish on spoons with dipsys or jet divers, or on worm harnesses with inline weights.

Yellow perch: Perch fishing is improving. The best perch reports have come from the Toledo water intake, the Toledo lighthouse, between Green and Rattlesnake Islands, S of the SW corner of Kelleys Island, in Kelleys Island’s North Bay, and NE of Ballast Island. Most fish have been in the 7 to 9” range. Perch spreaders or crappie rigs with shiners fished near the bottom produce the most fish.

Central Basin

Walleye fishing has been excellent in 55 to 75’ NE of Lakeshore Park Ashtabula, and 70 to 75’ NW of Conneaut. Anglers are fishing down 54-60’. Trollers are using silver, pink, red, black, orange, perch, and silver spoons and worm harnesses off dipsy divers, planer boards and jet divers.

Yellow perch fishing has been good to excellent in 35-42’ NE of Gordon Park, 30-37’ also 44-46’ N-NE of Wildwood State Park, and 47 to 55’ NE of Conneaut. Perch spreaders with shiners fished near the bottom produce the most fish.

White bass fishing has been fair off the Eastlake CEI and Fairport Piers. Always difficult to predict when they will come in close to shore. Anglers are using agitators and small yellow or white jigs along with small spinners. Mornings and evenings have been the best.

Based on the nearshore forecast the water temperature is 76 degrees off of Toledo and 76 degrees off of Cleveland.

Source: ODNR