ODNR Fishing Report 10/16/2012: Central, OH,
Fishing Report Posted: October 17, 2012

Walleye have been caught on the sandbar between Vermilion and Lorain and around the Huron dumping grounds. Most fish have been caught by trolling with worm harnesses or crankbaits. No current reports from the Ashtabula-Conneaut area. Look for walleye in 64’ of water 8.5 miles out N of Conneaut. Try trolling with dipsy and jet divers, or inline weights, with worm harnesses.

Yellow perch fishing has been good within 1 mile of Huron and Vermilion. Farther east fishing continues to be excellent with many limit catches. The best locations to fish are in 38-40’ of water NW of Edgewater along the Gold Coast, in 38-39’ of water N of Wildwood State Park, in 52’ of water NW of Fairport Harbor, and in 57’ of water N of Ashtabula. Perch spreaders with shiners fished near the bottom produce the most fish. The best shore fishing spots to try are the Cleveland Piers and at Headlands Beach Pier in Mentor and the Fairport Harbor Pier. Fair catches were reported this past week at Headlands Beach Pier and the Fairport Harbor Pier. Anglers are using crappie rigs and spreaders with shiners and the mornings and evenings have been best.

White bass has been spotty but can pick up at any time. Try near shore in 10-25’ of water N of Cleveland Harbor, NE of Gordon Park (Bratenahl), and in 10-20’ of water N of Eastlake CEI. Look for gulls feeding on schools of shiners at the surface. The white bass will be below the shiners. Shore anglers are catching white bass off the Eastlake CEI breakwall. Anglers are using agitators with jigs tipped with twister tails or using small spoons.

Steelhead Trout anglers are catching fish off the Fairport Pier at the mouth of the Grand River and also in the river up to the Uniroyal hole. Boat anglers are having good luck in the Grand River as well as the Ashtabula River and Conneaut Creek. Try using small spoons, spinner baits, and jigs with maggots.

The water temperature is 53 degrees off of Toledo and 59 degrees off of Cleveland according to the nearshore marine forecast.