Lake Erie Fishing Report:
Great fishing continues on and around Lake Erie! Fishing is much of the same from last weekend with anglers doing well trolling for Walleye with deep diving stick baits at 1.8 to 2.2 mph. Limits of 18-24 inch fish are being caught near the reef complex in 25-30 FOW, with darker colors producing best 40-80 feet back. Fishing continues to be excellent around Kelleys Island, with several good reports coming in north and west in 35-40 feet of water. Anglers are also having great luck in 30-40 feet deep from Huron to Cleveland with deep diving stick baits 80-120 feet back. We have heard reports of continued good fishing off the Gold Coast in shallow waters with 22” walleye being caught in 16 FOW. Other reports have come in with good fishing in Lorain and Rocky River, working east using Erie Drearies (particularly in purple and gold) with nightcrawlers. Other popular bait that has been reported has been Bandits (Blue and Chrome, Gender Reveal, and Candy Corn), and Perfect 10s (Marvin and 24 Carrot). Stingers and Badmo Spoons have also been very productive. The next few weeks should see action picking up in the same areas with drifting worm harnesses and weight-forward spinners.
Smallmouth Bass have been picking up big fish in 9-20 feet of water throwing jerk baits, swimbaits, and fishing near the bottom with hair jigs in rocky areas. With increased water temperatures in the coming weeks, fish should continue to push shallow water. The best areas continue to be around the Islands, near Vermilion, and in the Ashtabula/Conneaut breakwall areas.
Crappie fishing has seen some action in nearshore marina and harbor areas. Popular bait has been crappie jigs and soft plastics, as well as minnows in 2-10 FOW adjacent to structure. Reports have come in of anglers catching fish up to 14 inches.
Channel Catfish has seen an uptick in action this week. Anglers have had good luck with numbers and size of Catfish in Sandusky Bay and other tributaries of Lake Erie with the increase in water temps. The most popular bait remains shrimp fished on a Carolina rig, but other popular bait has been worms, cut-bait, and stink baits. Best reports have come from targeting channel edges.
Current water temps are 55° in Toledo, 52° in Cleveland, and 52° in Erie.
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