They can vary from western and central basins as well. Because of Lake Erie's ever changing water clarity and food supply, tactics to catch bass vary as well. Smallmouth bass will run up many tributaries along the Lake Erie shoreline, but the most popular (due to number of fish and amount of public access) are Cattaraugus Creek, Eighteen Mile Creek, Canadaway Creek and Chautauqua Creek. 0000368827 00000 n As explained in the Lake page, much of the fishing for smallmouth bass is in Lake Erie. "Tubes" are a top artificial bait for Erie smallmouths and can be used effectively through cast and retrieve, vertical jigging or combined with a drop-shot rig. Lake Erie fishing is one of the most significant angling options in both Pennsylvania and Ohio, summoning folks from far distances seeking its bountiful rewards. Smallmouth bass are the most frequently caught fish species in Lake Erie and fishing trips for smallmouths make up about 25% of all Lake Erie fishing trips for the entire year. Prior to summer, when fish are still relating to shoreline shallows and incoming flows, check out the possibilities provided by the Rocky, Chagrin and Cuyahoga rivers. 0000000916 00000 n (Photo by Ron Sinfelt). endstream endobj 14 0 obj <> endobj 15 0 obj <>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageC]>>/Type/Page>> endobj 16 0 obj <>stream The fishing in the central basin is quite like that of Pennsylvania waters, i.e. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. Lake Erie is an unbelievable smallmouth bass fishery, arguably the best that North America has to offer. And fish from those below-average spawns will be present and help fuel the walleye fishing, accounting for many of the fish in the low to mid 20-inch range. "I'm optimistic about this year's bass fishing on Erie," noted Hartman. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. 0000143118 00000 n Perch populations in central basin waters may be down somewhat. Work tubes, grubs or drop-shot rigs tipped with shad or goby imitators with the wind. Your logbook can also make very interesting reading. Lake Erie Smallmouth Bass Fishing Hotspots Map (PDF). Bass are found along the entire New York shoreline, with hotspots along rocky structure and drop-offs in 15-35 feet of water. The previous record, a 9.25-pound smallmouth, was caught on Long Lake. %%EOF Boat fishing isn't productive right now because the fish are swarming the shallows. Lake Erie - Detroit River Bass Fishing Reports . Hartman also said that while walleye production varies greatly, in general, nesting success has been more consistent in recent years. Anglers travel from across the country to fish for Lake Erie bronzebacks. Perch don't migrate nearly to the extent that walleye do. Here's some advice from our expert on how to find and fool big bronzebacks. Expect the fish to be in 30 to 50 feet of water, and attracting plenty of attention from fishermen when they are schooled and biting. The fish move into more identifiable locations, schooling up in what has become traditional spots close to ports. The central basin includes several jumping off points that make access to the lake convenient. Lake Erie Smallmouth Bass Fishing Hotspots Buffalo to Angola Legend Campground Break Walls/Piers Public Boat Launch City/Village Major Road I 90 Exits Waterbody Municipal Park State Park County Recreational Land 0 2 4 Miles Map not for navigational use. Master the subtle nuances of the sidearm cast for increased accuracy. Take Dutch Road or Manchester Road off Route 5 to this area. "I love it when a plan comes together:" Thomas Allen may have missed a day-starting coffee and chill time, but his planning before a recent turkey hunt in Minnesota had him ready when gobblers showed up earlier than expected, and just before an April winter storm blew in. Lake St. Clair is a tremendous smallmouth fishery and is no secret to locals, but on a regional or national level, it gets overshadowed by Lake Erie. Ruger's popular American bolt-action rifle has been a hit with hunters for years. It's possible perch are feeding more on aquatic insects due to the decline in the emerald shiner population. Join Thomas Allen and son Tommy on an Iowa turkey hunt that resulted in big toms for both hunters. Simply long-lining deep diving crankbaits like the Rapala Deep Tail Dancer, or a Reef Runner, will often get the bait deep enough to catch walleyes. The spawn also drives the annual influx of brown bass into Presque Isle Bay. As such, walleye fishing within the western basin tends to wane as summer progresses, while the action in the central basin, from the Huron area eastward, picks up later in July and August. Winchester's new Big Bore ammo, available in 10 mm, .44 Mag., .357 Mag., and .45 Colt, is specifically designed for big bears in bear country. The "Dumping Ground" is found a relative short distance to the northeast of Presque Isle Bay and is popular with anglers launching from this area. However, smallmouth bass in Lake Erie are very widely distributed and are also available to anglers fishing inshore zones with waders, kayaks and other small vessels. It can be reached by taking exits 6 or 7 from the Ohio Turnpike (I-80), or Route 2, which follows the lakeshore. In Lake Erie, finding smallmouth bass is a matter of finding the right bottom structure. Subscriber Services. This year, the rifle will be chambered in 7mm PRC, the hot new load that was a hit at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. Getting to the Marina Bay requires a drive out onto the peninsula (Presque Isle State Park). F#g?53T,J+*/V ,)[z]V )d!3b@D,5}0)E ?|5 S6 eq?ESu4ZzKw.ZK80f6J/2(,Cbbm ?2"[:MJ-i3D92")xEW%5r &?L3H`Wotq'Zx]}@~fz^3C9k ~-YX V_&7V$0Uwc%!*@C!Ll_tk`9Oa'* @G;(nH`FnXok&4uS1Ggs/rFpYR ;1nH`/Y[_m^pUCJ-i?J9z)?3)oY]X3 ~2"dWo]Pg[IvZRdo~ c*Xv+e!W0+~4 `M L]HznQ aov_Tr There's more than one way to catch big Lake Erie smallmouths, but these 10 tips, gleaned from more than a dozen years of Lake Erie tournament experience, will help you put bigger smallmouths in the boat from Ohio's western basin to Pennsylvania's Safe Harbor area or anywhere in between. The finest smallmouth bass fishing in New York State and arguably the entire United States can be found in the waters of Lake Erie. This will help reference the target so you can reposition the boat accordingly. This year, the rifle will be chambered in 7mm PRC, the hot new load that was a hit at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. The big lake warms slowly, but the shallow, near-shore water warms first. Most smallmouth experts agree that Lake Erie's island area is the best of the best. Fishing remained really strong for Ron and Mike. The Reef complex to the west of the islands near Camp Perry holds May bass. For example, turn west from the harbor about a mile to find an area of rocky humps. startxref Stealth presentations for up-close encounters with bass hiding in cover. Boat ramps are available in the Vermillion River. The number of bass caught can be outstanding due to the higher concentration of bass in those areas. The Bassmaster Elite Series also periodically makes tournament stops at our top smallmouth bass fishery and tournament catches are usually spectacular. In shallower, clear water, a boat might spook shoreline smallmouths. Some of the largest bass are caught in spring; anglers have a better chance of catching a 6 pound plus trophy bass in spring than any other time during the year. These are the areas off Marblehead and Catawba. This turns out to be a bed fishing trip and one of the best trips on the big pond of my life.. Vertical jigging is the ultimate fishing method when smallmouths are in water more than about 20 feet deep. 13 0 obj <> endobj Unlike young walleye and yellow perch which inhabit off-shore areas accessible to the agency's open water trawl efforts young smallmouth bass frequent near-shore shallows. Smallmouth Bass (Shutterstock image) PENNSYLVANIA SMALLMOUTH HOTSPOTS. The perch picture isn't as bright in central basin waters. Contact the Ottawa County Visitors Bureau, 109 Madison Street, Port Clinton, OH 43452; or call (800) 441-1271. But there are resident populations of walleyes, plus early migrants, which increases the chances of catching walleyes in Pennsylvania during May. These units also allow anglers to easily distinguish between several types of hard and soft bottoms, which is important because smallmouth bass spend more than 90 percent of their time over some type of hard bottom. Lake Erie fishinginOhio waters should provide great actionthis season for bass, walleyes and perch. Fishing might take place in depths of less than 10 feet, where crankbaits or spinnerbaits can be very effective. You might find smallmouths over these bottom types, but the odds for success increase tremendously if you fish around the bedrock reefs and surrounding gravel bottoms. Smallmouth bass start moving into tributary streams in mid to late April and will stay through May. These Major League Fishing pros share the best tips and advice they've ever received. The walleye harvest is over 5 million fish annually! Here are 5 components to Frost's game plan for catching big Lake Erie smallmouth in the late fall. This is a turkey hunter's take on the classic Swiss dish. Silt covers most of the bottom of the central basin, which extends from the islands area eastward into Pennsylvania. Carry a logbook on every fishing trip and jot down any detail of the day that seems relevant. "So, when you have some years with below-average spawns, you feel it. Avoid backlashes by making simple adjustments to your reel and matching your lures to your rod's power and action. Bottom bouncer sinkers used in concert with 'crawler harnesses excel, especially for bottom-oriented walleyes. A huge school of walleyes had been relating to it in recent weeks. The Bassmaster Elite Series also periodically makes tournament stops at our top smallmouth bass fishery and tournament catches are usually spectacular. Reduced harvest is one direct result, plus lighter angling pressure. It might be easier to fish deeper, unless wave action roils the shallows. For information about local services, contact the Ashtabula County Convention and Visitors Bureau, 1850 Austinburg Road, Austinburg, OH 44010, or call (440) 275-3202, Ohio's liberal season also allows bass fishing year-round in Lake Erie. Central basin smallies, living in a deeper, colder environment, often don't finish spawning until later in June. PENNSYLVANIA Walnut Creek Access, a Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission facility, is the primary boat access between the Ohio border and Erie. Avoid backlashes by making simple adjustments to your reel and matching your lures to your rod's power and action. The walleye harvest is over 5 million fish annually! Concentrate efforts around rocky structure in 15-20 feet of water. South Bass Island, Ohio Take your vehicle and boat across on the ferry from Port Clinton and use South Bass Island and its state park or the village of Put-in-Bay, Ohio, to access Lake Erie's storied Western Basin walleye fishery. The truth is, this fishery is all that and so much more. Pennsylvania's share of Lake Erie provides two contrasting venues for springtime bass fishing: main-lake areas sandwiched in between Ohio and New York, and the 3,300 acres within Presque Isle Bay. Check your current regulations book for the exact dates this season. Many anglers, in this part of the lake, switch over to yellow perch as the walleye fishing slows down. 0000001682 00000 n The most consistent walleye fishing within Pennsylvania's share of Lake Erie is usually from mid-summer into early fall, when schools of migrating walleyes from the western basin are found in these waters. Information about boat launches and local services can be obtained from the Erie County Visitors Bureau, 4424 Milan Road, Suite A (U.S. Route 250), Sandusky, OH 44870, or call (800) 255-3743. Unlike walleyes, perch from the record 2003 hatch are now gone.". All Rights Reserved. Port Clinton is a good starting point for exploring the Bass Islands area and the complex of reefs to the northwest. Consistent perch production of late, combined with the fast growth rates of Lake Erie, should combine to provide western basin anglers with good numbers as well as size structure of yellow perch. Be alert for this year's limits, which will be set by now. *Fishing license issued by Seneca Nation needed to fish on reservation. The depth of their summering area depends on water clarity, available forage, and weather. By simply navigating with your chartplotter and Navionics Maps out from Crystal Beach, you can be fishing in world-class Smallmouth water within minutes. What could be better than a deep-fried nugget? If you love fishing from shore, this is your time. Consistently productive colors are those that imitate the basss natural prey items, colors like smoke/charcoal with flecks and greens (baitfish) or browns (crayfish, round goby). Accomplished bass tournament angler Deron Eck is home on smallmouth waters of all types, but especially those of Lake Erie, where he's amassed an impressive record, including top honors in an FLW American Fishing Series event. With strong populations of both species, however, it's likely good action will continue for both in 2017 a nice situation. May is the best month for Lake Erie smallmouth fishing because the bass will be in relatively shallow water, and they tend to be aggressive during this pre-spawn period. The sandy flats that extend to both the east and west of Marina Bay (a large bay within Presque Isle Bay) often hold bass, which wait along the edge of the emerging weeds to ambush baitfish. The basic progression of fish concentrations is tributaries (April-May), harbors and canals (May), open lake reefs and shoals (May-June). Master the subtle nuances of the sidearm cast for increased accuracy. Most notable of all is the zebra mussel. One that's smoked first. Personal defense in the hunting woods could involve taking down a charging bear. The length of line between hook and weight can vary from 1 to 5 feet. Winchester's Nathan Robinson talks features with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. Male fish cruise the spawning flats in search of prime bedding locations, which are usually found in depths between 10 and 20 feet, while the larger females feed heavily in the deeper water surrounding the flats. When running and gunning, start by making a list of spots you want to try. Underwater cameras are great tools for smallmouth fishermen. Often, excellent spawning structure may be found around the mouths of the many creeks and rivers that feed the lake. Shore anglers casting large minnowbaits out into the main lake also catch fish. Central basin perch fishing often gets better as the summer progresses. In fact, sometimes the fall smallmouth fishing quality exceeds the summertime experience. Drift fishing also works well. One that's smoked first. The water in this section of the lake warms quicker, so the bass should be further along in the spawn by June, perhaps even in the post-spawn period. It's not uncommon to catch several fish in one area, so when you catch a fish, mark the area with a buoy and drift it several times. These bass can usually be found on the New York shores in rocky structures with drop-offs. Drifting means letting your lure drag along the bottom as the wind pushes the boat along. "Run and gun" is a term tournament fishermen use to describe the technique of running their boats to specific fish-holding structure, making several casts, and then moving on to another area. One that's smoked first. Also, they caught two of their personal best smallmouth weighing in at 5.6 and 5.5 pounds. Naturally, the island areas of the western basin the Bass Islands in particular provide a wealth of rocky, shallow-water habitat. Central basin shorelines from Cleveland east to the state line all offer areas of rocky near-shore ledges and humps that hold summertime bass. Below is a list of fishing hot spots during the spring months in the Central and Western Basin of Lake Erie. The fish will rise to a lure, but rarely dive for one. The last five New York State record smallmouths have come from Lake Erie, with the current record standing at an impressive 8 pounds, 4 ounces. Whether you're fishing out of your own boat or participating in a charter trip, fishing opportunities abound on Lake Erie. Smallmouth hotspots off the central basin shoreline are too numerous to mention them all. Smallmouth bass start moving into tributary streams in mid to late April and will stay through May. As Lake Erie waters warm, post-spawn smallmouths move to deeper water zones where they will hold during the summer months (late June through August). At times like this, look for structure in the 30- to 40-foot depths. Hartman said some of the 2014 fish were legal by the fall of last year, many of them in the 16- to 18-inch range, thanks to fast growth rates. Western Basin Fishing Hotspots 32 river miles mapped. With all-metal jigs, spoons or vibrating blades, silver has traditionally been the best color. It's not uncommon for there to be separate harvest regulations for western and central basins. Pennsylvania's share of Lake Erie provides two contrasting venues for springtime bass fishing: main-lake areas sandwiched in between Ohio and New York, and the 3,300 acres within Presque Isle Bay. Stealth presentations for up-close encounters with bass hiding in cover. This year, the rifle will be chambered in 7mm PRC, the hot new load that was a hit at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. Depending on wind conditions, Smallie anglers have the availability of fishing both the north and south side of the lake. The early days of spring are reserved for spawning Walleye. One good spot is off the clay bluffs near Vermillion. Smallmouth bass start moving into tributary streams in mid to late April and will stay through May. Light jigs dressed with a small soft-plastic grub are another good choice, and more closely duplicate insect nymphs that perch commonly feed on. There's more than one way to catch big Lake Erie smallmouths, but these 10 tips, . trailer Every model of LCD is different, so get familiar with the functions of your particular unit. Tubes are a top artificial bait for Erie smallmouths and can be used effectively through cast and retrieve, vertical jigging or combined with a drop-shot rig. Males will make beds against these large rocks, requiring them to stand guard over just three sides of the nest. Traditional offerings such as spinner/'crawler rigs bumped along the bottom will take their share of fish. 0000145464 00000 n However, autumn weather is often increasingly uncooperative and anglers are advised to pay particular attention to the forecast when planning their trip. Some especially productive areas include Seneca Shoal, Woodlawn Bar, Myers Reef, Evans Bar and Van Buren Bay. Keep your lures close to bottom. is good for 35 feet of water) with a 21/2 to 5 inch tube. Zoom in. 0000144293 00000 n The bass are seeking areas for spawning as well as to feed on schools of emerald shiners which also move into these warmer areas. Bass Crash Course: Technique tweaks to maximize distance and accuracy. However, many smaller rocky areas along Lake Eries coast also hold bass. Shore anglers on the bay often do well fishing the piers of at the mouth of Marina Bay and the walls of the channel leading out from the bay into the main lake. Many of the better shallow flats are west of Presque Isle Bay. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Another top spot in this area is Ruggles Reef, which runs parallel to shore for several miles between these two ports. Winchester's Nathan Robinson talks features with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. What could be better than a deep-fried nugget? Nearly all perch anglers fish from an anchored position, lowering a perch rig (typically a sinker and minnow) to the bottom, and then bringing it back up a few inches. Don't crowd other boats, but don't be shy either. Reel in the slack line so you can directly feel the weight on the bottom and any strike on your bait. Starting on the first Saturday of May, use of natural bait is permitted, including minnows and shiners which work well. This technique is great when you know fish may be found in particular areas. From mid-April into early May, fish start to migrate from wintering areas, which are usually the first major dropoffs adjacent to spawning areas, and begin to stage on underwater points between 15 and 30 feet deep. It wasn't long before a rod bent back, indicating the first walleye of the morning had engulfed a trolled crankbait. So, in general, fisheries personnel feel smallmouth numbers are on the increase, though it's difficult to say exactly why, if indeed there is one specific reason. 0 This can provide some great "in close" action, such as that described at the outset. The best method is casting and retrieving of lures. Until mid-June, only one smallmouth or largemouth bass may taken, and it must be over 20 inches. When you are traveling to Lake Erie, plan out two days of incredible smallmouth bass fishing. Good near-shore bass fishing exists near Lorain, again zeroing in along the rocky ledges that offer bass ambush points to pick off prey. 0000372567 00000 n Minnow-shaped lures like Rapalas, Storm Thundersticks and Smithwick Rogues produce. Smallmouth bass are curious creatures and sound can be a major attractant. Last year the C&R ran from May 1 through June 24. Concentrate efforts around rocky structure in 15-20 feet of water. In fact, perch often make the day when the walleyes are tight lipped. Smallmouth Bass and Yellow Perch offer additional angling opportunities.
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