Fishing remained really strong for Ron and Mike. This is the place to catch 5-pound smallmouths until your arms get sore, and maybe top the day with a 6- or 7-pound fish. A key point here: The prevailing winds on Lake Erie are from the southwest. The spawn also drives the annual influx of brown bass into Presque Isle Bay. Starting on the first Saturday of May, use of natural bait is permitted, including minnows and shiners which work well. All maps are printed on tear resistant waterproof paper. Anglers report that the tributary smallmouth bass bite is on, with good numbers of fish pushing up and excellent catches. Spawning occurs at depths of 4 to 20 feet at water temperatures between 55 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit, usually in May. Bass fishing is also good in harbor and canal areas in May and early June. Be sure to have both Ohio and Pennsylvania licenses if you wander over the border. Water in this bay generally has more color than the open lake water, so be prepared to fish in water less than 10 feet deep. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. So, consider the perch pack as a huge marker buoy, and then begin looking for fish off to the side. They caught 65 smallmouth bass in two days with 4 fish over 5 pounds. Concentrate efforts around rocky structure in 15-20 feet of water. 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. There are several launch ramps around the bay. 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. Here's some advice from our expert on how to find and fool big bronzebacks. This is also true of the north wall of the channel. Perch are on the increase, and smallies are caught in the 5-to 6-pound range. Turn the legs and thighs of a freshly killed gobbler into comfort food for a chilly spring night. Smallmouth numbers remain stable and provide the opportunity for not only high numbers of fish, but big ones as well. Walleye Fishing on Lake Erie: The Complete Guide - FishingBooker Blog *Fishing license issued by Seneca Nation needed to fish on reservation. One that's smoked first. Each map includes depth contours, structure, boat ramp locations, fishing info and GPS points. When you are traveling to Lake Erie, plan out two days of incredible smallmouth bass fishing. He hooked the record fish on a green grub. It shows up on most electronic mapping programs. Since you'll likely need to stop by to pick up a bucket of minnows, ask about where the perch are biting. Good smallmouth action can also be found near Marblehead and Marblehead Reef outside the bay, during periods of rough weather, or a bit earlier in the spring, inside the bay. Best Smallmouth Bass Fishing on Lake Erie in Pennsylvania But main-lake areas are also holding green bass, particularly ones that feature cover that includes submergent vegetation with rocky structure. Water in these places often has more color. Lake Erie Bass Fishing Reports By Bass Fishing Experts In Erie PA 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. This great Smallmouth Hotspot is a deep water area along a major breakline in Lake Erie. Much of the walleye population is produced in the western basin, which is rich in shallow-water habitat. Your logbook can also make very interesting reading. Master the subtle nuances of the sidearm cast for increased accuracy. Lake Erie November Fishing Charters Many northern anglers and travelers are winterizing their equipment and boats for the upcoming winter months. Rattles work so well that I modify all of my tube jig molds to incorporate a rattle chamber into the heads. Master the subtle nuances of the sidearm cast for increased accuracy. Rocky rubble, rubble piles, humps, holes, drop-offs and ledges are all areas that will hold bass. From the 1st Saturday in May to the regular season opener of statewide black bass season on 3rd Saturday in June, anglers may take one bass at a minimum of 20 inches per day in Lake Erie and its tributaries. Smallmouth bass start moving into tributary streams in mid to late April and will stay through May. Be aware that, on average, Erie's water conditions only allow good camera visibility about 50 percent of the time, so a camera should never be used as a substitute for a good LCD. What could be better than a deep-fried nugget? In this situation, casting jigs is usually more effective. Creel limits for yellow perch (and walleyes as well) are set each spring, after the March meeting of the Lake Erie Commission. It's likely from a combination of factors, one being the no-harvest spring season that was instituted in 2004. Anglers can enjoy an early bass season on Lake Erie to take advantage of the great fishing available for smallmouth bass during spring. Lake Erie is renowned for its rich waters and the bite that keeps on giving. When water temperatures reach between 55 and 60 degrees, female bass filter onto the flats and begin to spawn. To the east, there are dropoffs toward and past the New York border. Whether you are fishing Erie's main-lake shoreline or one of the large, protected bays, springtime smallmouth movements revolve around the spawn. The finest smallmouth bass fishing in New York State and arguably the entire United States can be found in the waters of Lake Erie. The fish move into more identifiable locations, schooling up in what has become traditional spots close to ports. Most bass caught are between 2 and 4 pounds, but there is good opportunity to catch a hefty 5 or 6 pound bronzeback. Smallmouth bass luring Lake Erie anglers: NE Ohio fishing report for Most smallmouth experts agree that Lake Erie's island area is the best of the best. The daily limit is set each spring by mid-April, so watch for news releases for this year's creel limit. Join Thomas Allen and son Tommy on an Iowa turkey hunt that resulted in big toms for both hunters. Catching Lake Erie's Lunker Smallmouths - Game & Fish Some especially productive areas include Seneca Shoal, Woodlawn Bar, Myers Reef, Evans Bar and Van Buren Bay. Western Basin Fishing Hotspots What could be better than a deep-fried nugget? The success of walleye hatches varies greatly on Lake Erie, the reasons for which remain somewhat of a mystery. After ice-out, smallmouth bass begin to seek out areas where water warms up faster than the open lake. Rocky rubble, rubble piles, humps, holes, drop-offs and ledges are all areas that will hold bass. Lake Erie, Tributaries & Harbors. 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. Deep points. Red-brown metal primer paint is excellent for doctoring metal jigs. Route 2 provides access through Sandusky. 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). And this kind of action takes place all along the southern shore of the lake, from the western basin east through Pennsylvania. Reduced harvest is one direct result, plus lighter angling pressure. 0000145464 00000 n Personal defense in the hunting woods could involve taking down a charging bear. Work tubes, grubs or drop-shot rigs tipped with shad or goby imitators with the wind. This is a turkey hunter's take on the classic Swiss dish. Both Presque Isle Bay and the main lake can provide perch action. Many anglers, in this part of the lake, switch over to yellow perch as the walleye fishing slows down. LCD graphs are excellent tools for fishermen if utilized to their full potential. The Bass Islands of Lake Erie are regarded as one of the best smallmouth and walleye areas in North America. Some of the better areas are inside the harbor entrance near the mouth of Misery Bay, outside Marina Bay, and several rocky areas on the Erie side of the bay west from Dobbins Landing. Productive lures used by spinning anglers include stickbaits, crankbaits and other lures that imitate minnows/shiners. Lake Erie fishinginOhio waters should provide great actionthis season for bass, walleyes and perch. All Rights Reserved. Lake Erie Smallmouth Bass Bed Fishing Trip! #CatchAndRelease - YouTube The key to successful summer smallmouth bass fishing is to locate bottom structure. Hartman expects 2017's yellow perch fishing to be good, particularly within the waters of the western basin. 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. Lake Erie & Western New York Fishing Hotline - NYS Dept. of Avoid backlashes by making simple adjustments to your reel and matching your lures to your rod's power and action. Because of Lake Erie's ever changing water clarity and food supply, tactics to catch bass vary as well. The Southeast's Big Three Smallmouth Waters - Game & Fish Anglers need to take a vertical approach to fishing for summer smallies. Use tubes. ", "Yellow perch are shorter lived than walleyes," Hartman explained. Look for water that drops from 25 feet down to 35- to 40-foot depths. Jigging spoons, vibrating blades and various lead-head jigs can be productive. Most bass caught are between 2 and 4 pounds, but there is good opportunity to catch a hefty 5 or 6 pound bronzeback. Since main lake fish are in a state of transition during the spring, it's important to fish a variety of depths. Some will be legal this summer. PDF Lake Erie Smallmouth Bass Fishing Hotspots - New York State Department The big lake warms slowly, but the shallow, near-shore water warms first. The big lip on this crankbait is designed to help it dive deep. When the fish are spread over large areas, drifting allows you to cover water rapidly as you search for cruising or bedded bass. The Keystone State has a special season designed to provide anglers with the opportunity to catch big smallmouths while at the same time protecting the resource. (Photo by Ron Sinfelt). This is a popular tourist destination, with numerous facilities for anglers. xbbbe`b``a 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. 0000118104 00000 n Structure includes the basic make-up and configuration of the bottom. 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. 0000372805 00000 n The minimum size is 15 inches. | The rig consists of a hook tied directly to the line with a Palomar knot with hook point facing up and a weight/sinker ( to oz) tied to the end of the line below the hook. Fishing Hotspots This page is available in other languages, Great Lakes/Niagara River/St. However, autumn weather is often increasingly uncooperative and anglers are advised to pay particular attention to the forecast when planning their trip. 0000372912 00000 n Smallmouth bass are curious creatures and sound can be a major attractant. Fishing Hot Spots in Lake Erie Shores & Islands Lawrence River Fishing, Great Lakes and Tributaries Special Fishing Regulations, Lake Erie Smallmouth Bass Fishing Hotspots Map (710 KB pdf file), Railroad trestle (between Route 20 and I-90) to mouth. Minnows and crayfish are top live bait offerings, but nightcrawlers and leeches will also work. The bass are seeking areas for spawning as well as to feed on schools of emerald shiners which also move into these warmer areas. Subscriber Services. Drift fishing also works well. Typically, once the walleye spawn is complete the fish will scatter out from the shallows and feed heavily in the nearby deeper basins that run 20 to 25 feet deep. Silt covers most of the bottom of the central basin, which extends from the islands area eastward into Pennsylvania. Depending on depth, combine a to ounce leadhead jig (3/8 oz. Give a Gift 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. Ruger's popular American bolt-action rifle has been a hit with hunters for years. Presque Isle Bay gets crowded now. More importantly though, an underwater camera can help you to interpret what you see on your LCD. A popular strategy is to be prepared to fish the bay, but venture out into the lake if the winds are light. However, many smaller rocky areas along Lake Eries coast also hold bass. That's a shame because it'll produce super catches of smallies. All Game & Fish subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. Various shades of brown have been productive lately, perhaps because of the shift in the smallmouths' diet to gobies, or perhaps because it resembles crayfish. Consistently successful smallmouth fishermen fully understand their LCD fish-finder, which can be used to identify prime bass structure, baitfish or schools of bass. Bass nests can be in 10 or more feet of water due to the clarity.
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