Western Basin- Limits of walleye continue to be caught in the West Sister Island area. The best fishing has been NE of West Sister to the Canadian border between G can and F can and E towards Northwest Reef (W of North Bass Island). Walleye are also still being caught just N of B can and C can of the Camp Perry firing range. Trollers using spoons with Jet or Dipsy Divers have been most successful, with casters also catching fish on weight forward worm harnesses. Fish have ranged from 14 to 22". Yellow perch fishing in the Western basin has been excellent. Best areas have included the C can area of the Camp Perry firing range, between Kelleys Island and Lakeside, and in the area N of the Toledo water intake. Spreaders tipped with shiners have been most productive for 7 to 11" fish. For smallmouth bass try fishing the east side of Kelleys Island and nearshore areas around the Bass Islands and Marblehead. Tube jigs have been used to catch fish between 15 and 20". Largemouth Bass fishing continues to be good in East Harbor around thick beds of vegetation and in the harbor channel. Central Basin- Walleye fishing in the Central Basin has been best on the sandbar 6 to 8 miles NW of Lorain in 40 to 50 feet of water, between Cranberry Creek and Vermilion in 30 to 40 feet of water, 7 to 15 miles N of Geneva-Ashtabula in 68-72 feet of water, 13-15 miles NW of Eastlake in 72-76 feet of water. Anglers have been trolling dipsy divers with medium spoons (most color schemes with copper, green, watermelon, chartreuse or pink have been best) or crawler harnesses for fish from 15 to 28". Yellow perch fishing is improving in the Central Basin. Best areas have been off of the "Castle" near Vermilion in 28 to 35 feet of water, off of Sawmill Creek near Huron in 30 to 35 feet of water, 4 miles N of Conneaut in 50-60 feet of water, 4 miles N of Geneva in 50-60 feet of water, 3 to 4 miles N of Edgewater State Park in 43 to 46 feet of water. Spreaders tipped with shiners are taking fish from 7 to 11". Smallmouth bass have been caught near Ruggles Reef and in nearshore breakwall and harbor areas around Lorain. 14 to 18 inch fish have been caught on tube jigs, jigs tipped with shiners and crankbaits. Steelhead have been caught by trollers using dipsy divers with large spoons 10 to 12 miles NW of Eastlake in 70 to 72 feet of water, 15 to 20 miles N of Wildwood St Park in 74 to 78 feet of water. The steelhead have ranged in size from 20 to 29".)
Source: ODNR
|