|
Western Basin- Walleye fishing pressure has been very low recently. As temperatures drop expect fishing to pick up E of Kelleys Island. Perch fishing in the western basin has been excellent with anglers targeting perch averaging more than 20 fish per trip. Best areas have included NE and E of Kelleys Island in 35 to 41 feet of water, W and NW of West Sister Island, near B and C cans N of the Camp Perry Firing Range, and W of Green and Rattlesnake Islands. Spreaders tipped with shiners have been most productive for 7 to 12" fish. For smallmouth bass try fishing Kelleys Island and nearshore areas around the Bass Islands and Marblehead. Tube jigs have been used to catch fish between 15 and 20". For largemouth bass try East Harbor around thick beds of vegetation and in the harbor channel. Central Basin- Walleye fishing in the central basin has been best E of the sandbar 6 to 10 miles NW of Lorain, 6 miles NW of the Chagrin River in 60 feet of water, and 8 to 15 miles N of Geneva and Ashtabula in 66 to 72 feet of water. Anglers have been trolling dipsy divers with spoons (most color schemes with copper, blue and fire tiger have been best) for fish from 16 to 28". Yellow perch fishing continues to be excellent in the central basin. Best areas have been 6 miles N of Beaver Creek in 30 to 40 feet of water, 1 to 2 miles N-NE of Vermilion in 30 to 40 feet of water, 3 to 4 miles N of Gordon Park in 43 to 52 feet of water, 3 to 6 miles N of Conneaut and Fairport in 47 to 62 feet of water, and 2 to 3 miles N of the Rocky River in 42 to 50 feet of water. Spreaders tipped with shiners are taking fish from 8 to 12". Smallmouth bass have been caught on Ruggles Reef and in harbor areas and along the shoreline in 19 to 30 feet of water near Lorain, Conneaut, Ashtabula, Geneva, Fairport and Cleveland. 14 to 18 inch fish have been caught on tube jigs, crankbaits, jigs tipped with shiners, and crayfish. Steelhead have been caught by trollers using dipsy divers with spoons 6 to 8 miles N of Eastlake, Geneva and the Rocky River in 62 to 70 feet of water. The steelhead have ranged in size from 23 to 29". Steelhead are also beginning to show up at creek and river mouths. Source: ODNR |