ODNR Fishing Report for 09/30/2009:

Article Posted: October 01, 2009

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** The daily bag limit for Lake Erie walleye is 6 fish per angler. The minimum size limit for walleye is 15”. **

** The daily bag limit for Lake Erie yellow perch is 25 fish per angler in waters west of the Huron pier. The limit will remain at 30 fish per angler in Ohio waters from Huron eastward. Any boats landing west of Huron, Ohio will be subject to the 25 fish daily bag limit, while boats landing at Huron or points east will be subject to a 30 fish daily bag limit. Shore-based anglers west of the Huron pier will be subject to a 25 fish daily bag limit, while those on the pier and eastward will remain at 30 fish daily. **

** The steelhead daily bag limit is 2 fish September 1 through May 15. The minimum size limit for steelhead is 12 inches. **

** The daily bag limit for Lake Erie black bass (largemouth and smallmouth) is 5 fish per angler. The minimum size limit is 14”. **

Western Basin

*High winds on 9/28 and 9/29 kept anglers off of the lake and have greatly reduced water clarity.

Although Walleye fishing has slowed in the western basin some good reports have come from West Sister Island, the West Reef/North Bass Island area, Gull Island Shoal, and NE of Kelleys Island along the Canadian border. Drifters should use bottom bouncers with worm harnesses or cast mayfly rigs. Trollers should use crankbaits, worm harnesses fished with inline weights or bottom bouncers, or spoons fished with dipsy divers or jet divers.

Yellow perch fishing remains good with the size of fish remaining mostly from 6 to 8” with a few up to 12”. The best areas have been the gravel pit W of West Sister Island, the Toledo water intake, around Niagara Reef, W of Green Island and Rattlesnake Island, Kelleys Island, around the Catawba green can, and off of Cedar Point. Perch spreaders or crappie rigs with shiners fished near the bottom produce the most fish.

Smallmouth Bass were reported from the western basin reefs, Middle Bass Island, North Bass Island, and Kelleys Island Shoal. Use crankbaits or tubes and goby imitators on drop shots for best results.

Central Basin

*High winds on 9/28 and 9/29 kept anglers off of the lake and have greatly reduced water clarity.

Excellent Walleye fishing was reported on the W drop off of the sandbar between Vermilion and Lorain, with the best action being on the N half of the sandbar. Anglers are still catching fish 14-16 miles northwest of Geneva in 72 feet, and 7-11 miles north-northwest of Ashtabula in 72 feet. Trollers are using monkey puke, perch, and blackjack stick baits and spoons off of dipsy divers. Trollers have also had success on deep diving crankbaits and worm harnesses with inline weights.

Yellow perch fishing has been excellent between Cranberry Creek and Vermilion in 30’ of water, 40-42 feet northwest of Gordon Park, 38-42 feet north-northwest of Wildwood State Park, 35-45 feet north-northwest of Fairport, and 40-50 feet north-northwest of Conneaut. Perch spreaders or perch and crappie rigs with shiners fished as far up as 6 feet off the bottom have been producing the most fish.

Steelhead fishing has slowed down along with the walleye fishing off Cleveland. The best spot to try is 7-11 miles north-northwest of Ashtabula in 72 feet. Anglers are trolling dipsy divers with black and purple or silver and blue spoons.

White Bass fishing has been good from the shore at the Eastlake CEI pier. Anglers are using agitators with blue and silver spoons and jigs tipped with twister tails. Fish range from 7-11 inches. Boat anglers watch for the gulls feeding on the surface - these are usually good spots to try for white bass which are also feeding on the same schools of emerald shiners.

Based on the nearshore forecast the water temperature is 60 degrees off of Toledo and 67 degrees off of Cleveland.

Anglers are encouraged to always wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device while boating.



Source: ODNR






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