Lake Erie Fishing Report: May 9, 2002 Western Basin: Lake Erie water temperature is 52* F off Toledo and 47* off Cleveland, and the water is off-color. Wind and rain events have hampered fishing activity on Lake Erie the past week, but some fish are being caught when anglers can get out on the lake. The best spots for walleye fishing has been the north side of Kelleys Island to Middle Island, Niagara Reef, off Davis Besse, and the "Triangle," (the area from the Toledo Harbor Light to the outer buoys of the Toledo Shipping Channel to West Sister Island.) Anglers are catching walleyes in the 16- to 18-inch range and larger drifting bottom bouncers with crawler harnesses or jigs and minnows, and trolling deep diving lures. The legal bag limit for walleyes for Lake Erie and its tributaries is six fish from May through February. Perch fishing remains excellent with hot spots reported off the Marblehead Lighthouse and the north side of Kelleys. Perch anglers are catching many limits of nice-sized perch in the 9- to 13-inch range using perch spreaders or crappie rigs tipped with minnows. The yellow perch bag limit is 30 perch per angler per day. Smallmouth bass fishing is good around the islands, especially Kelleys Island. Bass anglers should also expect excellent fishing in the western basin reef complex, Sandusky Bay, Ruggles Reef, artificial reefs in the Lorain/Cleveland area and harbor breakwalls from Cleveland to Conneaut. Most catches will measure 14 to 18 inches. The legal limit for smallmouth bass is five fish per angler with a minimum length requirement of 14 inches. Western Basin Streams: The Maumee River is 56* F and muddy. The water level is average and anglers are able to wade to Blue Grass Island. Walleyes are now scarce. Anglers are taking a few white bass and catfish using minnows and night crawlers. Anglers fishing from boats seem to be catching more fish. Best areas for both species are Buttonwood, Blue Grass Island, and East of the bridge on the Lucas County side (White Street area). The Sandusky River is 56* F and the water is slightly high and muddy. Anglers are taking a few white bass using jigs or minnows. White bass catches should improve, depending on the rain. Central Basin Streams: Central Basin Streams -- Streams continue to be high and off-color with continued rain events. Peak runs are winding down, but some big fish continue to be caught. Fish can be found throughout the main rivers and tributaries, but will be concentrated in the lower portions of the creeks as they get ready to migrate back out to the lake. Stream steelhead anglers use spawn bags, jigs & maggots, minnows, or flies such as woolly buggers, weighted nymphs, egg patterns and streamers that imitate shiners. There are many public access areas on Ohio streams. If you are on private property, you must have landowner permission.
Source: ODNR
|