Western Basin
Walleye
Walleye fishing has improved on Gull Island Shoal and Kelleys Island Shoal. Most of the fish caught have been from 15 to 18” from the 2003 year class, but a few bigger fish are also present. Drifting with crawler harnesses or casting weight forward spinners have been the most productive techniques. As water temperatures drop larger adult walleye will migrate back towards Kelleys Island, the Bass Islands, and the area around Marblehead and Lakeside. Yellow Perch
The best western basin perch areas have included the Toledo water intake, the northern cans of the Camp Perry firing range, the gravel pit W of West Sister Island, between Rattlesnake and Green Islands, and E of the Kelleys Island airport. Most fish are still running on the small side, but larger fish (10-12”) are starting to appear in the catch. A perch spreader tipped with shiners is the most popular set-up. Central Basin Walleye
The best walleye fishing recently has been offshore from Lorain to Huron in water over 40’ deep. The sandbar and deeper water to the west of the sandbar have been productive, along with 42 to 44’ of water from Cranberry Creek to Huron. Many of the fish being caught have ranged from 15 to 18” from the 2003 year class, but a few larger fish up to 11 pounds have been reported. Spoons or crawler harnesses trolled deep with dipsy divers, jet divers or downriggers have produced the most consistent catches. Yellow Perch
Yellow perch fishing has been excellent 2 to 3 miles N of Geneva, 2 to 3 miles N from Ashtabula to Conneaut in 52’ of water, and from the Cleveland Crib to 4 miles NE of Edgewater park in 52’ of water. A perch spreader tipped with shiners is the most popular set-up. Fish have ranged from 7-13 inches. Steelhead
Steelhead are starting to be caught by casting off of the Fairport Harbor pier, the Chagrin River and Euclid Creek with small spoons or spinners. Fish have ranged from 16 to 28”. Lake Erie surface temperatures range from 58 to 64 degrees.
Source: ODNR
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