LAKE ERIE - Central Basin

[Fishing Report]

Walleye fishing in the central basin has been good. Fish have been caught on Ruggles Reef, northwest of the Huron pier lighthouse in 34 to 36 feet of water, six miles north of Edgewater State Park (Cleveland Crib) in 50 to 56 feet of water, three to four miles north of Bratenahl in 51 feet of water, 12 miles north of Geneva in 72 to 74 feet of water, and 10 to 11 miles north of Ashtabula in 70 to 72 feet of water. Fish have been caught on worm harnesses or wonderbread, bloody nose, watermelon, killer bee and copper/back spoons trolled with dipsy divers or trolled with jet divers off planer boards. Some anglers are also drifting worm harnesses. Fish are suspended and anglers are fishing down 30 to 50 feet.

The best yellow perch fishing in the central basin has been one to two miles north of Lakewood in 42 to 46 feet of water, four miles north of Edgewater State Park around the Cleveland Crib in 44 feet of water, and four to five miles north of Ashtabula in 62 feet of water. Fish have ranged from seven to 11 inches. Perch spreaders with shiners fished near the bottom produce the most fish.

Smallmouth bass fishing has been excellent on Ruggles Reef between Huron and Vermilion, and along the shoreline from Fairport Harbor to Conneaut in 15 to 25 feet of water. Fish have been caught on goby color tube jigs, goby color drop shot rigs, jigs tipped with minnows or leeches, or by trolling crankbaits.

White bass fishing has been very good one-half mile north of Eastlake CEI power plant. Anglers are using agitators with white, yellow and green twister tails. Shore anglers are also reporting good catching of white bass at the Eastlake CEI, Mentor Headlands lighthouse, Wildwood State Park, Rocky River, Avon Lake and Lorain piers, using agitators with white, yellow and green twister tails and small spoons.

Lake Erie surface temperatures range from 75 to 78 degrees.