LAKE ERIE - Central Basin

[Fishing Report]

Walleye fishing in the central basin has been very good. Fish have been caught on the sandbar between Vermilion and Lorain, eight miles out north of the Cleveland E. 72nd Street lighthouse in 58 to 62 feet of water, 10 to 12 miles north-northeast of Geneva in 70 to 72 feet of water, and 10 to 12 miles north-northwest of Ashtabula in 70 to 72 feet of water. Fish have been caught on worm harnesses or spoons colored in black/purple, white/red, purple/black, and copper, trolled with dipsy divers or jet divers off planer boards. Fish are suspended and anglers are fishing down 30 to 50 feet.

Yellow perch fishing is improving in the central basin with good catches reported one-half to two miles off Vermilion, Lorain and Avon, five miles north of the Cleveland E. 72nd Street lighthouse in 51 feet of water, five miles out around the Cleveland Crib in 50 feet of water, two to three miles north of Ashtabula in 48 to 55 feet of water, and two to three miles north of Conneaut in 48 to 55 feet of water. Fish have ranged from seven to 11 inches. Perch rigs 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 29 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.

The best white bass fishing has been one-half mile north of Eastlake CEI power plant. Anglers are using agitators with white, yellow and green twister tails. Shore anglers are catching 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 or small spoons.