LAKE ERIE - Western Basin

[Fishing Report]

Fishing effort directed towards walleye has greatly decreased as western basin anglers are switching to perch fishing. As the lake recovers from the past week’s blow walleye fishing should improve with “C†can of the Camp Perry range and the Kelleys Island area being good areas to try. Drifters are using mayfly rigs or weight forward spinners, while most trollers are using worm harnesses or spoons with jet or dipsy divers.

Yellow perch fishing is improving in the western basin and should continue to improve as we head into fall. With the E and NE winds over the past week Green Island and Rattlesnake Island continued to produce perch for the boats that were able to make it out. Perch spreaders with shiners fished near the bottom produce the most fish.

Smallmouth bass should start moving shallower as water temperatures drop heading into fall. Fish rocky drop-offs and reefs around the Bass Islands and Kelleys Island, along with nearshore areas from Catawba Island to Sandusky Bay, to find active fish. Tube jigs and drop shot rigs with goby imitations are the most popular set-ups for smallmouth.