LAKE ERIE - Central Basin

[Fishing Report]

Poor weather and rough lake conditions during the past week limited fishing activity.

Walleye fishing in the central basin has been very good. Fish have been caught 5-6 miles N of Cleveland Crib in 58-62‘of water, 10 miles N of Wildwood State Park (Euclid) to Eastlake in 68-70’ of water, 10 to 12 miles NE of Ashtabula and 10 to 12 miles NW of Conneaut in 68 to 74’ of water. Fish have been caught on worm harnesses or spoons colored in scarlet and gray, purple and black, or white and red with copper backs, trolled with dipsy divers or jet divers off planer boards. Some anglers are also drifting worm harnesses. Fish are suspended and anglers are fishing down 35 to 50'.

Yellow perch fishing is very good in the central basin 5 miles N of Bratenahl in 42-50 feet of water, 4-6 miles N of Wildwood State Park (Euclid) in 42 to 51’ of water, 2 to 4 miles N of Fairport in 39 to 52’ of water, and 2 miles or less N of Ashtabula and Conneaut in 45 to 55’ of water. Fish have ranged from 7 to 11 inches. Perch rigs with shiners fished near the bottom have produced the most fish.

Smallmouth bass fishing has been excellent along the shoreline from Fairport Harbor to Conneaut in 15 to 29’ 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 1/2 mile N 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.

Lake Erie surface temperatures range from 67 to 71 degrees.