Lake Erie - Central Basin

[Fishing Report]

Walleye fishing in the central basin has been very good. A few walleye have been taken at the N end of the sand bar between Vermilion and Lorain. Fish have been caught 8-10 miles NW of Fairport in 60-70‘of water, 9-10 miles NW of Conneaut in 60 to 70 ’ 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 excellent in the central basin from 1-3 miles N of Huron to Lorain, 2-3 miles N of Bratenahl in 40-43 feet of water, 2-3 miles N of E. 55th Street Pier in 42 - 46' of water, 2 to 3 miles N of Fairport in 51’ of water, and 2 -3 miles N of Ashtabula 48 to 52’ 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 20 ’ 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 70 degrees.