Lake Erie Central Basin Fishing Report

[Fishing Report]

Walleye fishing from Huron to Lorain has been good as the fish continue to migrate west. Farther east most fishing effort has been directed at yellow perch. Walleye have been taken in open water W of the sandbar between Vermilion and Lorain, and around the 30 north line between Cranberry Creek and Vermilion. Fish have been caught on worm harnesses or spoons trolled with dipsy divers or jet divers, and also on deep diving crankbaits. Best spoon colors have been patterns with red or purple. Fish are suspended and anglers are fishing down 25 to 40 feet.

Yellow perch fishing is excellent in the central basin from one to three miles north of Huron to Lorain, three miles northeast of Cleveland (E. 72nd St. lighthouse) in 43 feet of water, two to three miles north of Euclid in 42 feet of water, two to three miles north-northwest of Fairport in 40 to 45 feet of water, and two to three miles north of Ashtabula 45 to 50 feet of water. Fish have ranged from seven to 12 inches. Perch rigs with shiners fished near the bottom have produced the most fish.

Smallmouth bass fishing has been good 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.

Steelhead fishing has been good in the Rocky River, Chagrin River, Grand River, Geneva State Park, Euclid Creek (Wildwood State Park), Arcola Creek, Conneaut Creek and along the Conneaut west break wall. Shore anglers are using small spinners and spoons, and jigs and maggots rigged with a split shot under a light bobber.