Lake Erie Fishing Report - Central Basin

[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 north of the Huron dumping grounds, on the north end of the Sandbar, and sporadically around Ruggles Reef. Fish have been caught on worm harnesses or spoons trolled with dipsy divers or jet divers, and also on deep diving crankbaits.

Yellow perch fishing is excellent in the central basin in 25 to 30 feet of water off of the Vermilion breakwall and off of the condos east of Vermilion near Beaver Creek, within one mile of Lorain and Avon point, one to two miles northwest of Cleveland (E. 72nd St. lighthouse) in 38 feet of water, two miles northeast of Eastlake in 38 feet of water, three miles north of Fairport in 50 to 55 feet of water, and two to three miles north of Ashtabula 45 to 55 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 fair to good in the Vermilion River, Rocky River, Euclid Creek (Wildwood State Park), Chagrin River, Grand River, Arcola Creek, Geneva State Park, Conneaut Creek and along the Conneaut west breakwall. Shore anglers are using small spinners and spoons, and jigs and maggots rigged with a split shot under a light bobber.