lake erie smallmouth hotspots lake erie smallmouth hotspots

From the 1st Saturday in May to the regular season opener of statewide black bass season on 3rd Saturday in June, anglers may take one bass at a minimum of 20 inches per day in Lake Erie and its tributaries. Water in these places often has more color. Smallmouth numbers remain stable and provide the opportunity for not only high numbers of fish, but big ones as well. Look for water that drops from 25 feet down to 35- to 40-foot depths. F#g?53T,J+*/V ,)[z]V )d!3b@D,5}0)E ?|5 S6 eq?ESu4ZzKw.ZK80f6J/2(,Cbbm ?2"[:MJ-i3D92")xEW%5r &?L3H`Wotq'Zx]}@~fz^3C9k ~-YX V_&7V$0Uwc%!*@C!Ll_tk`9Oa'* @G;(nH`FnXok&4uS1Ggs/rFpYR ;1nH`/Y[_m^pUCJ-i?J9z)?3)oY]X3 ~2"dWo]Pg[IvZRdo~ c*Xv+e!W0+~4 `M L]HznQ aov_Tr Lake St. Clair, Michigan. In windy conditions, a drift sock will help to slow your drift. 0000374113 00000 n With the bluffs of Lake Erie's central basin shoreline a mere 2 miles distant, my boat's sonar unit displayed an abundance of arches in the 20- to 30-foot depths. Consistent perch production of late, combined with the fast growth rates of Lake Erie, should combine to provide western basin anglers with good numbers as well as size structure of yellow perch. Steve and I make a trip to Lake Erie to catch smallmouth bass. Most smallmouth anglers head west from here to Elk Creek and on to the Ohio border. Search the dropoffs surrounding spawning areas for schools of emerald shiners, shad or yellow perch. From a fish population standpoint, all three premier species appear to be in good shape. These units also allow anglers to easily distinguish between several types of hard and soft bottoms, which is important because smallmouth bass spend more than 90 percent of their time over some type of hard bottom. Expect the fish to be in 30 to 50 feet of water, and attracting plenty of attention from fishermen when they are schooled and biting. Lake Erie fishing. The areas out from Shades Beach and North East feature many deeper humps and are most popular with smallmouth anglers. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Perch populations in central basin waters may be down somewhat. Smallmouth bass will run up many tributaries along the Lake Erie shoreline, but the most popular (due to number of fish and amount of public access) are Cattaraugus Creek, Eighteen Mile Creek, Canadaway Creek and Chautauqua Creek. | But the largemouth fishery has been in expansion for several years, so much so that now that it's common to catch western basin largemouths within main-lake areas, ones that previously displayed a smallmouths-only sign. However, autumn weather is often increasingly uncooperative and anglers are advised to pay particular attention to the forecast when planning their trip. In central basin waters, Geneva, Ashtabula and Conneaut are all popular ports when the perch are biting. Stealth presentations for up-close encounters with bass hiding in cover. Fly anglers do very well drifting or swinging woolly buggers and minnow patterns, especially emerald shiner patterns. This is a turkey hunter's take on the classic Swiss dish. These include two "Cleveland Stadium" reefs, as well as three other artificial reefs found just to the west. Springtime bass hotspots in the western basin include the Bass Islands complex and well as Kelleys Island. The minimum size is 15 inches. 0000143118 00000 n In the video above, Matt Willson of Ruger highlights the features with Game & Fish's John Taranto. The Cleveland metro area provides some good near-shore smallmouth bass opportunities. It wasn't long ago that a discussion of Lake Erie's bass numbers was specifically aimed at smallmouth. Sport angler catch rates in the central basin have been down the past year or two, possibly indicative of a decline in yellow perch numbers. As explained in the Lake page, much of the fishing for smallmouth bass is in Lake Erie. Hn=Ua[,?.Z jEs@MZEKIEv8K#rw^q=W~/'/xxj=|77_^o^w?_O./? During autumn, smallmouth are found in the same locations and are caught by the same methods as described above for the summer period. However, smallmouth bass in Lake Erie are very widely distributed and are also available to anglers fishing inshore zones with waders, kayaks and other small vessels. The reef tops out in five to 15 feet, dropping quickly into depths of 25 or so feet. Depending on wind conditions, Smallie anglers have the availability of fishing both the north and south side of the lake. Bass fishing is also good in harbor and canal areas in May and early June. Go Big or Go Home to Hook Lunker Summer Bass, Make Crawfish Part of Perfect Summertime Meal, Tackle Test 2022: Top Bass Rods & Reels Reviewed, Euro Nymphing 101: Trout Tactics from Across the Pond, How to Add Casting Distance to Reach Bigger Fish, Backyard Ready: Grilling the Perfect Steak, Click here for more G&F articles about Pennsylvania, Awesome Start to Minnesota Turkey Hunting, Bass Crash Course: How to Properly Tune a Baitcasting Rig, Winchester Big Bore: Backcountry Bear Protection. Before and after the spawn, smallmouths won't be found far from an easy meal. "Yellow perch populations in the western basin currently are as good as we've seen in years," Hartman said. OHIO The bottom of the western basin is mostly vast expanses of silt and sand. And though most folks head off-shore to the deeper zones of these trenches, they should take note that there's often a near-shore bite that happens in June, likely comprised of resident fish. The western basin, which stretches from the mouth of the Detroit River east to the Vermillion River region, is shallow and warms quickly. Hartman also said that while walleye production varies greatly, in general, nesting success has been more consistent in recent years. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. Hartman said Erie's smallmouth fishery is difficult to assess. By simply navigating with your chartplotter and Navionics Maps out from Crystal Beach, you can be fishing in world-class Smallmouth water within minutes. As Lake Erie waters warm, post-spawn smallmouths move to deeper water zones where they will hold during the summer months (late June through August). Both Presque Isle Bay and the main lake can provide perch action. There are many baits shops in the Erie area, both on the drive out onto the peninsula, and west and east of the city. They come armed to the gunnels with rods, reels, and tackle set to battle with 10- and 12-pound walleye or 5- and 6-pound smallmouth. Some especially productive areas include Seneca Shoal, Woodlawn Bar, Myers Reef, Evans Bar and Van Buren Bay. With strong populations of both species, however, it's likely good action will continue for both in 2017 a nice situation. This type of structure is most common around the islands area that separates the western and central basins. In general, basins to the east of the island/reef complexes and river systems (Detroit and Maumee) gather many of the spawning walleyes and are prime spots from late April through May. Boat fishing isn't productive right now because the fish are swarming the shallows. Channel edges are key to success. The smallmouth bass fishing has been heating up around the Lake Erie Islands this week, with tournament anglers last weekend weighing some trophy bass as the big females begin to move shallow to . Bass are found along the entire New York shoreline, with hotspots along rocky structure and drop-offs in 15-35 feet of water. Do It CNC Pro Series Soft Plastic Lure Molds, Live Bait Traps/Storage, Minnow Buckets, Aerators, Do-It Pro Series CNC Soft Plastic Lure Molds, Do-It Essential Series Soft Plastic Molds, FISHING HOT SPOTS MAP-LAKE ERIE BASS ISLANDS AREA. Post spawn smallmouth bass are often finicky, and respond best to slow moving baits like smaller tubes and stickworms worked along the bottom. This turns out to be a bed fishing trip and one of the best trips on the big pond of my life.. Jigging spoons, vibrating blades and various lead-head jigs can be productive. Hartman said some of the 2014 fish were legal by the fall of last year, many of them in the 16- to 18-inch range, thanks to fast growth rates. The Keystone State has a special season designed to provide anglers with the opportunity to catch big smallmouths while at the same time protecting the resource. Hartman said this area of Erie, from Huron east to Conneaut, has been in a down cycle, with less consistent recruitment. It's not uncommon for there to be separate harvest regulations for western and central basins. You'd never guess it's the shallowest of the Great Lakes! In this area of the lake, between Conneaut, Ohio and the Pennsylvania border, an . May is the best month for Lake Erie smallmouth fishing because the bass will be in relatively shallow water, and they tend to be aggressive during this pre-spawn period. It shows up on most electronic mapping programs. It's also significant to note that young walleyes, such as those two- and three-year-olds that will be common this summer, tend to stay closer to the shore. Contact the Erie County Visitors Bureau for local information. After ice-out, smallmouth bass begin to seek out areas where water warms up faster than the open lake. As such, it's wise to carry a supply of minnows along even on a walleye trip, and be willing to join the perch pack when things are slow. Paul Sacks (248/819-3192) is a well-known local bass angler. It might be easier to fish deeper, unless wave action roils the shallows. From mid-April into early May, fish start to migrate from wintering areas, which are usually the first major dropoffs adjacent to spawning areas, and begin to stage on underwater points between 15 and 30 feet deep. Anglers travel from across the country to fish for Lake Erie bronzebacks. 0000145464 00000 n Bass Crash Course: Technique tweaks to maximize distance and accuracy. Productive lures include jigging spoons, blade baits and spoonbill jerkbaits; however tube jigs, soft plastics and live bait are angler favorites. But from mid-April through mid-June, when spawning smallmouths are most vulnerable, anglers may keep one fish per day, and the minimum length is 20 inches. Soft plastics such as grubs, worms, baitfish imitations and other creature baits work best when combined with a drop-shot rig. Suspending jerkbaits are often tops here, as well as soft swimbaits or swimming grubs. Normal Topic; Hot Topic (More than 15 replies) Very Hot Topic (More than 25 replies) Locked Topic; Sticky Topic; The bass are seeking areas for spawning as well as to feed on schools of emerald shiners which also move into these warmer areas. These Major League Fishing pros share the best tips and advice they've ever received. Consistently productive colors are those that imitate the basss natural prey items, colors like smoke/charcoal with flecks and greens (baitfish) or browns (crayfish, round goby). To the east, there are dropoffs toward and past the New York border. The western basin of Lake Erie plays host to the largest numbers of walleye and smallmouth bass in the lake. More specifically, between the Ohio line and the mouth of Walnut Creek. 0000374356 00000 n Smallmouth hotspots off the central basin shoreline are too numerous to mention them all. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. Western Basin Fishing Hotspots To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.