By Brian Walters

If you want to wet your line where the fish are always biting, there’s really no better inland fishery than Lake Erie. With an average depth of 62 feet, Lake Erie is the shallowest of the five Great Lakes. Its shallow waters warm quickly in the spring and freeze over in the winter—providing limitless fishing opportunities for both the warm weather recreational fisherman and the avid hardwater winter angler.

Why is Lake Erie such a productive fishery? It has nutrient rich waters that allow plankton to flourish. Plankton in turn create a nutrient rich environment for aquatic insects and baitfish which support a thriving population of larger game fish. The total number of fish caught on Lake Erie on an annual basis adds up to nearly 1.5 million.

Fish from shore, bring your own boat, or charter a fishing trip. Most anglers prefer to fish by boat, but with over 800 miles of fishable shoreline going at it from shore is more than a realistic option. If hard water fishing is your M.O., Lake Erie provides first-class ice fishing last December through early March.

Lake Erie has been dubbed “The Walleye Capital of the World.” It’s also been called the “Steelhead Capital of the World.” I would just call it one of the best darn fisheries an angler can imagine. The walleye fishing on Lake Erie is excellent, as is the steelhead fishing. The lake is also brimming with yellow perch, smallmouth bass, northern pike and over 100 other lesser known fish species.

• Where to fish on Lake Erie
• Lake Erie Fishing Seasons
• Fish species and fishing techniques
• Boats and Boating Equipment
• Fishing Regulations

Where to Fish on Lake Erie

Lake Erie is divided into three geophysically distinct basins. The eastern basin, central basin, and western basin. The eastern basin extends from the city of Erie, Pennsylvania northeast to edge of the lake at Buffalo, New York. The western basin extends from Huron, Ohio east to Toledo. The central basin extends from Huron, Ohio east to the underwater trenches off Erie. Each basin very nearly functions as a separate fishing ecosystem.

With an average depth of just 24ft and a maximum depth of 62ft, the western basin is the shallowest of the three basins. This is where walleye and smallmouth bass hang out. The central basin is a bit deeper than the western basin with an average depth of 60 ft and maximum depth of 82ft. Rainbow trout, or “steelhead”, prefer the central basin. At an average depth of 80 ft and maximum depth of 210 ft, the eastern basin is the deepest and coldest of the three basins—and provides ideal habitat for cold water lake trout and steelhead.

As you move from west to east across Lake Erie water gets deeper and colder. Warm water species including walleye, muskellunge, bass and northern pike are going to be more abundant in the warmer shallower waters of the western basin. As you cross the central basin toward the eastern basin, water cools and cold water species including trout and salmon take center stage.

Western Basin

The western basin is Lake Erie’s warm water fishery and hosts the largest number of warm water species including walleye and smallmouth bass. If you’re like a lot of anglers who come for the walleye fishing, the western basin is where you’ll find most of the action. 10 to 12 pound walleye are the norm here, and your average smalmouth is in the range of 5 to 6 pounds.

If your preferred catch are smallmouth bass, you’ll find some of the best specimens on the humps and rockpiles just off the the northshore near Leamington and Cochester, Ontario, Canada. Lake Erie smallmouths found in the western basin have a unique mottle pattern that allows them to blend in with the rock piles. They’re also on the larger size, usually weighing in a good half pound more than their cousins in nearby Lake St. Clair.

In addition to walleye and smallmouth bass, yellow perch and white bass are common catches througout the basin—as well as few Largemouth bass. The following table lists some of the hotspots for fishing bass, perch and walleye throughout the western basin.

Nearly 95% of the water that flows into Lake Erie comes from the Detroit River and empties into the western basin. With it comes silk and sediment that settles in the western basin and leads to lower water levels. When the wind picks up in the western basin and hits the shallow water, waves can quickly reach 6 to 10 feet and easily capsize a fishing boat. Be aware. Be prepared.

Central Basin

As summer rolls in and temperatures rise, walleye that were concentrated in the warmer shallow waters of the western basin begin to migrate east into the central basin in pursuit of baitfish schools. Fishing for larger walleye in the central basin is especially productive during July just offshore of the Geneva-Ashtabula-Conneaut area at depths between 50 and 60 feet. I also recommend fishing the transition zones east of Conneaut, Ohio where the depth quickly drops from about 25 feet to nearly 50.

In addition to walleye fishing during the warmer months, the central basin supports a vibrant steelhead trout fishery. Steelhead are found in the cooler waters throughout Lake Erie but no where so abundant as the central basin. Fishing for steelhead heats up offshore during early to mid-summer, but some of the best steelhead fishing occurs in late September in the tributary streams from Huron to Conneaut as steelhead migrate upstream to attempt to spawn.

Beyond walleye and steelhead, anglers can expect to find healthy populations of perch and bass throughout the central basin. Central basin perch fishing tends to pick up as summer progresses. Smallmouth bass fishing is spotty but strong in certain areas such as the rocky near-shore ledges and humps along the Geneva-Ashtabula-Conneaut shoreline. You’ll also find abundant and stable populations of smallmouth bass along the breakwalls near Lorain.

The following table list some of the most popular (and reliable) fishing spots in the central basin.

Eastern Basin

The eastern basin of Lake Erie is a recreational fishery that supports a variety of fish life. Like most of lake Erie the eastern basin has its share of walleye, perch and smallmouth bass, but its the deeper waters of the basin that hold the treasured giant lake trout (“lakers”) that most anglers come to pursue. Lake trout are found in 60 to 100 feet of water, sometimes not more than a mile off shore.

Lakers in Erie’s eastern basin begin to feed more aggressively come late fall and can be plucked out of the water with the same tackle used for fishing walleye and bass. For just a few weeks come November, when water temperatures at the surface hit the mid 40s, schools of lakers gather in staggering numbers along Lake Erie’s southern shore to spawn—providing anglers the opportunity to get up and personal with one of lake’s most prize catches.

During spawn, lake trout aren’t there to feed. They have one thing on their mind—and it ain’t food. They’re agitated, aggressive, and will take any reasonable lure that comes within striking distance.

Nearshore Areas

While the eastern, central and western basins support somewhat diverse fisheries, they share a few common geographical features and fish species. The shoreline around all three basins drops farely quickly to a depth of about 30 feet. Much of these nearshore waters are characterized by rocky bottoms, ridges, ledges and drop-offs that support populations of smallmouth bass, perch, and other panfish species.

To the west of Presque Isle Peninsula, in the central basin, the bottom of the lake has a slight downward grade until it flattens out at a depth of about 50 feet. To the east of Presque Isle, moving into the eastern basin, the lake has a gradual sloping rocky bottom the supports more abundant populations of smallmouth bass.

If bass is on the menu, there are two nearshore hotspots along the Pennsylvania shoreline of Lake Erie that you have to hit. The first is the “cribs” located about 4 miles east of Presque Isle Bay. About half a mile offshore there are two concrete pilings that mark the spot. Fish to the east side. The second hotspot, known as the “W’s”, is about 3 miles west of the town of North East. When you get to the location you’ll find cliffs along the coast. Fish a mile up or down the coast from the cliffs. You’ll find large bass in 10 to 30 feet of water at both locations.

Another decent place to fish for smallmouth bass is the “rock pile” about 1 mile west of the North East marina. It’s a 200 yard wide area just off the shore at the mouth of Sixteen Mile Creek. Drop your line near mouth of the creek in about 10 feet of water and fish northeastwardly up the coast toward North East marina until your reach a depth of 30 feet.

The Trenches

The Trenches include a series of two deep water trenches due north of cities of Lake City and Gerard. The first trench ranges in depth from 55 to 70 feet and is located 7 miles offshore north of Walnut Creek Marina (view on map). The second trench is located 17 miles offshore northeast of Walnut Creek Marina (view on map). Both trenches typically provide good fishing for walleye July through September. Walleye fishing is best along the west edge.

The Mountain

The Mountain is another noteworthy underwater feature and popular fishing spot located in the eastern basin. It consists of a slightly raised area (plateau) ranging in depth from 40 to 60 feet, followed by a deep depression. Here the lake floor reaches a depth of 200 feet. The Mountain is located 3 miles offshore from the North East Marina (view on map) and 9 miles northeast of Lampe Marina (view on map). The

The Mountain is one of the better areas in the eastern basin, and Lake Erie, for fishing steelhead and lake trout. As summer moves in, and water temperatures warm, steelhead and lake trout migrate to the cooler depths of The Mountain. Fishing for stealhead and lake trout is best during mid-summer. Anglers will also find decent walleye fishing around the edges and plateau portions of The Mountain.

South Shore Tributaries

The stream tributaries along the south shore of Lake Erie, extending from Huron to the eastern shore of Pennsylvania support some of the best steelhead fisheries on Lake Erie. Every fall, winter, and spring steelhead flock to these tributaries by the thousands as the move upstream in an attempt to spawn. Migrations usually start in Late September and run through early spring. Steelhead runs during late fall provide awesome opportunities for anglers to fish during a time of year when tourist and fishing pressure is low.

Mouth of the Detroit River

Nearly every Lake Erie river mouth and inlet provides good fishing opportunities. The mouth of the Detroit River is no exception. Where the Detroit River enters Lake Erie fishing opportunities abound.

The mouth of the Detroit River is an excellent location to troll for salmon during fall and late spring. You want to hit the spawn as early as possible to catch salmon just as they’re entering the river system to spawn.

Rondeau Provincial Park

There are several excellent fishing spots along the northern shore of Lake Erie. If you can get your hands a Ontario non-resident fishing license and Remote Area Boarder Crossing Permit, I highly recommend taking a stab at fishing the Canadian side of the lake.

The waters around Rondeau Provincial Park, and its peninisula inparticular, offer a natural shoreline that supports a vibrant fishery for walleye, perch and panfish. Fishing up and down the shoreline, and around the peninsula, is a truly unique fishing experience.

If you decided to fish in Canadian waters, make sure you’re familiar with Ontario Fishing Regulations.

Put-In-Bay, Middle Bass & Isle St George

Just south of the Canadian border, and 10 miles north of the Port of Sandusky, the Put-In-Bay and Middle Bass island system and surrounding waters offer one of the most productive year round fisheries on Lake Eire. In layman’s terms, the entire area is jam-packed full of fish.

This island system, sometimes referred to as the “Bass Islands”, provides anglers enough water area and diversity to spend an entire week fishing. The most popular catches and targets include salmon, walleye and perch. Put-in-Bay and Middle Bass island offer marinas for docking and refueling, as well as lodging.

In addition to the main islands, there are several smaller islands that can be fished and trolled. The entire Bass Island complex offers a diverse ecosystem of plant and animal life, along with a world-class fishery.

Lake Erie has hundreds of good fishing spots. To name them all wouldn’t be possible. But if you have a limited time to fish Lake Erie, you can’t go wrong with the fishing spots listed above.

Lake Erie Fishing Seasons

Lake Erie is a productive year round fishery that offers fishing opportunities spring, summer, winter or fall. However, each season brings with it unique opportunities and challenges.

Spring

When you think “spring”, you envision rays of light breaking through the clouds, ice melting, warm breezes, sunny days, and flowers blooming. Well, think again. Spring on Lake Erie is cold, wet, and windy. Temperatures begin to rise, but the lake remains fairly cold. If it’s warm on shore, expect it to be a good 10 degrees colder when you’re in a boat on the water.

The most popular species fished during the spring are yellow perch. They’re found in nearshore waters and after a long cold winter have developed quite an appetite over the long cold winter. Fishing for rock bass and smallmouth bass is also productive in nearshore waters in early spring.

Walleye fishing starts to pick up in mid-Spring and continues to gain momentum as waters warm. They have migrated back to the western basin to spawn on the reefs located from Toledo to Port Clinton, and throughout the Lake Erie Islands. Jigging the reefs with a bucktail hair jig or bladbait is a great way to catch spring walleye during spawn. Trolling large plugs and crankbaits just off the reef complex is also effective.

Spring offers a unique opportunity to fish walleye from shore at night for a few short weeks at the beginning of April. As steelhead fingerings migrate from tributary streams into Lake Erie, walleye lie in wait along the shoreline ready to feed. Walleye usually arrive to the shorelines near the mouths the streams around dusk, and spend the night gorging themselves on fingerlings as they enter the lake for the first time.

As spring progresses, and walleye begin migrating from the central basin toward the eastern basis, walleye fishing picks up further offshore around the “trenches” and the “mountain”.

If you’ve every been interested in fishing rock bass, about 10 miles east of the city of Erie at North East Marina rock bass fishing gets underway in late May and continues for several weeks.

Smallmouth bass fishing during spring is excellent. However, Lake Erie is now designated “big bass” water and there is a daily catch limit of 1 bass over 18 inches May 1 – June 23. (Review fishing regulations before planning your trip.)

Summer

Even though springs offer some excellent fishing opportunities, summer is the more popular season for fishing on Lake Erie. Walleye are now found in all 3 basins, water temperatures are warming, and most of the popular game fish species, including smallmouth bass, lake trout, steelhead, and of course walleye, are biting.

Even though temperatures and weather improve in the summer, weather conditions can change on a dime, so be prepared—especially if you’re out on the lake. One moment you’ll have clear skys and sun, the next clouds, torrential rain, gales, and 10 foot waves that can capsize a small fishing boat in minutes.

During late summer as the heat roles in, walleye, trout, and and other fish species begin moving to deeper cooler waters. By late summer anglers will find lake trout and steelhead holding in the deep water surrounding the mountain.

Fall

Fall is one of the most productive seasons for fishing on Lake Erie. Walleye fishing remains strong offshore through the end of September beginning of October, and trolling for steelhead and salmon just off the mouths of tributary streams is just getting underway. Fall is also prime time for targeting yellow perch.

In mid-September, steelhead and salmon begin pooling just off the mouths of Lake Erie’s tributary streams as they stage their reentry to the spawning streams where they were released as fingerlings three years earlier. Steelhead in fall are energetic and a brilliant silver in color.

During early October, steelhead runs are underway and anglers head to the tributary streams to try their luck at steelhead fishing.

Winter

As the weather cools and water temperatures fall below 32°F, Lake Erie freezes over and ice fishing begins. In December, ice is not typically thick enough to support ice fishing yet, but by early January the lake is covered with thick ice and hard water angling is well underway.

During the winter months, trout, walleye and perch move to the deeper waters and this is where anglers should target. If you’re not sure where to start, study a topographical map, using a fish finder with mapping capabilities, or better yet, hire a guide. Ice fishing on Lake Erie can be hit and miss—and dangerous. Paying for an experienced guide that knows where to go, and where not to, is well worth the cost.

Walleye fishing during the winter can be productive, but often proves a little challenging. They move around throughout the day, and they bite a less frequently. The superstar of ice fishing on Lake Erie is the Yellow Perch. Even during the dead of winter you can find big perch schools under the ice that will readily take your bait.

When streams are running high, steelhead fishing in the upper tributaries is at its best during late November and can be good throughout the winter as long as streams remain open. During the coldest winters, streams will freeze over and not open again until March. As long as streams remain open, steelhead can be taken all winter long.

Fishing for steelheads during the morning hours in Lake Erie tributary streams is not recommended. The water is cold, the fish are lathargic, and they just don’t respond to anglers attempts to pull them from the water. As the air and water temperatures warm throughout the day, steelhead become more active and begin to bite.

Fishing steelhead runs during the dead of winter is only for the hardiest anglers. Air and water are cold, and you’re constantly cleaning ice of your rod and gear.

Fish Species and Fishing Techniques

Lake Erie is home to over 107 fish species—90 native and 17 introduced. However, most anglers fish Lake Erie for a few select game fish species which include walleye, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, steelhead, salmon and lake trout. There are a few general approaches for fishing Lake Erie—which we’ll review below—but there are specific methods and technique you’ll want to use to for targeting individual game fish species.

Walleye fishing is without a doubt what draws the majority of anglers Lake Erie. Lake Erie walleye are big, fiesty, and fun to catch. Average walleye measure over 15 inches and weigh in between 3 and 5 pounds, and lunkers in the 8 pound range are not uncommon. Next to salmon, walleye is one of my favorite freshwater eating fish. It makes an excellent table fare. It’s always fun reeling in a lunker, but if dinner is the goal, you’re better served targeting midsize walleye. (No pun intended.) A slightly smaller walleye (15″-17″) is easier to cook evenly and tastes better in my opinion.

Walleye tend to be light sensitive, something to account for when targeting these fish. On sunny days, when water clarity is high, walleye will typically remain lower in the water column. On lower light days, or when water visibility is low, you’ll find walleye a little higher in the water column. At night, you may find walleye suspending right below the surface. And where there’s one, there’s likely more.

I’ve read there are two different populations of walleye inhabiting Lake Erie. My personal experience would confirm that this is likely the case, or that Lake Erie walleye exhibit two distinct migratory patterns—which I believe is more likely. One population of larger non-migratory walleye remain in the shallower western basin close to the shores year round. A second, migratory population, remains in the western basin during the winter and spring, but as water temperatures rise, they migrate to the deeper, cooler waters of Lake Erie’s central and eastern basins. This is why walleye fishing in the lake’s central and eastern basins typically improves throughout the summer. Conversely, in years where water temperatures remain cool throughout the lake, walleye fishing in the central and eastern basins never really picks up.

Offshore trolling is the most common method for fishing walleye on Lake Erie. The ideal trolling speed for walleye fishing on the lake is about 1.5 to 2.5 miles per hour, depending on water conditions. During early spring when the water is still cooler and walleye are holding closer to the surface, flateline trolling or trolling planer boards with a deep diving crankbait or plug, such as the berkley flicker minnow, is my preferred approach. As water warms, and walleye move deeper, switch to trolling divers and downriggers. If you’re finding walleye are holding on the bottom, continue using downriggers but swap out your divers for a weighted willow leaf rig.

Drift fishing a willow leaf rig just off the bottom is another effective technique for catching walleye, as long as there’s enough current or wind to maintain a constant drift speed. I personally prefer the peace and quite of drifting to the incessant growl of a trolling motor. Just be ready to react quickly and set the hook as soon as you feel a bite. Still fishing and jigging for walleye are not common techniques for fishing walleye on Lake Erie.

Lake Erie has plenty of shoreline to fish and casting from shore will get you within strike distance of hungry walleye, especially in spring and fall when walleye move into the shallows to hunt for baitfish. You’ll find good shore fishing from Huron east up the shore to Conneaut. A few popular shore fishing spots include Huron Pier, Sandusky bay, Edgewater pier, and just outside the Vermillion break wall. Target jetties and inlets where there’s contour, a little current, and deeper water. Shore fishing can be especially productive at night.

Most anglers fish walleye during the day, but nightfishing for walleye is just as productive—and a lot of fun. At night you can fish walleye anywhere from the shallows to deep water. If you’re fishing from a boat I suggest starting at about 15 feet and working your way deeper. If walleye aren’t biting in the deep, move toward the shallows in the 6 to 15 foot range. Drifting and trolling at night will work just as well for catching walleye as during the day. Trolling using planer boards will keep your lures in the upper 15ft of the water column. This is where you’ll find the feeders and get bites when the sun ain’t shining.

A few sweet spots for walleye fishing at night include Ruggles Reef (fish at a depth of 30′-50′) and Cedar Point. Just offshore of Edgewater Park in Cleveland is a hotspot for night fishing walleye during the summer. And my favorite hot spot is Kelley Island. You’ll find good walleye fishing at Kelley Island day or night most of the year.

What bait to fish? Willow leaf rigs (spinner or nightcrawler) are probably the most popular trolling presentation for fishing walleye on any of the Great Lakes—including Lake Erie. Northen King Spoons are also really popular lures for trolling salmon, lake trout, as well as walleye. Deep diving plugs when flatlining and trolling with planer boards are a staple for walleye fishing. If you’re targeting walleye under the ice, light line, a small hook, and juicy minnow will do the trick.

You’ll find perch in inland waterways throughout Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York, but Lake Erie is still the king of inland perch fishing in my book. Yellow perch are abundant throughout Lake Erie, relatively easy to catch, and as big as they come (8-12 inches on average).

Lake Erie is a year round perch fishery, but perch fishing really picks up in mid-summer just as walleye fishing begins to slow. Perch fishing is at its best in the western basin, but anglers will find pockets of perch throughout Lake Erie’s central and eastern basins—primarily during the summer and fall.

Within the western basin, productive perch fishing spots are just off Carpenter Point at the west end of Kelleys Island, Mouse Island just north of Catawba Island, and the waters between Kelleys Island and the Bass Islands. At the eastern edge of the western basin, Sandusky Bay, Maumee Bay and the stretch of water between Huron Lighthouse and Nickel Plate Fishing Piere offer good perch fishing as well.

Some of the best fishing for larger perch is found along the reef complex in the western basin. A few of the better perch fishing reefs include Niagara Reef, Buckeye Reef, South Shoal, and Crib Reef.

If you venture east into the central basin, the waters off the Presque Isle Lighthouse provide pretty consistent perch fishing throughout the summer. You’ll find perch at a depth of about 15 to 50 feet, but the sweet spot is about 25′-35′. Central basin holds a lot of perch, although in th numbers found in the western basin.

If you’re up to venturing into Ontario, the nearshore waters adjacent to Long Point Bay in the eastern basin provide reliable perch fishing year round. In both the central and eastern basins a majority of perch are going to be found in nearshore waters. Given the relatively short lifespan of yellow perch (< 10 year), perch fisheries come and go as populations die off and repopulate. Always check with local bait shops and updated fishing reports before planning your fishing route.

Perch tend to move as water conditions change and to pursue of food. If you really want to stay on top of where these fish are, the best strategy is to employ a fish finder with modern imaging sonar. Look for pods of perch suspending on, or just above, the bottom. Once you find a pod, position your boat right above using a trolling motor or a good old fashion anchor.

The most popular method for fishing perch on Lake Erie is still fishing. Find a school of perch. Position your boat right above. Set anchor. Drop your line. A light line (4-6 lb test) with a small hook and minnow is all you need. Add enough weight to get your line and bait to the bottom, and then reel it up a few turns. Perch are usually on or near the bottom. You want your bait between 1-3 feet off the bottom.

Perch will take a variety of bait or lures, but they’re especially fond of minnows. An emerald shiner on a drop shot rig using a #4 or #6 Aberdeen hook is your best option. It really doesn’t get any better than this for pulling perch out of Lake Erie. If emerald shiners are unavailable, golden shiners will work but you many want to cut them in two since they’re a bit bigger than emeralds.

Perch are masters at stripping a hook clean without you even knowing. To fish perch you need a rod that is sensitive enough you feel the slightest nibble, but with enough power to get a solid hookset and reel your catch up off the bottom and into your boat. A fast action light power spinning rod reel combo with a 6 to 7 pound braided line is idea. Why braided line? It doesn’t have much stretch in it and allows you feel the slightest tick of a perch on your bait.

If you don’t have a boat, you’re at a bit of a disadvantage on Lake Erie, but shore fishing perch is still doable and productive.

Surprisingly few anglers appreciate just how good the smallmouth bass fishing is on Lake Erie. Largemouth bass fishing really only exists around Presque Isle and a few bays in the western basin, but Lake Erie is ripe with productive smallmouth fisheries. In fact, Lake Erie is arguably one of the best smallmouth bass fisheries in the United States.

Smallmouth bass populations in Lake Erie tend to hold to structure. They’re found along the entire shore of the eastern, central and western basins where there is rocky structure at a depth of about 15-30 feet. They also inhabit inland canals, harbors, and streams. A few hot spots for fishing smallmouth bass include the waters off Raccoon Creek Park and the “Crib Reef” east of Presque Isle Bay just off the Hammermill plant.

In additional to nearshore waters, smallmouth bass by the hundreds flock to the Lake Erie’s tributary streams to spawn when conditions are right. These runs provide anglers a short, yet exceptional opportunity to hook larger smallmouth bass. A few of the more popular tributary streams for fishing smallmouths are in the eastern basin along the New York state shoreline. These include Cattaraugus Creek, Canadaway Creek, Eighteen Mile Creek and Chautauqua Creek.

Average smallmouths weigh 2 to 4 pounds, but catching a lunker in the 5 to 6 pound range isn’t uncommon. Several New York state records for smallmouth bass are held by Lake Erie with one catch weighing in at an astounding 8 pounds, 4 ounces. Some of the largest bass are caught in the spring between April and June.

Still fishing, jigging, cast and retrive, and drifting are all popular methods for fishing smallmouth bass. They’ll hit plugs, jigging spoons, jerkbaits, blade baits, streamer flies and tube jigs, but they have a sweet spot for live minnows. Emerald or golden shiners are a favorite bait for smallmouths on Lake Erie.

When vertical jigging, or using a drop shot rig, a 1/4 to 1/2 ounce lead jighead with a 2 1/2 to 5 inch tube, soft plastic grub, worm or live minnow is an effective presentation. When using artificial tubes and lures, use colors and presentations the imitate the bass’s natural prey (baitfish, crawdads, goby) as closely as possible. When minnows are unavailable, other live bait options including nightcrawlers, leeches and crayfish will also work.

Cast and retrieve works for fishing smallmouths from the shore, but whatever rig you use, it will need to be able to go deep enough to reach bass holding at a depth of 20 feet or more.

A lot of anglers come to Lake Erie just for the steelhead. The tributaries and streams that feed Lake Erie along its southern shore are renowned for the their steelhead fishing, and this is where most anglers come during the late fall to target this large subspecies of rainbow trout.

Lake Erie tributary streams also contain Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmom and Brown Trout. Chinook are no longer stocked in Lake Erie tributaries and Brown Trout stockings occur in a few streams during trout fishing season. Populations of all three species are limited.

During summer and early fall steelhead trout are found primarily in Lake Erie proper. Starting October, they begin to migrate from the lake into tributary streams in an attempt to spawn. The shale rock composition of the stream beds makes them unsuitable for steelhead spawning. Some reproduction of steelhead does occur, but it’s rare.

Major tributaries of Lake Erie’s eastern basin including Cattaraugus Creek, Eighteen Mile Creek, Canadaway Creek and Chautauqua Creek are hot spots for steelhead fishing. These streams provide good public access and support excellent steelhead runs. Less popular, yet productive tributaries for steelhead fishing include Cayuga, Walnut Creek, Cazenovia, Buffalo, and Silver. These later tributaries have good steelhead runs but have limited public access, and far less fishing pressure.

Tributaries of Lake Erie’s central basin that support steelhead runs and fishing include:

1. Cranberry Creek
2. Chappel Creek
3. Sugar Creek
4. Darby Creek
5. Sherod Creek
6. 6. Vermilion River
7. Brownhelm Creek
8. Beaver Creek
9. Black River
10. French Creek
11. Porter Creek
12. Cahoon Creek
13. Rocky River
14. Nine Mile Creek
15. Euclid Creek
16. Chagrin River
17. Grand River
18. McKinley Creek
19. Arcola Creek
20. Wheeler Creek
21. Cowles Creek
22. Indian Creek
23. Red Brook
24. Ashtabula River
25. Conneaut Creek
26. Turkey Creek

During the late winter and early spring, fingerling steelhead are released into the upper streams where they “imprint”. They then make their way downstream to Lake Erie where they remain for about three years before returning to the streams where they were released. Adult steelhead reach about 5-8 pounds and 18″-20″ in length. Male steelhead are easy to differentiate from females by their hooked lower jaw.

Steelhead populations in Lake Erie tributary streams vary from year to year and depend on a number of factors—most importantly water level. When water levels are high, steelhead migrate upstream with vigor. When water levels are low, or begin to drop, the fish may reverse course and move back into the lake. Often the best time to fish steelhead is just after a large rainfall when water levels begin to recede. This is when you’ll find fish holding in the deeper pools along the streams.

Notwithstanding their abundance, migrating steelhead are finicky, unpredictable and a challenge to catch. The two main methods for fishing steelhead in tributary streams is fly fishing and bait casting. Both methods are hit and miss. Some days fly fisherman are getting all the bites, and the next day its the bait casting anglers having all the luck.

For casting, common baits include live minnows, power bait, salmon roe, egg sacks, skein, and grubs (maggots). Lures are not commonly used when fishing streams. For fly fishing steelhead, the most common flies are the Glo-Bug and sucker spawn. The Glo-Bug imitates a salmon egg. The sucker spawn imitates the egg of a sucker fish.

Steelhead and salmon begin to congregate at the mouths of streams in early fall staging for their seasonal upstream migration. This provides anglers an excellent opportunity to catch these fish just off shore before migration gets underway. During this short window, anglers can flatline and troll the shallows using planer boards. Water depths here are only 15-20 feet, so be careful when trolling. It’s easy to get your lines snagged, or come under friendly fire from nearby trollers. Be considerate! Fisherman will also anchor near the mouth of streams and bait cast using casting spoons. This is often the best method when waters are crowded with other fisherman.

Outside late fall migration, steelhead and salmon are taken almost exclusively by trolling deep waters within Lake Erie’s central and eastern basins using downriggers and divers. The deepest water is near the “mountain” and this is where the most steelhead and salmon fishing takes place. In and around Barcelona, Dunkirk and Buffalo harbors you’ll find strong steelhead fisheries. I recommend trolling at 2-3 miles per hour in 65-85 feet of water using a trolling spoon.

Steelhead are strong fish that require sturdy equipment. When trolling deep for steelhead using downriggers and divers, I recommend the 8′ Daiwa Wilderness trolling rod in medium action. If you’re trolling planner boards you might try the JBI 7′ planner board rod or a dispy rod.

If you’re going to be fishing the tributaries, you’ll want a good spinning rod reel combo for casting spoons, spinners and stickbaits, or a high quality fly rod setup. For a spinning combo go with a 7′-9′ medium action rod with spinning reel that can handle 8-12 lb test line. For fly fishing you’ll want a 6-8 weight fly rod at least 8 feet long (if not longer). Your fly reel should have the capacity to hold minimum 100 yards 20 lb test dacron backing. A large arbor reel is ideal.

The most productive months for fishing steelhead in Lake Erie proper are March and April, but steelhead can be taken all winter long when the water isn’t frozen. When frozen over, Lake Erie provides excellent ice fishing opportunities for steelhead.

Lake trout are native to Lake Erie but have been stocked annually for over 20 years to help populations recover from depletion during the late 50s and 60s when they were nearly driven to extinction. Today, Lake Erie lake trout number in the millions. Lake trout are found primarily in the deeper waters of Lake Erie’s central and eastern basins cruising at a depth of 60 to 120 feet.

Lake trout fishing kicks into full gear end of April beginning of May and continues through late fall. Prime time for fishing lake trout is spring and fall. As water temperatures cool off in mid-October lake trout venture out of the depths into the shallows (under 30 feet) in search of structure to spawn. Once in the shallows, they are much easier to target.

Lake trout love structure and that’s most likely where you’ll find them. Any reefs or underwater structure from Erie to Dunkirk Harbor is prime territory for lake trout.

Toward the end of April into May, one of the best spots to fish lake trout is along the underwater “mountain” just three miles northeast of North East Marina. Use sonar to find the southern edge of the mountain and troll it from east to west using a diving disk and small 3″ trolling spoon. I prefer a blue striped wobbling spoon with a silver back. When water clarity is high it creates a flash that closely mimics a baitfish. Troll the edge at about 1.5 to 2 miles per hour starting at about 80 feet then work your way up the water column to about 60 feet.

In Lake Erie, almost all lake trout are taken by trolling a spoon on a downrigger just off the bottom at a speed around 1.5 to 2 miles per hour. Adding a 4″ to 6″ dodger attractor or flasher to your line between the lure and downrigger weight is a great way to add a little pazaz to your presentation, draw in more trout, and get strikes.

There are several rods you can use for trolling lake trout, but you want a sensitive heavy-duty rod that can handle a downrigger. My favorite trolling rod series is the Saint Croix Eyecon. The 8’6″ is my planner board and long line rod. The shorter 7’6″ is the downrigger rod. If I had to choose just one rod it would be Saint Croix Eyecon 8’6″. It can really do it all. As far as reels go, I recommend the Daiwa Accudepth 47LCB conventional reel for trolling lake trout. Again, there are several options on the market, I just happen to like this combo.

Most Lake Erie anglers never see a burbot in their entire fishing career. The burbot is a somewhat elusive freshwater codfish that hangs out at the bottom of the lake. It is rarely seen during the summer months and is usually only caught during the dead of winter.

Burbot can weigh over 15 pounds and reach up to 3 feet in length. The largest Lake Erie burbot catch on record was caught off Fairbort harbor in the central basin. It measured 37 inches and weighed in at 17.3 pounds. Once abundant throughout Lake Erie, burbot numbers were decimated in the mid nineteen century. They have since rebounded.

Burbot are bottom dwellers and bottom feeders, and that’s where you need to get your bait in order to catch one. They prefer live or dead minnows, but will also take worms and cut baits. A simple, yet effective technique for catching burbot is to fish a minnow, or minnow head, on a hook, leadhead jig, or jigging spoon at the bottom of the water column. Let the baited hook settle to the bottom. Once resting on the bottom, take up any slack in your line, jiggle your rod tip to create action, then pause. Repeat the action. The vibration of the bait on the bottom will attract foraging burbot.

Lake Erie produces some giant northern pike and muskies, but few anglers come to here to fish these two magnificent predators. While still abundant in some areas of the lake, pike and muskie numbers in Lake Erie area not what they once were.

Pike like marshlands and vegetation that provide cover for ambushing prey. They prefer relatively shallow water with cover. They are found in the western basin throughout Sandusky and Maumee Bays. Anglers report catching northern pike off Kelleys Island, Catawba Island, East Harbor and Metzger March southeast of Maumee Bay. Pike in Metzger Marsh are abundant but on the small side. Muskies cohabitate in many of the same areas you’ll find pike.

Pike and muskies are also found in tributary streams and inlets in late winter and early spring during spawning migration. Tributary streams known for pike fishing include Cuyahoga River, St. Joseph River, upper Scioto River, Portage River, Tiffin River, and Killbuck Creek.

Pike and muskie are voracious feeders and will take anything from minnows to live frogs. They will also readily take variety of artificial lures including soft plastic swimbaits, crankbaits, minnow plugs, jerkbaits, and topwaters.

Largemouth bass fishing on Lake Erie is underrated. Largemouth bass fishing may pale in comparison to the walleye, smallmouth, steelhead and perch fishing, but there is still a thriving largemouth bass fishery on Lake Erie and abundant opportunity to target this bucketmouth of a fish.

The key to catching largemouths on Lake Erie is knowing where to fish. There are parts of Lake Erie where there just aren’t any largemouth bass to be had. First of all, the majority of largemouth bass are going to be found in the large shallow bays (less then 20 feet deep) and tributary rivers of the western basin. They need vegetation and a source of food, so target areas with weeds and plenty of baitfish.

For larger bass fish the deeper channels and ledges. Structure is also an attractor for largemouths. You’ll find bass holding near docks, pilings, rock piles, and man-made structures. Marinas, harbors and channels with public access, and that provide protection from the wind, are often sweet spots for finding lunker largemouths on Lake Erie. The harbor waters of Lorain, Cleveland and Erie known bass hangouts.

An effective presentation for catching largemouth bass is a simple 7-inch plastic worm on a hook. Flip your bait into the middle of a weed flat, or into pockets or holes in the weeds, and allow your bait to fall to the bottom. Bounce it on the bottom for a few seconds, pull it up, and repeat in another hole until you hook a bass. One of the best presentations for fishing the weeds is the texas rig.

You can also target largemouths using swim jigs and rubber-legged jigs. These lures are a good choice for fishing in the shallows near structure. A ned rig with 1/16 to 1/4-ounce jig head with a soft body bait is another presentation that gets largemouths biting. For fishing in heavy cover I recommend the “hop & bounce” technique.

When fishing largemouths on deep reefs and structure on Lake Erie proper a ned rig with a heavier 5/8-ounce tube jig, or drop shot rig, works well.

Sauger were once abundant on Lake Erie. While they still exist in a few parts of the lake, they’re a rare catch. Sauger tend to stick to murky shallow waters reminiscent of what you’ll find in Lake Erie’s western basin.

If you’re really interested in targeting sauger, try fishing from the Maumee bay into the Maumee river.

Lake Erie’s western basin originally supported a mesotrophic habitat ideal for the lakes more prominent (and welcome) native fish species such as the walleye and yellow perch. However, over the last few decades it has become an overly nutrient-rich ecosystem that provides the perfect habit and breeding ground for a number of invasive species including white perch, sheepshead and common carp.

A much less appreciate fish, the white bass is abundant in many of Lake Erie’s bays and tributaries. Each year thousands of white bass migrate out of Lake Erie up western basin tributaries to spawn. Peak runs occurs between mid-May and June when water temperatures reach 55 degrees Fehrenheit. The best fishing for white bass is on the Maumee and Sandusky Rivers. Portage and Huron rivers also have good runs some years.

Channel catfish are abundant in Lake Erie. Most of the year they reside in Lake Erie proper, but come Spring they move into the tributary streams where they become easy pickins for anglers. It doesn’t get any easier than fishing for channel cats. Attach a chicken liver, shrimp, or piece of hotdog to a J hook, circle hook, Kahle or octopus hook, cast, and let your bait sink to the bottom. With time, a channel cat will find your bait and take it. Ideal hook size for channel cats is 2/0 to 5/0 depending on hook type. A carolina rig is a good setup for fishing channel cats, but your choice of bait is most important. You want a smelly, stinky bait that catfish can’t ignore.

A variety panfish species are found in Lake Erie. The most common are blue gill, green sunfish, pumpkinseed sunfish, and crappie which are abundant in the the lake’s bays, marshes and tributaries. Blue gill is the most common panfish you’re likely to encounter, with green sunfish close behind.

Boats and Boating Equipment

Boating on Lake Erie is not for the faint of heart, or the inexperienced. The lake is vast and can quickly turn treacherous. If you lack experience navigating these waters, or do not have an “sea worthy” boat, you will be risking your life and the lives of your passenges by taking it out on Lake Erie.

Any boat that ventures out on Lake Erie should be designed to handle gale force winds and 10″ waves. Larger deep v-hull boats are the norm for fishing Lake Erie. The deep v-hull provides boats that ability to cut through waves and maintain their stability. Common fishing boat designs, such as bass boats, pontoon boats, jon boats, and even try-hulls are not ideal for fishing Lake Erie and should not be taken far from shore.

A boat length of 16′ or longer is recommended for traveling any distance from shore. If you plan on venturing out into deep waters, you should have a minimum 50 hp motor. Most anglers will have two motors. A more powerful motor for getting to and from fishing grounds, and smaller 5- to 10-hp outboard motor for trolling once at the fishing grounds.

When you’re out on the water, you’re on your own. You want to take every precaution to ensure you—and your crew—make it out and return home safely. Having two motors is the number one recommendation I’d make for any angler fishing Lake Erie. If by chance your main motor fails, you can use your trolling motor to get you back to port—albeit slowly. Having a backup battery is also highly advisable.

Three key pieces of equipment that every boat angler should have are a marine radio, fish finder, and LORAN (long-range navigation) or GPS device. The marine radio allows you to radio the coast guard for help. (They monitor channel 16.) It also allows you to hail a tow if your boat breaks down. Having a GPS will help you find your way back to port when the weather picks up and fog rolls in. Don’t be caught dead without a marine radio or navigation system—or you just might be. The fish finder is just to help you find fish.

If you plan on spending much time trolling, the standard boat equipment you’ll want ot have includes downriggers, planer board mast, stand-up rod holders, a large ice cooler, and long net. The basics that shouldn’t need to be mentioned are a first aid kit, lake map, binoculars, sun glasses, cold weather apparel, and rain gear.

All boats over 16 feet in length are required to carry visual distress signals during the day. Create a checklist and check it twice before every trip onto open water.

Fishing Regulations

Lake Erie is borded by four states and Canada. Fishing regulations and licensing vary by state and country.

• Ohio Fishing Regulations – general laws and regulations are for all Ohio waters and fish species unless stated otherwise. Find permit requirements and season dates.
• Pennsylvania Fishing Regulations – learn where and when to fish, size restrictions, creel limits, permit requirements and important dates.
• New York Fishing Regulations – general fishing regulations for Great Lakes and tributaries special regulations includes seasons, size requirements and daily bag limits.
• Michigan Fishing Regulations – bag limits, size limits, equipment restrictions, and licensing information for Michigan waters on Lake Erie.