Western Basin Walleye Walleye fishing has been slow. Expect fishing to improve as the large 2003 year class begins to surpass the 15" minimum size limit. The best walleye fishing has been around "A" can of the Camp Perry firing range and around West Sister Island. Drifting or trolling worm harnesses and trolling spoons produce the most fish. Yellow Perch Perch fishing improved over the past weekend (8/6/05) with limits being caught. The best areas have been NW of Kelleys Island, between Ballast Island and Middle Bass Island, S of "B" can of the Camp Perry firing range, from the gravel pit to the turnaround buoy of the Toledo shipping channel, and from Lakeside to Kelleys Island. A perch spreader tipped with shiners is the most popular set-up. Smallmouth Bass The best smallmouth bass fishing has been around the Bass Islands, Kelleys Island and Sandusky Bay. Largemouth bass have been caught in Sandusky Bay, East Harbor and West Harbor. Central Basin Walleye Walleye fishing was excellent over the past weekend (8/6/05). The best areas were 7 to 21 miles N from Fairport Harbor to Geneva in 70 to 75' of water, and 10 to 18 miles N of Ashtabula in 70 to 72' of water. Trolling 30 to 50 feet down with spoons, crawler harnesses or stickbaits, using planer boards, dipsy divers, downriggers or jet divers, have produced the best catches. The best spoon colors have been confusion, watermelon and black/silver. Fish have ranged from 15-28 inches. Yellow Perch Yellow perch fishing has been excellent 3 miles N of Edgewater state park in 45' of water, 3 to 5 miles N of Ashtabula in 45 to 60' of water, and 3 to 4 miles off of Fairport Harbor in 45 to 55' of water. A perch spreader tipped with shiners is the most popular set-up. Fish have ranged from 7-11 inches. Smallmouth Bass The best smallmouth bass fishing has been around breakwalls and rocky drop-offs from Lorain to Avon point. Tube jigs and drop-shot rigs with goby imitations have been the most productive lures. Steelhead Steelhead have been caught by walleye anglers in the same areas mentioned in the walleye report. Fish have ranged from 16 to 28". Lake Erie surface temperatures are in the upper 70's.
Source: ODNR
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