ODNR Fishing Report for 05/20/2009:

** The daily bag limit for Lake Erie yellow perch is 25 fish per angler in waters west of the Huron pier. The limit will remain at 30 fish per angler in Ohio waters from Huron eastward. Any boats landing west of Huron, Ohio will be subject to the 25 fish daily bag limit, while boats landing at Huron or points east will be subject to a 30 fish daily bag limit. Shore-based anglers west of the Huron pier will be subject to a 25 fish daily bag limit, while those on the pier and eastward will remain at 30 fish daily. **

** From May 16 through August 31 the steelhead daily bag limit is 5 fish. The minimum size limit for steelhead is 12 inches. **

** May 1 through June 26 is closed to possession (catch and release only) for black bass (largemouth and smallmouth) with the limit returning to 5 fish on June 27, 2009 with a 14” minimum size limit. **

Western Basin

Walleye fishing was good in the western basin during the week of May 11. The best fishing continues to be around the island complex including N of North Bass Island, between South Bass Island and Kelleys Island, N of Kelleys Island, and N of Kelleys Island Shoal. Farther west the fishing has been good near the Toledo harbor light and “A” can of the Camp Perry range. Drifters are using bottom bouncers with worm harnesses or are casting mayfly rigs. Trollers were catching fish on crankbaits, worm harnesses fished with inline weights or bottom bouncers, and also on spoons fished with dipsy divers or jet divers.

Yellow perch fishing has been best off of Ballast Island and around Kelleys Island. Perch spreaders or crappie rigs with shiners fished near the bottom produce the most fish.

The best smallmouth bass fishing reports have come from the around Kelleys Island.

Central Basin

Walleye have been caught trolling near shore in 10-25’ off Cleveland, Grand River and Perry. Trollers are using crank baits, spoons and worm harnesses off planer boards and also flatline trolling. Fishing is picking up on the piers at Eastlake and Cleveland. The best times are in the evening and early morning.

Yellow perch fishing has been best in 30-40’ off Fairport to Conneaut, and 30-40’ east of Cleveland. Shore anglers have been catching fish off the Headlands Beach and Fairport piers on the Grand River and in Cleveland off the E 55th and E 72 st piers in Cleveland. Perch spreaders with shiners fished near the bottom produce the most fish.

Smallmouth bass fishing has been good in 15 to 25’ around harbor areas in Fairport Harbor, Geneva, Ashtabula and Conneaut. Fish are being caught on jigs tipped with minnows, leeches, tube jigs, and by trolling crankbaits.

Based on the nearshore marine forecast the water temperature is 57 off of Toledo and 53 off of Cleveland.

Anglers are encouraged to always wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device while boating.

Source: ODNR