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**The yellow perch daily bag limit on Lake Erie has been reduced to 30 fish per day. The change in yellow perch bag limit occurred after the printing of fishing regulations brochure. The 2007-2008 fishing regulations brochure incorrectly lists the Lake Erie yellow perch bag limit as 40 fish per day, which has now been changed to 30.** **The black bass (largemouth and smallmouth) season on Lake Erie opened on Saturday June 30. The daily bag limit is 5 fish with a 14” minimum size limit.** **The walleye daily bag limit is 6 fish. The minimum size limit for walleye is 15”.** **The steelhead trout daily bag limit is 5. The minimum size limit for steelhead is 12 inches.** Western Basin Even though walleye fishing in the western basin has somewhat slowed down there are still plenty of fish being caught. The best fishing has been from the turnaround buoy of the Toledo shipping channel to West Sister Island, along the Canadian border from Middle Sister Island to North Bass Island, and SW of Kelleys Island around American Eagle shoal. Fish have been caught by casting worm harnesses or weight forward spinners, and trollers have had success with spoons on jet divers or dipsys. Although July is not typically a prime yellow perch month in the western basin fish are being caught by the anglers that target them. The best areas have been off of Lakeside, E of the South Bass Island monument, and SE of Kelleys Island. Central Basin Walleye fishing has been excellent from Huron to Vermilion in 19 to 22’ of water (including Ruggles Reef), on the sandbar between Vermilion and Lorain, and at Avon point. Fishing has also been excellent north of Edgewater State Park (Cleveland) in 45 to 52’, north of Chagrin River in 68 to 72’, northwest of Fairport in 60 to 75’, north of Geneva in 68 to 70’, and northeast of Ashtabula in 35 to 45’. Anglers are trolling dipsy divers with spoons ranging in fire tiger, monkey puke, copper back, chartreuse, blueberry muffin, or watermelon color combos. Trolling worm harnesses (same colors) have also been successful. Steelhead are being caught off Lorain, Vermilion, Cleveland in 62 to 65’, Eastlake to Fairport in 68 to 72’, and Geneva to Ashtabula in 60 to 70’. Anglers are catching steelhead on gold, red/white, chartreuse and copper back spoons while trolling for walleye. Yellow perch fishing has been best in 34’ north of Cranberry Creek, north of Cuyahoga River in 44’, north of Chagrin River in 32’, northeast of Fairport Harbor in 45 to 55’, and north of Conneaut in 50’. Shore anglers are catching yellow perch off the piers in Lorain, Fairport, Mentor Headlands and Conneaut. The mornings and evenings have been the best. Perch spreaders with shiners or worm harnesses fished near the bottom produce the most fish. Smallmouth bass fishing has been excellent in harbor areas, and in 10 to 25’ along the shoreline in Conneaut, Ashtabula, Geneva and Fairport Harbor. Fish were caught on tube jigs, crankbaits, and jigs tipped with minnows, nightcrawlers, or leeches. White bass are being caught by anglers trolling for walleye. Shore anglers are catching fish at the Lorain Ore Dock, Avon Lake pier, Eastlake CEI pier and Fairport Harbor piers. The mornings and evenings have been the best. Anglers are using agitators and small yellow or white jigs along with small spinners. Surface temperatures range from 72 degrees off of Toledo to 73 degrees off of Cleveland Source: ODNR |