ODNR Fishing Report for 09/17/2008:

Article Posted: September 18, 2008

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**The daily bag limit for Lake Erie yellow perch dropped from 30 to 25 fish per angler effective July 1, 2008 in waters west of the Huron pier. The daily bag 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 September 1 through May 15 the steelhead trout daily bag limit is 2 fish. The minimum size limit for steelhead is 12 inches.**

**The walleye bag limit is 6 fish per day. The minimum size limit for walleye is 15”.**

**The black bass (largemouth and smallmouth) daily bag limit is 5 fish with a 14” minimum size limit.**

Western Basin

Walleye fishing has remained slow over the past week. The best fishing was N and NE of Kelleys Island, and also around Northwest Reef (NW of West Reef). Most fish have been caught by trolling. Trollers have been catching fish on spoons with divers, or worm harnesses fished with inline weights, snap weights, bottom bouncers, or divers.

Yellow Perch fishing has been good in the western basin. The best spots have been the turnaround buoy of the Toledo shipping channel, between Green and Rattlesnake Islands, around “C” can of the Camp Perry firing range, N of North Bass, NE of Kelleys Island, and Gull Island shoal. Perch spreaders or crappie rigs with shiners fished near the bottom produce the most fish.

Smallmouth Bass have been caught around Middle Bass Island and South Bass Island, and also along the E side of Mouse Island. Some of the fish have been up to 19”.

Central Basin

Walleye fishing remained slow west of Cleveland with the best area being the sandbar between Vermilion and Lorain. Fishing continues to be slow in the Cleveland area this past week so there are no locations to report. Fishing continues to be good 12-17 miles N of Geneva in 70 to 72’ of water, and 6-10 miles NE-NW of Ashtabula in 69 to 72’ of water. Trollers are using worm harnesses, spoons or stickbaits off jet divers, dipsy divers, planer boards and downriggers. Worm harnesses and spoons continue to be the top baits. The best action has been about 25-50 feet down, and the best colors have been watermelon, purple, orange, green, and gold/black or red/silver.

Yellow perch fishing has remained slow from Huron to Avon. The most consistent action has been on the S end of the sandbar. Fishing has been very good offshore in the Cleveland area and also east to Conneaut. The best spots to fish are NW of Edgewater Park in 45 to 47 feet of water, NW of Wildwood State Park in 41 to 46 feet of water, NW of Fairport in 40 to 50’ of water (the hump), N of Geneva in 40 to 50’ of water, and N-NE of Conneaut in 60 to 65’ of water. Perch spreaders or crappie rigs with shiners fished near the bottom usually produces the most fish, however. Fish have ranged from 7 to 12 inches.

White bass fishing has been spotty off Eastlake CEI power plant in 15-30 feet of water. Anglers are using agitators with blue/silver spoons and jigs tipped with twister tails.

Smallmouth bass fishing has been very good in 16 to 26’ of water around Cleveland, Fairport Harbor, Ashtabula and Conneaut harbors. Fish are being caught on watermelon, pumpkinseed and green tube jigs and drop-shot goby imitations.

Steelhead are being caught off Geneva and Ashtabula while fishing for walleye. Anglers are catching steelhead on blue or green with silver spoons while trolling using downriggers, dipsy divers, or jet divers off planer boards.

Based on the nearshore forecast the water temperature is 67 off of Toledo and 69 off of Cleveland.

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



Source: ODNR






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