WESTERN BASIN
Walleye fishing pressure has been very low recently. Sporadic catches have been reported in the area NW of West Sister and between Kelleys Island and the Huron River. As temperatures drop expect fishing to pick up E of Kelleys Island.

Perch fishing in the western basin has been excellent with anglers targeting perch averaging more than 20 fish per trip. Best areas have included W of Green and Rattlesnake Islands, NE and E of Kelleys Island in 35 to 41 feet of water, within 2 miles of shore in the Lakeside/Marblehead area, and just N of the Toledo water intake. Spreaders tipped with shiners have been most productive for 7 to 12" fish.

For smallmouth bass try fishing Kelleys Island and nearshore areas around the Bass Islands and Marblehead. Tube jigs have been used to catch fish between 15 and 20". For largemouth bass try East Harbor around thick beds of vegetation and in the harbor channel.

CENTRAL BASIN
Walleye fishing in the central basin has been best near the sandbar 6 to 10 miles NW of Lorain, 6 to 8 miles N of Beaver Creek in 40 to 50 feet of water, 6 miles NW of the Chagrin River in 60 feet of water, 8 to 26 miles N of Geneva and Ashtabula in 62 to 72 feet of water, and 8 miles N of the Rocky River in 61 to 63 feet of water. Anglers have been trolling dipsy divers with spoons (most color schemes with copper, blue, fire tiger or gold have been best) for fish from 15 to 30".

Yellow perch fishing continues to be excellent in the central basin. Best areas have been within 3 miles of Huron, Vermilion and Lorain in 27 to 35 feet of water, 4 to 5 miles N of Edgewater St. Park in 49 to 53 feet of water, 2 to 6 miles N of Conneaut and Fairport in 47 to 62 feet of water, and 3 to 4 miles NW of Wildwood St. Park in 45 to 52 feet of water. Spreaders tipped with shiners are taking fish from 7 to 12".

Smallmouth bass have been caught in harbor areas and along the shoreline in 19 to 30 feet of water near Conneaut, Ashtabula, Geneva, Fairport and Cleveland. 14 to 18 inch fish have been caught on tube jigs, crankbaits, jigs tipped with shiners, and crayfish.

Steelhead have been caught by trollers using dipsy divers with spoons 6 to 8 miles N of Eastlake, Geneva and the Rocky River in 62 to 70 feet of water. The steelhead have ranged in size from 23 to 29".

Reprinted with the permission of the ODNR.