The past week brought calm winds and flat seas, but a recent weather system has produced gale force winds. Be sure to check the latest marine forecast for up-to-date lake conditions.*

Western Basin-
No walleye fishing reports have been received in the past week. As temperatures drop, the potential to catch trophy walleye increases around Kelleys Island, the Bass Islands and Marblehead.

Perch fishing in the western basin was excellent during the calm weather in the last week. Best areas were NE and NW of Kelleys Island in 30 to 40 feet of water, around the Marblehead lighthouse and NE of Cedar Point in 30 to 40 feet of water, N of West Sister Island in 25 feet of water, and around the Toledo Shipping Channel Turnaround Buoy in 20 feet of water. Spreaders tipped with shiners have been most productive for 7 to 12" fish.
For smallmouth bass try fishing Kelleys Island shoal, Gull Island shoal, and nearshore areas around the Bass Islands, Kelleys Island and Marblehead. A few largemouth bass continue to be caught in East Harbor and the East Harbor channel.

Central Basin-
Walleye fishing in the central basin has been very good from Huron to Lorain. Best areas have been 8 to 19 miles N of the Huron River mouth and 12 to 14 miles N of the Vermilion River mouth just W of the Lorain Sandbar. Both trollers and casters are catching walleye from 17 to 30” with a few larger trophies. Trollers are catching fish on divers with spoons and casters are using weight forward spinners or drifting harnesses. Expect the walleye to move W as water temperatures drop.
Yellow perch fishing continues to be excellent in the central basin. Best areas have been within 1.5 to 5 miles of Lorain in 35 to 45 feet of water, within 1 to 3 miles of Vermilion in 32 to 47 feet of water, 2 to 3 miles NW of Gordon Park in 43 to 49 feet of water, 2 to 3 miles N from Fairport Harbor to Conneaut in 42 to 50 feet of water, and 3 to 4 miles N of Edgewater St. Park in 50 feet of water. Spreaders tipped with shiners are taking fish from 8 to 12".
Smallmouth bass have been caught in harbor and shoreline areas in 15 to 30 feet of water near Conneaut, Ashtabula, Geneva, Fairport Harbor and Cleveland. 14 to 18 inch fish have been caught on green tube jigs, crankbaits, jigs tipped with shiners, and crayfish.
Steelhead have been caught by trollers in harbors using dipsy divers with spoons at Fairport Harbor and Conneaut. The steelhead have ranged in size from 20 to 28". Steelhead fishing has also been good on the Grand River from the short pier up to the Painesville dam, along with the Chagrin River and Conneaut Creek. Anglers are using Little Cleos, jigs tipped with maggots and egg (spawn) sacks. Check with local bait shops for up-to-date river conditions.

Reprinted with the permission of the ODNR.