ODNR CENTRAL AND WESTERN BASIN FISHING REPORT 10/16

Western Basin

Walleye fishing effort has been low recently. There have been a few reports from “A” can of the Camp Perry firing range, northeast of Crib Reef, and Green Island. As temperatures drop expect fishing to improve as migratory walleye return to the islands and also nearshore areas. Trolling crankbaits behind planer boards is a popular method for catching fall walleye.

Yellow perch fishing improved over the past week. The best areas have been the turnaround buoy of the Toledo shipping channel, the gravel pit, northeast and northwest of West Sister Island, “C” can and “F” can of the Camp Perry firing range, Northwest Reef, southwest of Green Island, Rattlesnake Island, the green buoy northwest of Catawba State Park, Gull Island Shoal, and E of Kelleys Island and Kelleys Island Shoal. Perch spreaders with shiners fished near the bottom produce the most fish.

Largemouth bass fishing continues to be good in harbors and nearshore areas around Catawba and Marblehead, and also in Sandusky Bay. Some smallmouth bass have been caught around Kelleys Island.

Central Basin

Walleye fishing was good off Huron, 14 miles northeast of the river around the offshore dumping ground. Worm harnesses with inline weights, or crankbaits with snap weights have produced the best catches. There weren’t many angler interviews this past week, but excellent fishing continues with a few limit catches in 70 to 71 feet of water north of Geneva and in 56 to 70 feet of water north of Ashtabula. Anglers are trolling wire line with white, pink, blue, yellow, orange, green and red stick baits.

Yellow perch fishing has been fair north of the condos that are east of Vermilion, around the south end of the sandbar, north of Lorain and off Ruggles Reef. Excellent fishing was reported in 46 feet of water northwest of Rocky River, in 38 to 42 feet of water northeast of Gordon Park, in 47 feet of water northwest (the hump) of Fairport Harbor, in 46 to 54 feet of water northeast of Ashtabula and in 39 to 53 feet of water northeast and northwest of Conneaut. Spreaders with shiners fished near the bottom produce the most fish. Shore fishing off the Cleveland and Fairport area piers has been slow.

Smallmouth and largemouth bass fishing has been good in 10 to 20 feet of water around harbor areas in Cleveland, Fairport Harbor, Geneva, Ashtabula and Conneaut. Anglers are using crayfish and leeches.

White Bass fishing has been hit and miss off the E. 55th street and E 72nd street Piers in Cleveland and the long pier in Fairport Harbor. Small fish are being caught off the Fairport Harbor pier. Evenings have been the best. Lots of large white bass are being caught by boat yellow perch fisherman off Fairport Harbor. On the lake, look for gulls feeding on shiners at the surface; the white bass will be below. Anglers are using agitators with jigs and small spoons.

Steelhead Trout are being caught off the long and short Piers in Fairport Harbor and also in the river up to Vrooman road. Anglers are using jigs tipped with maggots with a bobber and small spoons. 

The water temperature is 61 degrees off Toledo and 66 degrees off Cleveland according to the nearshore marine forecast.

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