Lake Erie
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Lake Erie Fishing Reports
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Reports from all past years within a 60-day time frame
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Soft Swimbaits (Sm/Md)
Structure
Submerged Vegetation
Forage
Bluegill
Water Temperature
50°
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Spawn)
Technique
Finesse Jigs
Structure
Rock Pile
Forage
Crawfish
Water Temperature
50°
I operate a guide service on Lake Erie. My customers have been catching countless numbers of four pound smallmouth on the Venture Lures 1/4 oz Olive and Olive/Orange football hair jig. I own and hand make all the baits for Venture Lures. This little hair jig has put so many smallmouths in the boat for me over the years. It’s been one of my top baits every spring. I’ve been fishing them with 10 pound braid to 8 pound Flourocarbon leader, targeting flats with scattered boulders and rock have been the hot spots. Another key feature with this hair jig is I make them with a Gamakatsu 604 jig hook, which is a stout little hook. I can catch up to 20 fish with one bait before the hook begins to flex.
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Ned Rigs
Structure
Rock Pile
Forage
Crawfish
Water Temperature
50°
Ended up targeting staging smallmouth on rock piles between 32 to 47 feet of water. The water clarity was spotty in some areas especially the deeper you went down after a storm earlier in the week. Using the chartreuse tail on the Roboworm ned, was the main ticket. It allowed for fish to have an "aim" point at the bait and the lure to contrast well on the rock/ sand bottom.
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Blade Baits
Structure
Boulders
Forage
Minnows
Water Temperature
47°
Ended up fishing the first local derby of the year on Lake Erie. The blade bait was the hot bait. Perfectly calm water allowed for no drifting needed and allowed for us to stay on top of a school of 200 smallmouth that my partner located just after the first ice off. Once we got out there, it was an absolute hammer fest with being about .25 ounces off of completing the "Dirty 30" for the day.
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Ned Rigs
Structure
Rock Pile
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Soft Swimbaits (Sm/Md)
Structure
Points
Water Temperature
51°
Caught one big smallmouth then wind forced us into a pocket. Then crushed largemouth off the wind blown point.
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Tubes
Structure
Rip Rap
4.83lbs
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Hard Jerkbaits
Structure
Rip Rap
5.37lbs
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Crankbaits 7'-12'
Structure
Points
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
52°
The weather was cold and Raining. All the big bass were in Pre-spawn and were stacked up on the points right off the lake. If the marina had a rocky break wall of point, there were big bass stacked on it. Casting of these points you want to make sure and contact the structure. Usually rip rap and concrete slabs were used to build these points. Crank hard to get down to the structure and then slow your retrieve. Make sure to throw across the points in several areas and also continue to change your angles. If you catch one keep moving around as others continue to move in
