Sept 6, 2018

Rough conditions kept anglers off Lake Erie much of the past week. However, anglers are back at it today and favorable lake conditions are forecasted through the weekend. Prior to the bumpy conditions, anglers were still enjoying an excellent walleye bite from Sturgeon Point to the PA line. Good numbers of walleye are available starting in 55 feet of water out of all ports, and extending to 75 feet of water between Sturgeon and Cattaraugus Creek, and out to 85 feet plus between the Catt to west of Dunkirk. Off Barcelona, anglers were catching walleye all the way out to 130 feet of water. Bigger walleye with some lake trout mixed in, were suspended 40 feet down over 110-130 feet of water. In all locations at depths under 70 feet of water, anglers are catching both suspended and bottom hugging walleye. At depths over 80 feet, most fish are suspended at varying depths.

Catches of yellow perch have been incidental for most of the summer, with a recent uptick between Cattaraugus Creek and Sturgeon Point. Before the latest blow however, there were some boats targeting perch straight off the Catt in 45-48 feet of water. The fishing was pretty good, with boats averaging 50-60 good sized perch. Lake trout are an underutilized species in Lake Erie, however late summer is a great time to fish for them. Best to target lakers below the thermocline, where water temperatures are around 50 degrees. Numbers are generally best in 80-115 feet of water from Dunkirk to the PA line. Downriggers with spoons run near the bottom is most productive, but lake trout may also be suspended.

NY DEC

Sept 20, 2018

Lake Erie:  The perch bite picked back up. Most boats caught between 20 and 50 fish while a few boats limited out. Most were caught just north of Buoys 1 and 2, east of Stony Point in 24 to 25 feet, and near the E-Buoy when using minnows on perch rigs with or without green, orange and chartreuse spinners and beads. Anglers also caught white bass, white perch, freshwater drum and channel cats. Very few anglers targeted walleye. Largemouth bass were caught using green pumpkin worms and drop-shot rigs off Bolles Harbor and the backwaters in Toledo Beach Marina. Channel cats continue to be caught on worms in the Hot Ponds.

Michigan DNR

Sept 27, 2018

Lake Erie:  The perch bite continued to pick up and most boats caught between 20-50 fish while just a couple reported limit catches. Most fish were caught east of Stony Point in 24 to 25 feet and near the E-Buoy when using minnows on perch rigs with green, orange and chartreuse spinners and beads. White bass, white perch and freshwater drum were also caught. Those targeting walleye caught the occasional fish on a crawler harness in Brest Bay. Bass fishing was excellent. In the morning and early afternoon, largemouth and some good size smallmouth were caught on white spinners off the Sterling seawall. Those fishing off the Bolles Harbor and Toledo Beach Marina breakwaters caught largemouth on green pumpkin or watermelon worms and drop-shot rigs. Channel cats were still hitting in the Hot Ponds though catch rates have slowed with only five to 15 per boat. 

Michigan DNR