Lake Erie Western Basin/Bass Island Smallmout Report

Does anyone know where I can get an up to date report? Im going to Middle Bass Island this weekend and I cant find a smallmouth report anywhere, probably because they're out of season, but I'm catch and release. Any help would be great...thanks.

I wish I could give you personal experience on this because I've never been to Erie, but I was told by a tourney angler that if you go the second week of May you can't go wrong. Let us know how you do.

Last time I new there was no season in Ohio, but that was 15 years ago. North East of Kellys Island, the most southern part of Canada Right in the point. Theres a small unihabited Island called Middle Island. Pointing NW is a sand bar, from there on the west side, fish from there to about 3/4 the way down the island. Nice softball sized round rock bottom, and weed beds. North side right on the other side of the sand bar is big chunck rock and caught my share there, but nothing like the west side. Its been fifteen years since Ive been so I dont know if its changed much or not. The 15 years I did fish the lake, I had many 50 and 100 fish days there. No I did not have a Canadian License, but I never was checked, it was to inviting to catch a boat load to worry about it.

My bad on the season, this is from the Cleveland Plain Dealer Today


WESTERN LAKE ERIE

The rules have changed. The walleye daily bag limit has increased to 6 fish per day, with a 15-inch minimum size, and bass that are caught on Lake Erie must now be released through June 25. The lakewide limit for yellow perch is now 30 fish per day. The steelhead trout limit is still 2 fish per day through Saturday, but on Sunday jumps to 5 trout per day on Lake Erie and its tributaries.

Nasty spring weather and threats of tornadoes and high winds made it difficult this week for fishermen. While some walleye and yellow perch were caught, the bite was off much of the week. Warm, calm weather will bring a good walleye bite west of Green and Rattlesnake islands, where walleye are suspended north of the reefs, and north of Kelleys Island.

Yellow perch had been biting very well off the Marblehead Peninsula, and east and southeast of Kelleys Island.

I fish there a lot. I was there three weeks ago fishing kelleys island and they were catching them on the islands. I dont bass fish any more WALLEYE only but i know what the bite was doing. Go to Walleye Central and check the fishing reports and they will answer all your Qs about erie and smallmouth fishing there. Going back up in two weeks and i can let you know more then if you want.Hope your equiped for erie!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good reports. I have not fished there since 1989. My uncle lived there and and I fished with him when I was a teenager. I have fished around the bass islands several times. I have a lot of good memories on lake erie. I know it is the roughest lake I have been on and he had a big lund boat. This post has really brought back some good times. My brother still fishes there all the time. He usually goes up towards Astubula and puts in on the deeper side.

[QUOTE=southern reefer;414531]I fish there a lot. I was there three weeks ago fishing kelleys island and they were catching them on the islands. I dont bass fish any more WALLEYE only but i know what the bite was doing. Go to Walleye Central and check the fishing reports and they will answer all your Qs about erie and smallmouth fishing there. Going back up in two weeks and i can let you know more then if you want.Hope your equiped for erie!!!!!!!!!!!![/QUOTE]

Thanks for the lead. Ive been going to Erie for 13 years and my dad has been going for probably 20. We walleye fish some but really smallmouth is what we're after. We usually go in late june never been in may before. But we're equipped for Erie. And we know when to get off the water and most importantly when to stay in. Thanks again.

I just got back from the lake on thursday morning. The water clarity is pretty bad right now but shouldn't take long to clear up. I only fished one day due to the horrible weather in the western basin. I launched from catawba island at Muzuriks boat ramp. Only caught large mouth in the eastern harbor due to the high winds. All my fish were caught on a hank parker spinner bait. 14 fish in a half day up to 31/2 lbs. No smallies though. I would wait a few more days for the water to clear up. It was even dirty out at Kelly's island and on the main lake. Hope this helps

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