Rainbow trout and catfish are being released at the Cleveland Metroparks’ Ohio and Erie Canal Reservation in Cuyahoga Heights, with trout fishing open to kids and adults starting at noon today. Muddy waters are pervasive along the Lake Erie shoreline, but expect the fall yellow perch bonanza to begin this weekend as calmer weather arrives. Cleveland area Jumbo yellow...
Muddy waters are pervasive along the Lake Erie shoreline, but expect the fall yellow perch bonanza to begin this weekend as calmer weather arrives.Rainbow trout and catfish are being released at the Cleveland Metroparks’ Ohio and Erie Canal Reservation in Cuyahoga Heights, with trout fishing open to kids and adults starting at noon today. Muddy waters are pervasive along the Lake Erie shoreline, but expect the fall yellow perch bonanza to begin this weekend as calmer weather arrives.
Cleveland area
Jumbo yellow perch have moved in and some stable weather should kick off outstanding fishing. The best perch fishing had been in 41 to 45 feet of water around Cleveland Harbor, especially off Cleveland Browns Stadium, East 72nd Street and Euclid General Hospital. Pier and breakwall perch fishing should improve, and good catches of smallmouth bass have been reported in rocky, near-shore areas.
To the west, perch fishing should be good this weekend in 30 to 40 feet of water from Huron and Vermilion to Avon Point. To the east, the hump northwest of the mouth of the Grand River will draw crowds if Lake Erie calms down and begins to clear.
The night walleye bite is just beginning, with some walleye caught casting from shore when the waves aren’t washing the piers and breakwalls. Anglers are casting weighted minnow-style lures after dark, with the Rapala and Bomber lures in blue-silver and black-silver leading the way. Trolling fishermen will do well, but must keep an eye on the weather, with lake temperatures cooling early this year.
Some steelhead trout are showing up along the shoreline and in the lower stretches of the Rocky River and Euclid Creek.
Lake Erie
Big winds and waves have slowed walleye and yellow perch fishing lakewide. Walleye are generally heading to their winter haunts off Vermilion and Huron, where good fall fishing should begin soon. Anglers who have been able to get out report some success off Huron, as well as along the shoreline.
The western lake perch fishing should be fair to good this weekend off the east side of Kelleys Island, around Ballast Island and off Catawba State Park and the Marblehead Lighthouse. Most of the perch have been of average size, but jumbo perch are beginning to school.
Rivers and streams
Local steelhead rivers have been up and down all week, with rain and water temperatures that are lower than usual expected to have lured some trout from Lake Erie. The big runs of trout are yet to come, with some fish reported caught this week. Spawn bags have been the hot ticket, but flies, spoons and spinner should catch trout as the water clears. Expect the best fishing to be in the lower stretches of the Rocky, Chagrin and Vermilion rivers. The Grand River will continue to be muddy for a few days.
Pennsylvania’s Elk Creek has been a top spot for steelhead trout in recent days.
Inland lakes, reservoirs
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is drawing down water levels at Lake Milton, West Branch, Berlin and Mosquito reservoirs and the Portage Lakes for the winter. Lake Milton’s drawdown will allow the construction of 24 courtesy docks at Lake Milton State Park, a $355,000 project funded by the Division of Watercraft. Improvements also are planned for the Portage Lakes as the waters levels are drawn down.
A crowd of bass fishermen is expected on Mosquito Reservoir this weekend for the Bad Bass Champs Tournament Trail Championship and at Mogadore Reservoir for the Electric Elite Series Open. Pymatuning walleye fishermen have shifted from jig-nightcrawler tactics to working blade baits as the lake water has cooled. Largemouth bass should be biting with a bright, sunny weekend on tap. Cooler waters have bass heading to shoreline cover, with anglers focusing on weed beds and shallow flats. Top lures should be spinnerbaits, plastic worms and pitching jigs. Wingfoot Lake should be a top spot for bass, as well as the Portage Lakes, especially Long Lake.
Bluegills and crappies should be hitting good most everywhere, as well as fall catfish. Try Tappan, Piedmont or Clendening for big flathead catfish. Saugeye fishing is heating up on those lakes, as well. Try blade baits, such as Vi-Bees and Cicadas on the points.