Nasty north winds are plaguing Lake Erie fishermen, who had been reporting very good catches of yellow perch off Cleveland and Lorain, and trophy walleye between Vermilion and Huron.
Rainbow trout are being released today at Kiwanis Recreation Park in Painesville and Granger Pond in Mentorâs Veterans Park.Nasty north winds are plaguing Lake Erie fishermen, who had been reporting very good catches of yellow perch off Cleveland and Lorain, and trophy walleye between Vermilion and Huron. Rainbow trout are being released today at Kiwanis Recreation Park in Painesville and Granger Pond in Mentor’s Veterans Park. Trout and catfish were released last week at the Cleveland Metroparks’ Ohio and Erie Canal Reservation in Cuyahoga Heights.
Cleveland area
Northerly winds are a big problem for Cleveland Harbor and Lake Erie fishermen. When the lakes settles, yellow perch are being caught off the Rocky River, downtown Cleveland, East 72nd Street, Bratenahl and Euclid General Hospital in 36 to 50 feet of water. The night walleye bite has been spotty.
Rain is luring some steelhead trout to Lake Erie tributaries, including the lower stretches of the Rocky River and Euclid Creek.
Lake Erie
Walleye fishing has been very good in 30 to 45 feet of water between Huron and Vermilion. Anglers are trolling minnow-style plugs, especially Reef Runners, and finding success with a wide range of color patterns. Spoons are also catching walleye, with trophy fish very common when the wind and waves allow trolling fishermen to get out.
Fishermen have been using inline weights to target walleye suspending at 30-foot depths.
Yellow perch fishing off Beaver Park in the Lorain area has been very good in 36 feet of water, with jumbo perch reported. Yellow perch fishing has been very good off Ashtabula in 54 feet of water.
Western Basin walleye fishing has been slow, with most anglers heading to Canadian waters for both walleye and jumbo yellow perch. Some anglers have caught walleye east of Kelleys Island, a traditional late-season hot spot. Western Lake Erie perch fishing has been good northwest of North Bass Island, northeast of Ballast Island and along the east side of Kelleys Island. Perch are also moving in around the Marblehead Lighthouse.
Rivers and streams
Rain has kicked up local steelhead rivers and streams, especially the Rocky and Vermilion rivers. The fresh flow and cooler nights should bring some steelhead trout into the rivers. The best fishing will be in the lower stretches of the tributaries as the waters begin to go down and clear a bit.
Anglers are working spawn bags close to the river bottom, and casting spinners and spoons. Fly fishermen are tempting trout with minnow imitations and darkcolored stone fly nymphs.
Inland lakes, reservoirs
Water levels are on the way down on Northeast Ohio lakes, including draw downs for shoreline work around the Portage Lakes.
The Division of Wildlife’s stockings of foot-long rainbow trout will wrap up with today’s release of trout at Kiwanis Recreation Park in Painesville and Granger Pond in Mentor’s Veterans Park. Trout and catfish were cut loose a week ago at the Cleveland Metroparks’ Ohio and Erie Canal Reservation in Cuyahoga Heights. Other Northern Ohio waters getting trout last week included Norwalk Reservoir No. 1 and Petros Park in Canton.
LaDue Reservoir has been good for bluegills—with some gathering under the bridges—and fairsized crappies. Anglers are catching schooling bass on spinner baits and Rat-L-Traps. Channel catfish are still biting on nightcrawlers and traditional catfish baits. Walleye fishing has been spotty.
Some perch, crappies and a few walleye are being caught off the Pymatuning Lake causeway on minnows and while jigging blade baits. Boat fishermen are still trolling spinner rigs and nightcrawlers.
Look for the fall muskie bite to improve at Pymatuning, West Branch, Leesville and Clear Fork lakes. Anglers are trolling smaller diving plugs and casting in-line spinners, diving plugs and jerk baits.