Smallmouth Bass In Lake Erie

[EDD]

When do the smallmouth usually start their span in Presque Isle?  Is that the place to fish or is there better fishing at some other location?  What do you find to be the best lure or jig to use?  This will be my first year in pursuit of these fish and I'm really looking for some help from someone who has done this.  I understand it's a great time and I'd like to give it a try.

[jhoffman]

End of april

[bassman78]

I'm not familiar with lake Erie, I fish the Niagara river and Lake Ontario. Spawn will usually start in the mid 50's. You can start catching the more aggressive ones at that temp. You can fish the prespawn as well. Find deeper water near spawning flats and you can pick them off there with a deep diving jerk bait, jigging a lipless crankbait, or dragging/hopping a craw/goby/tube along the bottom. During spawn you want to look for gravel and small rocky areas depth from 4-12 ft depending on where your at. They will have access to deep water so don't fish a section of 4ft water where there a 400 meter run to deeper water they probably won't be there but you never know. You can use alt of different lures during spawn. Lipless cranks are good, bluegill/perch/red craw color patterns are my go to's. If you are sight fishing and your cranking a bed and you can't get me to bite. Harass em with the crank then throw a senko/fluke style bait into the nest and they will hammer it. PM me man if you wanna talk more. Bent rods and wet lines

[EDD]

Thanks so much for the info. Can't wait to give it a try. Does anyone know if fishing inside Presque Isle is any good for the smallmouth?

[bassman78]

Dwight Hottle the man to talk to about Erie. He's on this forum.

[EDD]

If Dwight Hottle is out there, was wondering about fishing Lake Erie for smallmouth bass. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Where-When etc. Any body with info- please!!!!

[mod479]

I can tell you much valuable information on Erie is here if you take the time to search through archived threads and articles.

[mrmacwvu1]

I find that the numbers are bigger in the western basin. However bigger size fish on the eastern basin from fairport harbor over.

[Phish]

Presque Isle can be great for smallmouth, but there's a smaller window of opportunity in the bay. They will come in to spawn and some do stay all year, but very few. After the spawn and early post spawn, you've got to get on the main lake. I've had 100 fish days in PIB with a 3+ average and over 5# on a few. It's rare as I can only get on Erie so often each year and if main lake is an option, I'd rather fish the big water.

 

There is far better fishing main lake year round. Lots of largemouth in the bay too, not that that's a bad thing. I've heard of some nice sizes but I've never hit 5 pounds personally on LMB at Erie. Seen plenty pics of them though. Just a backup option if you can get on the main lake. And it's still worth it in the summer in my opinion. Caught a few near trophy pike and plenty of 30+ days on largemouth in the early summer before it's too choked up with weeds.

 

My current favorites are D-shot, Jerkbait, Spinnerbait, Tube. I'm far from the vet on Erie other guys on this board are and I've still got a ton to learn. But I'm proof that anyone can get on this lake and hit triple digits with a buddy, as well as catch (and release) a few trophies.

 

Last note, gotta respect this lake, as I'm sure you've heard. Your best day on the water can turn into a nightmare with the weather and wave conditions. Main lake is serious and you must know forecasts. I check my apps on iPhone every hour and keep an eye on the sky as they say. Interestingly, I've had days on the main lake fishing 1-2 footers with no issue, only to return to the bay and find 4 footers. Not fun in the little 14' aluminums we sometimes rent. Anything over 3' on the main lake and we usually head in. I've read plenty of horror stories about those fancy $40K flat bottom bass rigs ending up as structure on the bottom of Erie. If I can find a solid 17-18' deep vee by April, I'll be out there much more often and I'll post some reports.

 

[EDD]

Thanks Minnow for the info. If you have a chance to answer a few more questions. How deep do you fish in the main part of the lake? Do you look for fish on the finder or troll or drift? Are you looking for structure? When do you start fishing?

[muskiebassfisherII]

 

those aren't smallmouth,  they're footballs with tails.

[flyhatch]

Early spring Id watch your graph in the 25 to 35 fow.

then drop your shiny friends.

you can always check in shallower as the day goes on.

[Dwight Hottle]

You can count on the smallies being in PIB from early April until mid to late June. They are also abundant in the main lake. Lots of people prefer the bay because it is smaller & less likely to get rough except for west winds. Most of the structure in the bay centers around & near the main shipping channel. Smallies can also be found on the flats near the park side of the bay. Reread what flyhatch & Phish posted for some good info.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

No smallmouth in Erie. Move along, nothing to see here.....LOL