Presque Isle Bay

[bug]

Has anybody fished or know if they are catching the smallies yet in Presque Isle Bay.  Plan on taking my boat up there this month and not sure when or where to head.  Any info would be greatly appreciated.  

[reo]

I am headed up there this weekend. I hope its not to early.

[tytay89]

IMO- Long way from where i catch fish, but Eire is Erie fishes the same, find giant bolder piles n you find fish. I'd go to the islands on the western basin it's shallow and will warm up first.

[reo]

Has anybody fished or know if they are catching the smallies yet in Presque Isle Bay.  Plan on taking my boat up there this month and not sure when or where to head.  Any info would be greatly appreciated.  

Go as soon as you can! The fishing over the weekend was great when the weather allowed.

[bug]

Awesome Reo,  Glad to hear,  Did you fish the Main lake or in the Bay.   Might head up this weekend.  

[reo]

Fished the bay. They are not in super heavy nor well dispersed throughout the bay but when you find one you find a bunch and the are/were willing to play. Good Luck!

[Bassaddiction]

Anyone got an update on presque isle bay?? I'm traveling up today and pondering on fishing it Tuesday or wednesday

[Phish]

Anyone got an update on presque isle bay?? I'm traveling up today and pondering on fishing it Tuesday or wednesday

How did you do? I heard the Bay is on fire right now from multiple reports. I've read they really starting hammering them about 2 weeks ago. So I'm worried by the time I get up there the last weekend in May, the Bay won't be quite as hot as it is now. Should still be good numbers but the average size, probably not as good as these last few weeks. Might spend most of my time on the main lake.

[jhoffman]

youre nuts, it will be fine. that area is late this year.

[Phish]

youre nuts, it will be fine. that area is late this year.

Hope so, I'll find out this weekend and more so next week. Last year it was pretty slow by the first week of June, but by then water temps were higher.

[Fordman]

Hi guys first post here. Been reading for awhile but just joined. Anyways been to pib the last two weekends. Water temp is 63. Two weeks ago was great. This past weekend really slow. Ended up with some but very slow. I caught 18 in a day and a half dragging Erie darters. Anyone ever fish outside of bay around smoke stacks In the spring?

[smallieking]

they are way late this year. still not in bay yet. fished there last week and ended up leaving bay and found smallies out in the lake in 34 feet of water prespawn. they should be moving in very soon tho

[Phish]

I fished the bay this past weekend and Tuesday. It was disappointing to say the least. We averaged 10 per day per person, even mix of smallies and LM. Average size was very low with only one 3.5 smallie and a few 3s. Fished the main lake Monday and a bit Tuesday and saw much better numbers and average size.

I don't know what to make of the spawn. I do believe some fish have already spawned and some appeared to be prespawn. Some on the main lake had eggs but nothing we caught in the Bay appeared to have them. We caught a few large mouth with sore / red irritated tails that probably already built beds. Too stained to see beds in the bay right now though, so I have no idea. Perhaps the majority haven't moved in to spawn yet, but I'm skeptical on that. I'm worried many have completed the cycle and moved back out, but I'm not too knowledgable regarding the spawn. Hopefully it's just the variable weather and rain that's slowed it down in the bay. Hopefully it does take off again later this month. But if given the choice I'll be sticking to the main lake the rest of this week and weekend.

Also, the boat traffic in the bay, at least around common smallie areas was absurd. Gets worse every year. One more reason to learn how to fish the main lake, if wind and wave conditions are favorable anyway.

[Lucky Craft Man]

I fished the bay this past weekend and Tuesday. It was disappointing to say the least. We averaged 10 per day per person, even mix of smallies and LM. Average size was very low with only one 3.5 smallie and a few 3s. Fished the main lake Monday and a bit Tuesday and saw much better numbers and average size.

I don't know what to make of the spawn. I do believe some fish have already spawned and some appeared to be prespawn. Some on the main lake had eggs but nothing we caught in the Bay appeared to have them. We caught a few large mouth with sore / red irritated tails that probably already built beds. Too stained to see beds in the bay right now though, so I have no idea. Perhaps the majority haven't moved in to spawn yet, but I'm skeptical on that. I'm worried many have completed the cycle and moved back out, but I'm not too knowledgable regarding the spawn. Hopefully it's just the variable weather and rain that's slowed it down in the bay. Hopefully it does take off again later this month. But if given the choice I'll be sticking to the main lake the rest of this week and weekend.

Also, the boat traffic in the bay, at least around common smallie areas was absurd. Gets worse every year. One more reason to learn how to fish the main lake, if wind and wave conditions are favorable anyway.

 

Here is a post I made a few weeks ago.  Even the Main Lake could be bad with boats...

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/138089-erie-etiquette/

[Phish]

Thanks for the link, missed that post somehow. And I agree, I feel like people could use a refresher course not just in fishing etiquette, but boating and safety. I don't even own a boat, but I still took the PA course for a boaters' license just for when I rent boats.

Although I will say despite the insane number of boats, this past week in the Bay most people seemed pretty respectful about giving us and others space. At least from what I saw. Only one or two pissants zoomed right in on us - the worst was when I was shore fishing at Perry Monument and had some dolts in a bass boat pull up right on top of me after they saw me land a bass. Honestly within 25-35', coulda popped one in the head with my spinnerbait. Lucky they didn't get our lines stuck in a prop.

Last note, fished PIB again today. A little better action, about 25 total for 2 people in only about 4 hours. Lost two pigs - had one leader come undone and another knot come undone, plus a 3rd one over 4# smallie one threw the bait right at the boat. Must be trying poor knots.

Regardless I was happy to see some better action despite the temp drop and high winds. Got blown off the bay around 1pm. 2' waves with 15 MPH winds and up to 25 MPH gusts were more than I wanted to deal with. Got soaked out there! Never felt comfortable enough to check main lake - maybe tomorrow.