Going to lake Erie and need guidance please!

[An Outdoor Guy]

So I have an opportunity to get out on a boat on LAKE ERIE! my friend and her boyfriend invited me to come along tomorrow to fish lake Erie with them. now I only have about 6 hours of fishing because I have a job to do at noon so ill be out there from 5AM to 11AM. My question is, what baits would you fish up there? its my first time out on the great lake and I have no idea what baits to throw to maximize my time out there. any tips or hints would be GREATLY appreciated.

if you have been out to lake Erie please tell your experience! what worked? what didn't? how was the weather? the water? hell tell be about your lunch I don't care I just want info!  

I also need to know what rods would you bring?? I can only bring 3 rods because of the space on the boat with 3 people so I'm thinking a MH/F baitcaster, a M/F baitcaster, and  H/MF baitcaster. I don't think a spinning setup would do me much good up there but I don't know, you guys help me out on that to please!

[JPascavage52]

Tube jig, drop shot, jigging spoons. 

[fishballer06]

Silver buddy style blade baits (in addition to the above). 

[J Francho]

I'd be bringing 1 baitcaster for jigging spoons, and the rest all set up for drop shot.

There's some tips in this thread:

 

[An Outdoor Guy]

besides the drop shot, you guys named every bait that I DONT have....

[J Francho]

Really, that's all you need there-  drop shot.  I just start with jigging spoons because they're fun to fish, and if the fish are active, you can jig away, and horse them in with heavier tackle.

[An Outdoor Guy]

really??? would it be pointless to throw the other stuff? like a spinner bait? or a jerk bait?? jigs??

[Wildbillb]

Jerk bait may not get you many but they will be bigger.

 

 

[CybrSlydr]

28 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Really, that's all you need there-  drop shot.  I just start with jigging spoons because they're fun to fish, and if the fish are active, you can jig away, and horse them in with heavier tackle.

Don't you catch the spoon hooks on that heavy cover?

[corn-on-the-rob]

Time out.

If you are fishing main lake (deepwater, or breakwalls, or rip rap), and you are interested in catching ANYTHING (bass, drum, catfish, etc) throw something directly on the bottom. Grub, or tube would be my suggestion, make sure it is heavy enough to hop or drag. If you are main lake and want to decrease the amount of junk fish you catch, go with the drop shot. Spinning rods are your friend in this case.

If you are fishing inside a harbor or not mainlake, fish it like you would fish for largemouth in any other lake.

Watermelon seed is the go-to color up here, but just about anything will work. I typically stick to watermelon, green pumpkin, and smoke variations.

 

Edit: Where are you launching?

[J Francho]

On 8/26/2016 at 4:56 PM, CybrSlydr said:

Don't you catch the spoon hooks on that heavy cover?

What cover?  Ever fish off shore on Erie?  There is no cover.

[CybrSlydr]

2 hours ago, J Francho said:

What cover?  Ever fish off shore on Erie?  There is no cover.

I think I posted in the wrong thread.  lol

[00 mod]

@An Outdoor Guy how did it go?

Jeff