October PIB tournament

[stk44]

Hi All, 

 

I am fishing a tournament on Saturday and we launch out of PIB. The weather is supposed to be NASTY and so I likely will not go out in the main lake. Do smallmouth come into the bay in October? I’ve honestly never fished Erie this late in the year, so any help would be appreciated. 
 

I would really hate the long drive to not have a crack at a good smallie, but if it’s not safe on the main lake, I’m not taking me or my 18’ boat out in it. 
 

thanks,

steve 

[casts_by_fly]

If the weather is that bad I’d focus on largemouth in the bay. It’s been a while since I’ve fished it, but the largemouth are always around. 
 

also, 20+ mph winds for much of the day is a no go for open water. 

[stk44]

15 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

If the weather is that bad I’d focus on largemouth in the bay. It’s been a while since I’ve fished it, but the largemouth are always around. 
 

also, 20+ mph winds for much of the day is a no go for open water. 

Yeah, that’s why I was curious if smallmouth will be in the bay, but I’m guessing not. I’ll definitely be prepared for largemouth in the bay. 

[casts_by_fly]

7 minutes ago, stk44 said:

Yeah, that’s why I was curious if smallmouth will be in the bay, but I’m guessing not. I’ll definitely be prepared for largemouth in the bay. 

I think the bay itself is going to be pretty wild too. Only saving grace is that the wind is coming from the land side. 

[stk44]

Yeah…. Friday prefishing will be drastically different than Saturday. I’m really not looking forward to it. 

[casts_by_fly]

if it were me, I'd be prefishing the city side of the bay to find largemouth that will be accessible during the tournament.  I'd also be looking at the lagoons.

 

Maybe @Dwight Hottle can give some more input.  Not sure he'll have seen this thread yet.

[stk44]

9 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

if it were me, I'd be prefishing the city side of the bay to find largemouth that will be accessible during the tournament.  I'd also be looking at the lagoons.

 

Maybe @Dwight Hottle can give some more input.  Not sure he'll have seen this thread yet.

Thanks! That’s definitely a good idea. Where are the lagoons? Is that the little bay just before misery bay? 

[Dwight Hottle]

The lagoons are accessible by reaching the end of misery bay and going under the road bridge to the right. The lagoons branch out like fingers after going to the left just past the boat rental & small ramp. I would target large mouth in the bay. You might find some smallmouth around the channel entrance to the bay around the coast guard station. The main lake turned over last weekend. Good luck. 

[casts_by_fly]

1 hour ago, stk44 said:

Thanks! That’s definitely a good idea. Where are the lagoons? Is that the little bay just before misery bay? 

 

Two ways into the lagoons- directly across from PIB marina or make the loop through the bay to Misery bay and swing right behind Perry Monument.  That said, looking at Google maps the PIB marina end looks like its closed in a lot.  It looks like not much more than a kayak path to get through right now.  Its been more than a few years since we've gone through and it looks to have changed a lot.  If you have time on Friday its probably worth taking a glance up through from the Misery bay side (MB should be a little more protected from wind) but I maybe wouldn't focus much time on it unless you find something you like.

[stk44]

6 hours ago, Dwight Hottle said:

The lagoons are accessible by reaching the end of misery bay and going under the road bridge to the right. The lagoons branch out like fingers after going to the left just past the boat rental & small ramp. I would target large mouth in the bay. You might find some smallmouth around the channel entrance to the bay around the coast guard station. The main lake turned over last weekend. Good luck. 

Thanks for the input. I was thinking of targeting misery bay and just outside of marina bay. I have only fished Erie a handful of times over the years so if you have any plan alterations or recommendations, that would be fine by me lol. 

5 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

 

Two ways into the lagoons- directly across from PIB marina or make the loop through the bay to Misery bay and swing right behind Perry Monument.  That said, looking at Google maps the PIB marina end looks like its closed in a lot.  It looks like not much more than a kayak path to get through right now.  Its been more than a few years since we've gone through and it looks to have changed a lot.  If you have time on Friday its probably worth taking a glance up through from the Misery bay side (MB should be a little more protected from wind) but I maybe wouldn't focus much time on it unless you find something you like.

Thank you. I’ll check it out tomorrow and see how it is. I have a couple other spots marked out of marina bay and misery that I’ll try first. I would like to get out on the lake if it’s manageable on Friday, but more just to see if I can catch some smallmouth( even though I know I won’t be going out in the lake on Saturday.)

[stk44]

Well I got 4th place. I stayed in misery bay the whole time. That was the only place I could find keepers and fish productively. 

[Dwight Hottle]

@stk44 congratulations.

[casts_by_fly]

Congrats. Out of curiosity, what did it take to win?

[stk44]

2 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

Congrats. Out of curiosity, what did it take to win?

13 something. 1 smallmouth 3 large. Caught just inside the chutes.