Super User ww2farmer Posted January 22, 2008 Super User Posted January 22, 2008 anyone interested in the area (or any one else on the forum) interested in a get together, not on the grand scale as the offical trip to Guntersville, but something like that on Erie for SM Quote
smallieking Posted January 22, 2008 Posted January 22, 2008 man that would be fun but i have no room this year to go have u ever fished it before? its awesome i went once last year over a port clintion in ohio im not sure where u plan on goin i would love to go too bad if u have any questions about it just ask Quote
BASS fisherman Posted January 22, 2008 Posted January 22, 2008 I think it would be alot of fun, providing the weather cooperates. I know of another much much smaller lake about 20 minutes south of Erie that has some great fishing too. Maybe if Erie is too rough we could try the other lake for the day. Quote
bassnleo Posted January 22, 2008 Posted January 22, 2008 I'm game....... The City of Erie area would be a good choice. Plenty of cheap accomodations around Presque Isle and if the main lake is rough Presque Isle is one of the best largemouth fisheries in the state. Quote
HappyHooker Posted January 22, 2008 Posted January 22, 2008 count me in too! i was up there the last week of march last year and had a blast with the largemouth. almost 13 pounds with my 3 best. I then took a trip up there in may n caught close to 80 smallies averaging 2-3 pounds with n occasional 5 pounder ;D. If we do get together i vote for a trip in may Quote
flyhatch Posted January 22, 2008 Posted January 22, 2008 I plan on being there. Presque Isle Bay is a good location. If the waves are good we can hit the main lake, if not we can hide in the bay. E Quote
Ben Lipiec Posted January 23, 2008 Posted January 23, 2008 May is by far the best time to come up here!!!!! Smallies can be found anywhere from shallow to deep. if you cant get out on the lake, then you can still catch a bunch of really nice smallies in the bay. If you come at another time though, as Eric said, we do have the best largemouth fishing in the state(probably most of the country). pm me if you have any other questions or are intertested in a guided trip. hope this helps, Ben Quote
bassnleo Posted January 23, 2008 Posted January 23, 2008 Ben I agree that if we do this, late May or early June will be the best time. We'll have to look at our club schedules and pick a weekend that is open, that can be tough in May / June with all the stuff going on. I hear your coming to Crawford? Awesome! See you this Sunday if your coming to the meeting...... Quote
Super User ww2farmer Posted January 23, 2008 Author Super User Posted January 23, 2008 I'd be game for Presque Isle bay, never been there, and Erie PA. is only about 90mins. for me. If we were to stay in the Bay I could bring my boat (17' Bass Tracker). I would be leary about going out on the lake where I am not familiar (I 'd do it in Buffalo). Quote
flyhatch Posted January 23, 2008 Posted January 23, 2008 we fish both the main lake and the bay from a 17 bass tracker single console with the deep v configuration and a 60hp and a 9.9. Use common sense and keep a close eye on things in BOTH the bay and the main lake. There are some places to hide in the bay that you can stay out of the wind and waves but if the waves are in the bay it can be a struggle to get across . i fished most of the lakes around my area and after going to erie its worth the extra hour ride. I keep a close eye on wind direction reports and wave hights on the marine forcast. Quote
bassnleo Posted January 23, 2008 Posted January 23, 2008 ww2farmer, your 17 would be ok for the bay, it would be a little rough in the lake if yours is the jon boat style hull. A 17 deep V like flyhatch mentioned gets by. If we do this at the time frame Ben and I mentioned, smallmouth will still be in the bay in large numbers. If we do get the itch to head out onto the big pond then you could jump in with someone. btw, I already have a hotel idea, the Inn at Presque Isle is really close, not too shabby, and has great rates for fisherman. Plenty of good eats close by also. Quote
flippincrazy Posted January 23, 2008 Posted January 23, 2008 I'd come with my boat. Just can't make it the first two weeks of May, because of tournaments. Quote
Davis Posted January 23, 2008 Posted January 23, 2008 I would love to do it as well. Don't have a boat but I live only an hour away from Erie, PA. Quote
HappyHooker Posted January 23, 2008 Posted January 23, 2008 i got a 17ft nitro with a 125 merc. i talked to a couple buddies that have a nitro n a skeeter n they are up for it too! I got tourney on may 3rd at pymatumingbut other than tht the month of may is open for me up till june 7th for a BFL so i can go anytime between those dates Quote
Ben Lipiec Posted January 23, 2008 Posted January 23, 2008 guys, the smallmouths stay in the bay up through about the middle of may. After they are done spawning they head back out to the deep drops, ledges, humps, and weedlines to recouperate from the spawn before the long haul back out into the lake. ben Quote
thetr20one Posted January 24, 2008 Posted January 24, 2008 You can catch quality smallies from one end of Erie to the other. May is usually great with water temps in the low to mid 50s. You really have to expect poor weather and high waves. 2 to 4 footers are ideal for a good day, flat water is no good. Find the structure rocks,shoals,wrecks and you will find smallies. A decent map book will steer you in the right direction. Use the waves to cover structure and BANG you have smallmouth. It is easier to hold in waves than it may seem also. May has produced "fun limits" 5 fish over 30 pounds. (we have closed seasons no tourneys) my best 5 tourney catch to date is 27.91 . Used to have a Ranger r-17 115 merc never had problems w waves now I have a Triton tr-20 225 OPTI. The bigger boat ads confidence but you still must take time and caution. Erie can get really nasty really quick! Go prepared n stay alert! Quote
bassnleo Posted January 24, 2008 Posted January 24, 2008 guys, the smallmouths stay in the bay up through about the middle of may. After they are done spawning they head back out to the deep drops, ledges, humps, and weedlines to recouperate from the spawn before the long haul back out into the lake. ben Man, they are in the bay way longer than mid May! Look at the results of your PIB Fathers Day tourneys in mid June, all smallmouth limits! Regionals were on the bay last year 3rd weekend of June and again just about all smallmouth limits. Late May or early June is an ideal time to try and pull this get together off. Quote
Ben Lipiec Posted January 25, 2008 Posted January 25, 2008 yep Eric, your right! good catch!! i meant mid june. they are usually there through the end of june, but that is about when the big largemouths pull out on the weedlines. lol i do fish for smallies every year for the good friday tournament. If you dont weigh in smallmouths your really missing the boat. big largemouths are too hard to find a good concentration of and the average smallmouth out weighs the average largemouth anyway! Ben Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted January 25, 2008 Super User Posted January 25, 2008 Man, I wouldn't waste five minutes fishing for green trout when smallmouth are an option! 8-) Quote
HookedinNY Posted February 6, 2008 Posted February 6, 2008 I was born and raised in Ashtabula Ohio right along Lake Erie but having just recently gotten back into fishing I have not had the pleasure of fishing for smallies there. If you end up putting this expedition together and have room for a non-boater I would love the opportunity! ;D Please feel free to pm me if this may be a possibility. As none of you know me I would certainly understand if I am not invited. Thanks for the consideration!! Quote
thetr20one Posted March 5, 2008 Posted March 5, 2008 I dont think you guys in the 17ft v bottoms have alot to worry about! I fished out of a ranger-17 for 4 years and never hesitated to go out into the big lake!!! you must be prepared though Really prepared!!! Watch for waves bigger than 5-6 feet you must take caution and dont get to confident. Take it slow and easy. I went from presque is to buffalo in 3-4 footers no problem except having to fuel up!!! Quote
bassnleo Posted March 6, 2008 Posted March 6, 2008 PI to Buffalo is a LONG run in 3-4's I have gone to Barcelona and Dunkirk from PI but that was on less than 2 footer days. Lately I have concentrated on finding more spots close to PI and I'm glad I did. Shorter runs equal more fishing time and MAN, there's alot of spots just waiting to be found! Quote
thetr20one Posted March 6, 2008 Posted March 6, 2008 Please let me explain that did not make that run in my Ranger. It was in my Triton tr20 and the problem was the waves came up forcing us to use more fuel than expected so we had to pit stop for some more fuel. I have however had the r-17 out in 5+s and had no problems. You need to be able to understand your bouts characteristics and limitations!!! Rangers don't sink neither do Tritons!!! Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted March 6, 2008 Super User Posted March 6, 2008 My back aches just reading these posts. I would have to ride in something comparable to an aircraft carrier to fish in 4 and 5' seas. A few years ago I got stuck on Lake Michigan in a bass boat with what I consider big waves (3-4'). I haven't been back. Quote
bassnleo Posted March 7, 2008 Posted March 7, 2008 RW, yep it can be a bone jarring ride. This is gonna sound stupid...... I've been caught out a time or two when the waves were over 5'. I found it easier to run in those rather than the pesky 3 footers. At least the bigger waves you can go up one side and down the other. Then 3 footers seem to be spaced just perfectly apart that it makes you have to trim down and back off the throttle when hitting one. May I add that I don't venture out in large waves, just have been caught out in the lake a few times when they came up out of nowhere. I still love Lake Erie Quote
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