New To Erie Looking For Advice

[Sfritr]

Since moving to Cincinnati I am looking to head up to fish Erie for some Bronzies. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I am not looking for waypoints or honey holes. I am more interested in the safest route, best place to launch, and a general direction on where to find fish. I was thinking of launching around Sandusky? We will be fishing out of my 18ft Stratos bass boat. I respect the big water so safety is my main concern. I'm not versed in any Erie fishing so any help is great. Is the fishing in the bay decent? What about around Put-in-Bay islands? thanks for the feedback guys

[Nick]

There's a good ramp on Marble head island near Sandusky. Find highway 163 and head east. Holds over 100 rigs. Easy to find. From here you are within 5-6 miles of the bass islands. Fish the drop offs around all of them and eventually you'll get bit. Most locals will drag tubes. Youlll lose some, but you should catch some bass also. If you get out early I'd try ripping a jerkbait or longcasting a spinnerbait to the shallow edges close to deep water. Be safe out there.

[Ineedanewscreenname20170204]

Since moving to Cincinnati I am looking to head up to fish Erie for some Bronzies. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I am not looking for waypoints or honey holes. I am more interested in the safest route, best place to launch, and a general direction on where to find fish. I was thinking of launching around Sandusky? We will be fishing out of my 18ft Stratos bass boat. I respect the big water so safety is my main concern. I'm not versed in any Erie fishing so any help is great. Is the fishing in the bay decent? What about around Put-in-Bay islands? thanks for the feedback guys

I fished a 2 day tourney this summer. We camped in East Bay Harbor and fished the islands for smallies. Kind of a long idle out of the bay but then a 5 mile run to the islands. We did best drifting tubes (4" poor boys in green pumpking) on the north side of middle bass. I only ended up with 4 smallies each day but they were decent fish weighing in a bit over 22 pounds. Watch the weather and make sure you have all you coast guard equipment like flares. I have a 18' Triton and it was ok. You really do have to watch the waves - they can get nasty real quick. I caught about 40 sheephead - I think that's just part of the gig up there... A drift sock would have been nice to have so keep that in mind. I know a lot of people catch the smallies on drop shot (poor boys gobies) up there as well.

The bays are excellent for largemouth but you need the fat smallies for weight.

Have fun and be safe.