Smallmouth Bass Fishing Canada
smallmouth bass fishing canada
Get to know the lay of the lake
There is good fishing all over Lake Erie but picking a location to fish out of requires a map and some advance planning.
First and foremost, decide what species you’d like to target. You know, Lake Erie is most noted for its walleye, smallmouth bass and yellow perch fishing. Did you know that sport anglers catch more fish out of this lake every year than all the other Great Lakes combined? It’s true.
Over the last 30 years, Lake Erie has gained the reputation as the “Walleye Capital of the World.” While some other areas have disputed that contention, such as Minnesota and parts of Canada, there is no question that Erie gives up tons of walleyes to sport fishing and to commercial netters in Ontario every year.
Lake Erie is also a world-class smallmouth bass fishery. Bass can be caught all around the lake in 10-30 feet of water, using a multitude of natural and artificial baits. In recent years, bass populations have declined some due to spawning conditions and fishing pressure. But they are on the rebound. It’s not uncommon for one of my charter groups to catch and release 25-50 bass per day.
For those interested in stocking the freezer, there is no better tasting freshwater fish than the yellow perch. And Lake Erie is full of them. They are fun and easy to catch, making them a great target for inexperienced adults and youthful anglers.
In getting started search the Internet for a map of Lake Erie. You will see that the lake is divided into three zones, the western basin, central basin and the eastern basin. All have advantages.
The only island and shallow reef areas in the lake are located in the western basin. It’s the shallowest part of the lake. Because of the abundant reef habitat, most walleye spawning takes place here in the early spring. And that makes for some fantastic fishing during the months of April, May and June.
As the water warms, the walleyes move eastward into the cooler central basin where depths can reach 75 feet. The angling prospects here are also very good for the drift fisherman and troller.
It’s not until mid-June and early July when the walleyes become active in the eastern basin. This section of the lake rarely reaps the reproduction benefits provided by western Lake Erie. However, it does offer some fair walleye fishing, good bass and perch angling and excellent steelhead trout action. Trolling is the main method of taking eyes and steelhead.
The western basin experiences the heaviest fishing pressure because of the large nearby cities of Detroit, Toledo and Cleveland. Drift fishing, trolling and pier fishing are the favorite methods of taking fish here.
Top ports in the west are Port Clinton, Sandusky and Huron plus the Davis-Besse power plant area between Port Clinton and Toledo. Here you will find dozens of bait and tackle shops, marinas, hundreds of charter boats and launch ramps for private boat owners.
The central zone is quite accessible because Interstates 80 and 90 stretch along the lakeshore. Top ports here include Ashtabula, Fairport Harbor, Cleveland, Lorain and Vermilion. All cater to fishermen and boaters. A substantial charter fleet is also present.
So, when it comes to planning a fishing trip to Lake Erie it helps to know the lay of the lake and where to go as each zone offers something different. Here’s a recap:
WESTERN BASIN: Walleye, bass, perch, catfish around shallow reefs and small islands.
CENTRAL BASIN: Walleye, bass, perch, catfish along the shoreline and in open water.
EASTERN BASIN: Steelhead, walleye, bass, perch inshore and open water.
Walleye, by far, is the most sought after species, followed yellow perch, smallmouth bass, trout and catfish, which is gaining in popularity.
Anglers probing the Vermilion and Huron waters this past season pulled a remarkable number of catfish ranging in size from 2-20 pounds. That kind of fishing should continue.
About the Author
Capt. Tony Denslow has operated a sportfishing charter business on Lake Erie since 1983 and has been writing about fishing for more than 30 years.
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