Lake Erie

Lake Erie is the 10th largest freshwater lake on Earth, and one of the 5 Great Lakes.  Lake Erie has a surface area of 9,940 square miles and an average depth of 62 feet, with a maximum depth of 210 feet.  Lake Erie is primarily fed by the Detroit River (from Lake Huron and Lake St. Clair) and drains via the Niagara River and Niagara Falls into Lake Ontario.

Lake Erie is known as a Walleye fishing paradise, and thousands of anglers visit this great lake every year looking for trophy fish.  Walleye in Lake Erie give the best fishing during the early spring and then again in the fall months. In the early spring months, the reefs are a great place to locate Walleye, especially the females getting ready for the spawn, because of the deep water.  During early spring and the fall months it is recommended to slowly troll around the reefs. This will allow you to cover more area, and increases the odds of catching a Walleye. These reefs offer great Walleye fishing opportunities even through the spring into early summer, and then again in the fall. During the fall months the Walleye are coming into Lake Erie from the Central Basin, and this offers a great chance to catch trophy Walleye.  The lake also offers great summer time Walleye fishing. Larger Walleye, including many of the bigger females, will move off into the Central Basin. The Walleye that stay in the Western Basin will usually form large schools, and these can be a mile or more long and wide. This is considered the best time of year to fish just for the sport.  Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout and Steelhead are also caught frequently in Lake Erie. 

On Lake Erie, smallmouth bass often tend to gang up on specific structures.  Drop-shot rigs allow you to place bait directly on the sweet spot to target the bass.  In summer, Lake Erie smallmouth bass often suspend on subtle, deep-basin structure--40 feet down in the western basin and 60 feet down in the eastern basin.  The best way to catch them is to drop a bait down to their level and hold it there with very little movement.  On western Lake Erie, look for small isolated points, corners, and high spots on deep humps, key spots 25-30 feet deep.  Schools of big bass like to gather on high spots, rockpiles, outcroppings, and wrecks.

Lake Erie Fishing Species

Lake Erie Walleye

Lake Erie Smallmouth Bass

Lake Erie Steelhead

Lake Erie Yellow Perch

Lake Erie Rainbow Trout

Lake Erie White Bass