Lake Erie © BGS

About the Lake:

What can you say about Erie, other than it's probably the best smallmouth fishery in the United States.  You can undoubtedly hear catches of more than 50 smallies a day with numerous fish weighing over four pounds- and they're true!  Great habitat and forage plus the fact that Erie is huge and doesn't get the pressure that smaller lakes do has created a smallmouth mecca.  Pennsylvania shares the Sourhern shoreline of the Eastern basin with New York. The Eastern basin offers the most varied bottom contours.  Southeast of Long Point, the bottom reaches 210 ft, the deepest part of Lake Erie.  The waters off the Pennsylvania shoreline fall quickly into depths over 40 ft., but the narrow band of shallower water provides plenty of rock cobble and rubble favored by smallies.  When fishing Erie, however, be careful. Although it is a lake (Great Lake), the water conditions more often resemble that of an ocean.  In September of 1992, over a dozen bass boats were swamped and abandoned when an unsuspected storm blew through with gale force winds.  Keep an eye out for the weather.  A clear bright day can turn ugly in a heartbeat.

When, Where and with What to fish:

During a six week period starting the end of June, anglers typically catch 80,000 smallmouths in Long Point Bay alone as the bass migrate back to the main lake after spawning.  In past years when smallmouth fishing effort was concentrated primarily during warmer summer months, bass were found fairly deep.  The Presque Island area is also a good area for targeting smallies.  Trolling or deep-water jigging traditionally produced fish.  The increasingly clearer water (due to zebra mussel infestation) has been driving the smallies deeper, even for spawning.    Jig fishing is still the number one way of taking smallmouths,  However, with increased visibility, bass are coming up from deep water for jerkbait presentations too.  Deadsticking tube jigs and dragging carolina rigged lizards also account for lots of smallmouths during the early season.  For summer, you need to move baits quicker and cover lots of area until you find a good concentration of fish.  Target the rockpiles a home familiar to most smallies. 

Where to stay:

Numerous campgrounds and hotels along the Pennsylvania shoreline cater to tourists and fishermen.  Contact the Erie County Tourist and Convention Bureau, 1006 State St., Erie, PA. 16501, phone (814) 454-7191.

Guide Service:

Although Bill's Guide Service does not guide on Lake Erie, they are in contact with guides who are and will be able to recommend someone.  Contact Bill Albright at info@billsguideservice.com

Bill Albright pictured here with 2-3 pound smallmouth.

Maps:

If you want a great fishing map of Lake Erie contact the Fishing Hot Spots Co. by calling 1-800-ALL-MAPS. It will be shipped within 48 hours and shipping and handling is free.

Recommended Boat Ramps:

Lampe Marina, situated immediately outside the channel entrance to Presque Isle Bay is popular, heavily used and frequently crowded.  Inside Presque Isle Bay, there are several smaller launch sites on the city side and on Presque Isle State Park.  For smaller vessels, limited access is also available at various points along the shore.

Baitshops, Restaurants, etc.

Other:

Check out these other websites: Northeast Outdoors