Lake Erie West Basin
Fishing Reports.
From The 2001 Fishing Season
These Reports are provided as a comparison of fishing in the West Basin of Lake Erie from year to year.
Report 9/14/01:
Detroit River: Bottom Line
reports walleye being takin in the lower river below Sugar Island. There are
also reports that perch are moving in out in from of Lake Erie Metropark.
West Basin: I received a reliable report that walleye are still in the West
Basin anywhere from Sputnik to Fermi. Perch are also biting and like the walleye
you need to locate the tight schools and work them. If you are not catching fish
or many fish, move. When you start catching fish, work the spot. This applies to
both species.
Report 9/4/01:
I am very tempted to just
say forget the 8/30/01 report. I fished walleye again this weekend and scored
limit + catches 3 miles WEST of Sputnik, probably just into Ohio waters but very
close to the Michigan border. I have not been this close since July mainly
because I heard that fishing in or close to Michigan waters was not producing.
Boated 29 walleye Sunday and Monday in 24' of water fishing between 9:00 am and
3:00 pm, lost many more. Not like it was in June and July but not bad just the
same. Bill at Bottomline says that the perch are doing well anywhere from Fermi
to Bolles Harbor in 20 to 24 ft of water. The radio reports I heard over Sunday
and Monday suggested perch fishing had slowed and was fair to poor. Perch also
seemed to be small. I did receive a report from the Toledo intake that perch
fishing there was excellent and fish were running to 15 inches but I cannot
confirm. If you are heading out for perch don't forget the walleye gear, if
perch'n is slow the walleye have been willing!
Report 8/30/01:
Sorry for the lengthy delay
in reports. I have not been fishing because of other commitments and apparently
no one else has either! Last weekend was my first time out since 8/4 and 8/5. I
limited on 'eyes on Saturday but came up short Sunday when the cold front came
through just 1/2 hour after we set up. The fishing is nowhere what it was
earlier in the year or what it was at this time last year, but they can be
found. Sunday was the first time since June 8th I was unable to limit. The fish
I have found in August are from 3.5 miles east of the Sputnik to between the
islands. Try trolling until you find fish, sometimes it is taking a couple of
hours. Once you do continue to work those fish. When I have found fish it has
been consistantly in 30' of water. I have yet to switch to perch but the reports
have been good anywhere along the channel from the Toledo Light to the Sputnik.
There is also a good pack of boats fishing 3 miles east of Stoney Point. Good
luck this holiday weekend and if you find some fish, send an email and let us
all know!
Report 8/7/01:
West Basin: After not being
out a couple of weeks everything I was hearing was that fishing in Michigan
waters had died. I did see a few boats fishing Stony Point and north of the
Sputnik but do not know how they were doing. I did not mark fish in these areas.
I headed to West Sister and marked a lot of fish on the graph. They were deep, I
am sure the 95 degree days didn't have anything do to with it. I worked the
bottom since that was where I marked fish but the only thing I caught were white
perch, perch, sheepshead and catfish. After 5:00pm I moved the baits higher (20
ft) and starting catching walleye. I had worked higher during the day without
success. I limited both Monday in about 45 minutes after 5:00pm. Nothing all
afternoon. I limited again Tuesday fishing from 9:30am to 11:30am. There are a
lot of fish north of West Sister but they are obviously not all walleye. The
active walleye I found were 1/3 the way directly between West and Middle Sister
islands in 30 ft of water. I am still fishing crawler harness on 4oz bottom
bouncers 40ft back. Orange blades with a diagonal chartreuse stripe. Some weeds
here but fishable, no weeds to the east. I would concentrate my fishing time
before noon or after 5:00pm until this heat breaks. If you have any information
on anything closer to Michigan please email me and I will include it. Thank you.
Report 7/30/01:
West Basin: Just returned
from Saginaw Bay so this report is from what others have provided. Some fish can
still be found in front of the Raisin River to the shipping channel. The best
report I received however was from 3-4 miles south of West Sister. These fish
were taken on purple and black/gold Hot'n'Tots and Rattle Tots fished 150 back
with 2 oz. snap weights. This area is holding quality fish of not quantity. I am
on family vacation next week which will not provide me the chance to fish. Those
of you who are able to get out please email me on how you are doing so that we
can keep everyone on the fish. Thank you.
Report 7/23/01:
West Basin: I only got out
by myself on Saturday afternoon for a bit before the rains came. I picked up 11
walleye still on the mark in front of Fermi but they seem to be thinning out, I
caught almost every fish within 1 tenth of a mile. I am still using crawler
harness fished off of 2-3 oz bottom bouncers from 30 to 40 ft. back. Color does
not seem to matter. Fish were also being caught from Stoney to the Raisin River.
I also received a report of good fishing near the water intake.
Report 7/16/01:
West Basin: Strong winds
last week really churned things up. The large fish north of Sputnik just
disappeared. Plenty on fish are still holding in 19'-20' of water in front of
Fermi to Stoney Point and into Brest Bay. We also found fish 3 miles WNW of West
Sister. There were also a few fish 4 miles west of Middle Sister Island. But the
best and most active fish are in close. It is nice to see so many fish holding
in the shallow waters of Michigan this late in the month of July, maybe they
will hold all year again like last year. I know they are catching walleye south
of Sputnik along the channel and west but I do not have any real good accurate
reports.
Report 7/9/01:
West Basin: Fishing remains
great! Fish are still holding from Stoney Point to the Sputnik. I have not been
or needed to be anywhere else. Fish seem to be smaller toward Stoney and larger
toward the Sputnik. Best fish seem to be coming North of Sputnik to about one
mile and slightly West. Walleye seem to be holding in pockets more than in the
past month with areas of unproductive water in between. My guess this may be a
result of clearer water but this is just speculation. When you find an area
holding fish continue to work it. Limits are still coming in less than 3 1/2
hours. Baits worked deep are catching perch so if you are looking for a bucket
full of perch try north of Sputnik as well.
Report 7/6/01:
West Basin: Weather has been
tough this past week with two cold fronts and the wind blowing hard. I
personally had a tough week with a boat that does not want to run. To make a
long story short I have not fished since last weekend until today. Today we
found fish 1 mile north of the Sputnik and west about a mile. The same place
they were a week ago! We limited for four people and played catch and release
for a few more fishing 9:30am to 2:30pm. Fishing is still great and I do not
detect any major movement to deeper waters just yet.
Report 6/29/01:
West Basin: I apologize for
the delay in reports. I have been so busy catching and cleaning fish I did not
realize how long it has been. I have fished the West Basin for 8 years now,
fishing for the past 3 weeks has been the best I have EVER experienced. There
are no tricks, troll anything you like from the Banana Dike South to Luna Pier
and you will catch a limit of walleye. Drifters are the only ones struggling and
the lack of wind is probably a part of it but drifters have had a harder time
than trollers all year. Trolling crank baits continue to be successfull, color
patterns mention in the last report are still holding true. If you are trolling
crawler harnesses it don't matter what color you run. I have averaged 10 fish
per hour for every hour trolling in the past 3 weeks running 2-6 lines. I have
caught fish everywhere from 20 to 32 feet of water with equal success. Fishing
has been so good I will only caution what isn't working. Drifting, Weeds north
of the Fermi Towers and forgeting to put hooks on your bait. Avoid these and you
are sure to limit in a short time!
Report 6/22/01:
Detroit River: Still
catching fish but the river has slowed down. Jiggers, trollers and handliners
are all catching some fish.
West Basin: Fish are everywhere, and so are the weeds. Weeds seem to cover
everything from Brest Bay north to the Banana Dike. I have not been south of
Brest Bay. There are a lot of fish here below the weeds, you just need to have
the patients with the weeds. Despite the difficulties, I limited twice from
3:30pm to 6:00pm. I had to bring my boards in 3 times to clear the weeds during
this time. Colors have not changed, Silver/chrome, Purple Tiger, and Metallic
Rainbow are hot. Bright colors (Red Hot Tiger) are not catching walleye. I have
also received a good report on fishing in front of Luna Pier from Joe Miller. He
says that fish are in 12 to 14 ft of water and fisherman are catching their
limits.
Report 6/16/01:
West Basin: Fishing is still
fantastic from Fermi to almost the Raisin River. Limit catches still easy. Weeds
have been moving into much of the area.You can try trolling through the weeds or
move out to the exterior of them. Fish are everywhere and I had the best success
today away from the boat pack and weeds mainly because I eliminated the
difficulties the weeds present. Colors have changed. Bright colors have turned
off. I have caught more fish on the red hot tiger pattern than everything else
combined the past few years. The past few days they have rarely caught a fish.
Best colors are metallic rainbow, chrome/black and purple tiger. Drifters are
catching fish but seem to be struggling.
Report 6/15/01:
West Basin: Forget Ohio,
some fish from Sputnik east but the best game going is from Stony Point to
Fermi. Easy limit catches. Fish are nice too, we took one today that went six
lbs and most fish 1 1/2 lbs to 3 1/2 lbs. Did not have to measure any. We ran
mostly thundersticks and the most productive two colors were chrome / black and
metallic rainbow but they were hitting everthing we put in the water. We had 5
aboard, ran 6 lines and at times we had all six lines out of the water the
action was so fast. Several double headers on a rod as well.
Report 6/11/01:
Detroit River: Reports are
still good from the river. Limit catches are coming on trolled crank baits and
bottom bouncers pulling crawler harnesses. Best success is still trolling
downstream. Also a very good repors from a fisherman drifting crawler harness.
Fish crawlers in 22 to 25 foot of water whether drifting or trolling. Success on
crank baits is coming in the Trenton Channel in 12 to 20 foot of water.
West Basin: Fishing remains tough in the West Basin but is improving. Small fish
can be located 8 miles out from Fermi. Nicer fish can be found 2-3 miles out
from Stony Point and again off the Raisin River mouth. Fish can also be found
around the Stutnik and the best concentration of fish seems to be 2-4 miles east
of the Sputnik toward West Sister. 1 to 3 miles west of West Sister also holds
some fish. Biggest fish found over the weekend were 4 to 8 miles ENE of West
Sister, quite a trip for most boats. Limit catches are the exception rather than
the rule. Crank baits are performing better for almost all but the most adept at
trolling crawler harnesses. Most productive are Thundersticks DJrs. in the Red
Hot Tiger pattern, blue Reef Runners and Wiggle Warts.
Report 6/04/01:
Detroit River: I received
another report today similar to the 5/31 report of a technique that is working
on the Canadian side in the upbound channel. Similiar to trolling downsteam with
crawlers and bottom bouncers, this method is using small Rapalas (#3) casted
upstream from an anchored boat and retrieved.
West Basin: If you are having trouble catching 'eyes in the West Basin recently
you are not alone. The best reports are coming from the Sputnik and just today
West Sister Island. It seems that most of the action recently has been in Ohio
waters.
Report 5/31/01:
Detroit River: Fisherman are
still catching plenty of fish and still getting big fish in the river.
Handlining working well. Another method being used and having great success is
trolling crawler harness off of bottom bouncers in 25ft of water around the
steel plants. Troll the harness with the current and slightly faster than the
current.
West Basin: Talked to another boat that fished Wednesday and had even worse
results than I did Monday as if that were possible. The west basin is still not
producing many fish unless you are looking for silver bass.
Report 5/30/01:
Detroit River: Nothing to
report from this past weekend. I will try to have more information by Friday
evening.
West Basin: Well I don't have to tell you, the weather was terrible this past
weekend. I got out Monday afternoon. I fished from the Banana Dike to then New
Sputnik, from 5 ft of water to 25 ft. I was only able to get two small walleye
in 6 hours of fishing. I hope this was a result of the weather,the water was
mostly clean however. I do not know if anyone did any better, there were very
few boats on the water. If you were out this past weekend and have anything to
add please email it to me, thanks.
Report 5/23/01:
Detroit River: I received
two reports from fisherman on the river this past weekend. One did well fishing
in the upper part of the river and one did poor fishing in the lower part of the
Trenton Channel.
West Basin: Walleye seem to be scattered all over the West Basin. Fisherman
caught fish everywhere but in general fish came 1-2 per hour. The best reports
came from the New Sputnik, 3 miles east of the new Sputnik, along the Maumee
River Channel and from those fishing very shallow 9-12 feet of water. Popular
baits continue to be Thunderstick Jrs. and crawler harnesses.
Report 5/13/01:
Detroit River: No further
information since 5/9.
West Basin: I received a report that limit catches of walleye are coming in
short periods of time off of Bolles Harbor, Sterling State park area, also known
as the 'two stacks'. Crawler harnesses with gold blades and red beads are doing
well trolled as slow as possible that still allows the blade to turn. These fish
have been here for several weeks and this area. This area should continue to
improve if traditional patterns hold.
Report 5/9/01:
Detroit River: Limit catches
are common up and down the river. Fish are comming in 13ft to 20ft of water
during the day and 13ft to 3 ft during the evening. Most fish being caught are
good eating size with a few bigger fish found in the lower Trenton Channel. Both
Handliners and jiggers are doing well during the night, early morning and
evening. Fish are coming during the day but move to the deeper water (13-20ft).
Pencil plugs are starting to take more fish along with the Rapalas that have
been doing good all year for the handliners. Best colors are yellow or blue.
Jiggers will find fish taking the traditional jigs with minnow and recently
longer plastic worms without the minnow. Double tail plastic baits are also
working well with leeches and crawlers.
West Basin: Perch are off and on in the boundry waters with Canada. Nice perch
are being taken off of Colchester Reef in Canada in 28ft of water. Turtle Island
is turning up some nice walleye and boats running out of Luna Pier are doing
well but I don't have specifics. Brest bay is also doing well. Fish the bay from
12 to 20 ft. of water concentrating off of the Raisin River. Large fish (8lbs+)
can still be found in the waters off of the Raisin.
Report 4/30/01:
Detroit River: The better
weather has helped the jiggers to put many more fish in the boat the past few
days. Handliners continue to do very well on clown rapalas. Jiggers are doing
best with chartreuse tails. Perch in the river have been spotty.
Report 4/25/01:
Detroit River: On the river
this past weekend jiggers found more success than in the previous week.
Handliners found continued success. In our club's tournament, the boat that won
the tournament was jigging, the boat that had the most weight for two days was
handlining. The great weather since this past weekend should improve the jig
bite. The weather is forecasted to be great through next week, this should
further improve fishing for those who wish to jig. Fish are getting smaller
however with most of the big females having already spawned. The biggest fish in
the club tournament were between 6.5lbs and 7lbs.
West Basin: Fishing has been good in Brest Bay. Most boats are concentrating
near the Raisin River but fish are being caught all the way to Stoney Point.
Look for fish in 13 to 18 foot of water during the day, shallower in the morning
and evening. The lake is producing good fish too! Third place in the club
tournament previously mentioned was taken by a boat fishing crawlers and
thunderstick DJ's in the lake with a two day combined weight that placed them
second overall. Walleye are cooperating as is the weather, time to go fishing!
Report 4/19/01:
Detroit River: The rain last
Sunday has slowed things during the week. Jiggers have been struggling but
handliners are doing very well. Best baits have not changed from the 4/14
report. Water has begun to clear and jiggers did much better today. Hopefully
the expected rain Friday and Saturday will not be too heavy and the waters will
continue to clear.
West Basin: Pike are still doing very well in the canals, creeks and shallower
water. Perch have slowed of late. Some good reports of walleye on crank baits on
the reefs in Ohio.
Report 4/14/01:
Detroit River: Best way to
describe things is 'steady as she goes'. Fishing has not been spectacular but
fish are still readily being caught and limit catches show up often. The water
has dirtied some but not badly. The bigger fish are still around and can be
found working the edges of the shallow water along the deeper drop-offs. Many
smaller fish are beginning to show up in the deeper water. No real preference in
baits. Big minnows are still out producing night crawlers. Tail colors are also
all over, glow tails, white/blue and pink are all producing some fish. Shad are
also working well. Last night a handliner limited in 1 1/2 hours with all fish
coming on a rainbow trout Rapala. Reports from up-river have begun to improve
over the last three days.
Perch are doing well in front of the marinas and off of the dikes.
Report 4/6/01:
Detroit River: The Hogs Are
In! For the past 10 days a number of 9lb to 11lb fish have been turning up. The
last three days however have steadily ratcheted up the standard. Three days ago
11lbs, two days ago 12lbs, yesterday 13lbs and today 14lbs! Now is the time to
catch the fish of your lifetime. The monster walleye should hold for the next
2-3 weeks. After that the chances of the 'Wallhanger' will quickly diminish.
Jigging is the best bet right now with white, pearl and pearl blue the hottest
tail colors. Work the slack areas behind structure in 3ft to 10ft of water for
your best chance at a Trenton Channel Hog. Stinger hooks are still a must as is
putting your bait right in front of their nose! Handliners are beginning to do
better at night. If perch are your preference try the waters along the Canadian
border and on the east side of Grosse Isle. Some crappie are being caught in the
canals and marinas. Large minnows on bobbers have been very productive for pike
in the local creeks and canals.
Huron River: Steelhead have slowed recently. Your best bet is still a black and
gold Hot'n'Tot, other chrome colors are also producing some fish. Walleye are
still doing well and still out of season.
Again I would like to thank BottomLine Bait and Tackle located on Jefferson Rd across from Lake Erie Metro Park for this report. For the absolute latest, check with them on your way to the river, they will be happy to help with the most up-to-date information.
Report 3/30/01:
Detroit River: During the
last few days the water has cleared and the fish are really turning on! The
winds yesterday and today turned the water on the Canadian side dirty. Jiggers
have been doing very well with most turning up limit catches, even on bad days
fisherman are taking 3-4 fish per boat. The big fish of 9-10 lbs are coming in
3-8 ft of water and the eaters in 6-18 ft of water. Biggest fish this week at
Bottom Line was 11lbs 7oz. The area in front of the Edison plant is red hot.
Reports upriver are not nearly as good with the best report of several fish
coming from under the Ambassador Bridge. The best combination seems to be
green/sparkle tails with large minnows. Stinger hooks are a must which suggests
a lite byte. Handliners working in dirty water are still doing best with the new
holographic Rapalas. The weather pattern does not look like it should seriously
disrupt things this weekend, everything looks great, time to fishing!
Huron River: Fishing on the Huron is great as well. Walleye are still doing well
around the Flat Rock Dam. Please keep in mind that Walleye are out of season on
the Huron River. 1/2 to 1 mile downriver form the Dam is best for Steelhead.
Best baits are a black & yellow fly and Black and Gold Hot'n'Tot, Black and
Silver is still doing well as are any chrome Hot'n'Tots. Steelhead are running
5-8 lbs.
West Basin: Some perch are being taken in shallow water and Pike can be found in
good numbers in the canals.
I would like to thank Bottom Line Bait & Tackle located across from Lake Erie
Metro Park for this report.
Report 3/21/01:
Detroit River: The fish are
turning on but not yet the full run. Boats this past weekend were averaging 4-5
fish. One boat reported 9 while handlining but this was not confirmed. They were
running the new holographic floating Rapalas. Jiggers with minnows have also
been successful, no colors at this time. Fish have been running up to the 7lb to
9lb range. Things should do nothing but get better going forward. The run is on!
Huron River: Steelhead and Walleye are still doing pretty good. Remember,
Walleye are not in season on the Huron River. Best success for Steelhead has
been coming from holes below the Flat Rock Dam. The water is still high and fast
reportedly from a gate problem up in Belleville. The fishladder is allowing fish
to move upstream and a 14lb+ Steelhead was taken in Belleville about 10 days
ago.
Report 3/12/01:
Detroit River: Things have
not yet started on the river. A few fisherman have gone out the past two
weekends but are only getting 1-2 fish per boat.
West Basin: Perch have been slow on the lake as well as the canals.
Huron River: Steelhead have slowed the past 10 days but quite a few walleye are
being taken. A dam up in Belleville has a gate stuck in the open position and is
keeping the Huron River high. The high water maybe helping to keep the steelhead
scattered.
Report 1/26/01:
As promised, if the fish and
ice cooperated I would provided fishing reports. Cooperation could be better on
both parts however. Here is what is going on.
Airport Bay, Grosse Ile: Ice is good, up to 10". Pike have moved in and pike
fishing is good. It has however slowed the perch fishing who are probably
keeping a low profile with the big boys in town.
Metro Park, Gibralter Canals: Ice good but be cautious, currents at work here.
Some perch are being taken in the canals and at the Metro Park. The canals are
much slower than in years past, probably because the water is even lower this
year then last. There is about 2 - 3 ft of water in the canals.
Huron River, Silver Creek: No Ice. Silver Creek had been good through the ice
earlier in the month producing 12-50 perch per day. Dawn and dusk were best. 1
Steelhead was also taken. Currently the only ice is around the Jefferson bridge
preventing fishing from the bridge but not enough ice to fish on. Fish are
probably still here but we either need a hard freeze to create enough ice or a
thaw to permit fishing from the bridge. Have not heard anything from the Huron
River but if a Steelhead was caught in Silver Creek they are certian to be in
the river. The Huron River had a good fall King run.
Banana Dike: Good Ice, long walk. Perch are spotty, reports of 6 to 35 fish per
day. Some walleye are being taken as well. With the deeper water in the
protected basin (18' + ) the fish tend to bite all day long. If you have the day
and are up for the 2 mile walk this could be a good bet.
Brest Bay: Ice fair. Watch the stress cracks if you have a SW or W wind, you
don't want to be trolling from an ice flow! Walleye have slowed recently but the
fish are getting bigger. Perch have picked up in around 12' of water.
Luna Pier: Have not heard much, water to shallow.
Port Clinton/Catawba: Reports are there is good Ice. Walleye fishing is fairly
good. Fishing is better late in the day. Productive areas: 2 mi NW of Mouse
island and 2-3 miles out of the bay. Fish are running regularly up to 6lbs with
an occaisonal fish up to 10lbs.
Hot Baits: The 'hot' baits thus far this year have been white tear drops with
wax worms and the standard minnow for perch. All areas reporting perch are 7"-9"
with the rare fish up to 12". The only 'hot' walleye bait reported as been gold
Swedish Pimples.
I would like to thank BottomLine Bait and Tackle, The Dip Net and fellow Huron
Valley Steelheader club members who contributed to this report.