T_boy
05-09-2008, 03:26 PM
Smallmouth bass fishing on Lake Erie should be peaking any time now. As usual, the best areas should be on the east side of Erie. Check irregular rocky structures off Twenty Mile Creek, off Sixteen Mile Creek, and all along the cliffs in the area known as the 'W's' which are located west from Sixteen Mile Creek. If you are having trouble locating them, try trolling crankbaits, then switch to jigs once they are located. Productive depths might be anywhere from five feet out to beyond 35 feet.
Also note that smallmouth bass are in some of the tributaries, most notably in Elk Creek as far upstream as Route 20 and in lower Twenty Mile Creek. Catfish also are being caught in lower Elk Creek. Look for deep pools and discolored water. A favorite bait always has been shrimp seasoned by leaving it inside a car window for several hours before fishing. Nightcrawlers are a much less expensive bait.
Perhaps the most exciting fishing now is surf casting for walleye at the creek mouths. The better fishing is at the larger creeks, especially Elk Creek. My plans include a visit to the mouth of Twelve Mile Creek. Larger stick baits are the ticket mostly for casting distance. Bring your waders and longer rods for more reach. The bay also is still a good bet for steelhead and it is still producing plenty of pike, bluegill, smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. It is well worth a visit for traveling bass fishermen if the big lake gets too rough.
Inland, there has been some very good trout fishing at Lake Pleasant and farther inshore at Chapman Lake or Justus Lake. Fly-fishers have been doing well toward the north end of the lake. Most of the regional trout streams have been in good shape and have become sufficiently warm for good fishing. Trout have been hitting very well in the Allegheny River from the Kinzua Dam to Warren, including some 20-inchers. Smallmouth bass are also hitting very good a little farther downstream, but walleye fishing has been only fair. One large muskie was reported below the dam.
Walleye fishing at the Allegheny Reservoir has been good, but most walleye are small and the action is mostly north of the New York line. Very few steelhead remain in the tributaries, although a few were caught from Twenty Mile Creek this week. Adult trout were stocked at Seven Mile Creek for a youth fishing event and plenty of these trout remain. Fishing at all of the area lakes for crappie is about as good as it is going to get, allowing for the fact that they are not always hitting. I will call Presque Isle Bay - including the lagoons, Kahle Lake and Shenango Lake - the hot spots for this spring, with Pymatuning Lake maybe in that bracket. Chautauqua Lake, Casadaga Lakes, Woodcock Creek Lake and Bull Dam are worth a visit.
-- from wire reports
# Contributors: Poor Richard's Bait & Tackle, 6821 West Lake Road, (814) 474-5623
# BAC Bait & Tackle, 317 Peninsula Drive, (814) 838-2850
# Elk Creek Sports Store, 105543 Old Lake Road, (814) 774-8755
# Lake Erie Ultimate Angler and Presque Isle Outfitters, 3737 West 12th Street, (814) 456-3035
# East End Angler, 4702 East Lake Road, (814) 898-3474
# Chautauqua County Fishing Hotline, (800) 242-4569
# Niagara County Fishing Hotline, (877) 325-5787
Also note that smallmouth bass are in some of the tributaries, most notably in Elk Creek as far upstream as Route 20 and in lower Twenty Mile Creek. Catfish also are being caught in lower Elk Creek. Look for deep pools and discolored water. A favorite bait always has been shrimp seasoned by leaving it inside a car window for several hours before fishing. Nightcrawlers are a much less expensive bait.
Perhaps the most exciting fishing now is surf casting for walleye at the creek mouths. The better fishing is at the larger creeks, especially Elk Creek. My plans include a visit to the mouth of Twelve Mile Creek. Larger stick baits are the ticket mostly for casting distance. Bring your waders and longer rods for more reach. The bay also is still a good bet for steelhead and it is still producing plenty of pike, bluegill, smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. It is well worth a visit for traveling bass fishermen if the big lake gets too rough.
Inland, there has been some very good trout fishing at Lake Pleasant and farther inshore at Chapman Lake or Justus Lake. Fly-fishers have been doing well toward the north end of the lake. Most of the regional trout streams have been in good shape and have become sufficiently warm for good fishing. Trout have been hitting very well in the Allegheny River from the Kinzua Dam to Warren, including some 20-inchers. Smallmouth bass are also hitting very good a little farther downstream, but walleye fishing has been only fair. One large muskie was reported below the dam.
Walleye fishing at the Allegheny Reservoir has been good, but most walleye are small and the action is mostly north of the New York line. Very few steelhead remain in the tributaries, although a few were caught from Twenty Mile Creek this week. Adult trout were stocked at Seven Mile Creek for a youth fishing event and plenty of these trout remain. Fishing at all of the area lakes for crappie is about as good as it is going to get, allowing for the fact that they are not always hitting. I will call Presque Isle Bay - including the lagoons, Kahle Lake and Shenango Lake - the hot spots for this spring, with Pymatuning Lake maybe in that bracket. Chautauqua Lake, Casadaga Lakes, Woodcock Creek Lake and Bull Dam are worth a visit.
-- from wire reports
# Contributors: Poor Richard's Bait & Tackle, 6821 West Lake Road, (814) 474-5623
# BAC Bait & Tackle, 317 Peninsula Drive, (814) 838-2850
# Elk Creek Sports Store, 105543 Old Lake Road, (814) 774-8755
# Lake Erie Ultimate Angler and Presque Isle Outfitters, 3737 West 12th Street, (814) 456-3035
# East End Angler, 4702 East Lake Road, (814) 898-3474
# Chautauqua County Fishing Hotline, (800) 242-4569
# Niagara County Fishing Hotline, (877) 325-5787