Freshwater Fishing Report – Lake Erie Tributary Fishing Report

Anglers looking to capture freshwater fish should use August’s “Dog Days,” but be wary of potentially hazardous tributary conditions!

Poor Richards reports that daytime walleye fishing has improved substantially from last week. Trolling at 20 feet has yielded limits at South End, while nighttime trolling over shallow weed beds has proved successful.

Walleye

As water levels in Erie decline, so has the walleye bite picked up. Doug at Elk Creek Sports reported that customers were catching their limits within three to four hours in 15 to 50 feet of water with plenty of undersized fish being caught, though on average, the average fish length ranges from 17 to 20 inches. Walleye were being caught using minnows, jigs and spinners; Gary at Poor Richard’s Bait and Tackle reported daytime walleye bite has been great between 25-40 foot of water while shallow trollers doing well 5-20 foot deep using No 18 Rapala minnows with black/silver or firetiger No 18 Rapala minnows No 18 Rapala minnows No 18 Rapala minnows with black/silver or firetiger color schemes using No 18 Rapala minnows No 18 Rapala minnows with black/silver or firetiger No 18 Rapala minnow No 18 Rapala minnow No 18 Rapala minnow No 18 Rapala Minnow No 18 Rapala minnows No 18 Rapala black/silver or Firetiger No 18 Rapala Minnow No 18 Rapala No 18 Rapala Minnow No 18 Rapala minnows with either black/silver or firetiger color options using No 18 Rapala Minnow No18 Rapala minnows no 18 Rapala minnows No18 Rapala minnows 18 Rapala minnows with No18 Rapala minnows used with or firetigers with No. 18 Rapala minnows No18 Rapala minnows used with No.18 Rapala minnow No18 with black/Silve No18 Minnow No18 Rapala minnow No18 Rapala minnow No18 Rapala minnow No18 Rapala minnow No18 minnow No18s either No18 Rapala minnow Nos No18 Minnow Nos 18 Rapala minnow No. 18 Rapala minnow No.18 minnow No 18 minnow No. 19 Black Silver’s firetiger No18s No. 20 Rapalas Minnow No.18 Rapala jig or fire Tiger firetiger Minnows 17 to 20 foot of 20 foot used with 5-20 foot depth with No. 20 Foot Minnow No 20 foot depth rating by poor Richard’s No 18s used 5 to 20 foot with 16 fire Tiger Minnows using No. 18 Rapala minnow d Fire Tiger No’s with fire Tiger No 16 which can use No. 18 Rapala minnow No’s which are being trolling from Rapala Minnow or Fire Tiger 18 Rapala minnow or FireTiger No 6 No.18 No 10 Rapala minnow No 20Tiger No 15 minnow or FireTiger No 18 minnow’s or fire Tiger No tiger No ji 5 to 20 foot shallow trolling with No. 18 Rapala No.20 are doing well as well for shallow trolling or fire Tiger No 18 Minnow No 18.18 minw’s 5 20 feet wide 8 to 20 foot deep using using No.20 Minnow No 18s FireTiger Minnow No 19 Min nows 10 “s”.

The upper Allegheny River has traditionally been an excellent spot for smallmouth bass fishing; however, the bite has slowed considerably due to higher flows and cloudy conditions. Crayfish and worms have proven most productive, while white perch and crappie prefer shiners and grubs nearer to the river bottom.

Rock Lake has seen an increase in legal-sized walleye thanks to extended-growth fingerlings stocked every other year since 2015. Their success was demonstrated during a comprehensive survey conducted recently.

At that survey, several 19- to 23-inch walleye were observed alongside large numbers of small northern pike and yellow perch – an excellent newer walleye lake that will only improve as more of these fish mature into trophy fish!

Gary recently shared with customers of Poor Richard’s his best hybrid striper, which weighed 30 pounds and measured 31 inches – he caught it using a No. 18 Rapala with a jig sporting a mud-colored head.

Assuring yourself of success in fishing is easiest when consulting an expert from a quality tackle shop. A knowledgeable staffer will provide insight on which bodies of water are hot spots for fishing and which equipment and lures would work best for the task – not forgetting they may even sell you your fishing license!

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass populations in Lake Erie tributary streams continue to thrive, with fish up to 20 inches regularly seen. The Niagara River fishery, in particular, remains strong. Anglers report success using various tactics, including single eggs and sacs as well as 1/4 – 1/2 ounce jigs; fish can also be caught eating cured salmon skeins, minnows, or other baits from Lewiston to NYPA platform and Devils Hole shorelines where controlled drift with three-way rig and cured skein is best practiced.

Trolling and casting spinners have also proven effective at producing bass. Larger trolling baits work particularly well when the water cools at night; Northland Spinshot with grub or minnow trailer, Rapalla Rigged Tungsten, and Northland Scorpion Tail Spinner are some of the baits anglers use most frequently; additionally, jigs tipped with crayfish or craw are being utilized by anglers as well.

Salmon fishing from Lewiston to the Niagara River mouth has been excellent, with King Salmon primarily visible between 40 to 65 feet, but there have been reports of them as deep as 100. Anglers have had success using cured salmon skeins or spoons cast from boats as well as three-way rigs with deep diving stick baits to catch these fish; shore-catch opportunities exist around the NYPA platform and Whirlpool State Park, while some anglers also take fish from Devils Hole drift.

Walleye are being caught throughout Lake Erie, particularly at its main body and the mouth of Buffalo River, most in the 15- to 25-inch range, but some larger fish may also be caught. Smallmouth bass, catfish, and pike have also been plentiful; pike has mostly been limited to its lower regions.

Poor Richard’s Bait and Tackle is a family-run business established by Gary Heubel in 1996. With his knowledge of the industry, honesty, and service being at its core, Gary earned a loyal customer following in Poor Richard’s Bait and Tackle. Now run by Brittany, who continues this legacy of offering quality products and advice to her customers.

Crappie

Due to lower temperatures this week, the crappie fishing has slowed somewhat; however, there remains some good fishing in the area. Poor Richard reports that daytime walleye fishing on the West Side picks up 25-40 feet from shore with small jigs and minnows working best, black/silver or firefighter being top colors. Trollers have also caught some fish using No 18 Rapala Minnows with black/silver or firefighter coloring for an effective catch rate 5-20 feet from shore using No 18 Rapala Minnows with either color combination as Trollers have caught some fish in 5-20 feet No 18 Rapala Minnows with either black/silver or fire tiger colors to great success;

The northern pike fishery remains excellent on lakes along the lakeshore, with some stunning specimens being caught. Many pike are currently in their reproductive stages, so anglers should exercise extreme caution when approaching areas populated with pike.

Some anglers have reported success fishing the lower sections of Erie tributaries, though most fish appear to be concentrated nearer the western end of Lake Erie. Anglers who have found success here report using single eggs or egg sacs, jigs, and bucktails with great success.

Many inland lakes near shore have proven productive for crappie and other species fishing, and several have produced very nice specimens. As these lakes tend to be shallower waters, structure in deeper water provides the best opportunity.

Discovering the right bait or lure can make all the difference in successful outings. A quality tackle shop can assist in selecting suitable bait for your situation and provide expert guidance on fishing hotspots. They should also carry all necessary items ranging from live bait to licenses; visit one of these shops before your next outing and increase your odds of landing a fish!

Bluegill

Bluegill fishing in this region is generally good, with fish up to one pound abundantly available for harvest. Largemouth bass fishing is usually fair to good in most lakes, while northern pike populations can be substantial on certain lakes. Most lakes also possess considerable populations of yellow perch.

Lake Metigoshe offers some of the state’s premier bluegill fishing waters. Anglers come for its abundant walleye population, but you’ll also find good bluegill and perch fishing here and trophy northern pike fish up to 20 inches long!

Lake Lanier offers public access on its western side; on its southern shore is private property.

Other area lakes with abundant bluegill populations include Embry Dam (242) – located 3.5 miles east, 2 miles south, 0.5 miles west of Rhame, and Glovatsky Pond (234), which lies 5 mile north, 3.5 miles east, 1 mile south of Bowman. Both of these lakes were recently stocked with catchable rainbow trout that are producing small but legal-sized bluegill. (Fishing Pier).

Northeast Indiana also boasts some outstanding bluegill fishing at lakes such as Twin Lakes (562), Lake Metigoshe (778), and Casselton Pond (219). All three lakes boast ample bluegill populations, some large ones included; trophy-sized northern pike populations can be found throughout these waters.