UTERJanuary
Steelhead Alley and western-basin ice (when it forms)
Spawn sacs in Elk Creek, the Chagrin and the Rocky; walleye through the ice off the islands only in a hard winter.
Toledo to Buffalo — Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York
Lake Erie fishing
What's biting in Lake Erie in October: white perch, steelhead and smallmouth bass at their peak, with walleye, channel catfish and white bass around too. Fish Scouter's season calendar follows 8 fish here month by month, from Toledo to Buffalo.
Perch, walleye heading west, and the fall steelhead run
The walleye capital of the world: the shallow western basin's reefs and islands where they spawn, the Maumee and Sandusky runs, the deep cool central and eastern basins where they summer, jumbo perch everywhere, smallmouth on the eastern rock, and Steelhead Alley — the short tributaries from Ohio to New York.
ToledoPort ClintonSanduskyClevelandErieDunkirkBuffalo
Updated
Now · October
Perch, walleye heading west, and the fall steelhead run
Perch off Huron and Fairport; the first rain sends steelhead up the Alley.
Yellow perchSteelheadSmallmouth bassWhite perch
This month here
From the season calendar, best firstPeakPeakPeakPeakAroundAroundAroundAround
White perch
Steelhead
Fall run starts with the first rains
Smallmouth bass
Yellow perch
Peak fall perch across the lake
Walleye
Channel catfish
White bass
Freshwater drum (sheepshead)
The water
Structure that matters
LakeRiverFishing pierBoat rampBridgeCreek / stream
After a cold front
The shallowest lake: a strong wind turns the western basin to chocolate in an hour and can push water feet up or down at either end (a seiche). After a blow, fish the clean water edge.
Month by month
What's happening, and what to throwFebruary
Winter steelhead; ice walleye in a cold year
Fish the tributaries on the thaws. Western basin ice is never a sure thing — local guides only.
March
Walleye stage on the reefs; the Maumee run begins
Above 42°F the run starts: jig the Maumee and the Sandusky, or blade baits on the reefs off Port Clinton.
April
Peak Maumee and Sandusky runs; spring steelhead
Waders and one-hook rigs on the Maumee; reef jigging for spawners. Detroit River jigging is the other classic.
May
Western basin trolling; white bass run; smallmouth pre-spawn
Crawler harnesses and cranks on the flats; white bass peak mid-May in the rivers; smallmouth on the islands' rock.
June
Walleye everywhere in the west; smallmouth on the beds
Drift crawler harnesses off the islands; tubes for smallies off Presque Isle and Dunkirk.
July
Walleye move to the central and eastern basins
Downriggers and dipsys deep off Cleveland, Erie and Dunkirk; drum and white perch on the reefs.
August
Deep-water walleye and the perch come on
Spoons and stickbaits over 50–70 feet; perch rigs with emerald shiners off the river mouths.
September
Perch peak; smallmouth on the rock; steelhead stage
Jumbo perch on the central-basin humps; smallies on the eastern reefs.
October · now
Perch, walleye heading west, and the fall steelhead run
Perch off Huron and Fairport; the first rain sends steelhead up the Alley.
November
Fall steelhead peak; nearshore night walleye
Spawn and jigs in the Pennsylvania and Ohio tribs; stickbaits off the Huron breakwalls at night.
December
Night walleye on the breakwalls; winter steelhead
Cast stickbaits from the western-basin piers after dark; steelhead in the tribs on mild days.
Fish guides for Lake Erie
When, where and what to use, fish by fishChannel catfishFreshwater drum (sheepshead)Smallmouth bassSteelheadWalleyeWhite bassWhite perchYellow perch
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