Lake Erie 05-25-08
This report should provide a little something for everyone. I've added a couple new twists that I think most of you will find interesting. Along with many photos to go with the descriptions.
General Conditions:
Sunny
Wind started southwest, then went northwest, then west, before finally settling on southeast for the majority of the day.
Water clarity was very good at 7 to 10 feet of visibility.
Water surface temperature was 57 to 61 degrees.
Waves were 2 foot.
I always like to beat the Memorial weekend crowd, so I started fishing first light around 5:15 am.
Decided to start on a shallow rock pile first thing in the morning. This time of year, it's not uncommon for the shad to stack up in the shallows. The predator fish usually aren't far behind. Three lures were laid out on the deck to start the morning. Lipless crankbait, spinnerbait, and a Sammy (topwater walker). These lures were chosen for their ability to cover lots of water quickly.
It became obvious that the bait-fish were everywhere. The surface was beaming with life. I chucked around the lipless crankbait for few casts and immediately hooked up on some white bass. It became quite apparent that the white bass were in there by the thousands. I picked up the sammy and worked the surface over. There were literally 3 or 4 white bass trying to eat it on every cast. Extremely fun, but not what I came out to fish for. I laid down the sammy and picked up the spinnerbait. First couple casts produced white bass. The third cast I finally landed the first smallmouth of the morning.
After several more white bass, it became apparent that there were too many white bass for the smallmouth to have an opportunity to get my bait. So I motored over to another shallow flat that has been good in the past. Seagulls were flying over head, and landing in the water. Which is usually a sign that bait-fish are present. Using the same three lures again, I pretty much duplicated the first spots action with white bass. This time I didn't stay as long. It was time to go a little more off shore and fish some structure. This one particular area isn't too deep, so it's quite possible the smallmouth could be bedding in this deeper water.
I tried to think how best to describe this off shore structure that I look for. Well a picture speaks a thousand words. Below is a photo of what my electronics show as you go over one of these areas. It's these irregularities that the smallmouth tend to hold to.
Seeing on electronics is one thing, but I thought you might want to see an underwater view as well. I brought along my Aquaview. I don't have the video camera to hook up to it, or I would showed you that way. Instead I took the best photo that would show you what these under water humps look like. If you look closely you will see the zebra mussels stacked all over this under water boulder. Those zebra mussels are razor sharp, and tend to cause several break offs every outing. It sort of goes with the territory.
I started off chucking a deep crankbait to see if any fish were aggressive. Sometimes it will get them charged up. Today it didn't. I then switched over to spider jig. Second cast I had my second smallmouth of the day in the boat. It was blind in one eye, and probably just under 3 lbs. I stuck with the spider jig for 30 minutes longer and managed one other short smallmouth. I then switched over to a tube. After a couple break offs on the bottom, I hooked into a good one. Work her all the way to the boat, and then she does one last jump with about 6 foot of line out. She popped free. I would estimate her a little over 4 lbs. Few casts with a 5 inch worm on a shaky head also produced a couple nice smallmouth too. Then I broke that bait off on the bottom too. I decided to toss a swimbait over the top humps. I only managed one 2 lber. that came racing up and nailed it at the boat. Pretty cool to see.
After several more break offs, and the frustration starting to mount with the constant retying. Mostly due to having to start the big motor to get back on the spots. I opted to fight the wind and 2 foot waves. I fished a drop shot directly over the humps. The wind isn't that big of deal, but it does take a toll on you when you fish in it for a long time.
The drop shot was the deal. The fish were on it good. About every 5th cast produced a smallmouth. They ranged from a pound to 3 lbs. Then I finally hooked into one over 4 lbs. Same as last time, she jumped right at the boat and spit the lure. Below is a photo of one that was in the 3 lb. range.
The boulders and zebra mussels were still taking their toll. I lost several sinkers to the under water structure. Still didn't mind since the fish were biting. I even managed a 2 pound channel catfish on the drop shot.
Around 12 pm I decided to take a break from the wind and waves. I headed into a creek that flows in Erie. This area is wooded on both sides, and runs 6 to 9 feet deep down the middle. In the past I've been able to pull some decent largemouth out of this particular creek. The bass will usually hold tight to the cover and out of the current. I traveled probably 1/4 mile up this creek and fished my way out. I never did catch a largemouth. The reason being the carp spawn was going on. They were everywhere along the banks in this stream. Check out this photo below. It will give you an idea of how many carp were jammed in there.
Around 12:45 pm I decided to fish a different area with less hang ups. It has plenty of rock and gravel, but not as much big stuff to break you off. It was time to relax, and throw out the drift sock. This technique you basically use tube jig. Which is inserting a lead head inside of the tube with the hook exposed on the outside. It resembles a goby swimming along the bottom. The key is to use as light of a tube and still keep contact with bottom. You cast it out, and let it sink to the bottom. With a controlled boat drift your bait will cover lots of water. You occasionally have to snap your rod tip to free it up from the rocks. Often strikes happen after you've snapped it free. I dragged and drifted for the remaining 2 hours and 15 minutes. Managed a half dozen more smallmouth, 1 walleye, and a freshwater drum. Below is a photo of a fish that was just under 4 lbs..
Day in review.
White bass- too many to count
rockbass-1
catfish- 1
walleye-1
smallmouth bass- 25 to 30
Lures that caught fish
Sammy
Lipless Crankbait
Jerkbait
Tube Jig
Spider Jig
LA Slider
Drop Shot plastics
Spinnerbait
Shaky head worm
Crowd at the ramp was a far cry from what it was last year this time. Plenty of people, but no wait. Gas prices certainly were evident there today.
This report should provide a little something for everyone. I've added a couple new twists that I think most of you will find interesting. Along with many photos to go with the descriptions.
General Conditions:
Sunny
Wind started southwest, then went northwest, then west, before finally settling on southeast for the majority of the day.
Water clarity was very good at 7 to 10 feet of visibility.
Water surface temperature was 57 to 61 degrees.
Waves were 2 foot.
I always like to beat the Memorial weekend crowd, so I started fishing first light around 5:15 am.
Decided to start on a shallow rock pile first thing in the morning. This time of year, it's not uncommon for the shad to stack up in the shallows. The predator fish usually aren't far behind. Three lures were laid out on the deck to start the morning. Lipless crankbait, spinnerbait, and a Sammy (topwater walker). These lures were chosen for their ability to cover lots of water quickly.
It became obvious that the bait-fish were everywhere. The surface was beaming with life. I chucked around the lipless crankbait for few casts and immediately hooked up on some white bass. It became quite apparent that the white bass were in there by the thousands. I picked up the sammy and worked the surface over. There were literally 3 or 4 white bass trying to eat it on every cast. Extremely fun, but not what I came out to fish for. I laid down the sammy and picked up the spinnerbait. First couple casts produced white bass. The third cast I finally landed the first smallmouth of the morning.
After several more white bass, it became apparent that there were too many white bass for the smallmouth to have an opportunity to get my bait. So I motored over to another shallow flat that has been good in the past. Seagulls were flying over head, and landing in the water. Which is usually a sign that bait-fish are present. Using the same three lures again, I pretty much duplicated the first spots action with white bass. This time I didn't stay as long. It was time to go a little more off shore and fish some structure. This one particular area isn't too deep, so it's quite possible the smallmouth could be bedding in this deeper water.
I tried to think how best to describe this off shore structure that I look for. Well a picture speaks a thousand words. Below is a photo of what my electronics show as you go over one of these areas. It's these irregularities that the smallmouth tend to hold to.
Seeing on electronics is one thing, but I thought you might want to see an underwater view as well. I brought along my Aquaview. I don't have the video camera to hook up to it, or I would showed you that way. Instead I took the best photo that would show you what these under water humps look like. If you look closely you will see the zebra mussels stacked all over this under water boulder. Those zebra mussels are razor sharp, and tend to cause several break offs every outing. It sort of goes with the territory.
I started off chucking a deep crankbait to see if any fish were aggressive. Sometimes it will get them charged up. Today it didn't. I then switched over to spider jig. Second cast I had my second smallmouth of the day in the boat. It was blind in one eye, and probably just under 3 lbs. I stuck with the spider jig for 30 minutes longer and managed one other short smallmouth. I then switched over to a tube. After a couple break offs on the bottom, I hooked into a good one. Work her all the way to the boat, and then she does one last jump with about 6 foot of line out. She popped free. I would estimate her a little over 4 lbs. Few casts with a 5 inch worm on a shaky head also produced a couple nice smallmouth too. Then I broke that bait off on the bottom too. I decided to toss a swimbait over the top humps. I only managed one 2 lber. that came racing up and nailed it at the boat. Pretty cool to see.
After several more break offs, and the frustration starting to mount with the constant retying. Mostly due to having to start the big motor to get back on the spots. I opted to fight the wind and 2 foot waves. I fished a drop shot directly over the humps. The wind isn't that big of deal, but it does take a toll on you when you fish in it for a long time.
The drop shot was the deal. The fish were on it good. About every 5th cast produced a smallmouth. They ranged from a pound to 3 lbs. Then I finally hooked into one over 4 lbs. Same as last time, she jumped right at the boat and spit the lure. Below is a photo of one that was in the 3 lb. range.
The boulders and zebra mussels were still taking their toll. I lost several sinkers to the under water structure. Still didn't mind since the fish were biting. I even managed a 2 pound channel catfish on the drop shot.
Around 12 pm I decided to take a break from the wind and waves. I headed into a creek that flows in Erie. This area is wooded on both sides, and runs 6 to 9 feet deep down the middle. In the past I've been able to pull some decent largemouth out of this particular creek. The bass will usually hold tight to the cover and out of the current. I traveled probably 1/4 mile up this creek and fished my way out. I never did catch a largemouth. The reason being the carp spawn was going on. They were everywhere along the banks in this stream. Check out this photo below. It will give you an idea of how many carp were jammed in there.
Around 12:45 pm I decided to fish a different area with less hang ups. It has plenty of rock and gravel, but not as much big stuff to break you off. It was time to relax, and throw out the drift sock. This technique you basically use tube jig. Which is inserting a lead head inside of the tube with the hook exposed on the outside. It resembles a goby swimming along the bottom. The key is to use as light of a tube and still keep contact with bottom. You cast it out, and let it sink to the bottom. With a controlled boat drift your bait will cover lots of water. You occasionally have to snap your rod tip to free it up from the rocks. Often strikes happen after you've snapped it free. I dragged and drifted for the remaining 2 hours and 15 minutes. Managed a half dozen more smallmouth, 1 walleye, and a freshwater drum. Below is a photo of a fish that was just under 4 lbs..
Day in review.
White bass- too many to count
rockbass-1
catfish- 1
walleye-1
smallmouth bass- 25 to 30
Lures that caught fish
Sammy
Lipless Crankbait
Jerkbait
Tube Jig
Spider Jig
LA Slider
Drop Shot plastics
Spinnerbait
Shaky head worm
Crowd at the ramp was a far cry from what it was last year this time. Plenty of people, but no wait. Gas prices certainly were evident there today.
