Riddle: When is a lake not a lake? Answer: When the lake is three lakes in one.
Lake Erie is the smallest of the Great Lakes, but this sprawling walleye factory is anything but modest. Over 50 miles wide and nearly 400 miles long, Lake Erie is so large that biologists treat the lake as three different bodies of water. From a biologist's view point, dividing the lake into three distinctive basins makes this complex watershed easier to understand and manage. From an angler's perspective, treating each of Erie's three basins as independent waters also makes sense.
The Western, Central and Eastern basins of Lake Erie are dissimilar bodies of water. Angling methods that work in one basin are often obsolete in another.
Lake Erie's basins are vastly different in physical make up, but the walleye that flourish in these waters are not. Walleye that spawn in the extreme Western Basin in April, begin an eastward migration after spawning and are commonly caught in the Central and Eastern basins during late spring and summer.
The walleye that inhabit all three of Erie's basins are essentially the same fish, but the forage they feed on and habitats they prefer change with the seasons. Anglers who target walleye in two or more of Erie's Basins must into consideration the different types of habitats they are likely to encounter and also vastly different angling techniques that are employed from basin to basin.
ABOUT THE WESTERN BASIN
Michigan, Ohio and Ontario share common boundaries on Lake Erie's Western Basin. This sprawling freshwater sea consists of all the water west of line that runs from Sandusky Ohio to Point Pelee Ontario. The majority of this prime walleye water lies in Ohio and Ontario waters. Michigan enjoys only a narrow band of water that runs approximately from the mouth of the Maumee River north to the mouth of the Detroit River. The average water depth is 20 feet and the maximum depth around 40 feet.
Despite the fact that Michigan only claims a small slice of the Western Basin, several of the region's top fishing ports are located here including Luna Pier, Bolles Harbor and Breast Bay. Anglers who frequently fish this region are well advised to purchase licenses from Michigan, Ohio and Ontario. On any given day there is no telling which jurisdiction of the lake will produce the best fishing.
Often referred to as the 'nursery', the majority of Lake Erie's spawning real estate is located in the Western Basin. Most of Erie's estimated 50 million walleye lay their eggs on the countless reefs and tributary streams located in this region. Young walleye remain in the Western Basin for two or more years where they grow quickly on a rich diet of emerald shiners, gizzard shad and crayfish.
The Western Basin boasts both outstanding walleye habitat and an almost unlimited forage base. Despite these ideal living conditions, many of Erie's walleye frequent this area only during the pre-spawn and spawning periods. Immediately after spawning, significant numbers of larger adult fish begin migrating eastward to the Central and Eastern Basins. Schools of adult fish spend the summer and fall suspended over deep water where they feed on smelt and alewives. In late winter the migration cycle continues as adult fish return to the Western Basin in preparation for yet another spawning season.
The Bass Islands and the many reefs that are located in this region attract countless spawn laden walleye during February, March and April. Port Clinton Ohio is the center of this spawning activity and one of the richest sportfishing ports in the Great Lakes. In addition, the Maumee River attracts a huge run of walleye that lasts from March to early May.
A few walleye also spawn in the Michigan waters of Lake Erie, but the majority of the prime spawning reefs are located in Ohio and Ontario waters. The Detroit River, located in the northwest corner of the lake attracts large numbers of spawning walleye during March and April. The Detroit River provides over 30 miles of prime rock and gravel spawning habitat.
In Ontario waters walleye spawn along the reefs adjacent to Pelee Island, on Colchester Reef, plus East and Middle Sister Islands. A significant number of fish also run the Canadian side of the Detroit River. The main river channel acts like a highway for migrating walleye. Many fish travel up river to the point where Lake St. Clair dumps into the Detroit River to deposit their eggs.
By early May most of the spawning activity has ended and fish that migrated intro tributary rivers have returned to the Western Basin. It's during this time period than a slow eastward migration of fish begins.
Larger adult fish drift east with the current, while smaller fish remain in the Western Basin to feed and grow. The migration path taken by these fish roughly follows the Ohio/Ontario border.
WESTERN BASIN FISHING TECHNIQUES
Fishing techniques vary by region and also by season in the Western Basin. During the winter and early spring pre-spawn walleyes are taken on jigs tipped with minnows and also on jigging spoons. The best action takes place on the reefs in the Bass Islands region or in the adjacent deep water. The fishing begins as soon as the ice breaks up in spring.
Anglers who enjoy fishing rivers are treated to a jig fishing paradise on both the Maumee and Detroit rivers. The Maumee is shallow and has only a moderate current. Casting 1/8 to 1/4 ounce jigs tipped with minnows or grub bodies works best. Many anglers on the Maumee wade or cast from shore. The Detroit River is deep and has a swift current. Vertical jigging 3/8 to 1/2 ounce jigs tipped with minnows produces most of the fish.
Early May marks the end of the spawning season and the beginning of the spinner bite. Spinner rigs (crawler harnesses) fished in a number of different ways produce walleye throughout May and June. Fish that are located near bottom are best targeted with bottom bouncer weights armed with 40-60 inch spinner rigs. The two and three ounce size bouncers are the most popular.
Charter captains in the Western Basin favor a spinner rig they call the Weapon. This simple rig consists of an egg sinker threaded onto the line 36-48 inches ahead of a spinner rig. The Weapon can be fished suspended or on bottom. This rig can also be drifted or slow trolled making them both versatile and popular.
Not long ago the weight forward spinner was the most popular fishing lure in the Western Basin. Designed to be casted and counted down to whatever depth fish might be holding at, this method still produces significant numbers of Lake Erie walleye. Over time the popularity of the weight forward spinner has declined as other spinner fishing methods and trolling techniques have evolved.
Trolling dominates the fishing scene on the Western Basin during the warm weather months. The only practical means of covering large amounts of water, both crankbaits and spoons are productive summer walleye lures.
A few of the most popular crankbaits on the Western Basin include the Reef Runner Deep Diver and Deep Little Ripper, Rapala Shad Rap, Storm Wiggle Wart and Hot' n Tot, Bomber 25A and Rebel Spoonbill. Fished in combination with planer boards, crankbaits produce a staggering number of walleye from the Western Basin.
In recent years trolling spoons have made a significant contribution to the walleye sportfishing harvest. Small to medium sized spoons including the Stinger Scorpion and Wolverine Mini Streak produce almost as many walleyes as crankbaits.
Diving planers are the most commonly used means of presenting trolling spoons. These trolling aids are especially valuable when floating weed debris on the surface makes it more difficult to troll crankbaits. Small pieces of floating weeds catch on the fishing lines, quickly sliding down the line and eventually fouling the crankbait. When fishing diving planers the weed debris can only slide down as far as the diver, leaving the trailing spoon weed free.
ABOUT THE CENTRAL/EASTERN BASIN
Compared to the Western Basin of Lake Erie, the Central and Eastern Basins are much deeper bodies of water. In fact, these areas of the lake are deep and cold enough to support a significant population of salmon, steelhead and even lake trout. Anglers targeting walleye commonly catch these bonus fish. The central basin has a significant population of steelhead that are often found mixed with walleye. The Eastern Basin enjoys good populations of salmon, steelhead, lake trout and walleye.
This sprawling region of the lake shares boundary waters with Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Ontario. Ohio and Ontario enjoy the most water, but excellent fishing takes place in all four jurisdictions.
Despite the significant water depth throughout these basins, walleye thrive all summer long on a diet of protein rich smelt and alewives. These abundant forage fish suspend in the water column (often near the thermocline) where they feed on plankton. In this open water environment baitfish and walleyes are constantly on the move. Quality sonar and a Global Positioning System unit are essential pieces of fishing gear for keeping tabs on the daily and hourly movements of fish.
Some of the most popular ports in this region include Huron, Lorain, Cleveland and Ashtabula in Ohio. In Pennsylvania and New York the ports of Erie, Dunkirk and Buffalo are solid walleye destinations.
FISHING THE CENTRAL/EASTERN BASINS
The best fishing throughout the Central/Eastern Basins is commonly found many miles off shore and during the months of July, August and September. This fishery is best suited to large and seaworthy boats. Trolling is the only practical way to cover so much open water. Because of the significant water depth, anglers employ some specialized trolling methods. Downriggers, wire line, diving planers, deep diving crankbaits and lead core line are commonly used to reach walleyes that suspend 25-50 feet below the surface.
The ultra clear waters of the Central/Eastern Basins forces anglers to use some unique trolling tactics. Downriggers armed with spoons, spinners and crankbaits produces many fish, but exceptionally long trolling leads must be used. While the typical lead length for downrigger trolling is only 10-20 feet, anglers in Erie's Central/Eastern Basins often fish 100-150 feet behind the downrigger ball!
Luhr Jensen's popular Jet Diver is also used to reach suspended fish. The main line is attached to the front of the diver and a six foot leader with a spoon, spinner or shallow diving crankbait to the back. Commonly fished on 12 pound test wire line, Jet Divers come in several sizes designed to reach depths from 20-50 feet. Fished as flatlines and also in combination with planer boards, Jet Divers are among the most commonly used trolling aids for these open water walleye.
Directional style diving planers also produce significant numbers of fish on the Central/Eastern Basin. These trolling aids are most commonly fished on superbraid or wire lines to reach maximum depths.
SUMMING IT UP
Thinking of Lake Erie as one big walleye pond is a mistake. The vastness of Lake Erie, coupled with the significant changes in water depth, habitat types and fishing methods makes it more practical to look at Erie as three different lakes. Fortunately, all the basins of Lake Erie are rich with walleye fishing opportunities. -- END --
Lake Erie is so large that biologists treat the lake as three different bodies of water. From a biologist's view point, dividing the lake into three distinctive basins makes this complex watershed easier to understand and manage. From an angler's perspective, treating each of Erie's three basins as independent waters also makes sense.
The Bass Islands and the many reefs that are located in this region attract countless spawn laden walleye during February, March and April. Port Clinton Ohio is the center of this spawning activity and one of the richest sportfishing ports in the Great Lakes. In addition, the Maumee River attracts a huge run of walleye that lasts from March to early May.
deep and cold enough to support a significant population of salmon, steelhead and even lake trout. Anglers targeting walleye commonly catch these bonus fish. The central basin has a significant population of steelhead that are often found mixed with walleye. The Eastern Basin enjoys good populations of salmon, steelhead, lake trout and walleye.
