Page 5 - Fishing Report | 5-8-19

ERIE COUNTY
Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and Tributaries

Photos from Dutch Fork
Custom Lures on laker
hunt with bonus ‘eye

Kirk @ East End Angler; filed 5/6: There are still a few steelhead left in the East Side
streams, plus a lot of stocked trout. Had a report of perch in 45 feet of water off Shades
Beach. There are some perch being caught off the North and South Pier. But the perch
bite in PIB has dried up; it happened in just a few days about a week ago. Smallmouth
bass is the big bite in the Bay now, along with some crappies at Head of Bay in 4 to 5
feet of water. Out on Erie, it’s Lake Trout time! Lakers had been in 20 to 40 feet of water
until the last storm, now they are in 60 to 70 feet all the way from Shades to the NY
line. Along with some walleyes mixed in, too. And they are catching a few walleyes off

the South Pier in the evening. I caught mine floating jig head with a 3-inch twister grub
behind a slip sinker. Retrieve slowly and jig it.

Jeff @ Poor Richards; filed 5/6: With lake water temp at only 46 degrees, the walleye
bite has been slow materializing; they usually turn on at about 52 degrees. Heard about
perch being caught in 30 feet of water west of Walnut. There are a few steelhead in the

streams yet; falling for live minnows and egg patterns. Smallmouth bass are moving in-
to Elk; they had started in but the temp dropped and they fell back.

Dan @ Elk Creek Sports; filed 5/6: With the unsettled weather, we have fish but not
many fishermen. Due to the cooler temps, steelhead are still in some West Side
streams. Smallmouth are working their way up Elk. Stream levels are okay right now,
but with rain expected most of week, streams may get muddy and rise. This spring we
have not had a good day of weekend weather since opening of trout season. We need a
change.

Keith @ Dutch Fork Custom Lures; filed 5/6: Marvin and Nick fished with Keith from
th
Dutch Fork Fishing Charters on Erie on May 5 . We fished 55’ to 59’ of water for lake
trout. Caught some dandy lakers and one giant walleye. Fishing was a bit slow and we
had to change a few baits and spots till we got some biters! Riggers with spoons and
dipsys with spoons were the two best presentations. (See photos top of page)