Email
Print
FeedGood walleye fishing attracts southwest anglers - Northwest Region Report
Lake Erie
Perch were schooling in 35 to 40 feet out of Walnut Creek and in 30 feet east and west of the peninsula. Smallmouth bass were leaving the creeks, and hitting on the east side of the lake in about 30 feet. The after-dark shoreline walleye bite was productive for anglers cranking large minnow baits slowly. Walleyes were running up to 8 pounds. Thomas Watral of Erie reported doing well on the beach at Trout Run, catching walleyes up to 26 inches. Shallow stick baits were taking walleyes in 10 to 15 feet west of Walnut Creek.
Presque Isle Bay (Erie County)
The bay was loaded with bass, including smallmouths, and they were moving to the shallow flats in recent weeks. A few boaters were catching crappies in the middle of Marina Lake. Bluegills and perch, 11 to 12 inches, were reported in Misery Bay, and perch were hitting off the North Pier. Sunfish were active and northern pike were reported. Catfish are hitting stinkbaits in the back water at South Pier. The docks and the West Slip yielded panfish on worms plus a few bass and a pike on big fathead minnows.
Shenango Reservoir, Shenango River (Mercer County)
Big numbers of crappies and walleyes were reported on the lake, with many limits of both taken through mid-May. Crappies were hitting on minnows and walleyes on worm harnesses. The river was yielding crappies, too, with the Sandy Beach area below the dam a hot spot. The river above the lake was producing white bass as well as crappies. Ken Smith, of Sharon, was catching crappies up to 16¼ inches. He released more than 25 big fish, many filled with eggs. White bass hot spots included the Hamburg to Big Bend stretch, although white bass were reported as far north as Wasser Bridge below Greenville.
Otter Creek (Mercer County)
Northern pike were hitting on live shiners.
Lake Wilhelm (Mercer County)
This lake turned on in recent weeks, with some anglers catching 100 crappies a day, including half in the 9 to 13-inch keeper range. Most were taken on small jigs tipped with maggots or minnows. Bluegills were hitting in 2 to 4 feet of water. The walleye bite was slow.
Oil Creek (Venango County)
The delayed harvest project waters were yielding nice trout in recent weeks.
Allegheny River
Smallmouth bass up to 18-plus inches were reported as conditions allowed in recent weeks. Bill Logan, of Pleasantville, caught a 20-inch walleye on a rattle bait in high, muddy conditions May 7, and fished the next hour without a bite.
Kahle Lake (Venango County)
Nice numbers of largemouth bass, including many 12 to 15 inches, were reported. One pre-spawn bass weighed 4 pounds.
Pymatuning Lake (Crawford County)
Excellent crappie and walleye fishing was reported. Spawning black crappies were shallow, in two to four feet, while white crappies were deeper and taking minnow-tipped 1⁄16-ounce jigs. Many anglers were catching walleyes in as little as three to four feet of water around vegetation, while others were making catches trolling Hot n Tots or drifting crawler rigs in deeper water. Live shiners and suckers also were producing walleyes. There were reports of bass on jig-and-creature baits on shallow wood. Some anglers reported catching limits of walleyes and nice perch and crappies drifting jigs and minnows or crawlers over shallow points with a lot of wood. Drifting shelves with a lot of wood cover in 4 to 10 feet of water produced a variety of fish from largemouth bass to walleyes to perch to rock bass. Shore anglers at the Andover/Espyville causeway caught a number of walleyes and crappies.
Conneaut Lake (Crawford County)
Big numbers of bluegills were reported in shallow water, with light tackle and small jigs the ticket. Crappies were scattered.
Tamarack Lake (Crawford County)
Numbers of crappies were hitting small fatheads, with small jigs tipped with maggots the alternative. One angler released a 38-inch muskie in the spillway.
Woodcock Creek Lake (Crawford County)
Walleyes, bass and a 30-inch muskie were reported in recent weeks.
