Erie Tribs

[Pittflyguy]

Was planning on heading up to Erie next week. Any advice on what to expect this time of year around Erie? First time up for me so total rookie.... any help would be appreciated! Thanks.

 

[PennKev]

Hahahah! Good one. 😛

 

[TroutBuster]

I'm actually heading up to Erie tomorrow for steelhead...... not fishing though! I'm just gonna be scouting some new sections of stream while the creeks are low. Yes I take my steelhead fishing that seriously!
If you're thinking of going to erie for steelhead fishing you're wasting your time. There won't be any numbers of fish in the creeks until at least mid September. The best you can hope for is a stray fish or two in the lake at the mouths of the creeks.

 

[gribble]

Ok drought conditions alot of the mouths will be sanded shut out at the mouth! Most of the creeks thier dont change that much! small mouth can be had, carp will be around. Your best bet is get started late have a good breakfast, and brings lots of water. Most of the tribs around there will have the cf/s of cat drool! With the lack of DO "Dissolved Oxygen" the fishign will be almost non existant! For scouting great idea, but for fishing well you can bring the rod but unless your fishing Presquile "sp" bays it will be tough! Enjoy!

 

[Pittflyguy]

Thanks.... I did not expect to be steel head fishing at all. Was more curious this time of year what if any fishing could be had.... Perch, Carp, Etc...... Thanks for the info.

 

[bikerfish]

I have a good time fishing the ponds and small bays around presque isle. last time there I got into some nice perch, very hard hitters!! you can rent a canoe or kayak there as well. just have to paddle around till you find the fish.

 

[PatrickC]

TroutBuster wrote:
I'm actually heading up to Erie tomorrow for steelhead...... not fishing though! I'm just gonna be scouting some new sections of stream while the creeks are low. Yes I take my steelhead fishing that seriously!

I like the way you think TB!

 

[RLeep2]

If you're going to fish, PI Bay is probably the best place to go unless you are bringing or have access to a boat of sufficient seaworthiness to go out on the lake.

There is good panfishing and LM Bass fishing in the Bay. This time of year though, the inner Lagoons (north of the road that loops around the peninsula) and the far west end of the Bay (from a little west of the Erie Yacht Club to the head of the Bay) tend to stagnate some and the fishing drops off. Basically, in high Summer, the farther you are from the main Bay, the poorer the fishing becomes. But if you stay more or less in the open bay or in coves with good wind-driven water recharge and fish along the reed beds, there are lots of nice bluegill, some crappie and reasonably decent size perch. These same places also have lots of largemouth. For numbers of decent size bass, the Bay is probably as good as anything in PA.

An alternate, if there is a lot of wind and the bay becomes difficult as is sometimes the case, , are some of the inland lakes a half hour or so south of the city. Edinboro Lake and Lake LeBoeuf have very good crappie fishing and decent bluegill (very good in Edinboro Lake) and perch fishing and also decent bass and pike fishing. Some muskies too, but frankly, for Muskies in these lakes, you should have been there in 1958.

I grew up on LeBoeuf and there used to be a boat rental place. Same with Edinboro. I don't know about either now. LeBoeuf has a minimum wake reg for boats. Edinboro, unfortunately is unlimited HP/wake and is lousy with half wits in jet boats and on water skis. Still fishes well, though. Both lakes have PFBC launches.

There is very, very ,imited shore fishing in both lakes. I wouldn't bother with them unless you have a watercraft to use.

That's a few options, anyway..

 

[David]

I agree with the Presque Isle suggestions. You can wade misery bay out pretty far. You'll get into anything from panfish to musky & pike...and with a pretty view of the city across the water at dusk. Bass is the most popular target there. Fish the weed beds and weed lines for bass. Look for cattails in shallow at dusk for the pike and musky....they'll get surprisingly shallow. Wear shoes lest your toes get nibbled on by the numerous turtles.
Lot's of water to fish on the peninsula. You've got a nose for fish...you'll get into them up there.

 

[ryguyfi]

If you're planning on hitting steelhead eventually, you have to wait till the water temps get close to 55. The'll be a few small runs in September, but the real runs usually start in mid to late October. Unless you like crouds, you should wait a few weeks from the first good run so the fish are spread out, and thus the fisherman too. I'm ready for steelhead, how about you?

 

[gribble]

Heres a link i have ben using for years for Lake Temps! Look at the Lake Temp Transects!

http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/res/glcfs/

 

[bjkaledas]

I can't wait for the upcoming season as usual. Especially after last season being disappointing for most that went.

I am hoping to catch some decent browns this year from the Spring 2009 stocking. Should be getting them in the 20-25" range this year.

Last year my best trip was at the end of September for that first big run. It was awesome!

Can't wait!!!!

 

[gribble]

I'm sorry, but how could PA have a bad season? Your state stocks and I might be wrong over 900,000 smolts in a 47 minute wide pc of state? I cant wait for the browns to return also so some of them get lost and go to Ohio ..lol... sorry could not resist!

 

[jayL]

Gribble,

There wasn't any water all fall. It went from too low to iced up. There was never really an extended season for actual fishing.

Another reason why I prefer the salmon river. 🙂

 

[FarmerDave]

Don't laugh, but i actually stopped at the Elk Creek access down by the mouth on Friday. No, really. I did.

Wife and I took her niece to the Erie Zoo, and I decided to take back roads home. Headed out route 5 then 20. Then I said, since we are in the area...

There were actually a couple people fishing there, and there were fair numbers of steelhead with several observed jumping. But they weren't catching any while i was there. Apparently they weren't hitting on their chosen color of egg sack cheese cloth.

 

[FarmerDave]

OK, I did actually stop and there were actually a couple people fishing there from the rocks. Also there were more cars than I would have expected, and even a few with small boat trialers. I'm thinking it would have been tough to make it to the lake, but I never tried it and I do know there is fishable water between there and the lake for catfish or whatever.

The two guys fishing on the rocks were probably fishing for catfish or whatever. Water was pretty merky looking and it was not from high flow rate. but I didn't get out of the truck. the wife was getting auntsy.;-)

Others could have been fishing from the lake shore for perch, bass, or whatever. Or they could have just been out for a walk on a beautiful day. In fact, over near Conneaut Ohio, the three of us actually did go wading along a beach.

What to expect? more of the same.

 

[troutslammer]

i don't think the 7" fingerling browns will return from 2009 spring to 20 " browns in fall of 2010 unless someone is dumping steroids into lake erie ....lol

 

[FarmerDave]

If they grow as fast as steelhead, they will be at least close to that, and since browns do grow bigger than rainbows... who knows.

 

[JackM]

I think fun-sized browns are being anticipated this season by many Erie anglers, some with baited lines and others with bated breath.

 

[PatrickC]

Gonna be a BIG sculpin on my line. I have only caught a few small lake run brownies off of Erie so far. Looking forward to the lake run pigs that are yet to come. And I agree with gribbs, if a few of them sneak over to NE OH, I will have no complaints.