Lake Erie Pa fishing report 2/28/14

Steelhead anglers finally had some open water last weekend. Some of those who fished complained about no steelhead in the creeks, while others had some fairly good steelhead fishing. This was the same on both sides of Erie.

Sixteen Mile Creek remains open, and it holds some steelhead. Other creeks are in various conditions that make open-water fishing out of the question.

Ice is unstable at lower Elk Creek. There is ice at lower Walnut Creek.

Steelhead are occasionally hitting off the mouth of Trout Run. No brown trout have been reported there. Top lures are either black and white jigs or gold jigs, both larger than usual, 21/2 to 3 inches. Minnows are also effective.

Even though strong wind has made fishing at Presque Isle Bay extremely uncomfortable, at least outside the ice shelter, there has been some pretty god ice fishing on the bay. Several places in the head or the bay, in shallow water, ice fishers have been catching perch and nice crappie.

Most of those perch have been small, but a day of ice fishing often produces a dozen, or more, very nice perch. At the Stink Hole, try a depth of about 16 feet for perch and crappie. Expect mostly perch through most of the day, and more crappie once the sun is low in the sky.

Even though there were very few people on the ice, one brown trout was caught Wednesday, along with perch and crappie, toward the head of the bay. The usual small jigs tipped with maggots have been effective. Swedish Pimples tend to catch more larger perch. I also suggest a Swedish Pimple with glow color, especially if you fish where there is snow on the ice, and when the sun is low in the sky.

Lake Erie Pa fishing report 2/21/14

Fishing for this weekend depends on the amount of rain that falls. If any creeks break open, there could be flooding. Even on the ice, anywhere near tributary streams there could be weak ice or open water. In most places, there probably is enough ice to hold up through rain and a few days of relatively warm weather. Still, caution is advised.

Sixteen Mile Creek has open water, and it holds steelhead. From time to time there has been good fishing. Minnows have been the best bait. Elsewhere, a few small sections of water have opened, but to a great extent the creeks are still locked in ice.

Steelhead are being taken through the ice off the mouth of Trout Run, at Walnut Creek in the basin and off the mouth, and in the lower pools of Elk Creek. The ice fishing for steelhead and brown trout off the foot of East Avenue slowed, but this can change by the hour. Black and white jigs tipped with grubs and minnows have been effective for steelhead. Gold jigs were hot for a while at Trout Run.

Most of the perch being pulled through the ice at Presque Isle Bay have been less than 10 inches in length. Talk on the ice has been that bigger perch are due any time now. Perch are being taken off the second parking lot. Perch, crappie, bluegill and steelhead have been hitting near the Stink Hole. At Misery Bay, ice fishers are catching bluegill, crappie and perch. Anglers getting onto Presque Isle Bay ice from the city side have had some luck with perch about three-quarters of a mile out from Chestnut Street to Liberty Park, off the condos, and a quarter-mile to a half-mile off Dobbins Landing. A few brown trout have been pulled through the bay ice.

Lake Erie Pa fishing report 2/14/14

Some open water remains at Sixteen Mile Creek. At least one pair of fishermen caught steelhead this week. Elsewhere the creeks are locked in ice.

We are in the mid-winter slow-down. Fishing has slowed just about everywhere. But there is some respectable ice fishing if you drill a hole in the right place.

Ice fishers have been catching some steelhead at the lower pools of Elk Creek, as well as pools by Route 5 and Interstate 90. A few steelhead have been coming out of lower Walnut Creek. Ice fishing has even slowed in Lake Erie off the mouth of Trout Run, although there has been decent action at times. Use black and white jigs, either bare or tipped with maggots. Shiners also have been working.

Ice fishing at Presque Isle Bay has been fair. Snow drifts in some places are knee deep. The key to success is being right over the fish. Fish are not moving much, and they are not aggressive. Most ice fishers are targeting perch, which typically are more cooperative through mid-February than most other fish. Perch have been hitting off Liberty Park, the Yacht Club, and from the Chestnut Street Boat Launch to the Convention Center. In these areas, the best fishing is near the middle of the bay, or even farther.

Some steelhead also have been caught at the same places. Relatively few ice fishers have been targeting steelhead, but most enjoy hooking them. To increase the steelhead catch, set tip-ups with baits set at various depths, starting just about 5 feet under the ice.

On the Peninsula side, perch are being taken off the third parking lot and the Stink Hole. Get into deeper water. Misery Bay has been the best place to fish for crappie, but this does not mean it has been easy. One hole might be productive while another just 3 feet away is not. Ice fishers at Misery Bay have been catching perch, bluegill and pike. To target pike, set tip-ups at mid depths.

Fishing Report for Lake Erie, Pa

Eastside creeks were open early in the week, but by mid-week already had started building ice. Now all creeks except Sixteen Mile Creek are locked in ice. Sixteen Mile holds some steelhead, but it has been hit pretty hard.

Things are about the same on the west side of Erie. Creeks opened Sunday, and for that brief time there was open water, some steelhead were caught. Now all creeks are frozen. There is ice fishing at lower Elk Creek, but no word on catches. Some steelhead are being taken through the ice off the mouth of Trout Run. Jigs tipped with grubs or minnows are the popular baits.

Ice fishing in Presque Isle Bay is good for February. Ice fishers who get farthest out at Misery Bay have been doing best in that area, catching perch, crappie, bluegill and pike. Perch have been caught straight out from Chestnut Street. Out of the second parking lot at a depth of about 20 feet has been a good area for perch. Try that same depth off the Stink Hole for a mix of bluegill, crappie and perch, and off the Niagara Launch for perch.

Ice fishing off the foot of East Avenue, by the boat launch, has been producing steelhead and brown trout.