Smallmouth bass will run up many tributaries along the Lake Erie shoreline, but the most popular (due to number of fish and amount of public access) are Cattaraugus Creek, Eighteen Mile Creek, Canadaway Creek and Chautauqua Creek. Bass concentrations are highest in the mid to lower areas of the streams.
Table of Contents
How do you fish smallmouth in the fall?
Horizontal baits work their best on a front end of this fall transition, say water temperatures at 65 going down to about 45 degrees. Some good horizontal baits include spinnerbaits, swim jigs, chatter baits, and jerkbaits just to name a few. These are baits you can work relatively fast and cover lots of water with.
How do you catch smallmouth in October?
What can I fish in Lake Erie in October?
From Lake Erie to the Ohio River, a variety of species are active this month. October, many people believe, is the best time for big fish and lots of them. Steelhead trout, walleyes, smallmouth and largemouth bass, and crappies are the fish that garner the most attention as autumn advances.
Do smallmouths go shallow in fall?
Fall is one of my favorite times to catch smallmouth, because the fish move shallow and they’re super aggressive.
How deep are smallmouth in the fall?
Look for fall smallmouth in water depths of about 10 to 25 feet. As the water temperature drops and winter approaches, the fish will go deeper and you’ll need to slow your retrieve. Look for areas with noticeable current when fishing a river or stream.
What is the world record smallmouth bass?
The current all-tackle world record for a smallmouth bass is 11 lb 15 oz, caught by David Hayes in the Dale Hollow Reservoir, on the Kentucky/Tennessee border, in 1955.
Where is the best smallmouth bass fishing in the United States?
Lake Erie – Lake Erie received more first-place votes than any other fishery in any category. It is undeniably the best smallmouth fishery in the United States.
What is the main fish in Lake Erie?
Steelhead and Salmon. As described in the Stream Fishing page, Lake Erie holds Steelhead, salmon and brown trout. Steelhead are by far the most predominate. Coho salmon and brown trout are stocked but in far smaller numbers.
Where are smallmouth in fall?
Wing dams, islands, sand drops and mouths to backwaters all provide excellent areas for baitfish balls to group up and create ambush points for schools of smallmouths. Those same large eddies become wintering locations for smallmouths so they don’t have to move much and are often found in water less than 10 feet deep.
What do smallmouth like in the fall?
Why they work: Smallmouth bass love to clobber a fast-moving spinnerbait. As water temperatures drop, fish will be actively chasing down prey — and this lure mimics their food of choice perfectly. I like to use spinnerbaits in the fall as a search lure. They can cover a lot of ground and help you locate fish fast.
What do smallmouth bass eat in fall?
At this time of year, the rivers are absolutely full of shad minnows which the fall smallmouth feed on to get ready for the winter. So look for similar baitfish in your area and use baits that mimic that pattern.
Where are the walleye in Lake Erie October?
Lake Erie Fishing Spots for Walleye Spots such as Huron Pier, Lorain Pier, Edgewater Pier, Mazurik Access Area, and Catawba Pier can be very productive during the autumn and are easily accessible for anglers who would rather fish from a pier or shoreline.
What is the best time to fish in Lake Erie?
Summer. Summer is prime time for Lake Erie fishing. July through September are the best months to target walleye when the water is warmer and the fish are on the move. Perch are productive as well.
What is the best bait to catch smallmouth bass?
Jigs. Jigs are the most popular and best overall smallmouth bass lure, for two main reasons. There is no wrong time of year to be fishing for smallmouth with some kind of a jig. And secondly, jigs are well-known as big bass producers, so they have high potential for landing a trophy smallmouth.
How far do smallmouth bass travel?
Of the 34 tagged fish caught, 38 percent had moved less than a mile from the release site and 62 percent had traveled less than four miles. On the other hand, the study showed that smallmouth bass move several miles after being released. In fact, four of the smallmouth bass moved more than eight miles in just 10 days.
How do you catch smallmouth in shallow water?
Smallmouth move to sand flats and inside weed lines during hot, stable weather. Anglers will catch aggressive bass on spinnerbaits and jerkbaits, but finesse plastics, like tubes and stick baits, are the reliable choice for fussy smallmouth.
What water temperature do smallmouth bass start biting?
Typically the ideal prespawn water temperature for smallmouth is in the upper 40s to upper 50s – approximately 48-58 degrees.
At what water temperature are smallmouth bass most active?
In the Spring, when the water temperature rises to 50 degrees, smallmouth bass become more active by moving into or near spawning areas. The preferred temperature of smallmouth bass, according to WDNR is between 69 and 79 degrees F. Spawning occurs when the water temperature reaches between 55 to 60 degrees.
Where do smallmouth bass go in the winter?
“Smallmouth are cold-blooded creatures and they migrate to warmer water, which means deeper holes,” he said. Regardless of whether its rivers, streams, or lakes, smallmouth bass are going to head to deeper water for the winter, where water temperatures are a few degrees warmer.
How old is a 20 inch smallmouth bass?
At age 6 or 7, smallmouths will have an average size of 16 to 18 inches, and at age 10, they’ll have reached an approximate size of 20 inches.
How old is a 15 inch smallmouth?
A 15-inch bass might be an average four-year-old, a fast growing three-year-old or a slow growing five-year-old. A big bass, say five pounds, might be anywhere between six and 16 years old.
Where is the bass capital of the US?
Located on the banks of Lake Eufaula, the city of Eufaula, Alabama is known to be home of the Big Bass Capital of the World. The lake is loved by anglers who traverse the over 45,000 acre lake in search of the best fishing spots.
What state has the biggest bass?
“California is the number one trophy state for bass exceeding 15 pounds,” says David Swendseid—bass pro and tackle rep from the Golden State.
What is the best tasting fish in Lake Erie?
1) Walleye This is the go-to Great Lakes fish, especially in Lake Erie. It’s abundant, grows to 30 inches or better, tastes great and is easy to target with a variety of techniques. Ice anglers jig for them just like early spring anglers.