Hey krd, im in ohio working i brought my boat with me, ive watched a lot of your videos today. I plan on hitting erie this weekend 6 22 24. You got any tips or ideas that may help me? Or dangers to look out for? We dont smallmouth fish in south texas so konda out of my element just wanna have fun and catch some. 6:51
Saturday looks to be the best day this weekend. The wind looks like it will kick up on Saturday evening and Sunday. There are still a few fish shallow, but a lot have moved out. I fished yesterday and caught all my fish in 19 feet. Specifically on the drop-offs. It can get crazy with large boats around the islands if you are not used to that. Even if there's no wind it will be choppy from the boat traffic.
East Harbor Campground Boat ramp is closed to campers only again beginning this year. There is a sign posted on the Entry Shack that says "Boat Ramp for Registered Campers Only". I asked about it at the camp store and they say that the last remaining ramp available is beginning to fall apart similar to how the other ramp that has been closed for over a year now fell apart. They claim that commercial boat companies are using the ramp more and more and it is starting to fall apart. They do not have funds available to repair the boat ramps so they decided to close the last remaining usable ramp to campers only.
Thanks for the info. I caught my biggest smallmouth in front of the castle in October a couple years ago. I appreciate you showing specific areas where you've had success and that's what I'm interested in. I started fishing Erie with my Dad in the mid to late 1980's and most of our spots were based on landmarks and visual triangulation.
Thanks for the report. We stayed at East Harbor the same days you were there and struggled. As far as launching at East Harbor, we always get there well before 3:00pm check in and start fishing. This year I noticed the board/ sign at entrance of park said “ boat ramp for registered guest only”. I went into camp store and ask and they said that was correct. They went ahead and gave me a tag for my vehicle since I was staying the night. Hope that helps
After watching your vids I drove from Alabama up here. Am up here now. Fished Kelly’s yesterday for 14 hrs and caught 1 walleye and about 20 sheepshead. Fished a drop shot, tube, keitech, CrankBait, dark sleeper. Targeted all of those areas you had mentioned, plus some. Any additional insight would help.
This was awesome. Thank you so much. I spend about 6 weeks in early spring on Erie fishing walleye. I want to start fishing smallies in April. What size tube jig are you using this time of year?
The inlaws live in Oak Harbor and I drag my bass boat up from down south to fish while we are there in July/August. IF the main lake is calm I hit the reefs by Davis-Besse and it has been good some years and not so much others. If it's way to rough for my bass boat I've tried the Portage River for largemouth because it fishes more like rivers down south. Any hints on Portage River spots worth hitting other than the really obvious bridges and deeper rock walls and culverts? I've caught some surprisingly decent bags doing the obvious stuff but I'd like to expand on that area as my back-up. The smallmouth can be amazing.... so can the damn wind and waves. My Phoenix is good in rough water, but not that good. Thanks for the very helpful videos and maybe I will hit you up when I'm up there fishing, trade some tips perhaps.
For sure you have to pick your days. I have a Ranger 619 and still pick my days. In the portage river, I focus on the marina entrances and dock posts. This is for summertime. I have never been in there in the spring.
Just found your channel and you have added a subscriber!! Looking forward for more tips and updates since i live near Marietta and dont l ow where or how to fish for smallies and walleye there. Great info!!! Thank you!
I'm with you. It's in the Ohio revised code that as long as we aren't blocking a navigable channel we are good. The coast guard was fueling up in there and told me I couldn't fish. I didn't want to argue with them lol.
Thanks for the report. Keep em coming. Heading to Erie on the 24th - 29th out of turtle creek. Annual walleye trip but hope to get in some smallmouth fishing also.
Hey KRD your videos are fantastic! With your recommendations I can’t wait to get up to Erie and try some of your tips out. Regarding suggestions for video topics, would you be able to film a video showing how you approach one of your know spots and what you look for on your graph to determine if you will fish the spot. It would also be great to see how you use live scope to target smallmouth.
I agree 100%. There are a ton of videos that show people catching smallmouth. But what I would like to see is an on the water video of the structure you look for and what makes certain types of cover attract fish. There is a ton of rock on erie but I would like to know what type of structure you see and know it holds fish.
Just found your page, this stuff is awesome! I have fished the western basin for my whole life and now I fish in college and have done very well on some of these spots. A really interesting video could be about the stuff right off of the mainland. Several spots off catawba keep nice smallies all year!
Youre tutorials are very good thank you. If you make anymore could you please make your pointer blue or something, the white is kinda hard to follow with my old eyes. Thank you again Sir.
Do you fish the harbors for largemouth? If so could you do a video on fish placement at different times of the year? Really love your videos, keep up the good content!
I really enjoy your videos. They are great. I wish you would use a black pointer and larger. I would love to see some of these videos about walleye fishing. It would be nice to see you actually fishing and showing the bait using where you’re fishing at and things like that.
I should have some new videos up soon featuring walleye locations and techniques. As soon as this crappy Ohio winter is over I can film educational videos.
This is an awesome series. Me and my buddy live near Lake Michigan and smallmouth fish the south end of the lake. But we go to Erie in the spring for the walleye jig bite. Would love to limit out on eyes and go out for smallies after. Launch out of turtle creek area and fish around the cans. Any and all info is much appreciated. Keep up the good work and helping anglers improve.
Sir. I just found your video and thanks so much. It’s bringing back good memories when I Fish Lake Erie in the late 60s to late 70s fishing the Islands . Have the Government fix the Algae Problems? I love fishing the Islands for Walleyes instead of Niagara reef.
Very interesting, grow up fishing Lorain from shore and Smallmouth was great then. I have a boat now and seems like I cant buy a Smallmouth around Lorain anymore. Never ran around Vermillion but after this video I will give it a shot. Thanks!
Just found your video I love lake Erie small mouth fishing I've also given up on tournament.retired but still love small mouth don't get to go as often as I would like
I will have a video coming on the North shore. Just a note.....I do not have any experience East of Point Pelee. The only area I have fished is between Point Pelee and the Detroit River.
Great stuff man, I can verify I've had success at all these spots before as well. Do you fish it much in late winter or ice out? Just curious if you have deeper water/wintering hole locations
