Lake conditions site

Also check Erie Jett Doppler radar!

Whichever site you use just be sure to use them as a guide and with a grain of salt. The accuracy on the lake is severely lacking. NOAA is the one I always check.

ORIGINAL: Bogeyjoker

I usually cross reference NOAA and the weather underground link that Mike posted (except conneaut to Ripley, NY).  Usually the WU forecast is more accurate and often the two forecasts are contradictory, but I use them to give me a range of what to expect and then I try to use common sense. 

+1 just what he said. I like to compare those two sites as well. It will give you a pretty good grasp on things. Although the lake can change in a hurry unforcasted......

I will tell you this though, common sense to someone who is on erie on a regular basis and someone who isn't is two different things. A experenced erie fisherman will know what wind directions and speeds to fish in. A unexperienced erie guys may not know what to expect. If you are fishing near shore (inside of a mile) for a some smallies you will be ok with some decent south winds. The lake will be calm where you are fishing, however the futher you go out the waves begin to grow the futher off shore you are. Its very deceiving. Trust me, i got caught once now i know. Its hard to come back in when its blowing strait at ya.

A north wind over 10 mph stay home. That wind has built waves all the way across the lake. They will be coming at you full force.

If the forcast has states "waves building" or "winds increasing" stay home. This is a situatuon you dont want to be in.

Try leaving your radio on channel 68. If there is something brewing the guys will be talking. Sherry from the fish commission is station at walnut. If your in range, you may hear her send out a heads up.

You will learn with time. Dont be afraid to ask questions and go out with some erie vets. If you see everyone headed in, go in too!

any wind direction that is 10 knots or less is sweet! We had alot of days like that last year. It was a good year.
5 to 15 knots will usually generate 1-3's. Should be ok for your ranger (ranger i think thats what you said you guys had). Once the winds hit 20 knots your getting in the 2-4 range. Not fun........
Typically any wind direction that is 5-15 knots is good walleye chop. You should be good with that wind speed from any direction but the north. I usually dont like fishing in a north wind. The waves tend to be a bit bigger and the wind brings cold air. Strong north winds also churn up the lake. This will mess up the thermocline. Its usually a tougher bit too.....

Hope this helps.

North west, north, north east all pretty much the same.

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=42.034249351027654&lon=-80.35057067871094&site=cle&smap=1&marine=1&unit=0&lg=en
You can click anywhere on the coast to get a more precised forecast.