bay smallmouth activity

anyone heard if the smallmouth are hittin good in the bay yet?

Wow....no one talking.

The fish are there, but were not the most active through the cold spell and changing weather. As of yesterday, we caught a bunch (no huge fish) directly by the inlet to the bay. X-raps and tubes in 20ish feet of water. The stink hole did not produce for us as expected, but we followed the shoreline up on the park side and stayed on the drop off (when you are in 3-5 FOW by the shore, travel out until you hit the drop). Fish the drop with Shad-raps, X-raps, huskies.....ect. Large shiners on the drop work well as well. If that does not produce, you can head to the city side and fish the rocks around the yacht club. You will probably pick up some LM as well. It is around 20 foot deep in that area, just watch the traffic in and out of the club....they will run you over in a small boat.

We picked up some LM in horseshoe pond, and as always, the area that is electric only (back in the channel to misery bay) is always a sure thing. This is also a good area to get out of the wind if it kicks up.

So, to answer, yes the activity has picked up and I would bet that this weekend will have a good rush of fish. They are biting and agressive......

If you have any specific questions, please ask and I will answer.

Going up this afternoon and fishing through Sat. afternoon. There's somewhat serious wind in the forecast. Up to 17mph today and 10-13mph the next few days.

I'm wondering how ugly the bay will be - considering I'm in a 14ft dingy (deep V) and the wind looks like 12-17 all day from NW / W. Is it even worth it to rent the boat, or would anyone recommend sticking to shore this afternoon? Only got about 4 hours today anyway. I've been in the Bay when it kicked up I believe 3-4 footers, which was definitely uncomfortable but not too much to navigate cautiously.

Next few days will be a bit easier to handle I think. I'll try to post some general updates on the smallies tonight/tomorrow night.

Thanks Dank. How did you do? I'll post my results here instead of start a new thread. Short and simple version - when fishing a post Eastern wind / front / storm - next time I'll stay home.

OK - if anyone care for way too many details - full report: I've never seen the Bay take on that kind of dingy stained green color before. I'm only up there a few times a year though. It was less than 1-foot visibility in PIB. I can't believe it hasn't been mentioned on this forum. That information may be very helpful if anyone is planning a trip this week. I would have brought some different tackle options but either way, I don't think we could have done much more.

Thursday afternoon: The winds were intense - 14-18MPH I was told, plus some gusts. The rental shop advised us not to waste money renting a boat. I appreciated it. So we fished the shore and my buddy caught 2 small bass. I lost one, and saw a few guys catch about 4-5 little bass. Shoulda tried the piers and deeper water maybe.

Friday: We upgraded from the 14 ft. aluminum to a 17ft Triumph, which fished much more like a bass boat than the deep V aluminum. Even though the waves were minimal - 1ft. or less most of the day, it was a struggle. The winds were probably 12-15MPH from the West. It was tough to get around with any speed. Even with the wind at the stern it was pretty choppy surface, didn't seem to matter which direction we went.

I fished about 5-7 "spots" that almost always produce. We finally got into a little pattern near the channel entry area and boated 4, lost 1-2. All small, but nice to see a some smallies. We were anchored up, and could barely stand. No trolling motor or depth finder. Almost as soon as that bite started, it seemed to disappear. That was it for the action. FYI I used Navionics to help find depths and ledges, but I think it's a bit off. Overall it was a big help, great little tool for a boating rookie like me.

So 5 total landed, huge fail in my opinion. We threw the kitchen sink at em, and the only production came from finesse and slow fished plastics. Only 1 reaction bite on a spinner bait. Cranks and jerks were no help. I felt bad for my buddy, I talked up Erie so much over the years. But I prepared him for the off chance the wrong weather could really kill the fishing.

Saturday: Even worse. We only fished 7:30-1. Had to get back home. Only two small bass for the 3 of us. Much better conditions, less wind, minimal waves, almost no waves early. Still didn't chance the main lake - more out of the time factor. Plus we saw so many bass boats and bigger lake worthy boats staying in the Bay. Many seemed to be coming back from the lake really early. I did hear most of the same - nobody having any luck. One or two said they got some bite really early - before 7:30, but not much and it died soon after. So a pretty disappointing trip. I'll try to get up there again next week, or in about 10 days. But only if the water's clear, and only if it's not after an tough few days of an East wind. Or maybe I am overreacting to the lake color and conditions?

For what it's worth, had a great experience with the Inn at Presque Isle cabins, and Port Erie Sports for the boat rental. Still had fun and it was a beautiful day yesterday to be on the water, regardless of those **** brozebacks.

contact the PFBC about what you saw with the LM bass

Was up there Saturday still a little windy for my liking, but managed about 30 between me and my dad. Most came on the flats running down to misery bay from marina lake on slash baits. The morning bite was definitely better than the afternoon bite. Did go into marina lake for a little while to escape the wind and try for some LM, my dad managed 1. I did notice a LM "floating" toward the top of the water right by the launches, looked pretty weird, didn't get a close enough look to notice any white spots, but did seem a little strange.

ORIGINAL: b****1990

So, I have no boat. How do you go about catching smallies on shore? All of the reports on here are about boats. Any help? I understand smallie patterns even less than largemouth.

North and South Piers even out by Perry's Monument, talk to the bait shops they should get you squared away. Use Minnows

Mister Z, the majority of the SM we caught on those flats were between 730 and 930, probably half the fish we caught the whole day were in those two hours. Were you out there early enough? Most of them were caught on a green and orange slashbait, my dad was trying black and white and after I caught 3 quick ones, he switched to orange and caught one within his next 5 casts. Was reeling AGAINST the wind too. Usually you want to reel the lure in with the wind because the fish always are facing the current when sitting still, but I think the element of surprise sneaking up on the is what caused the bite.

ORIGINAL: b****1990

So, I have no boat. How do you go about catching smallies on shore? All of the reports on here are about boats. Any help? I understand smallie patterns even less than largemouth.


The Dad of one of the kids on my grandson's baseball team was fish'n the Bay last weekend with 2 friends. between the 3 they got 35-40 both days. using waders. don't know exactly where. So you don't need a boat

Jerks work good at times but then again cranks if you still can find some prespawn fish otherwise its worms and swimjigs till the end of the spawn. Prespawn didn't last long enough

I catch smallies on buzzbaits in the youghiogheny and monogahela rivers all the time. Pull em out when fishing early morn and late day.

fishing was slow Thursday..not many fish by the monument 
 

60-63 depending where you fish in the bay 

Caught 50 yesterday, main lake, but close to PIB. All in 9 fow or less, all on hard and soft jerkbaits.