General Observation

Something serious?  Gets turned political by morons.
Something interesting?  Gets turned into an argument by morons.
Something funny?  Gets deleted/banned.

Cold's the man. Can i say that?....WF

I found this "interesting"
 

Misery Bay

Thanks for that info.  Its kind of stupid that lake erie is a few hours away and I have never fished there.  I guess I never really knew if it was accessible to people without boats.   I enjoy wading safely and I love the freedom of being able to walk freely instead of staying stationery at a pier.   

bulldog1

Accountant, I'll give you some VERY good advice here... Unless you're prepared to become addicted to Erie, don't start. You'll find that it's hard to fish elsewhere once you get a taste of her...

I've been visiting Erie since I was a baby, and as soon as I started fishing, was fishing there.  Besides stekhead, fishing from shore isn't any better than most inland waters.  Sure, there is great fishing there by those in the know, but same is said of almost any water.  The main lake is rather overwhelming, and most likely only going to catch sheep head unless you know some seasonal movements.  The bay is basically a good fishing inland lake.  Just like any inland water, if you live close enough and put your time in, you're going to be rewarded.  If you are going to count from Elk to 20 Mile "Erie area waters", then you'd have to do the same for just about anywhere that is 30 or so miles apart to be fair in comparison.  IMO, there are a lot of other better "area waters" in PA for the shore angler.
 
Add a boat worthy of the bay, and that changes the dynamics.  A true Erieworthy fishing boat, and no other PA water comes close.  Also, add in the other attractions that Erie area has that aren't fishing related, and can totally see it being extremely addictive (especially if you have the toys noted above).  

No doubt, if you have the right contacts on most waters, you're going to have a blast shedding 10-20 years of trial and error (as noted in my message).  My response was more, just the average shore angler going out and fishing the water.  Not slamming the water in any way, or any of the locals for their hard work figuring it out.  Most of those locals would likely have put that hard work in where ever they lived, and likely be doing pretty well there too.  As noted, the steel head are the wild cards there, and they are there, and part of what you can catch from shore.  And part of why I and many on this board go there.  My response was more towards Accountant, who I am assuming wasn't asking about PI Bay for steel head.  My honest response about fishing there with trial and error, is it isn't much different than wading many other inland lakes with trial and error.  Go during the right time, right place, right bait/lure, and you're going to have a blast.  There are many other stretches of land, that have more access to the shore angler though.

Twin Lakes?  You from around TL?
 
If so, and if you're interested, hit me up this spring, brah.  If you've only been at it for 2 years, you still have newbie status as far as I'm concerned.  I'll help ya out some, give you a couple more places to explore in the area.  
 
It'll still be up to you to put in your time and effort, but I can give you a few places to consider.

I have to agree with Cold on the statement of being upset if I bought my stamp and it evaporated lol...  It's not my #1,2, or 3 for that matter it's the top 5 but... I can put up better numbers at a lock and dam on the Allegheny, Shenango Outflow, Pymatuning, or the Conemaugh River in the Tunnelton Area...  Eire will sink her teeth into you when you see the quality and sheer # of smallies that you'd be aming for but at times I find myself asking "is it worth the 3hr drive and $50-100 stay?"  And I can answer that either yes or no with a reasonable explanation.  I'm far from trying to dissuade you from making the trip because this past late spring I was there for 4 days and netted some of the fattest and meanest smallies I've ever seen and probably will ever see unless I put a huge time into fishing for them down near Greensburg...  I fish from shore and have found some spots I like but it's all a preference...

Great post, topdog.

deetz4352

You can wade almost anywhere.... Just be careful of that next step , it could drop you over yer head. There aint many places there I haven't waded.

If your not wading there are many different piers to fish from all over PI

 
There's ain't many places there that I haven't dropped in over my head.

No worries, bulldog, I knew what ya meant, I guess maybe I was tempering that with a bit of guarded realism.  It absolutely is a great fishery. :)

CroatianSensation

The clientel just isn't the same anymore...A lot of the good people are gone, bored with it, fed up with the gestapo or tired of the favoritism.  Just not what it used to be.

I enjoy watching more these days

Something serious? Gets turned political by morons.
Something interesting? Gets turned into an argument by morons.
Something funny? Gets deleted/banned.

Amen! ^

Is Erie and its watershed and its tribs the best fishing PA has to offer?  I'd have to say that if you're looking for variety vs. quality vs. quantity; Its a renounding and undisputable YES....Just think about the opportunities, various waters and various species it has to offer. Not only that, but something to offer ALL year round!  Compared to any other inland waterway in PA including all the rivers and streams.  Of course, if you're a limited fisherman with say native trout in mind, Erie probably isn't the place for you and you would never feel that way. 
I have fished a lot of PA waters for various species in my lifetime and nothing really comes close to what Lake Erie and watershed has to offer, nothing.  If enjoyment is the keypoint in this conversation, what I say is all debatable, but for quality, quantity and variety of fish and fishing opportunity;  I'm going to have to say indisputable for PA.  Just sayin'

 

I agree wholeheartedly with most of your responses, that the Erie watershed has one of the most varieties of fish, larger on average, and many of them.  Although, I think some of you might be including your boat catches into the equation.  Again, not even questioning Erie as the boat fishing capitol of PA by far.  
 
If this is not the case and you guys are all doing this well from shore, then I take back my statement.  I obviously am not fishing the bay or lake correctly when I do, if that is the case.  Most likely the wrong time of the year and wrong presentation?  Much of my PI Bay fishing has been during the warmer months or if steel heading is slow.  The shore access itself is great with the bike trail, launches with paths off to the side, and wading to get you in a lot of water.  I'll catch some fish, but do just as well at most other inland waters during the same time period.  When it is early Spring or Fall and in the area, I am usually in the tribs, and don't give up too easily to head into the bay.  I have and saved the trip from total skunking. 
 
Besides the creek mouths, is there much shore fishing in the lake?  I've tried it before, and not much luck.  It seems to be shallow for a pretty far length out, and snag fest...  I had tried wading out pretty far one time, but get kind of nervous of a rouge wave or the waves picking up quickly.  
 
Again, not trying to discredit anyone.  My personal success has been about the same as most other inland waters, and many of those were easier to "get to" fish holding water.  Almost none contained 20"+ small mouth in them.  I probably should take my boat up to the bay and then I would likely be falling into the Bulldog warning, more than I have wading the area.