To shore fish this mighty body of water correctly (and efficently) one needs a centerpin and 13' + float rod. Use at least a 9 gram+ float with 8 to 10 lbs main line. 4 to 6 foot flourocarbon leader (6lb test if one is the sheriff of ballsville, go with 8lb test if one desires to be the mayor of vagtown). Sacs(trout eggs) and minnows work best. Green netting for lakers, pink for steel, and minnows for browns and/or lakers.
Fish can be caught with spinning gear but it requires a lot of tackle, as you will be tieing hooks and lead on ever few casts.
The other main advantage of float fishing is that you can cover ONLY 10 to 20% of the water with a spinning set-up that you can on a centerpin.
Hooking 20+ fish from shore during half a day is nothing when the water is right and one is jedi master of the center pin.
Most of the people you find on the PA tribs to Erie won't fish here because you cannot see the fish to floss them! YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO WALK AND FISH!