The best angling information from area experts.
■ Lake Erie: The walleye bite has been very active, when the wind had backed off and given anglers fishable days. The pros at Netcraft report the water southeast of Kelleys Island has produced fish for anglers trolling spoons in 22 to 28 feet of water, at 2 to 2.4 mph. In the area north of Kelleys, bottom bouncers with crawler harnesses have been putting limits of walleye in the coolers. There have also been reports of steady action and good walleye catches southeast of Davis Besse, in 14 to 19 feet of water, with anglers trolling spoons and crawler harnesses with one-ounce weights at 2.5 to 3 mph. Charter guide Eric Hirzel checked in recently with strong reports from the island area and from the waters inside of the firing range. Hirzel and his clients ran spoons and crankbaits and had success with both, but found that Bandits with red or pink bellies were the top producers. Hirzel adjusted the speed and trolling setups to match the most prominent marks in the water column.
■ Michigan waters: The MDNR reports that Brest Bay is serving up limit catches of walleye, and fish are also being caught off the beach area at Sterling State Park and out in front of the Edison Stacks near Bolles Harbor. Some walleye were picked up in 14 feet of water, but it was the 17- to 22-foot depths that were the most productive for the trollers and drift fishermen. Largemouth bass and channel catfish have been caught in the Fermi Hot Pond and in the canals and marsh areas around Point Mouillee.
■ Maumee River: The relentless rush of high, fast and muddy water has taken just a few breaks in the past month or so, and the river was up, fast and muddy at midweek, according to the Maumee River mayor, Joe Roecklein. Heavy rains upstream in the watershed created the coffee-with-three-creams soup that presented anglers with quite a challenge. When the heavy rains subside and the river settles down, the hope is that the white bass run will still have some of those fish in the waterway. Mario Campos at Maumee Tackle reports that during the past weekend, anglers got into a bunch of white bass while the water level was closer to normal. White perch seem to be more active, and more prevalent, and ready to take worms fished on the bottom.
■ Sandusky River: It looks like the white bass run on this waterway is pretty much over, with a few pockets of fish left in some of the deeper pools and long runs. Bernie Whitt at Angler’s Supplies in downtown Fremont reports the river was murky and about a foot above normal on Thursday and still rising. He reports that the channel catfish are moving in with the higher water, and those fish are actively taking worms, cut bait and shad fished just off the bottom.
■ Detroit River: The spring walleye run on this deep, fast and cold waterway continues, even as June is on the doorstep. Guide Spencer Berman reports that the fish are being found in 30- to 45-foot depths, which he said is common this time of year. The best fishing has been found on the Canadian side of the river. The smallmouth bass are moving onto their beds and are less likely to chase baits, so anglers need clearer water to sight fish these bass. The muskie season opens on Saturday and with the colder spring, Berman is expecting a slower start. He expects trolling to be more productive than casting, with smaller crankbaits the best first option.
■ Kids fishing: As part of the “Gone Fishing” program, Bass Pro Shops is donating more than 55,000 fishing rods and reels to nonprofit organizations around the country that help kids from all backgrounds connect to the great outdoors. Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris is the driving force behind the challenge to get the young and old to ditch the digital devices, get outside, and discover the joys of fishing. There will be family-friendly Gone Fishing events taking place the next two weekends at Bass Pro stores.
■ Adrian College: Six two-person teams from the Adrian College Bass Fishing program will be taking part in the YETI FLW College Fishing National Championship on the Potomac River Tuesday through Thursday. More than 150 teams are expected to take part in the country’s most prestigious college bass-fishing tournament.
First Published May 30, 2019, 3:43 p.m.
