Lake Erie Fishing

Lake Trout

Lake Erie is one of North America's top freshwater fishing destinations. Anglers fish for an array of species in the main lake and its many tributaries.

Lake Erie Facts

Lake Erie sustains populations of yellow perch, walleye, lake trout, steelhead, brown trout, coho salmon, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill sunfish, musky, northern pike, and other species.

Lake Erie is the shallowest of the five Great Lakes. The lake is bordered by Ontario Canada and the American states of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan.

With a surface area of 9,900 square miles and more than 850 miles of shoreline, the lake is a fishermen's paradise.

Wind and weather conditions on Lake Erie can create a seiche, an oscillating wave which can be several feet high. Seiches can cause water levels to fluctuate, especially around Buffalo, NY.

Yellow Perch

The yellow perch is Lake Erie's most popular panfish. Lake Erie anglers catch yellow perch with live baits as well as artificial lures. Peak fishing for yellow perch usually occurs during spring spawning runs. In the fall, anglers target yellow perch as the move down creeks and into Lake Erie. During the winter season, Lake Erie fishermen catch yellow perch by ice fishing.

Lake Trout

The lake trout is one of the most popular gamefish in Lake Erie. The largest member of the char family, lake trout can weigh 60 pounds or more.

Lake Erie Ice Fishing

Yellow Perch

Lake Erie is one of the most popular ice fishing destinations in the Northeast. The yellow perch is by far the most sought-after fish by Lake Erie ice fishermen.

Ice fishing enthusiasts also catch walleye, musky, pike, lake trout, crappie, bluegill, and other species.

The most basic form of ice fishing on Lake Erie consists of bottom fishing with small baits or slowly jigging small lures.

In addition to hand-held rods, some anglers fish unattended rigs, known as "tip-ups". These simple devices are designed to hook fish and provide the angler with some indication when a strike occurs.

Although simple fishing strategies remain popular on the lake, a number of complex ice fishing techniques have gained popularity in recent years. For electronics enthusiasts, there are fishfinder units (sonar), underwater video cameras, GPS devices, and other equipment.

Commercial Fisheries

In recent decades, the Lake Erie has sustained a variety of commercial fisheries in both Canadian and American waters. Walleye and yellow perch are typically the most important species for American fishermen. Important Canadian fisheries include walleye, yellow perch, white bass, smelt, and lake whitefish.