Fly Fishing Lake Erie for Smallmouth

Lake Erie - A world premier fishery

As I slowly stripped the fly back towards me, a jolt came up the line and I tightened up. I was met with a solid resistance and watched as the line stretched to its limits. Several seconds later, four pounds of smallmouth bass exploded out of the water. After a series of jumps and zig-zag runs, I was able to lead the fish to the boat and grab it  by the lower jaw. I removed the fly, lowered the fish back into the clear water, and watched  the first of many catch and releases that day return to its watery home.

If you've fished the Boundary Waters on the Minnesota/Ontario border, this is not an unusual event. What makes this unique is that it took place from the shores of one of the nation's larger metropolitan areas . I was fishing the boundary waters of Lake Erie, which forms the boundary between the U.S. and Canada. We refer to this area as the north coast of the United States.

Best known as the top walleye producing lake in North America, Erie also offers smallmouth bass fishing unparalleled anywhere. Strangely enough, smallmouth bass have always been present, but have never really been the primary pursuit of most anglers. It is beginning to come into its own especially for the fly fishing opportunities it has to offer. When I first began to investigate this fishery with a fly rod several years ago, I was told I was wasting my time trying to catch fish on flies "out there". I have had some really great fish days "wasting my time".  We have found that Lake Erie bass can be caught using flies in good numbers as well as walleye, freshwater drum, white bass, perch, and catfish!

Although they will not get as large as their southern cousins in Kentucky and Tennessee,  Erie bronzebacks make up for this in sheer numbers and overall average size. Most fish will weigh between two and three pounds with a few approaching five pounds to seven pounds. The largest bass recorded out of the Lake Erie broke the nine pound mark. 

Lake Erie is the shallowest of the Great Lakes with an average depth of 40 feet. It offers over 200 miles of shoreline on the U.S. side and another 150 or so in the Province of Ontario.  Once referred to as the "Dead Sea" in the 1960's, Lake Erie has survived despite man's best efforts to destroy it. The lake has been besieged by various forms of pollution but conservation efforts have slowly reclaimed its rightful rank among the world's best fisheries.

One of the exotic species, a thumb-nail sized mollusk called the zebra mussel, has had a profound effect on the lake. The jury is still out whether the long-term effect is good or bad. This sea-going hitch hiker came to the Great Lakes in the ballast water of freighters from Europe. Lake Erie has proven to be an ideal habitat for them. They are filter feeders and each organism can cycle over a liter of water each day. Infestation by zebra mussels has cleared the once-murky waters of the lake to the point where visibilities of 10 to 15 feet are now common. 

The shells of these creatures has created an ideal substrate for crayfish to flourish. With an increase in smallmouth food, the bass population has boomed. Fly fishers are dependent on visual stimulation for fish to hit their offerings, so the bass can now see flies from a long way off. This all sounds like a good news, but the long-term effect of the zebra mussels has not yet been determined. The light-sensitive walleyes have changed their movements and do not come into the shallow reefs and rocky areas as readily as they used to. There is also concern that the decrease in plankton and other microorganisms may cause a decline in forage species such as shad and shiners. In any case, the ecosystem is changing, but the bass are there and they love to eat flies. 

Seasons and Techniques 

Chasing Erie bronzebacks with flies typically kicks off in April and continues into November. For smallmouth fanatics, several warm-water discharges from power plants allow bass to be caught throughout the winter. Early season brings a frenzy of activity as the water temperature nears 50 degrees and fish begin to move towards their spawning areas. In the Islands area of Erie's shallow western basin, this may occur in early April. As you head east into the deeper central and eastern basin areas, this movement will occur later, perhaps not until late May or early June.

These pre-spawn fish are hungry and often easy to locate in the rocky shallows. Catch one and there will be others close by. Fly fishers can have a field day. A Deep Minnow on a sink-tip line will be a productive combination as most fish will be found in depths from 6 to 12 feet. 

This fishing is strictly catch and release and no fish are ever kept. A good number of fish can be caught from shore or piers and break walls as well. Depending on your location, be sure to check the fishing regulations. Ohio has no closed season, while bass season in Ontario does not officially open until the last Saturday in June. Pennsylvania opens for bass the third Saturday in June. New York has a special season which opens the first Saturday in May. 

There will be a slow-down in activity when spawning is taking place. The females will drop their eggs and after fertilization then move off into deeper water to regain their strength and resume feeding. The smaller males will stay on to guard the nest until the eggs hatch. They will aggressively attack any intruder at this time and if you are catching only small- to medium-sized fish it is a good indication spawning has occurred. 

Freshwater drum will also begin their spawning movement into the shallows about this time. Spurned by most anglers as trash fish, these cousins to the redfish are great sport on a fly rod. A large one will be a handful when hooked in shallow water and adds an interesting variety to the days catch.

Early summer finds bass scattered along drop-offs and off-shore structure in 15 to 25feet of water. A boat will be necessary to cover this water. Bass will be actively feeding, but it may take a lot of moving to stay into fish. As the water warms, be sure to add crayfish patterns into your arsenal. These are fished on a full-sinking line or Teeny-style shooting head. Drifting areas of known structure is a good way to effectively cover large pieces of water. If a concentration of fish is located, you can then anchor and cast. On rare occasions bass may be located in  water shallow enough to respond to a diver or other surface fly.

Late summer and early fall find the fish forming into larger schools in deeper water. Try a variety of Deep Minnows, crayfish patterns, or over-sized nymphs. Again, drifting is a productive way to locate actively feeding fish. I use a density compensated sinking line almost exclusively for this fishing. The RIO Deep 7 and Airflo DI-7 lines allow good contact with the fly and result in more hook-ups. At times we may even loop on 10 feet of lead-core (Cortland LC 13) to hold depth on a fast drift.  If the wind is down and drifting is not practical, try casting and counting your fly down. These lines are easy for most people to handle and can be cast for good distances allowing you to cover a lot of water. I know what you're thinking, all that line must kill the fight of any fish. Sorry, but that's not the case. I've seen too many three pound smallies blast airborne out of 25 feet of water dragging line and lead-core behind.

Late-season bass fishing has an appeal all it's own. This becomes as much hunting as fishing. The fish will be feeding actively in anticipation of the coming winter, but may be located as deep as 35 feet. Fewer fish may be caught, but we usually see the largest average size at this time. If you are lucky, the fish may be found shallower in a "false spawn" mode as declining water temperatures near 50 degrees. The crayfish will have hibernated by now, so stick to baitfish patterns.

Where to Try

For years, smallmouth fishermen have concentrated their efforts in the Islands area of Erie's western basin. They are called the Bass Island for obvious reasons. In the late 1800's and early 1900's presidents and dignitaries traveled there in pursuit of bronzebacks. The last decade though has led to the discovery of bass populations in almost all inshore waters, from the outlet of the Detroit River to the head of the Niagara in Buffalo, New York. 

Starting at Erie's west end Monroe, Michigan provides a unique opportunity for the late-season anglers to chase smallies and an occasional bonus walleye in the warm-water discharge from several power plants. If you are a hard-core bass junkie and can't wait until spring, this may be place to check out.

Heading east, the area from Port Clinton to Marblehead, Ohio, is the jumping-off point to the U.S. and Canadian Islands. The border is only 12 miles from the Marblehead area, so it is possible to fish in Canada and return to the U.S. the same day. An Ontario license (obtainable on Pelee Island) is required to fish Canadian waters. Make sure you clear customs if you land on Pelee and contact U.S. customs in Sandusky, Ohio, when you return.

There are numerous state and private boat launch areas if you want to explore on your own. If you are new to the area, be warned that Erie is famous for its' ability to blow up at a moments notice. It can go from a surface calm as glass to 3 foot white caps within minutes. Every year unsuspecting anglers are caught perilously in the lake's grip. The lucky one's were able to hitch a tow from a larger sea craft passing by. Watch the weather with a distrustful eye. At the first sign of approaching inclement weather head for shore!

This area is also the home to hundreds of charter boats that primarily chase walleye but target bass at times. Large boats transport groups of anglers long distances in search of a "hot" bite. Fly rodders will receive odd stares from lure slingers and trollers as they load their gear. Most of the charter boats fish both U.S. and Canadian waters. There are also ferry boats that can transport vehicles with small boats to South Bass or Kelly's Islands for launch. The Islands area is fishable under most wind conditions as a lee shore will usually be available.  By land or by sea, there are hundreds of square miles of bassing water available to be explored.

Continuing east, smallmouth hot spots pop up with regularity. These areas are more accessible to small boaters as productive structure is usually within a mile or two of shore. Wind speed and direction are more of a concern though, as there are no sheltering islands. Ruggles Beach between Huron and Vermilion is a popular area and a good location for mixed catches of smallmouth and walleye in the early season. The waters around Lorain Harbor also produce good numbers of fish. Avon Point, west of Cleveland, has an expansive area of structure with a close-by municipal launch ramp. I have had some success launching out of Rocky River catching bass off of Lakewood and Edgewater Parks, the latter being a stones throw from downtown Cleveland. The whole breakwall from the mouth of the Cuyahoga River to the Cleveland Lakefront State Park is also worth exploring .

Continuing further east, access becomes more of a problem as large bluffs line much of the shoreline. The breakwall at Fairport Harbor provides excellent early-season opportunities when bass congregate along its length. The "bubble" off Perry Point also attracts good numbers of fish. This is the water discharge from the Perry Nuclear Power Plant and is located several miles off shore. The launch area at Geneva State Park provides the best access to "the bubble" and the breakwall here is also a good place to try. The harbor at Conneaut, Ohio, has an excellent, protected launch ramp. The breakwall and adjacent shoreline areas offer outstanding, often neglected, smallmouth fishing. I refer to this area as the "land of the giants" as it is the gateway to true trophy fishing. Any day here provides a legitimate shot for a fish in the seven pound class. Several major depth break-lines are found here and concentrate large numbers of fish.

Pennsylvania anglers access the lake at several points. The Elk Creek and Walnut Creek areas are popular with good launch facilities. Presque Isle Bay, at Erie, is an outstanding fishery. It provides the opportunity for anything that swims in the lake. This sheltered area also provides an option when the big water is too rough to venture out. The bay side of the state park has wadeable areas and is easily fished from a canoe or float tube.

Heading into New York, Barcelona harbor offers the first protected launch area.. The breakwalls and surrounding waters are often productive. Dunkirk harbor and the adjacent lake waters offer first-rate fishing. A warm-water discharge keeps the harbor nearly ice- free and attracts large numbers of bait fish. All manner of fish frequent the harbor with May typically the peak month for smallmouth. The main lake waters, especially toward Battery Point, northeast of the harbor, should not be overlooked. The mouth of Cattaraugus Creek, a major tributary, is a productive fishery. Breakwalls provide opportunity for land-based anglers, especially in the early season. The Niagara Frontier Authority ramp in Buffalo harbor allows quick access to Seneca Shoal, several miles to the southwest.

On the Canadian side of Lake Erie, Pelee Island in the western basin is considered Mecca for smallmouth chasers. The largest island in the lake, Pelee is surrounded by prime smallmouth habitat. It also provides access to the other Canadian islands and reefs, Pelee Passage Light, and the Southeast Shoals area. Pelee is accessible only by boat or plane. There is ferry transportation from Leamington or Kingsville, Ontario, or Sandusky, Ohio, on the U.S. side. Small boats may be trailered and launched from ramps on the north or south ends of the island. Overnight accommodations are also available. As mentioned earlier, charter boats from the U.S. mainland also fish these waters extensively. Heading east a series of provincial parks provide access to the lake. The smallmouth opportunities are, for the most part, unresearched. Rondeau and Long Point Parks both have productive fisheries worth investigating. The nearshore areas from Port Colburne to Fort Erie are also worth exploring.

Equipment Flies & Guides

Seven-or eight-weight outfits are the norm for this fishing. I prefer a fast-action 9 foot rod as it helps to pick up a full-sinking line and to get a good hook set in a deep striking fish. The reel is somewhat unimportant as long as it holds the line you plan to work with. If you hook a large freshwater drum in shallow water, a decent drag and some backing may come in handy. I have become fond of large-arbor designs as they allow fast line pick up when a large smallmouth decides to head to the surface from deep water.

Spare spools are useful as you may need to carry a number of lines to effectively cover different depth ranges through the season. In some ways, the line may be the most important part of the whole outfit. In order to catch bass, we need to get the fly to them. I carry a complement of lines from a floater to the fastest, full-sink line I can find.

The floating line is rarely used. A Hi-D sink-tip has some application, mainly when the fish are up shallow in the spring. I probably use a density compensated full-sink line most of the time. Depths from 10 to 25 feet and deeper can be covered very efficiently with these lines. The full-sink line works for drifting as well as casting and retrieving. A loop connection on the end of my lines allows me to quickly add or remove lead-core tips to adjust to changing depth and wind conditions.

Fly selection can be narrowed down to several main categories. The most productive pattern, day and day out, is a Clouser Deep Minnow. In a few color variations, sizes, and weights (eye sizes), it is hard to beat . My favorite is a Size 2, sculpin olive back with a chartreuse belly, and medium (1/24 oz.) barbell eyes. I call this the Lake Erie Deep Minnow. Variations of this would be to change the belly color to either white or orange. By changing the sizes of the eyes, the swimming action of the fly can be altered.

Various crayfish patterns are productive during the summer months. The best I've found is the McCabe crayfish. This pattern, of northern Ohio origin, swims well when drifted without spinning, is easy to tie, and best of all catches fish. Brown or olive in size 4 is hard to beat. Other patterns that produce are Wooly Buggers, Zonkers, and strip leeches. An over-sized olive Teeny Leech has done well when the bass are in a finicky mood.

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Jerry Darkes has over three decades of fly fishing experience in fresh and saltwater. He is a licensed guide and has helped pioneer fly fishing on Lake Erie. His articles have appeared in numerous publications, and co-starred in the successful video series on Lake Erie steelhead fly fishing.