Fall is prime time for trophy smallmouth bass on Lake Erie
Capt. Tom Chambers
December 16, 2008
Lake Erie - Freshwater Fishing Report
Smallmouth bass are pound for pound one of the strongest fresh water fish anywhere. Lake Erie smallmouth bass are some of the biggest you will find in North America. They're big, powerful fish with a fighting disposition. They're just as likely to pull hard for the bottom and thump repeatedly with determined head-shakes as they are to race for the surface and let loose with an aerial display.
Trust me, the smallmouth bass is an aerial acrobat that has a natural ability to show how badly it resents getting in the boat with you.
Just ask Kevin Hamer and his crew from Central Indiana. I had the opportunity to fish with Kevin and several members of his family, along with a friend this past fall. We fished in the Canadian waters of Lake Erie, where the fishing pressure is absolute minimal. We targeted a large offshore reef near Pelee Island, Ontario, Canada and we were the only boat on this large, remote spot for miles. How was the fishing? We caught some of the largest Bronzebacks these fisherman had seen in their lives. All 4 fisherman set new "personal best's" for largest smallmouth bass they had caught personnally.
Within minutes of beginning to fish, we had boated a 20 inch, 5.5 pound trophy Bronzeback, only to be followed minutes later by a chunky 4.5 pound Lake Erie smallmouth.
Kevin and Greg both had new "Smallmouth - Personal best's" and impressed with the number of large Bronzebacks that Lake Erie holds
We had started the day fishing with Carolina Rigs, tipped with a softcraw. But after some experimentation by the crew, we found that using a "Drop Shot" technique...worked best. It produced three Smallmouth over 6 pounds.
The techniques used to fish the drop-shot are simple. Cast it near fish-holding structures such as humps and rock piles and slowly drag it back. When the wind is blowing as it often is on Lake Erie, many anglers will simply allow the wind to drift them across the area. Keep a tight line when doing this and when you're in the right area, it's only a matter of time before the bites come. We were anchored on this day in 3 to 5 foot waves and vertically fishing from the boat, although several fish were caught casting out from the boat.
I was watching one of our crew cast out from the boat and his fishing pole tip...tap, tap, bang! Ryan lifted the rod tip skyward, the rod blank loaded into a satisfying arc. A huge 6+ Smallmouth Bass rocketed out of the water, twisting and spiraling, trying to throw the hook. After several minutes and multiple skyward leaps we pulled the beast from the water.
A large, beautiful, healthy Smallmouth...21 inches, 6 pounds & 8 ounces.
Drop-shotting on Erie is primarily done with spinning tackle. When using such light line, a smooth, reliable drag isn't a commodity -- it's a necessity.
Drag should be set fairly light when fishing for Lake Erie smallmouth bass. Generally, the big bronzebacks you tie into on Erie will be coming from open-water haunts. There are very few weeds, logs or other types of obstructions.
Allowing the fish to simply tire itself by fighting the length of the limber rod and the reliable operation of the drag system on your reel will prevent you from breaking fish off.
Welcome to Lake Erie the "Land of giant smallmouth bass"
Give us a callor check out our website and we can arrange your adventure for Erie "footballs", with Erie Quest Charters, in the distant and remote waters surrounding Pelee Island, Ontario, Canada.
Lake Erie is a special place indeed. It is one of the best locations for smallmouth bass anywhere in the world, and the autumn months can produce some of the year's best action.
Capt. Rick Millette
Erie Quest Charters
Target Species:
Smallmouth Bass
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