Lake Erie’s July variety of fish to catch

According to creel survey data found within the annual Ohio’s Lake Erie Fisheries status reports, produced by the ODNR, Div. of Wildlife, July provides outstanding fishing for a number of sportfish species. Since 2020, this publication has been split into 2 separate publications- a 30-page ‘Angler Report’ and the more detailed, 88-page ‘’Annual Data Report.’’ As water temperatures climb in July, Walleye fishing peaks in the lake’s Central Basin. Anglers based in towns such as Huron, Vermilion, Cleveland, Geneva, Fairport, Ashtabula, and Conneaut know that this is their time to shine.

Anglers who launch or dock in these towns are not surprised when a “Garbage can lid” size Freshwater drum (Sheepshead) is caught, but a bigger thrill occurs when a Steelhead trout snatches their trolled spoons or crank baits. The primary bad news that can come with such hook ups are the collateral damage of crossed lines that often occurs during their reel-sizzling runs and acrobatic leaps. White bass are not shy about grabbing spoons either, with some of them exceeding the 16-inch “Fish Ohio” mark. A “jumbo” Yellow perch is a real possibility if using a worm (spinner) harness.

Walleye fishing in the Western Basin is still very productive all summer. However, the 2022 creel data shows that private angler Walleye catches in the Western Basin dropped substantially from July (142,724) to August (56,317). However, this can be explained by the 250% increase in fishing effort for yellow perch documented in the report from July to August.

Unlike the Central Basin, which has seen dramatic declines in the perch population, the Western Basin has produced slightly-below to aboveaverage hatches for each of the past 10 years. Because anglers have been unable to consistently make good catches of this “Erie Gold” and knowing that yellow perch populations are still strong, the Division of Wildlife (DOW) studied perch behavior in the Western Basin over the past few summers. Spiny water fleas, an invasive European zooplankton, have become perch’s preferred food source when available. They concluded that when July’s water temperatures exceed 75 degrees, it suspends Spiny water flea reproduction (cloning), forcing perch to seek alternative prey. This opens a window of time that makes perch vulnerable to shiner-baited hooks like the “good old days” that many of us fondly remember. The window re-opens in mid-October when the Spiny water flea population declines again after water temperatures dip below 50 degrees.

Channel catfish drawn into the Sandusky Bay to spawn are finished by July and disperse throughout the channels and shorelines. Multiple chances to fight these abundant fish that commonly range from 10 to 20 pounds can provide a heavy workout, but smaller specimens are more appropriate for the frying pan or smoker.

Smallmouth bass fishing effort peaks lakewide in July too according to the report. Many tables of data used for Lake Erie’s fisheries management are available by going to the link below and clicking on the desired report. http://ohiodnr.gov/buy-and-apply/hunting-fishing-boating/fishingresources/fishing-lake-erie

Article by: John Hageman. He now writes approximately 125 articles per year after retiring from the Ohio Sea Grant/Stone Laboratory - The Ohio State University’s Lake Erie biology station at Put-In-Bay.

Photos by John Hageman:

• July remains a good time for Sandusky Bay catfish

• Perch taken last July in the Western Basin- a peak period to fish for the species

Portage - Mogadore area

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