May 21, 2020 4 min read

Whenever I fish a bass tournament, if a lake has both largemouth and smallmouth bass, I will target the largemouth. They are larger on the average, and usually can be easier to catch. If I am fishing for fun, I usually go to a lake that has a good population of smallmouths. In my opinion, they fight harder than a largemouth, and if you find them, you can usually catch more than one in that location.

That being said, I have wanted to go to Lake Erie for the pre-spawn period for years. While the regular season is not open, you are allowed to fish for them, and you can keep one fish a day. I don’t plan on keeping any, but I am thrilled that you can legally fish for them.

If I am lucky enough to catch a seven- or eight-pound behemoth, I will take a picture, measure the length and girth, and release the fish. Smallmouths of that proportion are one in a million and are always female. Releasing it so it can spawn is the right thing to do.

A good taxidermist can make a replica that will be hard to pick out with the naked eye. Releasing the fish will ensure that the genetics will be passed on to future generations. I don’t care where you fish, or what species you are targeting, releasing the fish is the right thing to do. If you are fishing for food, it still makes sense to release the larger fish. The smaller fish are easier to catch anyway.

The largest smallmouth caught in the Pennsylvania area of the lake is a little over nine pounds. Don’t wipe your glasses, you read it right. That’s why the pre-spawn period is the time to go if you are looking to break that record. The weight of the roe can add over a pound to the fish.

Usually the fish go into the pre-spawn stage when the water temperature gets into the 50-degree range. At this time, fishing in the eight to 15- or 20-foot depth will usually produce. Since Lake Erie is the shallowest of the Great Lakes, you can find plenty of water in that depth range.

I usually look for areas that have gradual drop-offs. When trying to find the fish, casting parallel to shore and varying the depth as you go is the best way to locate the fish. Starting in an area that has a mixed gravel, small rock with some larger boulders mixed in is the way to go.

To start with, a four-inch jerk bait is hard to beat. Because the water is so clear, a natural color scheme is suggested.

Once you find the fish, if the action is slow, changing to a more subtle bait is a good idea. A drop shot or a swim jig is a good choice. Keeping the more natural color schemes in these baits is also suggested.

If the action remains less than spectacular, I would even go to a Ned Rig. A light weight is suggested because you want the lure to drop slowly and at these depths, a heavier weight is not necessary.

I prefer the Finesse TRD bait by ZMan Baits. They are buoyant and will keep the bait perpendicular to the bottom. They are also so elastic that one bait could possibly last you all day.

Another lure I wouldn’t be caught without is the tube jig. I like to start with a two inch model and increase it to two and a quarter inches at the most. The best color I have found no matter where I am fishing is the green pumpkin. This color seems to produce no matter what lake or what time of year I am using it.

If you like fishing for smallmouths, give this lake a try. I know you won’t be disappointed.