RIVER AND LAKE UPDATE -WEEKEND SEPT 25-27

Maumee River

LEVEL-579.60

WADING TO BLUEGRASS ISLAND IS POSSIBLE

TEMP- 70 Degrees

CLARITY- 10″

Autumn is upon us and with the cooler temps fish are getting reactivated .

Now, the fall of the year is one of the best times of the year for bass fishing because of the following conditions:

-The water temps are  cooling down which means (in most cases) that you have a greater amount of oxygen.

– This time of the year you will find that bass more often than not, school together.

-This is one time of the year when bass will strike just about anything that you throw at them, although there are certain patterns that work better than others

The things you need to know when setting out for fall fishing is:

• Knowing the temperature of the water.
• Knowing the natural forage of that certain body of water.
• Knowing areas where deep water is close to shallow water.
• Knowing where aquatic plant life is located. (If any)

The reasons for the above is that the cooler temperature will make the bass more active, which in turn will increase the digestive system making the bass feed more often.

As I said before, almost any artificial bait pattern will work during the fall period. However, the following are some of the more preferred baits to use for Fall Fishing:

• Lipless Crankbaits  such as Rattle Traps and  Cordell Spots
• Top Water baits such as Zara Spooks, Floating Minnows
• Plastics  such as Curly Tail Worms & Lizards
• Spinner baits slow rolling or working like a worm on the bottom
• Crank baits  such as Deep divers working on the downward slops or drops

These are just some patterns that might help you to improve your catches.

LAKE ERIE- water temp is 66 degrees off Toledo

WESTERN BASIN

WALLEYE
Where:  Again There have been very few reports of anglers fishing for walleye in the western basin, and most anglers are targeting yellow perch.
How: Most walleye have been caught by trolling with crankbaits or worm harnesses.

Yellow Perch
Where: Perch fishing has been good near the Toledo lighthouse, northeast of the Toledo water intake, north of the war buoy (east of West Sister Island), on northwest reef (about 3 miles northwest of North Bass Island), southeast of Kelleys Island, east of Kelleys Island, and just off the Lakeside-Marblehead shoreline.
How: Perch spreaders or crappie rigs with shiners fished near the bottom produce the most fish.

Smallmouth Bass and Largemouth Bass
Where: Smallmouth bass have been caught along the shorelines of the Bass Islands and on some of the reefs of the Camp Perry firing range. Largemouth bass have been caught along the main lake shoreline around Catawba and Marblehead, and in harbors in the same area.
How: Bass have been caught on tube jigs, crankbaits and drop shot rigs.

TONIGHT
EAST WINDS 10 TO 20 KNOTS. WAVES 2 TO 4 FEET SUBSIDING
TO 1 TO 3 FEET.

SATURDAY
EAST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS. WAVES 1 TO 3 FEET.

SATURDAY NIGHT
EAST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS BECOMING SOUTHEAST.
WAVES 1 TO 3 FEET.

SUNDAY
SOUTHEAST WINDS 5 TO 15 KNOTS BECOMING SOUTH. WAVES
2 FEET OR LESS.

Have a great weekend , be safe and good luck fishing.