It takes some real doing to bump the limelight off the fish that made Lake Erie famous--especially in the spring, when walleye fever reaches a peak--but that's just what's happening in the island area of Lake Erie's Western Basin.
The new ailment is called smallmouth fever--and the tonic this spring is accessible to small boaters, shore casters, and big boaters alike who shun the offshore boat packs drifting for walleye and choose instead to do battle with spunky smallies along the rocky rim of the islands.
For more than a decade the smallmouth bass has lived in the shadow of its famous cousin in what is known as the "Walleye Capital of the World." The media hype surrounding the freshwater glamour fish of the 1980s, and the incredible comeback the walleye made in what was once known as a "dead" lake, focused all eyes on the walleyes, and other Lake Erie game fish took a back seat.
That's still the case in the Western Basin of Lake Erie, at least until autumn, when anglers now realize the fantastic fall fishery that smallmouth bass offer. Drop a crawfish into 30-feet-or-less of water practically anywhere in the island area from the middle of September through October and the next thing you're likely to see is a bronze-backed Polaris bursting off the stern, trying to shake the crustacean off its jaw before you even realized you had a pick-up.
For the Record
But smallmouth in spring? Why, everyone knows that's the time for walleye, right?
Try telling that to Earl Zimerle and you'll get an earful. You see, a catch made by Earl off Kelleys Island last May was just recently made official--he had broken the state's oldest fishing record--and it wasn't for a walleye.
On May 9, while fishing the island shoreline, Earl hooked and landed a smallmouth that weighed 7.74 pounds and measured 22 5/8 inches. The fish broke a record catch from the Mad River that had stood since June of 1941!
Enough temptation. Here's how you can take advantage of the action.
The Rocky Road to Smallmouth Success
"Find pea gravel and you've found a place to start fishing for spring smallmouth," says veteran guide and host Phil Whitt. Whitt owns Beachcliff Lodge, a popular base for island angling activity located literally at the tip of Catawba Island.
"Cruise around the rocky shoreline of Catawba, Kelleys, or any one of the Bass Islands until you find pea gravel along the shore," suggests Whitt. "Fish off these sections of gravel, working out to about 15 feet of water. The fish could be anywhere from two feet to 15 feet deep, depending on conditions."
Whitt says the spring smallmouth fishery begins in mid-April, about the time the water temperature climbs above 45 degrees. On warmer, sunnier days, the pre-spawn smallmouth will cruise right up onto the gravel beach "pockets" around the islands, sometimes in water as shallow as two feet. The fish cooperate right on through May.
"Most people cast jigs in the 1/8- to 1/4-ounce range, tipped with twister tails," says Whitt, who adds that you needn't add live bait to the lure for it to be successful with the smallmouth which will average 12 to 16 inches in length. "A 19-incher is a real prize," he notes.
Spinning tackle is popular, with line sizes matching the jig weights--six- to 12-pound line being adequate.
The Safety Factor
Fishing over 50-degree water is cold business, so dress for cold weather. And in addition to its claim as the world's top walleye water, Lake Erie also has the reputation for being one of the world's most treacherous bodies of water. Whitt warns anglers with boats under 18 feet to leave their rigs at home rather than risk Erie's sudden squalls, which can come up unexpectedly at any time. There are plenty of charter captains willing to forsake the drift-and-cast crowd and take an angler smallmouth fishing in a safe, comfortable craft better suited for handling the lake's fickle spring moods.
On the other hand, Whitt welcomes angling guests towing their own boats up to 24 feet, and offers them slips at Whitt's Landing, a set of three-dozen modern floating docks located in protected waters near Beachcliff Lodge. Guests can conveniently dock their craft at Whitt's Landing after launching at nearby Catawba Island State Park, which is just around the corner from Beachcliff.
Now This Is Full Service
Rates are great at this full-service anglers' haven, where you can dock your boat for ten bucks a day ($60 per week) while staying at the Lodge for as little as $40 (two single beds) or $50 (two double beds) a night. Two-bedroom cottages with kitchens are also available at Beachcliff for groups of four and six for about $10 more a night, and new this season are three-bedroom cottages available for $100 a night that'll sleep six. The new cottages include two single beds in each room, a bath and a half, living room, kitchen, heat and air, and a color TV.
Beachcliff has a modern fish cleaning station on the site, ice and bait are available, and they'll freeze your catch for you in addition to providing daily fishing reports and tips on where to go in search of smallmouth--or walleye, for that matter.
Easy Access
Lake Erie's Western Basin includes thousands of square miles of water surface, most famous for the fabulous walleye fishing found around the Island Region, although technically, the Western Basin includes American waters from the city of Huron west to Toledo.
Anglers seeking both smallmouth and walleye concentrate on the area north of Port Clinton to the west and Sandusky on the east, which includes Catawba Island, Kelleys Island, and the three Bass Islands: North, Middle and South. All are accessible from Catawba Island.
Getting to the island region of Lake Erie is easy, and Catawba Island is the natural jumping off point for the offshore islands (Catawba, while officially an island, is accessible by road). The Miller Boat Line, with docks right across the street from Beachcliff Lodge, can ferry you and your boat to South Bass Island if you desire an "out-island" experience, where you can camp at South Bass Island State Park or stay at one of several bed and breakfasts or motels on the Island.
To get to Catawba Island, take Rt. 53 north off of Rt. 2, which is the major east-west route along the Ohio shore of western Lake Erie, or off of the Ohio Turnpike (Interstate Rt. 80/90), a little farther to the south. Follow Rt. 53 all the way to the end of Catawba Island, which is easy because Rt. 53 is the obvious "main drag" on the island. You can't miss Whitt's lodge, which is just past the Miller Boat docks on the south side of the road.
Getting the Facts
You can get in touch with Whitt for first-hand facts on the fishing at 419-797-4553. If you just can't shake the habit of walleye fishing this time of the year, yet you want to sample the smallmouth fishery, Whitt offers combo trips aboard one of his fleet of charter craft. You'll fish for walleye in the morning, until you limit-out or get the urge for a change, and then switch to smallmouth fishing until you've had your fill. Whitt charges $380 (weekdays) to $400 (weekends) for a full eight hours on the water for up to six anglers, including bait, tackle, and ice.
For more information on area accommodations, charters, campgrounds, and tackle shops, call the Ottawa County Visitors Bureau at 419-734-4386. For information for South Bass Island, call the Put-in-Bay Chamber of Commerce at 419-285-2832.
Copyright 1996 Dan Armitage. All rights reserved.
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