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FISHING GUIDE · OHIO
Lake Erie Western Basin Fishing Guide
The western basin is one of the best walleye fisheries anywhere. Each spring millions of walleye spawn on the reefs and in the rivers near Port Clinton and the Bass Islands. It also has great yellow perch and smallmouth bass fishing.
📍 Northern Ohio, west of Huron. Towns: Port Clinton, Put-in-Bay (South Bass Island), Marblehead, Catawba Island, Sandusky, Toledo.
Map: spots, ramps and marinas
★ Fishing hot spot · ● Boat ramp · ● Marina · ▭ Protected area (solid red = no fishing, dashed = fishing with rules)
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Quick facts
- Lake Erie walleye are not stocked. The population is kept up by natural spawning.
- There are roughly 30 million walleye in Lake Erie (ODNR estimate).
- Walleye spawn in the Maumee and Sandusky rivers from early March through April.
- Big spawning reefs sit near Camp Perry and west of the Bass Islands.
- A Fish Ohio award walleye from Lake Erie is 28 inches or longer.
What you can catch
- walleye
The top target. Reefs in spring, open water trolling in summer. - yellow perch
Fish near bottom with minnows on perch spreaders. Fall is often best. - smallmouth bass
Rocks around Kelleys and the Bass Islands. Tubes and drop shots. - largemouth bass
Harbors, marinas and weedy shorelines near Catawba and Marblehead. - white bass
Spawning run in the rivers peaks in mid-May.
Month by month
| January | If ice is safe, jig minnow-tipped ice lures near Catawba Island for walleye. Perch near Catawba and the Bass Islands. |
|---|---|
| February | Ice walleye move toward the reefs west of the Bass Islands. Late February fish are pre-spawn. |
| March | Walleye run up the Maumee and Sandusky rivers. Jig hair jigs and blade baits on the reefs from boats. |
| April | Peak walleye spawn on the Camp Perry reef complex. Drift and jig, or troll outside the reefs for big females. |
| May | Post-spawn walleye: troll crankbaits off the reefs and near Turtle Island. White bass peak in the rivers. Perch near shore. |
| June | Walleye suspend in open water from West Sister to Kelleys Island. Troll crankbaits or worm harnesses. |
| July | Troll worm harnesses or spoons behind divers. Perch on bottom off Catawba, Marblehead and the islands. |
| August | Many big walleye move east. Fish deeper water near reefs and islands. Night casting on shallow reefs. |
| September | Walleye start heading back west. Perch fishing gets very good near West Sister and the islands. |
| October | Great perch fishing. Walleye feed on baitfish near shore; cast or troll crankbaits off piers and shorelines. |
| November | Fall walleye close to shore. Perch still good near Catawba, Marblehead and Kelleys Island. |
| December | In years with ice, ice fishing for walleye and perch near Catawba, the Bass Islands and Sandusky Bay. |
Tips
- Walleye bite best at dawn, dusk, or on cloudy days with a light chop.
- If you do not know where walleye are, troll to cover water. Try different depths.
- Lake Erie gets rough fast. Watch marine forecasts and head in early when wind builds.
- Watch for the Camp Perry firing range danger zones (orange and white buoys). Call the range office on VHF 16 for schedules.
- Go around commercial trap net flags, never between them.
Rules and license
Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife · Official rules page ↗
- Walleye: 6 per day, 15-inch minimum (May 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027).
- Yellow perch: 30 per day in the West Zone (west of 82 degrees 30 minutes). No minimum size.
- No one may keep more than 30 perch or 6 walleye in one day, no matter which zones they fish.
- Lake Erie walleye and perch limits are set each spring and can change on May 1.
- Ohio has special bass rules on Lake Erie from May 1 until late June to protect nesting bass. Check the current booklet.
- An Ohio fishing license is required for anglers 16 and older.
Rules change. Always check the official page before you fish.
Boat ramps and marinas
The map above shows 26 boat ramps and 33 marinas from OpenStreetMap. Tap any dot for directions.
- Ballast Island Marina
- Battery Park Marina
- Beachwood Villas Marina
- Burgundy Bay Marina
- Castaway Bay Marina
- Catawba Island Club Marina
- Cedar Point Marina
- Crew's Nest Marina
- Hidden Boat Ramp
- Huron City Marina
- Lonz Marine Harbor
- Millers Marina
- Nor'Easter Club & Marina
- Park Place Boat Club
- Pleasant Point
- Port Clinton Yacht Club
- Portside Marina
- Put-in-Bay Public Docks
- Rattlesnake Island Club Marina
- Rogers Landing
- Sandusky Harbor Marina
- Sawmill Creek Marina
- Scarpellis Marina
- Schmidlin's Hidden Harbor Marina
- Seaway Marina
- Son Rise Marina
- Sugar Island Marina
- Sunset View Marina
- SōLSTAY Lodging & Marina
- The Boardwalk Docks
- The Colony Club Harbour
- The Dock of the Bay Marina
- Venetian Marina
Sources
- https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/image/upload/ohiodnr.gov/documents/wildlife/laws-regs-licenses/perchwalleyedailylimits.pdf
- https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/image/upload/ohiodnr.gov/documents/wildlife/fishing/Pub5276_LakeErieFishingGuide_Web.pdf
- https://ohiodnr.gov/buy-and-apply/hunting-fishing-boating/fishing-resources/fishing-regulations
- https://www.outdoornews.com/2026/04/16/walleye-perch-limits-remain-unchanged-on-ohio-waters-of-lake-erie/
- https://www.gameandfishmag.com/editorial/trophy-walleyes-lake-erie-west-basin/470852
- https://www.shoresandislands.com/blog/post/fishing-hot-spots-in-lake-erie-shores-islands/
Checked October 2026. BigJoe does not invent facts: every number on this page comes from the sources listed above.