Lake Erie Sport Fishing in Lorain County

Lorain County has some of the best fishing on Lake Erie! Capt. Tony Sambunjak from A Reel Thrill Charter can attest to that based on his successful day on Lake Erie!
From Left: Bob Ferguson, Capt. Tony Sambunjak, Andrew Zatik, and Aaron Zatik

He took fishermen, Aaron Zatik of Valley City, Andrew Zatik of Strongsville, and Bob Ferguson of Olmsted Falls out on Lake Erie for a beautiful day of angling. Here's what Capt. Tony had to say:

Here's what OSU Extension Specialist Dave Kelch from the Ohio Sea Grant has to say about Lorain County's waters:

From spectacular walleye fishing on Lake Erie, to fishing the numerous tributary streams for trophy steelhead, make Lorain County your angling destination—spring, summer, fall and winter.

Walleye are considered the most-pursued game fish on Lake Erie, and in Lorain County waters, they are caught along Lorain County’s rocky nearshore beginning in the spring and continuing through the entire season. Deeper offshore water offers anglers plenty of walleye action during the summer and fall months, with both trolling and drifting cast methods being productive. Limit catches and trophy sized fish are trademarks of our Lake Erie waters.

The well known sandbar, located between Lorain and Vermilion, creates a natural habitat for summer and fall walleye, producing many trophy-size “hawg” walleye in late October and November. Smallmouth bass are plentiful along the entire length of Lorain County’s rocky shoreline and artificial reef structures, providing fast action from spring through fall. Numerous bass fishing tournaments originate from Lorain Harbor due to both the abundance and size of Lorain County smallmouth.

Don’t overlook Lorain’s popular artificial reefs (the largest in Lake Erie) which are a natural haven for the smallmouth. In addition, walleye and yellow perch are also frequent visitors to these mounds of rock and concrete rubble. (For more information and locations of the artificial reefs, visit the Ohio Sea Grant website).

Photo by Holly Miller-McGuire

Steelhead trout anglers will find Lorain County to be the place to stay and fish. Stocked annually in local tributary streams, steelhead seek out the colder, deeper waters offshore of Lorain County in the summer months, where they feed heavily on Lake Erie’s abundant forage supply and grow larger. Many offshore anglers target steelhead during late June-August, frequently taking limit catches, along with many trophy-sized walleye!

From mid-October through early May, steelhead will enter Lorain County and other nearby tributaries in preparation for their annual spawning rituals, providing a great opportunity to catch trophy-size fish. Plan on staying two or three days, fishing different locations within a 20 minute dreive east and west of Lorain County, or right in Lorain County itself! Fly-fishing with artificials and spinning tackle with live bait, spawn sacs, and spinners are all productive. Plenty of local tackle shops can provide the anglers with all the supplies they need, along with up-to-date fishing reports.

Lake Erie yellow perch, often referred to as “the gold of the lake,” provide superb angling opportunities from spring through fall. Beginning in September, schooling perch again move shoreward, only this time for their pre-winter feeding spree. Limit catches with plenty of “jumbo perch” are generally the rule in Lorain County waters during spring and fall, yet limit catches are very common throughout the summer in deeper waters. Ohio’s Division of Wildlife indicates plenty of “jumbos” for the 2003 catch, ranging from 11” to 13”, will keep anglers busy and fill coolers, along with trophy sized 14” plus perch from the 2001 hatch.

Make Lorain County’s Lake Erie your angling destination for 2009; experience our different angling seasons, stay for a couple of days, catch that trophy fish, and fill your freezer!
-Dave Kelch, OSU Extension Specialist, Ohio Sea GrantVisit Lorain County Fishing Charters:

• A Reel Thrill Charter (440.887.0463)
• Bo-Kay Fishing Charters (888.551.0440)
• Fishin' Boat Charters (800.777.9304)
• Holiday Sport Fishing Charter (440.246.1004)
• Lucky Duck Sport Fishing Charters (877.967.6853)
• Majestic Fishing Charters (440.244.2621)
• Mega Bite Charters (440.356.9932)
• Sandy B. Fishing Charter (866.886.5964)

And don't forget, the Western Basin Fishing Association's 1st Annual Gator Pro-Am Classic takes place in Lorain on September 12th and 13th, 2009. Two days of professional angling action, sponsored by the Starcraft Marine and Crown Battery.

For more information, stop by the Visit Lorain County Travel Information Center at 8025 Leavitt Rd., Amherst, OH 44001, visit http://www.visitloraincounty.com/ or call 1.800.334.1673. Fish on!