NWPA Outdoors

The remains of Hurricane Ike blew through the Erie area earlier this week bringing additional rain and high winds.The winds made for difficult lake conditions but did put a bit of color an depth to the area tribs. Long-range forecasts over the next week are not calling for any rain to speak of, so we should be seeing a quick drop to very low an very clear conditions once again.

Some steelhead have been holding in the lower stretches of Walnut and Elk Creeks and have been spotted surfacing along the shoreline at Trout Run. A number of steelhead have already been caught in the "chutes" area of Walnut Creek and have been spotted as far as Route 5. A number of 10-pound-plus fish have been reportedly been taken out of Walnut. Let's again emphasize that the tribs are not shadowed with steelhead yet, however, those willing to fish at night where permitted, or at daybreak or sunset, may be rewarded with a few catches.

Good perch fishing and fair to good walleye fishing should continue, wind and waves permitting. Current Lake Erie water temperatures off Toledo are 67 degrees, off Cleveland, 67 degrees, and of the Port of Erie, 69 degrees.

As the fall season approaches and the waters of Presque Isle Bay start to cool, anglers can often find some of the best bass action of the year. Cooler temperatures mean more oxygen, which often translates to more action. Most types of presentations can be effective at times from the rattling crank baits, to top water baits, to the plastics. Weedless hooks are almost a must in most areas of of the bay. Very often, Presque Isle Bay will be calm when Lake Erie is blowing. The calmer waters of the bay can often save the trip to Erie when the lake conditions are rough.

For another look at the regional fishing outlook, check the FishOn! fishing report every Friday in the Erie Times-News.