With it's wide variety of glacial rock shoals, reefs, contour points...it is no wonder that the waters surrounding Pelee Island offer some of the best sport fishing that can be found anywhere in North America. I have to say that even during the hot summer days of August, a "limit" of jumbo Yellow Perch and world class Smallmouth Bass fishing is there for those willing to travel to these Canadian waters of Lake Erie.
On Saturday morning, we departed Catawba Island, only several minutes east of Port Clinton, for the 55 minute boat ride to Pelee Island. We stopeed at Scudders, called into Canadian Customs, got our Canadian fishing licenses for two days and then left this Canadian marina for deep waters near the Canadian Shipping Channel. In these deep waters, you will find the largest ships that travel the Great Lakes...designed to carry bulk cargo like coal, iron ore, machinery, steel and stone. It is not uncommon to see a 800' or 1,000' ship cruise right past our vessel...a daunting sight to see an 800 foot ship only 100 yards away from you on the water, as it passes by.
But, also in these waters near the deeper shipping channel, are roaming schools of large, jumbo Yellow Perch. We have been catching many Yellow Perch in the 12" to 14" inch range in these waters. On Saturday morning, we stopped at one my spots I have found near this Canadian Shipping Cannel, where there is a complex of scattered rock, zebra mussels, and lots of jumbo yellow perch. After 4 hours of fishing, we had boated 175 jumbo Yellow Perch and it was off to catch some Smallmouth Bass.
After three hours of fishing a remote rock shoal and drifting-n-casting, Carolina Rigs tipped with a 2" softcraw...we had boated and released 29 Smallmouth, with two over 20" and 13 Bronzebacks over 18", or 4 pounds. It was fun and serene at the same time...experiencing world-class smallmouth fishing and not seeing another boat for miles. We had this large offshore rock shoal all to ourselves. Very nice!
On Sunday morning, we enjoyed a home cooked Canadian breakfast of French Toast, Canadian Bacon, Western Omlette, Orange Juice, and Coffee and then departed to battle the Bronzebacks of Pelee. We would not be disappointed as we quickly found out. After running to another one of my favorite offshore reefs, and with no boats in sight for miles, we motored th boat into position and drifted with Carolina Rigs, 1/2 oz. slip sinker, and small softcraw. Only minutes latter..."spash...splash...fish-on" and then another set of "splashes" we boated 8 smallies on the drift. The largest being 20.25 inches and the smallest 17 inches. On the second drift we boated 11 more Smallmouth Bass and had a lot of fun. All Bass were released, back to be caught another day!
After two more drifts we had boated an additional 24 Smallmouth, and a trophy 21" Smallmouth Bass. A beauty of a bass!
We ended the day with 69 Smallmouth Bass boated and then released, most over 4 pounds. There were four fish that exceeded the 20 inches mark!
Lake Erie - Smallmouth Bass fishing in the Canadian waters is world-class during August and September! Just see for yourself...
Capt. Rick
