“They’ve got cooler water that they can get into in the summer,” Kayle noted.

The central basin includes a vast area roughly from Sandusky, Ohio, eastward to Erie, Pa. This water is deeper than the western basin and has large areas with relatively little ideal smallmouth bass habitat.

Smallmouth bass fishing hotspots suggested by Kayle include Ruggles Reef near Vermilion, Lorain, the Cleveland Stadium Reef and any structure from Fairport to Conneaut. The latter area may be your best bet for the biggest smallmouths in the Ohio portion of Lake Erie.

Popular launching locations for smallmouth bass fishermen in the central basin include the municipal or state ramps at Vermilion, Lorain, Edgewater, Fairport Harbor, Geneva, Ashtabula’s Lakeshore Park and Conneaut.

A lot of the good smallmouth bass fishing in the central basin occurs near artificial reefs. Ohio State University conducted research showing that reefs can concentrate fish as much as 60 times more than in non-reef areas. Several large artificial reefs made of clean concrete and rock rubble, built by the Ohio State University Sea Grant Program, can be found near Lorain Harbor.

These reefs are situated about a mile west of Lorain Harbor in depths around 28 feet. They extend to within about 15 feet of the surface.

Vertical jigging around the reefs can be very effective. If the wind is moving in the right direction, drift-fishing is an excellent method.

There is access in downtown Lorain at the Municipal Pier Boat Ramp on Lorain Harbor. Information about this area is available from the Lorain County Visitors Bureau, 8025 Leavitt Road, Amherst, OH 44001. Or phone 1-800-334-1673, or log on to the agency’s Web site at www.visitloraincounty.com .

Fishermen who are unfamiliar with Lake Erie should consider hiring a guide, at least on their first trip.

For details on regulations, access locations and more about fishing Ohio’s section of Lake Erie, contact Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife, 2045 Morse Road, Building G, Columbus, OH 43229-6693. Or you can phone 1-800-WILDLIFE. Their Web site is www.dnr.state.oh.us .

PENNSYLVANIA
When fishing Lake Erie’s smallmouths from the Pennsylvania side, the daily creel limit is four bass, combined species, with a minimum length of 15 inches from Jan. 1 through mid-April and from mid-June through Dec. 31. From mid-April through mid-June, the daily creel limit is one bass, with a minimum length of 20 inches.

See the regulations summary for specific dates.

The best smallmouth bass fishing in Pennsylvania is roughly from Presque Isle Bay eastward to the New York border. This is the start of the eastern basin, which includes the deepest water in Lake Erie. Bottom structure here tends to be mostly rocks.

Presque Isle Bay is where the action starts. Depending on weather patterns, there may be good fishing here as early as April. This is a good place to get acquainted with Lake Erie’s smallmouths because even though the water can get rough, it’s not quite as treacherous as the main part of the lake.

Diverse fishing methods can be used here because the best fishing may be in the shallower water. Jigs are still the most popular lures.

Concentrate your efforts in the eastern half of the bay. One popular area is between the entrance to Marina Lake and the mouth of the bay. Look for humps and other structure.

Several launching areas around the bay are accessible from Bayfront Parkway or from Presque Isle State Park.