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Lake Erie Charter Captain Dave Adams of D & D Charters answers questions and provides tips and insights into fishing the region.
If you would like to Ask the Captain a question, please click HERE.
May 28, 2004
One more bass, one more memory, a ribbon leech might help
Capt. Dave -
I am contacting you in somewhat of an urgent matter. I have seen your many posts on the FishErie.com site, and I have been on your charter three times over the years. So I decided to come to you with this.
A very close fishing buddy has recently been diagnosed with a terminal illness, and he and I always only catch a couple smallies while everyone else is catching tons of 'em.
We usually fish the rock piles and in the shallower water. We come up from Meadville, and I have a 16.5' Mirrorcraft semi-deep V. So, I wouldn't want to get caught out there in any nasty weather, which is why we stay close to shore. Anyway, I was hoping that maybe you could help me by giving some advice or tips or specific locations to get some smallies.
I would love to just have one day with my bud when we really smashed 'em. Thank you for your time. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Steve
Hello Steve,
Your friendship and caring has made you more successful in fishing than any other angler that I know, and even though I haven't devoted much time to bass fishing, maybe I can help with one more bass and one more memory.
For that late-May or early-June fishing trip, expect actively-feeding gobies and spawning or post-spawn bass. Fishing can be tough, but the bass are there, and they can be caught.
In fact, according to B.A.S.S. touring pro and Erie resident, Dave Lefebre, smallmouth bass fishing on Lake Erie is as good as it's ever been. It's just the lake has changed. Now, "the angler has to make a few changes," Lefebre said. First, use the weather to pick your launch site. If you have a west or southwest wind, launch out of Presque Isle and fish near the old Hammermill plant and the "Cribs." If the lake is flat, launch at North East and fish the "Rock Piles" and the "W's." Descriptions and directions to these spots can be found at: Ask the Captain 07/09/03.
Then, drift and jig at first light and troll when the sun is high.
When you drift, try this. It's a tactic that I haven't mentioned before, until now, and it works. Call around to your local bait and tackle stores. Ask them if they have leeches. If you find them, buy them because the bass love them, especially the big bass, and they will catch bass, many of them, now, all summer, and through the fall.
Even though leeches are found in lakes, ponds, marshes and slow moving streams, throughout most of North America, only the ribbon leech is used as bait. They are not blood-suckers. Leeches feed on plant matter. The color of a ribbon leeches varies from pure black to light brown. Some have a brown or olive background with black spots. Leeches are easily stored. Keep them in cold water (refrigerate if possible) and change the water once a week.
Combine a leech with this setup, a walking sinker followed by a size 12 barrel swivel, three-foot leader, and size 4 hook. Hook the leech just below the mouth. Start a drift in 12 feet and finish at 40 feet. Previous battles with huge bass have taught me, large smallmouth will rarely strike the leech as it moves. Slowly work the leech along the bottom; occasionally stop the rig and free spool the line.
Also, weather permitting, be on the water at first light because the largest bass of the day are usually caught during the first or second drift, and bring a few dozen leeches, too. Because the goby, drum, and rock bass can't resist them, either; and when you're not busy with them or big bass, grab another pole, and cast tube jigs while drifting.
When the sun is high, it is time to switch strategy. Trolling small plugs - especially once than water warms to 58 degrees - by far, out produces any other bass-catching tactic on Lake Erie.
In a previous article, I mentioned lures such as the 3 1/2 inch Thunderstick (darker colors), 2 1/2 inch Shad Rap (black/silver), or Reef Runner Lil-Ripper. They work. Another lure, however, has entered the market, and it also is catching many bass. It is the Deep Nitro Shiner Lures made by Dave's KaBoom Baits.
Dave Storm's Ka-Boom Nitro Shiner
Choose your plug. Then, with a lead of 60 to 100 feet, using eight-pound line, a trolling speed of 1.2 MPH, work the shoreline depths of 12 to 40 feet. For an extra-special touch, use in-line planer boards. By running plugs out and away from the boat the more intelligent (boat shy) and larger bass will be caught. You will catch fish and have fun.
But you have already succeeded in out-fishing everyone on the lake. You have found out what fishing is all about.
Good Fishing,
Capt. Dave Adams
Dave Adams is an author and professional charter captain who operates D & D Charters on the Pennsylvania waters of Lake Erie.
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