Page 12 - Mid America Boating - September 2022 issue

Angler’s Angles

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 [ MID-AMERICA BOATING ] 12
October is a magic month

for Smallmouths

By Richard Martin slowly along the bottom.
If nothing turns up, move into 15 feet, and
Autumn is a magic time of year for boaters drift some more, then 10 feet. You should
who love their Lake Erie smallmouth fishing. find them eventually, then it’s just a matter
Water temperatures fall into the 50s, and of holding to that depth and having great
that temperature sends these bronze fun fighting it out with fish that might
colored, red-eyed, hard fighting, reach four pounds plus. When
high leaping gamesters into shal- temperatures cool into the 50s,
lower water for feeding, and they bass move in close to shore,
are indeed fun to catch. See one some into just 3-4 feet of water,
doing a hula dance against a more into depths of 5-8 feet,
Lake Erie sunrise, and it’s easy to and fan in rocky areas, gravel, on
become an addict. reefs, riprap shorelines, and other
Smallmouths are caught the areas to forage among the rocks.
length and breadth of Lake Erie, Boaters can still drift along close to
and they can be had as easily off Toledo shore and take fish, but now shore walkers
as Conneaut, but there’s no question that have a chance. Many a boater will leave his
the western basin with its multiple islands, craft tied up, walk around the marina and
reefs, rocky shoals, and riprap shorelines cast here and there to make a fine catch of
are the peak spot for a day of pure pleasure. smallmouth bass. The same baits can be
And there are several ways to enjoy that day, used, tube and regular jigs, but now small
again depending heavily on water tempera- crankbaits and dark plastic worms that look
ture. If bass are feeding up for winter with like leeches will pay off. Don’t forget spinners
water temperatures hovering around 50, a like white Roostertails and Mepps, or sinking
classic tactic is to drift and cast. Find your- Rapalas. They’ll hit live bait below a float,
self a good section of rocky shoreline, move too, as many an angler on crappie expedi-
out into 20 foot depths and start casting tions has found.
anything from chartreuse tube jigs to twist- One of my personal favorite tactics is to
ertail jigs in black or brown, bumping them walk around marina docks with two white

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