Page 7 - Mid America Boating - September/October 2023 issue

Point. Almost equally good action can be found near the other islands, large and small and
various reefs.
A personal favorite is Kelleys Island, and I favor casting from the islands south tip clear
to the little downtown area. Along the mainland, fish are caught on both sides of Catawba
Island and down the shoreline to Marblehead, especially north and south of the lighthouse.
And don’t forget the outer reaches of Sandusky Bay and country down around Ruggles Beach.
Hard to go wrong with October smallmouths, and a great way to spend some lively hours.
Final comment, smallmouth bass are fun and great fighters but they can be mediocre for
eating, and most bass fisherman release their catch and perhaps you should, too. MAB 7 [ MID-AMERICA BOATING ] SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023

bring smallmouths, but channel cats, nice perch, bluegill, crappie, and the
occasional largemouth.
I’ve camped on Kelleys Island many a time and used a small canoe to work
rock filled waters near the campground. In such thin water, a pearl grey Roost-
ertail spinner, small Rapala, or little crankbaits that imitate crayfish can bring
steady action, often with a bonus of white bass and even channel cats.
As the morning progresses the fish move deeper again, then it’s time to work
water up to 20 feet deep with bottom bumping Lindy rigs holding lip hooked
minnows or soft crayfish. You can still catch them on jigs, but live bait usually
produces best.
Where to catch bronzebacks would fill a book, but there are always places
better than others. The Bass Islands were named for their huge population of
“black bass”, so many that anglers in the late 1800’s fished for them commer-
cially with hand lines. And one top spot in October is right in Put-In-Bay
harbor. Work your way completely around the harbor ending around Perry’s
Monument, and don’t forget to cast waters around Gibralter Island and Peach