Guide To Fishing On Lake Erie

Bordering four states and Canada, Lake Erie is one of America's Great Lakes. It covers 9,910 square miles, and provides numerous, fantastic fishing opportunities. The lake is one of the premiere smallmouth bass fisheries in the country, and supports healthy populations of a wide variety of other fish species as well. Bass, trout, salmon, walleye, crappie, perch, sunfish, muskie and pike all reside here in both quantity and quality.

Fish species* residing in Lake Erie

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Click the images and links above for species details.

*Species covered in this website

Fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, black crappie, walleye, sauger, rainbow trout, brown trout, lake trout, steelhead, bluegill, green sunfish, pumpkinseed sunfish, rock bass, white bass, white perch, yellow perch, chinook (king) salmon, coho salmon, pink salmon, muskie and northern pike in Lake Erie.

While fishing opportunities are greatly enhanced from a boat, there is 871 miles of shoreline offering endless fishing options. Always check weather conditions before venturing out, as this lake can become very dangerous, in very short order. Follow all Coast Guard warnings and be prepared for potentially rough seas.

Fishing charters and guided fishing trips are an ideal way to experience the great fishing on Lake Erie. These are some of the major charter services.

Access from Illinois

Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Bolles Harbor Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the northeast section of the lake, off Waters Edge Drive, this is an eleven-lane, concrete ramp with docks and paved parking.

Elizabeth Park Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the northeast section of the lake, off Elizabeth Park Drive, this is a six-lane, concrete ramp with docks and paved parking.

Hulls Trace Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the northeast section of the lake, off W Jefferson Avenue, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Kayak Launch Ramp
Located in the northeast section of the lake, off Roberts Road, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with gravel parking.

Metropark Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the northeast section of the lake, off Sangers Lane, this is a twelve-lane, concrete ramp with docks and lots of paved parking.

William C. Sterling State Park Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the northeast section of the lake, off State Park Road, this is a ten-lane, concrete ramp with docks and paved parking.

Fishing Boat Rentals

Lake Erie Watersports
Rentals: Kayaks
716 440-6357

Marinas

Brest Bay Marina
4088 Brest Rd
Newport, MI 48166
734 289-1234

Humbug Marina
13400 Middle Gibraltar Rd
Gibraltar, MI 48173
734 676-6633

Lost Peninsula Marina
6300 Edgewater Dr
Erie, MI 48133
734 723-7466

Safe Harbor Toledo Beach
11840 Toledo Beach Rd
La Salle, MI 48145, USA
734 243-3800

Access from Michigan

A2Z Charter Service - 734 417-6703

DownDay Charters - 734 320-5293

Talon Sport Fishing Charter - 248 542-1563

Access from New York

Times Two Charters - 716 785-3088

Lake Erie Fishing Guides - 716 316-3567

Sam I Am Charters - 716 947-4452

Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Central Avenue Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the northeast section of the lake, south side, off Central Avenue, this is a four-lane, concrete ramp with docks and paved parking.

Sturgeon Point Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the northeast section of the lake, south side, off Sturgeon Point Road, this is a four-lane, concrete ramp with docks and paved parking.

Sunset Bay State Marine Park Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the northeast section of the lake, south side, off Allegany Road, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with docks and paved parking.

Marinas

Erie Basin Marina
329 Erie Street
Buffalo, NY 14202
716 851-5238

Hidden Harbor Marina
916 Exchange St
Irving, NY 14081
716 934-4315

Holiday Harbor at Chadwick Bay
30 Central Ave
Dunkirk, NY 14048, US
716 366-1774

Sturgeon Point Marina
618 Sturgeon Point Road
Derby, New York 14047
716 549-0970

Sun Life Marina, Buffalo Harbor
1111 Fuhrmann Blvd
Buffalo, NY 14203
716-828-0027

Access from Ohio

DB Sport Fishing Charters - 440 479-5158

Four Aces Sport Fishing Charters - 330 392-9691

Great Lakes Charters - 216 287-1096

Fishing Boat Rentals

Clemons Boats - Rentals
Rentals: Fishing boats and pontoons
419 684-5365

Great Lakes Watersports
Rentals: Pontoon boats
216 644-0272

Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Avon Lake Boat Launch
Located on the southwest shore of the lake, off Grand Army Of The Republic Highway, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with docks and paved parking.

Catawba Island State Park
Located on the southwest shore of the lake, off Road 146, this is a four-lane, concrete ramp with docks and paved parking.

Dempsey Fishing Access & Boat Launch
Located on the southwest shore of the lake, south side of the peninsula, off S Bayshore Road, this is a four-lane, concrete ramp with docks and paved parking.

E. 72 Boat Ramps
Located on the southwest shore of the lake, off N Marginal Road, this is a four-lane, concrete ramp with docks and paved parking.

Edgewater Public Boat Ramp
Located on the southwest shore of the lake, off Cleveland Memorial Shoreway, this is an eight-lane, concrete ramp with docks and paved parking.

Hot Waters Boat ramp
Located on the southwest shore of the lake, off Oberlin Ave, this is a six-lane, concrete ramp with docks and paved parking.

Mazurik Boat Access
Located on the southwest shore of the lake, off N Shore Blvd, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with docks and paved parking.

North Townline Park Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, on the south side of the lake, off Road 19, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with docks and paved parking.

Sheffield Lake Public Boat Ramp
Located on the southwest shore of the lake, off Grand Army Of The Republic Highway, this is a four-lane, concrete ramp with docks and paved parking.

Shelby Street Boat Launch
Located on the southwest shore of the lake, off W Water Street, this is a four-lane, concrete ramp with docks and paved parking.

Vermilion Boat Launch
Located on the southwest shore of the lake, along the Vermillion River inlet, off W River Road, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with docks and paved parking.

West Harbor Public Boat Launch
Located on the southwest shore of the lake, northeast side of the peninsula, off NE Catawaba Road, this is a four-lane, concrete ramp with docks and paved parking.

Wildwood Park
Located on the southwest shore of the lake, off Villa Angela Drive, this is a four-lane, concrete ramp with docks and paved parking.

Marinas

Channel Grove Marina
389 Channel Grove Rd
Lakeside Marblehead, OH 43440
419 732-2225

Cranberry Creek Marina
4319 Cleveland Rd. East
Huron, Ohio 44839
419 433-3932

East Harbor State Park Marina
2188 N Buck Rd
Lakeside Marblehead, OH 43440
419 734-2289

Edgewater Marina
6500 Cleveland Memorial Shoreway
Cleveland, OH 44102
216 961-5007

Gem Beach Marina
3000 N Carolina St
Port Clinton, OH 43452
419 797-4451

Geneva Marina
4605 Padanarum Road
Geneva, OH 44041
440 466-7565

Huron Lagoons Marina
100 Laguna Dr
Huron, OH 44839
419 433-3200

Oasis Marinas at North Coast Harbor
1020 E. 9th Street
Cleveland, OH 44114
216 485-2030

Safe Harbor Lakefront
1805 W Lakeshore Dr
Port Clinton, OH 43452
419 734-5576

Whiskey Island Marina
2800 Whiskey Island
Cleveland , Ohio 44102
216 631-1800

Access from Pennsylvania

Several marinas and numerous boat launches are available for boating of all kinds. Presque Isle State Park is the hub of activity and boat access out of the town of Erie, PA. The area is famous for Lake Erie perch.

A&A Fishing Charters - 814 205-1747

A Day Away Fishing Charter - 724 272-1479

Walleye Charters Offshore Lake Erie - 907 315-1724

Fishing Boat Rentals

Hidden Harbor Water Rentals
Rentals: Pontoon boats
814 602-5846

Port Erie Sports
Rentals: Fishing boats, pleasure boats and pontoon boats
814 452-2628

Boat Launch Ramps

Shades Beach Boat Ramp
Located at the end of Shades Beach Road, this is a six-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and plenty of parking.

Walnut Creek Access Area
This is a popular, six-lane boat launch ramp with parking for hundreds of vehicles with trailers. It is located at the mouth of Walnut Creek.