CLEVELAND, OHIO — It has been a bit windy around northern Ohio in recent days and that has been good for fishing. The brisk north winds have pushed some cool Lake Erie water against the Ohio shoreline, enticing the walleye to move to shallower waters to feed.

Also helping attract the big schools of walleye have been schools of baitfish, especially emerald shiner minnows. Many of the bait shops now have “shiners” in the bait tank, a preferred forage for walleye and smallmouth bass.

Central Lake Erie

Walleye fishermen are finding success in shallower water from Huron to Cleveland as brisk northerly winds have cooled off the near-shore waters, attracting baitfish and walleye to the 18- to 20-foot depths.

While the hot weather will return this weekend, mild southerly winds should make it easier to fish the big waters. That’s perfect for anglers eager to drift and cast for walleye with small spinner rigs, or mayfly rigs, and the tried-and-true weight-forward spinners.

Anglers are trolling the deeper waters in search of big walleye, as well as steelhead trout that are starting to gather offshore. Off Cleveland the most productive depths have been 50 to 55 feet, with the area northwest of the Cleveland Crib still a hot spot.

Walleye are being caught in good numbers off Fairport Harbor in 38 to 55 feet of water, and in 55 feet of water and deeper off Geneva and Conneaut. The spoon bite continues to be very good for trollers, with larger 5.25-inch spoons productive for both walleye and steelhead trout.

The yellow perch fishing remains slow, but some decent catches have been reported late in the day off Fairport Harbor. While the perch are taking emerald shiner minnows, many seem to be feasting on water fleas and whatever larvae happens to be hatching.

The smallmouth bass fishing has been good in 17 to 25 feet of water around the harbor areas in Cleveland, Fairport Harbor, Geneva, Ashtabula and Conneaut. The Lake Erie water temperature off Cleveland is a cool 64.

Western Lake Erie

Walleye are being caught all around the western end of Lake Erie, but the schools of fish are more scattered this week. Lake Erie Island area fishermen have been heading east to find larger schools of walleye, with the 28- to 34-foot waters off Huron and Vermilion giving up fish. The fishing has been good north and west of West Sister Island along the Ohio-Ontario border.

Some yellow perch are being caught in 20 to 25 feet of water around the Toledo Harbor Light, and two to three miles east of Kelleys Island. The smallmouth bass fishing has been good in 18 to 20 feet of water around reefs and rocky habitat, while largemouth bass are being caught from the western lake harbor areas and around the main lake weed beds.

The water temperature off Toledo is 79.

Inland Lakes, Reservoirs

The farm-raised channel catfish released last month by the Cleveland Metroparks in its Cleveland area lakes are still biting, giving shore fishermen plenty of action. The top catfish lakes are Wallace, Shadow, Ranger and Ledge lakes, where the catfish generally range in size from two to five pounds.

Casting small jigs tipped with nightcrawlers, or suspending a lively nightcrawler under a stick float, will catch both largemouth bass and catfish.

The best live baits to work on the lake bottom for catfish are chicken livers and raw shrimp.

Mosquito Réservoir walleye are biting on jigs tipped with a nightcrawler and worked slowly around the weed beds. The muskie fishing is heating up at West Branch and Pymatuning reservoirs.

Cleveland Fishing Company Has Bass Contest

Brian Tighe and the Cleveland Fishing Company will be giving away some locally-branded fishing clothes and gear for the largest bass caught in Ohio. Send photos by Aug. 21 to brian@clevelandfishingco.com and make sure the angler is holding up two fingers to prevent old trophy bass photos from being entered. Aquatic Biologist Mike Durkalec of the Cleveland Metroparks will determine the winner.

The Cleveland Fishing Company donates some of its profits to the Cleveland Metroparks Fishing Fund for trout and catfish stockings.