It is actually funny how many people have Erie on there list. I live in Cleveland and don't even go out there all that much and when I do its hardly ever for smalles but will be perch or walleye. That is what the vast majority are out there for any ways. To say Erie is super vague and it is not a lake like you have ever fished if you never been on the great lakes or even the ocean. They are not really lakes but are a freshwater sea basically.The great lakes are insanely massive and not all places are great for some fish. If you want smallmouth Dwight has the place as I believe he is right at the border of Pennsylvania and Ohio and i'm pretty sure that is where the fishing is the best and I think there is a spot in Michigan also that's really good

Lake Erie or any Gr. Lake is nothing like the ocean.  Waves are different, each body of water requires a differently designed boat.  Only on mirror like water would I use a bass boat in the ocean, I would use one in the backwater it can be quite calm there, that would be a lot of fun.  Conversely I would not want to take my twin engine 28' center console for bass fishing.

 

In the ocean we deal with very little vegetation, even when fishing grassy flats puling a fish out of cover is not near as difficult as dealing with freshwater vegetation.  I think saltwater fishing can be easier at times, other times it's more difficult.  From a standpoint of finding fish it's very seasonal here in Florida, it is not a fish a cast like many people think.

 

I fished the Gr. Lakes for the first 50 years of my fishing life, so I've done that.  Have a time share in Cabo, so I've done that too, not interested in offshore charters anymore. I'd like to try the Pacific Northwest, and I would like to go back to Xcalak, Mexico.

Louisiana Redfish looks like a blast.

Fishing for Redfish in any bay from Alabama to Texas would top the bill for me as well.

Why the islands for smallies? I have others things to do when I go out the the islands that don't involve fishing. There are better places for the brown ones but right there on the mainland around marble head and all that has produced some nice large mouth for me. It is one of the places where it is more ideal for them with the the land not being 30' above the water like it can be and all the vegetation that will grow out there.

 

But I would like to hit one of the places in Mexico and pitching on Okeechobee would be a blast.

 

 

The Islands for smallies because my brother in law had a boat there and we did quite well for smallies and wallies.

I have fished there 5 or 6 times.

For Bass, peak of frog season on Guntersville in the slop.

Ultimate for me would be SA Peacock on a topwater plug that weighs 3 lbs!!!!!!

I really wouldn't be very fond of goin out on Erie in a bass boat. You can't just go out any day even with bigger boats capable of handling the waves. I mean people do but when they start white capping you should probably stay in. If you stay close to shore or inside some break walls you can get some fishing in even on bad days or in something like a bass boat. Go far off shore when it's bad or in a boat not designed for it is asking for trouble and many people die each year out on the water. A huge majority are found with there zipper or pants down. They either fall over the side or jump in to do what they are doing without being anchored and they never had a chance to catch back up to the boat. It has to e a terrible feeling you just have no chance. On a lake there is hope I would think but when your out like 2 miles and you look at shore I bet they just know its over. There is no way your making it. I know someone who was never found. It's a bummer and can be super dangerous at time.

Someone posted a picture on here ones where it was all calm and then the same place but in a winter storm where the waves where insane and it was behind the break wall. I have seen them break on piers or rock walls to lighthouses and get 20' I have gotten stuck at a lighthouse because we didn't leave in time and had to wait it out.

I don't have much of a concept of Ultimate places to go. You still have to find the fish and its never as easy as show up and catch them. But I do have a small wish list. I want to visit Pickwick to catch some massive smallmouths. Then I want to go back to Guntersville and see those big pigs that I couldn't find a few years back.

 

Then I'd like to see some of that Texas fishing that Catt is always doing.

 

Justin Mott