I'm heading up this Saturday and I've never been there before on a boat.  I'm going with a buddy and the wives so I have a few issues.  First I don't want to take too many rods so which baits do you think will be the most high percentage for some smallmouth action?  Second, where?  Since the wives are coming we don't want to waste too much time searching or they'll get bored and want to leave, lol.  Do you have any other tips?  I'm hoping this cold front doesn't kill the bite.  I've heard of guys having 80 fish days.  I've never experienced anything like that, but dream about it.  Thanks guys.

Paging Dwight.

Search the threads. There was just another post on this a few days ago!

tube

drop shot

lipless crank

jerkbait

This thread on the same topic was just posted this past week and should help: http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/156911-anybody-fishing-presque-isle-bay-lake-erie-pa/#entry1773104

We fished yesterday after a cold front earlier in the week, one in which temps dropped 18-24 degrees within two days. Definitely made it tougher. You'll be facing effects from near freezing temps overnight tonight, so I'd have to expect another very light bite tomorrow and potentially several days after.

For visiting bass boaters, wind state on Erie dictate whether its fishable.  Wind over 12-15 mph can be dangerous on Erie unless you are in the right boat, with the right equipment and right skills.  But you can truck a few miles to Presque Isle State Park and fish the calmer bay there and still catch plenty of bass - usually not the 5-6 lb variety you find on Erie but 3-4 lb smallies are nothing to sneeze at!  We've had some great days on Erie drifting with the wind and simply pulling deep diving jerkbaits behind the boat.  On days we had to fish the bay, a dropshot was the most productive.  Any smallmouth technique will work.  

Went yesterday and stayed in the bay.  The cold front slowed the bite, but we did have some success with senkos rigged wacky and t-rigged.  I was hoping for a jerk bait bite, but didn't have any success.