Tips on hooking up into Smallies on Lake Erie on a kayak this spring.

Since it is pretty big water, research the launches or places you can get access and choose water based on what is close by as far as what the fish are doing during the period (deep water, shallow water, spawning grounds, etc.) you are fishing.  Never leave the house without a Senko, Tube, Dropshot, Fluke and depending on the time of year some hardbaits.  Jerkbaits/crankbaits/Lipless.  Get more specific on the time of year and the places you have access to and the answers can be more specific.  

From a kayak? Go on a calm day and bed fish. Wind, waves, and wakes are very dangerous on Erie.

10 hours ago, Hayden1887 said:

Tips on hooking up into Smallies on Lake Erie on a kayak this spring.

Lake Erie is a pretty big lake covering three states and Canada. Which area are you interested in?

tip #1: STAY OFF MAIN LAKE!!!

 

tip #2: I'd pick a bay off Erie,  I like fishing out of my Yak, in the bays of Presque Isle, Conneaut, and Ashtabula

 

Sorry for the inactivity For safety reasons I would never go far out on main lake don't worry. but I'm interested in fishing the Sandusky port Clinton Area. Thanks for all the responses 

On 1/10/2019 at 8:32 AM, fishballer06 said:

From a kayak? Go on a calm day and bed fish. Wind, waves, and wakes are very dangerous on Erie.

Yeah I've heard with the wind Erie can get pretty bad even for boats ill be sure to check the weather at all times Thanks for the concern.

ALWAYS wear a life vest!

Lake Erie Western Basin becomes a small ocean with any substantial wind. Anything over 10 mph (especially from the east) is not safe for small watercraft. I personally wouldn’t kayak fish it ; except in protected bays, rivers and marsh . On a calm day the average kayaker may be able to safely get two hundred yards outside of a protected marina or shallow shoreline, but beyond that and trouble be brewin . And yes always wear a life vest and put your gear in a waterproof bag and tell someone your general where abouts. As for the fishing , I would think dragging a tube, drop shotting and fan casting a rattletrap prior to the spawn ; would produce....after the spawn those better fish are typically in 15 to 30 feet of water. 

Check a lake map for a reef near where you launch. Smallies will be on the reefs starting in late March.  

After the early shallow bite I think your odds of finding them are pretty slim in Erie.  Once they move off it will be too dangerous to go for them.  At that time find some largemouth bays.

13 hours ago, Dwight Hottle said:

Check a lake map for a reef near where you launch. Smallies will be on the reefs starting in late March.  

Very Helpful!

On 1/9/2019 at 11:42 PM, Hayden1887 said:

Tips on hooking up into Smallies on Lake Erie on a kayak this spring.

I watched a guy in a kayak fishing the south shore of Lk St Clair in the fall trolling a jerkbait and ripping it every now and then and he was smashing the smallies. I wouldn't see why that couldn't in the spring on the flats of Lk Erie.

Heading up to Erie for the first time this weekend.  Hoping we can find some smallies in the bay at Presque Isle.  Super excited.  Been wanting to do this trip for a couple years now!

You could ferry out to the islands and fish jerkbaits cranks jigs etc... Or go out of east harbor and paddle out the channel to the main lake and fish all that area with cranks or jerkbaits. You will catch big smallies and largemouth there. Just be on the lookout for boats and youll be fine. I fish that area with a 16' tracker and a buddy of mine fishes east harbor weekly with a kayak. Just be safe and Smart and you will be fine! 

3 hours ago, Hower08 said:

You could ferry out to the islands and fish jerkbaits cranks jigs etc... Or go out of east harbor and paddle out the channel to the main lake and fish all that area with cranks or jerkbaits. You will catch big smallies and largemouth there. Just be on the lookout for boats and youll be fine. I fish that area with a 16' tracker and a buddy of mine fishes east harbor weekly with a kayak. Just be safe and Smart and you will be fine! 

 Not sure if this is in response to my comment, but I missed the part about the kayak.  I'll be on a boat.  Sorry for any confusion!  

It was in response to the O.P but if you go east this weekend look for them on beds and rig a short dropshot. There should still be some fish on beds If not just throw cranks