Hi Guys,

I'm strictly a catch and release fisherman looking for some advice in timing the prespawn smallmouth fishing on Presque Isle Bay. I know I have to get a separate Lake Erie license to fish the bay and I will be checking the winds beforehand. Ideally, I want to hit the bay for prespawn for smallies. What time of year and other indications do you guys use to plan your trips there? I seem to have missed prespawn smallie fishing this year. I went out early June and the smallies were very hard to find and the boats were in Thompson bay bed fishing for largemouths. I'm fishing out of a kayak so I'll hit the lagoons if the winds are too big on the bay. I also want to plan to fish a weekday, b/c I'm not interested in playing bumper boats with the other fisherman. 

Thanks,

Mike K.

First of April to mid May. 

I was about the say the same as Dwight.  If you only have one weekend and have to pick it now, I’d pick the last week of April or the first week of May.  If you have flexibility, go early and go often.  The bay warms faster than the lake and the bigs come in earlier than the bulk.  If I was in the area I’d be starting the second week of April pending weather.  

Thank you both.