Cleveland Area Questions

[EsoxTracker]

Hi all-
Hoping to get some info on the Cleveland area. I recently lost my job so will have some extra time over the next month. Having family in Chagrin that I probably should visit, I'll be close to the lake to get out if the bite is decent.
Never fished the central basin and unfamiliar with boat launches and seasonal patterns. All I have to go off of is what I've learned around the islands in the spring. Actually made my first trip to Huron last weekend where the bite was fairly good but is a pretty decent haul. I'll be coming from Illinois so trying to keep travel times to fishing locations at a minimum from their house.
Looking at the map, the few places that stick out are Eastlake and Mentor.
Are these areas productive this time of the year or would I be better off further west?
Are there good launching facilities there?
Have read Cleveland boat launches have vandalism problems in the past so I might try to avoid that.
Avon looks to be about an hour from where I'd be, then Lorain, Vermilion, Huron are other options.
Thanks for any help.

John

[Hombre Robusto]

Huron would be your best bet. They don't vandalize your stuff in Cleveland, they steal it.

[K Gonefishin]

They sure do! :boohoo:

[Dixie Chicken]

Esox,

Did you ever get any of your questions answered?

Dixie Chicken

[EsoxTracker]

Thanks Hombre and Kgone.
Might be headed to Huron again this weekend.
The water looked mighty dirty on the satellite images before this last blow and probably worster now.
Kinda thought our slowish bite a few weeks back was due to muddy water.
Would Huron even be worth the trip?


Dixie,
Still looking for info about the "east of Cleveland" area if there is any.
I'm sure to be there during the summer months eventually, if not this fall and would put it to good use.
Was reading on another site that they are getting decent fish off Cleveland but numbers are lower than Huron.

Thanks much
John

[GR]

With the NE big blow we had earlier this week and 4'-6' waves forecast for Friday, it's a safe bet Huron will be muddy again this wknd. The area known as the Castle, between the Huron & Vermilion rivers, usually cleans up quickest, but I have my doubts about this weekend. Can't help ya with Cleveland.
Yep, it's tuff to catch 'em in da mud.

GR

[Dixie Chicken]

Well East of Cleveland this time of year is pretty tough for Walleye. Perch and Steelhead can be great though. Forget Eastlake as they do not have good launches. Mentor has one at the Mentor Lagoons but not sure how late it is open. The State Launch at Fairport Harbor is your best bet out that way. They have removed the floating ramps but the concrete one still works. This will cost you $10.00.
It's at the end of St Rt 535 in Fairport Harbor @ the mouth of the Grand River.

In Cleveland the night bite for Walleye is about all you got unless you want day time Perch.
Gordon Park or Edgewater are free state park ramps. But you need to be safe down there. The bite has been slow, but the size is up there! This is all very close to shore type trolling cranks.

Hope this helps.
Dixie Chicken