Presque Isle: The Best Fishing Spot Most Ohio Anglers Never Visit
Most Ohio anglers fish the western or central basin and never go further east than Conneaut. Presque Isle is 90 minutes from Cleveland and has some of the most productive fishing water on the entire lake.
Presque Isle State Park is a 3,112-acre sandy peninsula that arcs into Lake Erie about four miles west of Erie, Pennsylvania. Presque Isle Bay is a 3,655-acre natural embayment, shallow, weedy, and protected. That combination makes it a nursery for gamefish and a breeding ground for most of the species that live in Lake Erie.
Free boat ramps. ADA accessible piers. 13 beaches. And a species mix that is hard to beat anywhere on the south shore.
| Species | Best Season | Where | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smallmouth Bass | Spring (spawn) | Shipping channel, weed beds | Tube jigs, drop-shot |
| Walleye | Spring / Fall | SW bay, Dobbins Landing | Trolling, jigging |
| Yellow Perch | Winter / Early Spring | Misery Bay, Horseshoe Pond | Minnows, ice fishing |
| Steelhead | Fall through Spring | Horseshoe Pond, tribs | Spawn sacs, jigs |
| Northern Pike | Year-round | Bay weed beds, lagoons | Spinnerbaits, live bait |
| Crappie | Spring | Marina, lagoons | Jigs, minnows |
Smallmouth Bass
This is what puts Presque Isle on the national map. Smallmouth bass funnel into the bay by the millions every spring to spawn. Five and six-pound fish are a real possibility on any given day during the run. Bassmaster has recognized Presque Isle Bay as one of the top bass fishing locations in the country.
The key area is the shipping channel at the eastern end of the bay, where bass cruise up and down the channel edges. The north shore weed beds are productive for both boat and wade fishing.
Walleye and Perch
Walleye fishing picks up in spring along the southwest side of the bay near Perry's Landing Marina and Liberty Street Dock. Shore anglers do well at Dobbins Landing. Fall trolling on the open lake side produces bigger fish.
Perch fishing is best through the ice and during early spring right after ice-out, when perch spawn in the reedy shallows along the peninsula arm. Misery Bay and Horseshoe Pond are the go-to spots.
Steelhead and Pike
Steelhead show up in the tributaries in fall and occasionally get caught in Horseshoe Pond or from Dobbins Landing. The real steelhead action is in the creeks east of the park, but the bay produces fish.
Northern pike live in the bay year-round. The weed beds along the peninsula hold resident fish, and some of them are big. Presque Isle is one of the better pike spots in Pennsylvania.
Where to Launch
The Port of Erie operates free public boat ramps:
- Bay Harbor Marina and Chestnut Street ramps on the bay (four lanes at Chestnut)
- Lampe Marina and East Avenue ramps on the open lake side
- Vista launch inside the park (car-top and small trailer boats only)
No launch fees.
Shore Fishing
You do not need a boat. Popular shore spots include the Waterworks, Ferry Dock, East and West Piers, Perry Monument, North Pier, lagoons, and all boat landings. ADA accessible fishing piers are at Rotary Pavilion, East Pier, West Pier, and North Pier.
The South Pier is open 24 hours. The North Pier closes at sundown with the park.
Why Ohio Anglers Should Make the Drive
Presque Isle is about 90 minutes east of Cleveland, 2 hours from Lorain, and 2.5 hours from Sandusky. It is further than your usual run, but the fishing is different from anything on the Ohio side.
The bay is protected water. When Lake Erie is blowing 4-foot waves and the Ohio ports are shut down, you can still fish Presque Isle Bay in relative calm. The species mix is broader than most Ohio spots. And the smallmouth fishing in spring is genuinely world class.
You will need a Pennsylvania fishing license and a Lake Erie permit (except for the Waterworks Ponds, which are exempt). Both are available online through the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.
---
Sources: Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR); Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission; fisherie.com; Best Fishing in America; Visit Erie; Bassmaster; Port of Erie.
