Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2022 - 34

FISHING
with KAYAKS
by Jerry Bush
photos by the author
Key launch sites east of the city of Erie include the
W
ith its reputation for suddenly turning
precarious, you may wonder why anyone would
propose launching a kayak into Lake Erie, Erie
County. The key is in one simple word, " respect. " Just
because Lake Erie may be dangerous at times, does not
suggest it should never be accessed with small vessels. I
grew up along the Great Lake, and there are many days
when the lake's waters are calm. At times, even providing
mirror-like reflections only expected on small, inland lakes.
Lake Erie holds more freshwater fish than the other
Great Lakes combined, making it a hot spot for anglers,
regardless of whether they can or cannot afford large
watercraft. Included is a healthy population of large
Smallmouth Bass.
Smallmouth Bass weighing 5-pounds or more are
commonly encountered along Pennsylvania's Lake Erie
shoreline. The great news for paddle enthusiasts is that
these fish reside within a few hundred yards of shore. My
friends and I have caught and released more 4- to 5-pound
Smallmouth Bass in a summer of fishing within 200 yards
of Lake Erie's shoreline than many anglers will catch in 10
summers of fishing any of Pennsylvania's inland lakes.
34
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater
North East Marina, Shades Beach, and Lampe Marina. A
launch is also located at the community of Lawrence Park.
Elk Creek and Walnut Creek accesses are the most obvious
launch points west of the city.
I resist the temptation to mention several boat launches
within Presque Isle Bay, which would needlessly involve
paddling farther to reach the fish inhabiting the main
body of the lake. Besides, Presque Isle Bay itself has more
than enough fish to render any such effort unnecessary.
With permission from a willing landowner, a kayak
may physically be launched from most of Pennsylvania's
76 miles of shoreline. Acquiring such permission may
shorten the paddling distance to some bass hotspots that
are usually neglected by paddlers.
The quickest way to locate willing fish from a kayak is
by casting and retrieving skirted spinnerbaits of various
designs and colors. Kayak accessible water usually signifies
bright days with little chop, so light colors produce well.
White, yellow, silver, and bright chartreuse skirts work best.
Chrome or silver blades outperform bronze or brass colors
in my opinion. But, I use chrome or silver blades most often.
Jigs and soft plastic baits are great choices when targeting
bass in calm water. Personal favorites include almost any of
the scented, soft plastic baits in a multitude of shapes. Most
shoreline bass feed near the bottom, so anything resembling
a crayfish often works well. There is little need to replicate
HuntFish.PA.gov
fishandboat.com
Lake Erie's Shoreline
http://www.fishandboat.com
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2022

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