Central Lake Erie

Yellow perch are being caught in excellent numbers all along the Lake Erie shoreline. Two top spots in the Cleveland area have off Avon Point and Cleveland's East 72nd Street area in 51 to 53 feet of water. The walleye fishing continues to be very good around Lorain's sand bar area at 44 to 48 feet. Walleye have been caught trolling spoons, minnow-style diving plugs and spinner harnesses tipped with nightcrawlers.

The perch fishing also has been very good off from Eastlake to Fairport Harbor. The best catches have been in 44 to 50 feet. Anglers have been taking walleye trolling and casting between Huron and Vermilion in 36 feet.

Western Lake Erie

The walleye finally are getting hungry around the Lake Erie islands and around the Niagara Reef complex, with good numbers of fish being caught while drifting and casting lures. Walleye also are being caught on Gull and Kelleys shoals.

Good catches of large perch have been reported south of Middle Island on the Ohio-Ontario border at 25 to 30 feet, the Camp Perry firing range and the Gull Shoal buoy.

Inland lakes, rivers

The bass fishing has been slow but bluegills and crappie are being caught around the area. A top spot for bluegills, including redear sunfish to 8 inches, have been Turkeyfoot and East reservoirs in the Portage Lakes. Crappies are being caught from submerged brushpiles at 10 to 12 feet near the Mosquito Reservoir Dam.

Brown trout have been released in the Clear Fork River near Mansfield for fall and winter fishing.

Fishing tournaments

Norton Marine Midwest Pro Bass Series Championship (Clear Fork Reservoir): 1. Dave Cordas and Peter Cordas (Wadsworth), 5 bass, 13.52 pounds, Ranger 185 boat, motor and trailer; 2. Nick Nick Prvonozac and George Prvonozac (Warren), 6, 12.64, $2,400; 3. Bob Quesenberry (North Benton) and Jeff Quesenberry (Tallmadge), 8, 11.27, $1,200; 4. Ed Hankins (Clinton) and John Shriver (Canton), 8, 10.90, $850. Big Bass: Art Knight (Akron), 5.40 pounds, $320; Kid MacDonald (North Royalton), 5.31, $320.