Current Fishing Report – July
The walleye bite has been outstanding heading into July. As the western basin warms and walleye push east, charter captains out of Lorain (central basin) are reporting near-daily limits with some of the most consistent fishing of the season. Multiple Fish Ohio walleyes — 28 inches and larger — have already come to the net.
By mid-June, the walleye migration east was well underway. Charter boats that normally wait until July 1 to move to the central basin pulled out early this year, with captains reporting an “absolutely insane bite” out of Lorain. As of early July, reports from walleye.com confirm fish are still stacking NE of Kelleys Island near the old C-can, and anglers are getting early starts — hitting the water by 5–6 a.m. to beat the summer heat and catch the best low-light bite. Those fishing out of Buffalo on the eastern end are finding consistent walleye in 55–60 feet of water off the point and in front of Walnut, with divers doing most of the heavy lifting.
The mayfly hatch, which fired off in full force in the western basin during mid-June, played a significant role in pushing fish east faster than usual. With walleye gorging on emergers and transitioning into summer feeding patterns, the bite in the central and eastern basin is now the primary focus for July.
Where & Depth
Central — Lorain
47–52 ft of water; fish holding below 30 ft; Oasis Marina launch
Central — Kelleys Island
NE of Kelleys near old C-can; early morning 6–8 a.m. bite; sorting at 18″
Eastern — Erie/Buffalo
55–60 ft off the point and in front of Walnut; some fish still in 25–30 ft
Central — Huron/Cedar Pt
West of the Huron dump, north of the Cedar Point causeway condos; WSW wind drift
Productive Techniques
Trolling with spoons on downriggers is the dominant technique in the central basin. Silver Streak Jr and Mini spoons with Mustad Alpha Point hooks are taking bites in the Lorain area, with the boat targeting 47–52 feet of water and running downrigger cables at 30 feet down. Top colors right now: Nascar, CatDog, Pink Panties (Pink Panthers), and Purple Demon. Boat speed is 2.7–3.0 mph at the lure — warmer water in July calls for a faster presentation. Water temperature at depth is running around 68°F.
In the eastern basin out of Erie and Buffalo, Dipsy Divers and downriggers with spoons continue to be the most effective approach, getting lures down to the 55–60 foot zone where fish are concentrated. Anglers running snap weights and leadcore line are also finding fish in this zone. At Kelleys Island and Huron, drifting with the wind and keeping an early start is the key to staying ahead of the heat and the boat traffic.
Size & Quality
Fish quality in July has been exceptional. Two confirmed Fish Ohio walleyes — 28 and 29 inches — were landed aboard Sir Walleye Charters in just the first handful of Lorain trips in late June. At Kelleys Island, the bite requires some sorting, with many fish running right at the 18-inch size limit. The eastern basin continues to produce larger fish, with reports of walleye in the 27-inch range regularly coming over the gunnel, and the deep-water bite off Erie holding some of the biggest fish of the year.
Check out our June Walleye Fishing Report to see how things have changed in a month!