Author: Adrienne Boudreau
When it comes to bass fishing, Buffalo is a heavyweight.
Lake Erie was listed as the number three bass fishing location in America according to Bassmaster Magazine. The magazine cites the “crazy thick” largemouth and smallmouth populations in Buffalo’s shallow bays and marinas.
According to the article most anglers focus on a 20-mile radius of Buffalo. It tells fishermen to expect a 6-pounder every cast and several “piles” of 4-pounders.
The two spots that beat out Lake Erie were Sturgeon Bay on Lake Michigan in Wisconsin and Clear Lake, California. Following Buffalo on the list was Lake Couer d’Alene in Idaho.
Popular fishing spots in Buffalo include the northern part of Squaw Island, including the fishing pier, as well as the southern part of Squaw Island at the foot of Ferry Street near Broderick Park. Dozens of fishermen and their families can be seen there and the Buffalo harbor and Marina.
Smallmouth bass are the most frequently caught fish in Lake Erie.
According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation the last five New York State record smallmouths have come from Lake Erie, with the current record standing at 8 pounds, 4 ounces. However most bass caught are between 2 and 4 pounds.
The best time of year to catch bass in Lake Erie is early springtime. When the ice begins to thaw the bass start to move towards areas where water warms up faster than in the middle of the Lake. They do this to find spawning grounds and to feed on smaller schools of fish.
Click here to find the top 100 lakes for bass fishing in 2014.