Lake Erie fishing

Fishing at Lake Erie is on a natural lake, stocked with Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Steelhead, Walleye, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass, and 4 more. It is stocked about 3.3 times a year since 2011, most often in April and November. Species guides list dawn, day, and dusk for Brown Trout, dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass, and dawn, dusk, and night for Walleye.

Last stocked

April 1, 2017

Plants on record

Since 2011

Species recorded

Average size

8.3 in

Elevation

614 ft

Access and facts

Water type: natural lake

Sources: water_type , speciesFound , photos

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How Lake Erie is stocked

The first plant of the year usually falls in the first week of April. In 2017 it was April 1, 2017, about when it usually is.

Canadaway Creek (1.8 mi), Bear Lake (9.5 mi), Walnut Creek (9.6 mi), Silver Creek (9.6 mi), and Cattaraugus Creek (11.8 mi) were stocked more recently. Canadaway Creek is also stocked with Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout and Cattaraugus Creek is also stocked with Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout.

Fish at Lake Erie

Fishing Lake Erie is most likely to be for Brown Trout. Brown Trout accounts for 22 of 23 plants on record, ahead of Rainbow Trout.

Brown Trout 22 plants

Plants: 22 of 23
Last stocked: April 1, 2017
Average length: 8.4 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Brown Trout guide.

Rainbow Trout 1 plant

Plants: 1 of 23
Last stocked: November 1, 2011
Average length: 6.2 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Rainbow Trout guide.

Fish stocked per year

56,3102011
35,4802012
28,9902013
34,2302014
33,5602015
33,8002016
32,3502017

Stocking history

Showing 15 of 23 plants Showing 23 plants

All species Brown Trout Rainbow Trout

Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Date	Species	Quantity	Avg. length	Source
April 1, 2017	Brown Trout	8,090	8.5 in	report
April 1, 2017	Brown Trout	8,090	8.4 in	report
April 1, 2017	Brown Trout	16,170	8.7 in	report
April 1, 2016	Brown Trout	8,450	8.4 in	report
April 1, 2016	Brown Trout	8,450	8.4 in	report
April 1, 2016	Brown Trout	16,900	8.4 in	report
April 1, 2015	Brown Trout	8,390	8.7 in	report
April 1, 2015	Brown Trout	8,390	8.9 in	report
April 1, 2015	Brown Trout	16,780	8.7 in	report
April 1, 2014	Brown Trout	7,000	8.9 in	report
April 1, 2014	Brown Trout	10,000	7.5 in	report
April 1, 2014	Brown Trout	17,230	8.9 in	report
April 1, 2013	Brown Trout	7,270	8.9 in	report
April 1, 2013	Brown Trout	7,270	8.9 in	report
April 1, 2013	Brown Trout	14,450	8.5 in	report
April 1, 2012	Brown Trout	8,870	8.2 in	report
April 1, 2012	Brown Trout	8,870	8.2 in	report
April 1, 2012	Brown Trout	17,740	7.9 in	report
November 1, 2011	Rainbow Trout	15,000	6.2 in	report
November 1, 2011	Brown Trout	7,440	5.5 in	report
April 1, 2011	Brown Trout	8,470	8.5 in	report
April 1, 2011	Brown Trout	8,470	8.5 in	report
April 1, 2011	Brown Trout	16,930	8.5 in	report

Show 8 more plants Show less

Species found here

Confirmed present independent of the stocking records above, not from a stocking event.

Steelhead : Species present lakewide per Wikipedia; not specific to New York's shoreline. (source)
Walleye : Species present lakewide per Wikipedia; not specific to New York's shoreline. (source)
Largemouth Bass (source)
Smallmouth Bass (source)
Lake Trout (source)
King Salmon : Wikipedia's own term for Chinook Salmon. (source)
Whitefish (source)
Smelt (source)

Species stocked here

Depth-by-season, top lures, and bait notes for each species stocked here are on its own species guide, linked above.