CLEVELAND, Ohio — Jerry Darkes is a noted local fly fishing master, an expert fly tier and author, and travels the Great Lakes for trout, resulting in his recent book, the colorful “Essential Flies for the Great Lakes Region,” published by Stackpole Books and sold at local fly shops
The veteran fly guy has not had to travel far to connect with his latest quarry, the often denigrated sheepshead, or fresh water drum. Lake Erie walleye, yellow perch, steelhead trout and smallmouth bass anglers generally curse, rather than keep, the sheepshead they inadvertently catch.
“Sheepshead are a challenge to catch using a fly rod, and they’re big and slab-sided, making them a tough adversary when hooked. Despite what most fishermen think, they also have a relatively delicate white flesh and are good to eat,” said Darkes.
He recently took Jessica Suvak, of Berea, fishing for drum. A founding member of the Ohio Women on the Fly group based in Columbus, Suvak and Darkes didn’t go far, targeting the waters just outside the Cleveland Harbor break wall. Casting a slow-sinking fly line and a long leader tipped with a streamer fly of Darkes’ creation, it didn’t take long to hook up with a trophy sheepshead.
“You simply hop the weighted fly, which is more or less a streamer fly and much like a hair-skirted jig, and hang on. Near-shore Lake Erie has a wonderful population of freshwater drum, and in the Cleveland and Lorain areas the best average depth is usually about 30 to 40 feet.”
To sweeten the pot, Darkes says that rig has also produced a few walleye, as well.
Southerly winds to give fishing a boost
Anglers know that it’s been a bit windy on the wide open waters that last few weeks, with more than bumpy waters slowing down the fishing. Small boat fishermen have been at a major disadvantage, and charter skippers have had to struggle with long distance runs for big walleye and steelhead trout.
Mother Nature has finally flipped the fishing switch again, with southerly winds in the weekly forecast and very moderate waves. While near shore waters will be range from muddy to dingy for a little while, the offshore waters are clearing quickly and good catches are expected throughout the weekend.
Expect that off Cleveland and Lorain the walleye fishing should be good inside of 28-foot depths, and outside of 48 feet deep. Diving planers and spoons have been catching walleye, as well as spinner rigs and nightcrawlers and diving plugs, or crankbaits.
Off Fairport Harbor and Conneaut the walleye fishing has been best in waters from 70 to 75 feet, although it is expected that the big schools of walleye will soon be heading for the 50-foot depths. A few steelhead are already being caught by anglers casting diving plugs from shoreline piers and breakwalls, and that fishing should improve.
Yellow perch bite a surprise
The Western Lake Erie yellow perch fishing has been fair to good, despite the weather, around D Can on the Lake Erie Firing Zone off Camp Perry, and along Catawba Island and Green Island.
The Kelleys Island and Marblehead Lighthouse areas are still slow for yellow perch , but that might be caused by the proliferation of commercial trap nets in those areas. The walleye fishing east of Kelleys Island and off of Huron and Vermilion has been steady.
Around the area
Smallmouth bass and rock bass are biting in the Rocky River in the Cleveland area and the upper Vermilion River, and small tube jigs and jigs with twister tails are scoring ... The channel catfish fishing around Sandusky Bay has been slow, and only a few catfish are being caught from the Grand River.
Wetlands, waterways restored in Port Clinton
An H2Ohio initiative around the Buckeye State that is helping to restore wetlands and waterways will benefit the Little Portage Wildlife Area in Ottawa County.
The Little Portage River, which flows into the Portage River and subsequently Lake Erie, will improve water quality in the rivers and Lake Erie. It will also permanently shut down the boat ramp at the Little Portage River, which is primarily used during the waterfowl hunting season, and will improve habitat for waterfowl and wading birds, reptiles and amphibians. Kayak and canoe paddlers will eventually be be allowed to launch at the wildlife area.
The Little Portage River is primarily a river marsh about six miles west of Port Clinton. There are about 80 H2Ohio projects still underway, with more than 100 completed.
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FAQs
Yet freshwater drum, like their red saltwater cousins, are big, strong, and vigorous fighters when hooked—great sport on the fly rod. Therefore, it's understandable that fly fishers are increasingly turning their attention to them.
How do you catch freshwater drum in Lake Erie? ›
These spunky fish can easily be caught from shore or from piers. Practically any natural bait will work, though minnows, worms, and crayfish work best. Drum will readily take artificial lures as well.
Are there freshwater drum in Ohio? ›
Also called sheepshead, freshwater drum are an overlooked sportfish that can be found in Lake Erie, the Ohio River, and large tributaries of both bodies of water.
Are Lake Erie freshwater drum good to eat? ›
Not bony, but not meaty either
Freshwater drum can be filleted in the same way as any other fish. As with most gamefish, the fillets will contain nothing more than a few “pin” bones – small secondary ribs that can be eaten, removed after cooking, or removed before cooking with a V-cut depending on your preference.
What is the best bait for freshwater drum? ›
Freshwater drums aren't picky eaters, especially when it comes to any live bait. Bottom fishing is the best method, using bottom bouncing nightcrawlers; another effective technique is bobber fishing with nightcrawlers, shad, crickets, and shiners.
What fish eats freshwater drum? ›
During its first year, the freshwater drum serves as a forage fish for many species of predatory fish. These include smallmouth bass, walleye, and many other piscivores. After its first year, the primary predators on freshwater drum are humans.
What is the best bait for Lake Erie? ›
Soft plastics such as grubs, worms, baitfish imitations and other creature baits work best when combined with a drop-shot rig. Live bait combined with a drop-shot rig is another popular method. Minnows and crayfish are top live bait offerings, but nightcrawlers and leeches will also work.
Is a freshwater drum the same as a sheepshead? ›
Also known as sheepshead, the freshwater drum is known for the rumbling and grunting sounds the males make to attract mates. It is a large, round-profiled, silver humpbacked fish. The freshwater drum is a rounded fish with a small tail and a silvery cast to its scales.
What do freshwater drum bite on? ›
Adult freshwater drum fish have quite the appetite and a varied diet that can include crayfish, insects, mussels, and small fish. You can use a range of bait to catch them, from redworms, shad, crayfish, minnows and crickets to blade baits, jerk baits, and jigs.
How deep are freshwater drums? ›
In streams freshwater drum are usually found in large pools and reservoirs they are found at depths of 30 feet or more. Freshwater drum avoid strong currents but can tolerate turbid (or murky) waters.
Freshwater drum is one of my “go to” baits when fishing for blue catfish and I consider to be cut Gaspergou to be one of the best baits for blue catfish.
What is the nickname for the freshwater drum? ›
Other names include silver bass, gray bass, lavender bass, and gaspergou from the French casse-burgeau "to break a clam." Locally many anglers refer to them as "sheepshead." Freshwater drum like turbid water and inhabit slow or moderate current over sand or mud bottoms.
What is the tastiest fish in Lake Erie? ›
Yellow Perch: The Tastiest of the Bunch
This species is on the menu year-round, and you can catch it even when ice fishing. Perch are the “bread and butter” fish of Lake Erie and an all-time favorite. While you can target Perch pretty much anytime, their peak season is during the late summer and early fall.
Can you eat walleye out of Lake Erie? ›
"Something like walleye or perch that are really popular on Lake Erie, and of course our reservoirs, Saugeye and Walleye they're a predator, they're eating other fish," said Hartman. "They're low risk, generally speaking, when it comes to thinking about how contaminants work in the environment."
How to locate a freshwater drum? ›
Look for them at the bottom of clear, shallow waters with some vegetation. Freshwater drums aren't hard to catch, and don't fight that hard once they are on the line. For this reason, medium gear will work fine for these fish. Those using a spinning or baitcasting reel should choose 10- to 20-pound-test mono line.
Can you fly fish for largemouth bass? ›
Fly fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is a wonderful way to spend a quiet afternoon and most people have them close to home so it's a way to get out and try your newfound skills right away. Bass take flies eagerly but timing is important to make sure you fly fish in the right places throughout the season.
Can you use flies for regular fishing? ›
Can You Use Flies for Regular Fishing? Yes, it is possible to use wet flies, nymphs, and even dry flies with spin rods. Using a casting bubble that attaches to your regular fishing line, the weight of a casting bubble allows you to cast light lines further and present flies in an appropriate matter.
What kind of fish can you fly fish for? ›
Fly fishing is most renowned as a method for catching trout, grayling and salmon, but it is also used for a wide variety of species including pike, bass, panfish, and carp, as well as marine species, such as redfish, snook, tarpon, bonefish and striped bass.
Can you fly fish for bass in a pond? ›
Fly fishing for bass on ponds is a great way to get into the sport. There's usually plenty of fish, and you always stand a good chance at catching them. One of the greatest things about ponds in my opinion, is that most of them are small enough to fish their entirety from the bank.
