Lake Erie, one of the five Great Lakes, is known for species like walleye and perch. Salmon are also present, offering a unique sport fishery.
Salmon Species in Lake Erie
Lake Erie is home to several salmonid species, including Coho Salmon, Chinook Salmon, and Steelhead. Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) have silver sides with a bluish tint and black spots, typically only on the upper half of their tail. They weigh 2-8 pounds and measure 20-30 inches.
Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), or King Salmon, are the largest Pacific salmon. They have black spots across their entire tail and dark gums. In the Great Lakes, Chinook Salmon weigh up to 30 pounds and reach 25-35 inches. Steelhead, lake-run Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), are silver with a pink band and weigh 3-8 pounds, with some exceeding 10 pounds.
How Salmon Arrived in Lake Erie
The presence of salmon in Lake Erie is primarily due to extensive stocking programs by state and provincial fisheries agencies. Early attempts to introduce Pacific salmon in the Great Lakes in the late 1800s largely failed. However, by the mid-1960s, stocking programs aimed to create a sport fishery and control invasive prey fish populations, especially alewives. Alewives had become overly abundant, causing ecological disruptions and massive die-offs.
Consistent stocking of Coho, Chinook, and Pink Salmon in Lake Erie and other Great Lakes began by the early 1970s. While some earlier stockings occurred, more consistent efforts for salmonids in Ohio started in 1975.
These introduced species adapted to the lake’s environment, utilizing abundant forage fish like rainbow smelt and alewives as their primary food sources. Steelhead populations in Lake Erie are maintained through annual stocking programs, with hundreds of thousands of smolts released by states like Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Angling for Salmon in Lake Erie
Lake Erie offers recreational salmon fishing, particularly for Coho, Chinook, and Steelhead. The best seasons are spring and fall, when salmon and steelhead school near creek mouths for spawning runs into tributaries.
Common methods include trolling in deeper lake waters, especially during summer and early fall when fish are scattered offshore. Anglers use downriggers or divers to reach fish in colder, deeper sections.
In tributaries, casting and fly fishing are popular when fish ascend streams. Anglers should always consult local fishing regulations for specific rules regarding seasons, catch limits, and licensing requirements, as these can vary by state and province.