Is fishing good in the Erie Canal?
Matthew Barrera
Updated on April 23, 2026
Yes, there is some pretty darn good fishing in the Erie Canal. It often goes unnoticed since it's surrounded by the likes of the Niagara River, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. Species categories for this event are smallmouth and largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, carp, perch and bullhead.
What lures to use in the Erie Canal?
Small jigs, spinners and jigging spoons can be used as lures. Otherwise the largemouth and smallmouth bass are probably the next fish anglers will set their eyes on. Bass anglers would do well to bring a 6 or 8 weight rod.Are there crappie in the Erie Canal?
Fish found within this lake include: largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, brown bullhead, northern pike, tiger Muskellunge, bluegill, common carp, black crappie, and pumpkinseed.What is the best fish to catch in Lake Erie?
Lake Erie fishing, especially for perch and walleye, is some of the most prized angling in the United States and the best fishing in Ohio.Are there big fish in Lake Erie?
Lake sturgeon in the Great Lakes can reach lengths of 10-plus feet and approach 300 pounds. The largest fish taken from Lake Erie was caught by in 1929 and weighed 216 pounds. Young sturgeon like the ones just released are protected from predators by sharp, bony plates called scutes.Fishing the Erie Canal in Lockport, Ny
What is the easiest fish to catch in Lake Erie?
How To Fish For Perch In Lake Erie. Perch are one of the most common fish that you can find in Canada and America. You can find them in so many spots. Because they're relatively easy to catch,they are some of the most popular fish that anglers and families catch.Can you eat fish from the Erie Canal?
For those who love carp, it's okay to eat once a month out of Hoyt Lake at Delaware Park, the Erie Canal, Lake Erie or the Upper Niagara River, but never from the Buffalo River, Lake Ontario, the Lewiston Reservoir or the Lower Niagara River. But don't eat any fish out Eighteenmile Creek either above or below Burt Dam.What fish are in the Erie Canal?
Freshwater fish species in the Erie Canal include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, pickerel, walleye, pike, catfish, carp, yellow perch, and sunfish.How deep is the Ohio Erie Canal?
It took two years of hand digging to complete the section from Cleveland to Akron, and five more years to finish all the sections. Dug largely by Irish and German immigrants, this four-foot-deep ditch stretched 308 miles to Portsmouth on the Ohio River.Why do they drain the Erie Canal?
The Erie Canal is drained every year to allow repairs and maintenance over the winter.Where is the Erie Canal today?
The Erie Canal is a 363-mile waterway that connects the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean via the Hudson River in upstate New York. The channel, which traverses New York state from Albany to Buffalo on Lake Erie, was considered an engineering marvel when it first opened in 1825.Can you use live bait in Lake Erie?
Minnows and crayfish are top live bait offerings, but nightcrawlers and leeches will also work. The drop shot rig has become very popular among Erie bass anglers as an effective way to fish bait just off the bottom.Where is the best smallmouth bass fishing in the United States?
1. Lake Erie, Ohio-Ontario-New York-Pennsylvania -- Of all the smallmouth waters in North America, Erie seems likely to be a perennial topper for lists like this one. Biologists report that Erie experienced perhaps its largest-ever smallmouth hatch in 1992. In 1998, those fish will average 20 inches or better.Does Lake Erie have bass?
Most bass anglers practice catch-and-release. But for those who prefer to keep their catch, Ohio law requires that Lake Erie smallmouth bass less than 14 inches long be released back into the lake. There is a daily bag limit of five fish per angler.What fish can you catch in upstate New York?
Local Fishing Categories
- Yellow Perch, Rock Bass, Blue Gill/Pumpkinseed, White Perch, White Bass, & Crappie.
- Walleye, Muskellunge, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, & Smallmouth Bass.
- Lake Trout, Chinook Salmon, Steelhead/Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Coho Salmon, & Atlantic Salmon.