LAKE ERIE OHIO’S MOST POPULAR BOATING DESTINATION
COLUMBUS, OH Approximately a third of Ohio’s statewide recreational boating activity occurs on Lake Erie, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Watercraft.
A recent study by Michigan State University, concluded that approximately 49 percent of all registered powerboats in the United States are located within the eight-state Great Lakes region.
Lake Erie is the eleventh largest freshwater lake in the world and fourth largest among the five Great Lakes. It stretches 241 miles from Detroit to Buffalo and is the warmest of the Great Lakes. As such, it supports one of the best fresh water sport fisheries in the world.
“Lake Erie will long remain the top boating and sport fishing destination in the southern Great Lakes region,” said Ken Alvey, chief of the ODNR Division of Watercraft.
The Bass Islands complex in Lake Erie’s western basin is a major boating attraction for thousands of visitors. Excellent sport fishing opportunities attract boaters and anglers from all over Ohio. However, not all the fun and fish are confined to the Western Basin as the area from Huron east to Conneaut attracts a growing number of boaters.
“You do not have to be only in the western basin and around the islands to enjoy excellent boating destinations and opportunities on Lake Erie,” said Alvey. “The Greater Cleveland area, for example, keeps gaining in popularity among recreational boaters. The increasing number of boaters and boating facilities across the central basin shoreline is a reflection of that growth.”
With a wide range of activities, Cleveland is an excellent boating destination. Among these is visiting the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame, located along the downtown waterfront and near to various boat launch ramps and private boating clubs. The annual Cleveland Boating, Fishing and Seafood Festival will be held June 11-12 at North Coast Harbor, located behind the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. The summer boating season concludes with the Cleveland National Air Show on September 3-5.
But no doubt, Lake Erie’s western basin islands is where most of the summertime action is found. The rich and shallow waters of the western basin, including the islands region, consists of many reefs and great habitat for sport fish. These waters provide boaters and anglers with excellent sport fishing opportunities for walleyes, yellow perch and smallmouth bass.
The islands, notably South Bass Island, Kelley’s Island and Middle Bass Island, also provide great opportunities to enjoy fine dining, live entertainment, family lodging, hiking, biking and wildlife viewing opportunities, excellent shopping adventures and perhaps the most beautiful sunsets found anywhere in the Buckeye State.
Ohio also offers many other fine boating destinations with more than 150 inland lakes and thousands of miles of navigable rivers and streams, including the Ohio River. Some of Ohio’s most popular inland lakes are a feature of the 74 Ohio State Parks, which are making ready their preparations to for summertime visitors.