What to take to Erie

[WALIBOBER]

I'm going to Lake Erie in April.
I have some money to spend b/f the trip:7.
I was just wondering what to buy for the spring run on Erie.
(ie)Cranks, Crawler harnesses,and which ones should I buy.
What's the common color and size.
Thanks for your time and knowledge.
P.S First time @ Erie in the spring.

[Chairman]

Wait until you get to Erie. Then stock up on the latest hot Reef Runners at the time. You can also bring your blades for crawler harnesses, but cranks will be the best. Also get some Rogues. My favorites here are blue and silver, clown, firetiger and rainbow trout.
If the wind doesn't blow and the water is halfway clear, it will be a trip to remember.
Chairman
NPAA #6

[ebijack]

bruce is right! wait till you get there. colors do make a difference. i'm sure den will post. den and his wife and everyone at his store are great. they will tell you exactly what's the hot colors, depth's area's etc. they even monitor the marine radio during store hours. (Den's Sportsman's Outpost in Vermillion)

[ezmarc]

Den can't be beat for info on the Huron to Lorain area but on the West Basin you won't go wrong with Denied's reports.

http://www.cliftond.com/

He's Den's alter ego for the west end of the lake.

[Walibober]

HEY thanks you guys,I think some of the stores around here might have some of those colors.By the way the money is buring a hole in my pocket }>
Thanks Bob

[ETT]

Just send it to Den, He'll hold it till you get there. LOL

[s.f.]

mr. chairman:

you keep pullin' those fake minnows...i'll keep pullin my big silver blades. i just wonder what them there blades would do on those handlining deals you use...hmmm...

[jerry]

I agree with what I have read for the Western Basin Only. If you were to fish the east you should bring harnesses and meat. The crawlers have just been the best for years. Stick baits are just not the ticket for walleye at that end of the lake. I will say that I haven't had to travel to the west in 15 years, but may try the central this year.
Jerry

[perchjerker]

I agree with S.F. I would take some crawler harnesses and bottom bouncers along. My "go to" setup is a hammered chrome blade and a juicy crawler. I am never without my bouncers and harnesses.

[ETT]

Jerry,
Are fishing east with success in April??

[jerry]

Fishing the east in April is to fish for resident fish. I have followed the school up the lake one year and you can stay with them from west to east. But to answer your question, stick west then move east with the school. You can figure it on the basis of Erie, PA is best from mid July through August. This year it was mid July and the area that held the fish was off of Conneaut to one mile within PA 12-15 miles out. June will usually be the western basin over to Cleveland. You can keep abreast of the movement by checking the message boards (fisherie.com, fishlakeerie.com and here) or search past history. You can also check what was used last year in your research of the archives that are available.

For the east I cary a lot of baits, but rely on being intuned to the fish-mostly (and about five main blade colors). That means knowing your equipment to the utmost of control, mainly depth control away from the boat for walleye. Know the species you are after and how leary they are to traffic, use a zig-zag trolling tactic when the fish are finiky etc + read, listen and learn to sort through the ego's and BS.
Jerry

[Walibober]

Thanks again you guys.I will buy here and there and wait and see what Denied's reports say.
Thanks Bob
P.S Keep the suggestions coming:7

[FROGMAN]

There are several places you can purchase Reef Runners beforehand, but you might find the best deals at one of the upcoming sport show's. Mr. Chairman also has a good point, just wait until you get there and purchase the "hot" colors that are producing at that time.
Good Luck!

Keith Segar
NPAA #260

[FreeByrd]

Wallibober,
Some good advice already from some top notch guys. If you answer a couple questions, you'll get even better info.
1) Do you know WHEN in April you are coming?
2) WHERE are you staying?
3) Are you planning to have your boat in the water at a dock while here - or are you going to trailer to different ramps?
4) How long are you going to be here?
5) How do you plan to fish? (Troll/Jig/Drift)
6) Is your primary interest BIG fish, or LOTS of fish? (yes we all hope for LOTS of BIG fish...)

Good Luck and bring big coolers!
Steve

[Smitty]

My go to baits the last couple years (We go in early-mid May) have been Reef Runners and bouncers with crawler harnesses. On the harnesses, 90% of the time my best blade color has been hammered gold.
In April, we've also had pretty good luck with big jigs and minnows. Just raise & drop slowly and watch the line.

Biggest thing - I FINALLY let the folks here beat into my head to run something up high and mid range as well if you're marking fish there. Some old habits from other waters die hard (eyes aren't always on the bottom)!!!

Good luck.

[Walibober]

FreeByrd,
We are going to Erie 4/11-4/16 and staying on the south island.I'm pretty sure just trolling maybe jigging.Like you said, hopefully lots of big fish.:7
Thanks again for the Info.
P.S. LOTS of warm clothes??

[FreeByrd]

Walibobber,
Weather will be your biggest factor - always is in April on Erie, but that week has been good for us in general. For trolling, you want to stock up on ReefRunners. I'd have some Deep Divers and the Ripsticks, as well as the Deep Little Rippers. Some colors I'd want to have:
Eriedescent, Confusion, Copperhead, Silver Bullet, Purple Demon, BlueBerry Muffin, Red Hot Tiger, Green Perch... Others have mentioned getting them from Den at the Sportsman's Outpost in Vermillion, OH. Call Den on 888-855-9032. Den's got all the colors and some that are exclusive to him. He'll do you right.

As far as where to fish, stay tuned here and on Denied's report www.cliftond.com before your trip. Here's a couple general areas though for the trolling bite. The deeper water (over 28') to the North and East of the Reef Complex bordered by the Camp Perry Range Marker Can's "A, B, C" from West to East and "C, D, E" North and South. Also the area between Green and Rattlesnake Islands, as well as the deeper water off of West Reef on around the North side of Norht Bass. To the North and West of Kelleys Island can also be good for big fish this time of year. You are looking for suspended fish (ususally down 8-22 feet)and baitfish. These are mostly postspawn fish. Don't be afraid to run something up high (top 5') as you won't mark much higher than the top 10 feet. A weather front may put the fish down so bottom bouncers and harnesses may be called for in that situation. Drifters/Jiggers will be pounding the reefs that time of year too. The good news is barring a major weather problem, you have enough days to catch fish in a variety of locations. The fish could be in any of these spots depending on what kind of spring we have. In general early to mid April is crankbaits off of planar boards. We start adding a few dipsey divers to the spread from mid to late april - usually with stickbaits then moving to spoons in May. Jet divers and spoons/harnesses come into play in May.

And don't forget the BIG COOLERS!
Good Luck,
Steve

[Walibober]

I'll give a report to you guys when I get back.
Hopefully I'll have some good pictures.
Thanks alot to all who replied.
Bob

[Charlie1]

Western Basin - like the other posts say - at the time your going - April - Crawler Harness's, bottom bouncers are the ticket as well as a slow presentation - at that time of the year the lake is still a little chilly and the fish a little lethargic-don't forget about the detroit river at that time of the year either - lots of Walleys in that body of water and we get a real stron run - best chance for a double digit Walley at that time of the year is in the river - We use a 3-way setup trolling Hotlips and a color co-ordinated spoon a little later in the year as well as Harness's & weightforwards especially out of Colchester and around Port Elma - lots of Rainbows as well in the Port Elma and Erieo areas. email strictlyfishing@juno.com for more info and current conditions when you get ready for your trip

[Moose]

Changed my name"walibober"finnally got to log in as Moose.Anyways, how far is vermillion from Port Cliton?

[Den]

If you follow rt 2 east to huron, then get on rt 6 and go east through huron, follow that it is about a 45 minute drive, depending on the traffic. i go from vermilion to marblehead in 45 minutes, and that is a little farther. good luck and good fishin.
Den

[Moose]

Thanks Den.