Erie walleye prospects looking up

[Hi-Way]

Hello, it is Sunday morning and we finally got a good fishing day on Lake Erie today. The sun is shining, the wind isn’t blowing, and it’s not raining. Yesterday there were some fish caught even though it wasn’t a very pleasant day. It was cold, rainy, and windy again. I had a captain tell me this morning that he stayed around the Bass Islands because the people he had, had to stay in close because of their health, and they caught 10 walleyes. Not too bad considering the weather. He said a couple of the captains he fishes with went on out to West Sister Island and had limits. I know they were all drifting and using harness, but I don’t know any other particulars. The prospects of a good walleye bite are looking up. All we need is 60 degree water. It sounds like we are in for some warmer weather now for the rest of the week, and that should have the fish turned on really good for this Memorial Week End, everywhere. We had two guys in the store from Wisconsin yesterday that caught 5 walleyes and had one Fish Ohio, that were fishing south of Kelleys Island. They said they were hiding from the north wind Friday, and were drifting dragging bottom bouncers and worm harness, and jigging with Fussy Grubs. They were tickled to death, because they said they were used to fishing in those conditions and they got the big fish they came all the way down here to Lake Erie for. Now it looks like us people that are more fair weather fishermen than that will be able to get out and enjoy the fishing. Good fishing, & good luck. Don. (compliments of hiwaybait.com)

[lucy]

I didn't see a single net go in the water all day today. Trolled for 8 hrs all over. Just isn't what it used ta be.

[BY-pass]

Dont listen to a word you hear from HI-way, Minnow sales are down this year, so the B.S is intended to Pick up buissness. The lake is still dirty & the fish still have lock Jaw. I personaly would not buy a thing from Hi-Way, Ask others and I bet you they will say the same.Last year when the Perch were hitting, no one had minnows, Hi-Way would tell everyone they did, but once you got there you got a bucket of Missippi creek chubs, (GO TO RICKARDS)

[FreeByrd]

There were several better catches on the western end Fri, Sat, Sun. In different spots each day, mostly by the drifters and mostly on bouncers with crawlers.
Friday the general area was between "A" Can & West Sister and to the West side of West Sister. Several BIG (over 28 inches on up to a 31 1/2 piggy) fish were caught Fri.

Saturday lots of boats ran west from west sister over just west of the Toledo Shipping channel.

Sunday there was a decent bite a few miles North of West Sister.

All three days, catches of 15 to 23 were somewhat common for guys running from Wild Wings. Drifters did better than most of the trollers I talked to this weekend. Unfortunately for me - I was trolling.

Hang in there - if the weather just warms up and stabilizes the CATCHING will take off - and the complaining will die down too.

Steve Carlson
steve199132@yahoo.com

[CJHughes]

Thanks for the info Steve .

[ezmarc]

While there were lots of disappointed anglers over at Huron/Vermilion last weekend, there were also a few fair catches and a couple limits over the last week.(You have to be in the right spot at the right time and that spot keeps moving). Try late afternoon until the weather stabilizes, then it should take off. Lots of fish there but lots of bait also. Water is starting to clear and by next weekend should be pretty good as long as the wind cooperates.

I like HiWay bait. They carry (along with Fishermans Wharf) the best selection of trolling tackle in the Port Clinton area. Don gets a little optimistic at times but he's just trying to help.

If you want the best minnow deal around I'd suggest stopping in Fremont on the way to the lake, at Angler's Supply. Bernie's brother is a charter on Erie and he usually has pretty good info also.

[Erie]

Marc .. I don't know where Fishermans Wharf is located & didn't even know there was one in the area .. would you mine sharin' the location?

Ray

[eleyfish]

I do not know Don, have not been to Port Clinton in over two years, the info he gave on the West area was correct. We fished close to Mich line on Saturday and caught 24 eyes, most came off bouncers. One guy was sticking them w/ weapons (7) but the others could not quite get it. Sunday we fished other side of ditch and took limit, was not easy fishing but the guys fishing did a little better in paying attention to what was working. I talked to a Taxidermist that took a fish in on Thurs or Fri that was 34.5" and weighed close to 12 lbs. There was clean water on Sat & Sun, looks like decent weather is coming, I would agree with the positive prognosis

[FreeByrd]

Fisherman's Wharf is a tackle shop in Port Clinton. Right across the street from the Port Clinton Fish Company. It's on the Portage River. They do have a good selection of tackle. Phone number is 419 734 0488. They also run a headboat and I believe a few 6 man charter boats.
Steve

[Capt. Denny Bergeman]

Erie,

Fisherman's Wharf is in downtown Port Clinton. It is located on Madison St. right on the river.(Across from the commercial fish house)
Just go downtown to The Island House Hotel and turn north to the river it is on the right side. They carry a good selection of merchandise. Good Fishing.

[Airwave(OH)]

(BY-PASS)<<--- Heres the guy not to listen to. First he's not man enough to list his name. Maybe he's with Rickards since he seems to favor them. I've had good and not so good experiences with ALL tackleshops from time to time. Maybe it was the way I was that day or the person just before me but Don is a very respectable tackleshop owner and does a great job. So you see others won't ALL say the same. There were lots of fish caught this weekend by those who were strong enough to venture out. Most were on Bottom Bouncers and Worm Harnesses. Lots of fish from the ditch to the reefs(Niagra) to West Sister. The Perch fishing has also been fantastic. Looks like another banner Perch season. Keep up the good work Don.

I know & deal with all the tackle shop owners personally and feel they do a great job. It's a tough business. Lots of competition and long hours.

Brion Combs-Airwave

[Brian Thomas]

Hey Guys,

I have found for the best minnows for the buck are at Wozniak's Sunoco right down the street from the Pt Clinton Moose Club. They have their own minnow boat and do not skimp on the counts. Also for those belly aching people that arent catching fish- LOOK AT THE WEATHER FOR THE PAST 4 WEEKS, IT HAS BEEN TERRIBLE,once all these cold fronts quit invading we will be reading about how everyone got fish and not how the population is down.

[Duckman]

Didn't we have this same discussion about the same time last year???

[Pittsburgh Don]

(By-Pass is an A$$)
I have been fishing the westren basin for several years and always buy bait from HI-WAY BAIT and don or his employees always put me on fish.
What a cheap shot from a looser like BY-PASS

Keep up the good work HI-WAY BAIT and TACKLE

PITTSBURGH DON

[all I can say]

all I can say is when I was little me and my buddy would get in his rowboat and paddle. We would troll while paddling. We would put on a couple of tots and take turns rowing. We always cought fish! Now hardcore precision trolling and advanced electronics yield less fish that that old rowboat. But I know ...

[Airwave(OH)]

I know there's a message here somewhere? Someone splain it to me.LOL

[Erie hooker]

Yeah Airwave, back in the ole days when the Cuyahuga River caught on fire and the lake looked like green pea soup that thar eye fishin was really good. Now it ain't no good cuase when the wind blows and it is so muddy you can walk on it the eyes won't bite. ##### lakes dead!!!

[Geno]

Brion...'ya gotta' read it close. We know for sure the guy is not Alan Jackson 'cause he doesn't mention a 75 Johnson, best I can figure.

[Brian Thomas]

so what you are saying Erie Hooker is that the Winds/ weather and water clarity dont have any impact on the fishing??????????????????

[Airwave(OH)]

Lacking the "DRIVE" electric choke too! :)

[Erie]

the Guest User is probably the same guy that takes his row boat out on Pyma with split shots & hooks to catch a limit 99% of the time :-)

[Erie hooker]

Actually Brian I may have used a little too much sarcasm -- i ment as you did, that when it is very windy and the lake is very muddy yu can't catch many eyes. It means the weather has shut down the bite. The old time whiners always say how easy it was in the old days, but some of the old days were the late 50s and 60s when the pollution was so bad it about wiped out the eyes. Sorry about the confusion.

[Capt. Denny Bergeman]

Erie Hooker,

Learn your history. The Cuyahoga River caught fire in the summer of 1969. The walleye fishing pick-up with the great hatches of the early and mid 70's. Therefore, fishing for walleye was not good during that time. This lake still produces more numbers and larger walleye than anywhere in the world. Think what you want. Facts are facts.

[Erie hooker]

Sorry Capt. you misread what I said, or my sarcasm didn't work. I was saying yes it was great in the old days (like fires and pollution). I was agreeing with Airwave, I am sorry I was not clear. I do know the history of lake erie, i was fishing it when the river caught on fire and the lake was thick and green with alge. The fishing is not as good right now as the 80s but the quality is better. Like I said, sorry I was confusing.

[Capt. Denny Bergeman]

Eriehooker,

You are right. I missunderstood you. Sorry