View Full Version : Trolling on Erie at Night
Shaggy
08-22-2002, 07:18 AM
Was wondering if anyone trolls on Erie (or any other big body of water) at night. With walleyes being considered a night feeder I thought it might be a logical method but I haven't seen any posts about it. Just curious and thanks!
Shaggy
Yes indeed. There's a night trolling bite on Erie. Or if you want to cast on reefs that'll work too. The night guys have a tendency to be a little close mouthed about their fishing, but it's become quite popular in the late fall off Huron or Vermilion.
EYE PROBLEM
08-22-2002, 11:22 AM
TRY OFF LAKEWOOD/ROCKY RIVER BETWEEN 9P.M. till 4 A.M. OR SO. DONT TROLL UNLESS YOU HAVE AN ELECTRIC MOTOR, YOU WILL SPOOK THE FISH, AND IF YOUR AROUND ANY OTHER FISHERMEN, THEY WILL THROW LARGE ROCKS AT YOU. CAST CRANK BAITS TO THE SHORE LINE. ILL BE OUT IN THAT AREA SAT. AUG. 31ST GOOD LUCK EYE PROBLEM
Juls_OH
08-22-2002, 02:09 PM
Very funny Eye Problem...lol
If people have thrown rocks at you while night trolling, then you do have a problem.
Night trolling on Erie is a blast! ETT is right about the bite off of Huron and Vermillion. We caught some pigs out there last year in late Nov. and early Dec.
We attach glow sticks to our off Shore board flags so that we can see the boards. When a big fish hits, and that board goes back, all you see is a "shooting star" take off in the water!
I disagree with the need to only use an electric trolling motor to night troll. We have always used our kicker motor while night trolling and it didn't seem to lessen our catches. I would however agree, if your fishing very shallow water, that it might be an advantage to use the eletric motor, for the obvious reasons.
You have got to try night trolling on Erie. It's a great experience.
Juls
Burky
08-23-2002, 06:48 PM
I troll inland lakes at night quite a bit at night for saugeye.We have a 16 foot crestliner all set up with night lights and everything. Do you think I'm pushing my luck if we would troll on nights that are rather calm or a south wind. Thanks
You would surely NOT be the only 16'er out there. Just don't push your luck, and you would be fine.
You said inland lakes, by that I think you mean not the great lakes. Assuming that to be the case, as long as there's no lightning, you have the proper running lights, and you and crew are awake and alert, I can't see anything wrong with trolling at night in a 16 footer. I used to night troll (all of the above conditions being met) in a 14 footer on Kinzua.
ezmarc
08-25-2002, 08:22 PM
Some nights during the fall there is an Armada of boats out there. Fishing in crowds at night is not fun and not necessary.
ETT's right, a lot of the guys are tight lipped about it, but it's because of uncourteous types that run into an active bite under full power and shut the bite down. Stealth is the secret and any undue noise will shut them down in a heartbeat. We all need help getting them going at times and communication between boats is essential, but I swear we must have had PETA reps out there listening a few nights last year. Some of the guys were completely out of line the way they were running around spooking fish. Then there's the guys with aircraft landing lights....... but that's another story!
Kickers and electric will both work fine.
Good luck if you try it and please try to keep the noise down around other boats. Stop short and motor in quietly and then motor quietly away when you leave before firing up the main engine.
flattseyetaker
08-26-2002, 10:54 AM
Marc, on a side note.. How was Fairport?
ezmarc
08-26-2002, 11:08 AM
There was a fantastic bite above the 00 north line to the 08 north line around the 58-59 east lines north of Geneva. Several packs of boats and lots of limits of decent to large fish were caught.
The storms didn't seem to affect them too badly. They are making there way west cause there was a lot of Ashtabula guys out there. Look out West of Lorain, they're on the move!
We also caught a few fish the last couple of weeks north of Eastlake and Fairport in 65-70 feet but it hasn't gotten consistent yet.
See you at Huron Kevin!
Budman
08-26-2002, 06:52 PM
Walleyes come up from the depths as loght diminishes. You'll see them begin to raise up from the bottom after sunset, winter and summer, doesn't matter. Be careful and have fun out there.