Western Basis - April 11th - 14th

[skeeterman]

Boy do I need everyone's help. My buddy and I had planned to hit Erie this coming week.

This weather pattern has me spooked and I am concerned not so much about temperature as I am about the wind and waves.

Can someone in the Port Clinton area give me the weather and wind report for the latter part of next week?

I've checked Accuweather.com and the marine reports. These are notoriously incorrect, so I would really like a local to give the lowdown on the wind.

I really want to make the trip, but if you say so, I'll wait a week.


Skeets

[Boatnut]

ok, let me get out my ouija board and i'll see if i can come up with something! :) Seriously though, yes, the forecasts can often be incorrect but that's the nature of the job. You only really know for sure if you are there. That being said, and based on most of the forecasts that I've seen lately, you'd be better off postponing the trip. In my opinion, it really doesn't look good for another ten days, sad to say.
Mike (aka Boatnut)

"Many fish bites if you got good bait. I'm a goin' fishin', yes, I'm a going' fishin' and my baby's goin' fishin' too" Taj Mahal, "fishing blues"

[Toolman]

I agree with Mike. The water is a mess and next weeks forecast doesn't look that fishable.

Tim

[Binks61]

Well Skeeter,

I know Mikes probably right, BUT I got to get out or go CRAZY. Me and Larry will be up there no matter what. Comming in on Wed night to fish Thurs to Sat Morning.

Usually dock at Lakefront Motel, but depending on wind may just keep on trailer and move around depending on wind direction/waves. Finding clean water may be an issue, but Thursday/Friday has potential to get out.

Good Luck if you come up !

Bill

[skeeterman]

Thanks to all of you for the input.

I appreciate the info and your opinions and especially the ouiji board info Mike.

The marine forecast and weather were both updated today and everything is favorable. I am going to make the trek.

Skeets.

[Boatnut]

Best of luck to ya and please post report when ya get back!
Mike (aka Boatnut)

"Many fish bites if you got good bait. I'm a goin' fishin', yes, I'm a going' fishin' and my baby's goin' fishin' too" Taj Mahal, "fishing blues"

[The Smalleye]

I have the same thing in mind GO OR NO GO with gas $ at 2.70 / gal a hotel and a 4 hour drive ahead of me ???? I think my better judgement says stay home but my fishing experence says ROLL THE DICE !!!I will look at weather condition's very close tomarrow before I jump in the truck @ 2 am to drive and just look at the water and weather wondering what things could be like fishing the next 5 days.

[ebijack]

my girl friend and i will be staying at holiday village wed thru sunday.. it is a crap shoot, but worth it if the weather stabilizes. cranks, harnessess? both.... i'll be in contact with a few other boats covering hopefully alot of water if everyone shows up... 313-319-6533 or "ebijack" on probably channel #71 ... not sure what everyone wants to agree on yet.... some will be working the can's, we'll be starting around the islands ane working towards the can's/ reefs. trolling will be the plan not jigging the reefs. we want the big en's.....

[Binks61]

Have faith boys, Thursday & Friday are looking better & better ! I just got to go.:banghead:

Happy thoughts...I'm only thinking happy thoughts:cookoo:

[Sluggo E]

Isn't it funny how we never trust a bad weather report but as soon as they change to favorable we're ready to hit the water! I think that's the mark of a true fisherman.

Good luck out there!

[Trent]

There is another option when coming in from out of town. The ferrys were running to the Islands as of April 1st, I dont know if they still are but they should be. There is some action to be had within the Islands. Give the local Put In Bay establishments a call. They will be able to give some help. Back in the younger years we took the Ferry over with a small boat many times and fished the calm side. Just my 2.

[FreeByrd]

>my girl friend and i will be staying at holiday village wed
>thru sunday.. it is a crap shoot, but worth it if the weather
>stabilizes. cranks, harnessess? both.... i'll be in
>contact with a few other boats covering hopefully alot of
>water if everyone shows up... 313-319-6533 or "ebijack" on
>probably channel #71 ... not sure what everyone wants to
>agree on yet.... some will be working the can's, we'll be
>starting around the islands ane working towards the can's/
>reefs. trolling will be the plan not jigging the reefs. we
>want the big en's.....
>

Hey Ebi - I hope to get out on Friday afternoon and also Sunday. I'll be on channel 79. May have to take a drive out towards Catawba Thurs evening and track you down...think I owe you a chilly one from last fall at the Get Together.
Steve

[bob oh]

The reef and near reef bite is already hot -- bite was very hot yesterday and today.

rod bender bob

[cranker2]

The forecast for the weekend doesn't look pretty in regards to winds. Heavy rain forecasted for Friday night, Gusting to 47mph on Saturday and 28mph on Sunday doesn't sound like a trip worthwile to me. I've been dieing to make the haul from chi-town for the past (2) weekends but I'll be staying home once again if the above prediction doesn't change a bunch. There's always next weekend, just love having to be a weekend warrior...

-cranker2

[bob oh]

Where are you getting tht forecast. NOAA is saying 10 - 20 Sat. with 2 - 4' waves? Southwest or southeast so waves will be smaller on inshore reefs?

rod bender bob

[ebijack]

howdy steve... call me and i'll fill you in on what is or isn't working... i'll take you up on those chilly ones...:boozer:

[cranker2]

Accuweather. SE winds at 27 gusting to 47mph for Saturday. WNW at 18mph gusting to 29mph on Sunday. Other sites are staying more conservative at 15-20 mph S/SW for Saturday with 50 percent chance of rain. Still aways off for the weather guessers I know, but that right there don't look extremely promising. Way to bumpy for me trolling in a 18'Lund coming from 4 hours away, although come to think of it we a a darn good time at Bon Ami on Catawba last year when the weather was lousy...

-cranker2

[Lar ry]

Cranker2, It's worth it just to stand on the shores of Erie and dream of what's beneath its surface. Whether you are on a boat or not. Always meet good people there willing to share a beer, a story and a joke. Even if it's maybe, just maybe that you'll be able to get out and cut a line through Erie's depths, then you my friend, at the end of the day will raise your hands to heavens and thank the Lord for his decision to guide you there. Or if you are not a praying man you can at least say to yourself "It's good to be the king" even if it's just king of your own domain. Go man go!

[Binks61]

Just bagged our rooms for Thur thru Sat. Noaa reports just keeps getting worse.

Its all Boatnuts fault for injecting BAD MOJO into this topic.

:-(

[cranker2]

Not to sound like too much of a pessimist but to each his own. When I take a trip to go fishing I want to fish! I can shoot the bull & enjoy other's company over drinks & a good dinner. Sure we've all had our days sitting on shore wishing we were fishing and made the best of it but I can only afford (2) trips to Erie a year and I have to try make the best of it given my schedule & finances. I plan (1) trip in the spring and (1) the fall. This weekend will not be making the best of it as it presently stands...

Open lake forecast
THURSDAY
SOUTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 20 KNOTS. CHANCE OF RAIN AND
SNOW SHOWERS. WAVES 3 TO 5 FEET.

THURSDAY NIGHT
WEST WINDS 15 TO 25 KNOTS. CHANCE OF RAIN AND
SNOW SHOWERS. WAVES 5 TO 8 FEET.

FRIDAY
NORTHWEST WINDS TO 30 KNOTS BECOMING NORTH AND
INCREASING TO GALES TO 40 KNOTS IN THE AFTERNOON. WAVES 5 TO
7 FEET BUILDING TO 10 TO 14 FEET.

SATURDAY
EAST WINDS 5 TO 15 KNOTS BECOMING NORTHEAST 10 TO
20 KNOTS. RAIN SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY. WAVES 1 TO
3 FEET BUILDING TO 2 TO 4 FEET.

SUNDAY
NORTHEAST WINDS 10 TO 20 KNOTS BECOMING NORTH 5 TO
15 KNOTS. RAIN SHOWERS LIKELY OVERNIGHT. CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS.
CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON. WAVES 2 TO 4 FEET
SUBSIDING TO 1 TO 3 FEET.


Did ya catch that last line on the friday forecast? That one makes my kidney's hurt just reading it! Going to turn the lake to chocolate milk till at least Monday morning no matter where you're fishing. Been there done that. It's only Tuesday but it don't look good.

-cranker2

[ERIE REBEL]

Man I'l tell you that standing on the beach is NOT as much fun as being on the water.Seen that,been there,DONE THAT.:horsepoop:

[skeeterman]

We've scrapped our plans two and we'll be heading out next week no matter what the report is. We are getting 10" of snow here tonight and I'll have the day to dig out and crab about not fishing for another week.

Leave a couple for me and I'll see you all next week.

Skeets

[Been There]

When the weather gets that bad my motto is 'Better to be on dock wishing you were out there than to be out there wishing you were on the dock'.

[slimjim7461]

Very good point "Been There"

[slimjim7461]

Very good point "Been There"

[Boatnut]

>Just bagged our rooms for Thur thru Sat. Noaa reports just
>keeps getting worse.
>
>Its all Boatnuts fault for injecting BAD MOJO into this
>topic.
>
>:-(

My fault????? Ok, that's it...the Ouija board is going in the trash..you feller's are on your own :)

Mike (aka Boatnut)

"Many fish bites if you got good bait. I'm a goin' fishin', yes, I'm a going' fishin' and my baby's goin' fishin' too" Taj Mahal, "fishing blues"

[EC-I-FISH]

I've been out there wishing i was on the dock last fall. No fun, down right scarey. glad to say i learned a good lesson. Hope to see some of you next weekend.Boatnut, ezmarc, kgone, hope you can get out with us.

[ezmarc]

Well let's put it this way. Us trollers haven't hurt the female population much so far this spring. Mother Nature is taking care of her girls this year. Jigging has been decent off and on though.

I doubt that I will put mine back in the water before next Tuesday or Weds. Crazy year for sure!

[bob oh]

I hope mom nature takes as good care of the spawn! We need one.

rod bender bob

[Stiker]

So when will the big old girls drop their loads, how close are we. At what percentage of the natural spawn are these fish in the lake.

[Toolman]

I'd say at least 75% of the reef spawners have dropped their eggs already. All the river spawners may be done by now.

Edit to say:"75% of the reef spawners that are going to spawn (and not reabsorb their eggs) have dropped their eggs already".

Tim

[fishinmachine2]

I was out on Tuesday and the males were milking right in my boat and i had 3 females around 3lbs that were still full of eggs. I tossed back a couple just under 7lbs that still looked pretty fat.

Scott

[slimjim7461]

The feedbag should be comin on anyday now,if things will STABLE UP FOR US!!!!!!

[WATER FOX]

the river spawners are not close to be done .we are still snagging quite a few females with eggs and we predict another push soon.we still are catching hard ones every day.i would say at least in the maumee it is more like 60-70% done.just my 2 cents.