Big Erie eyes, where have they gone?

Other than Pelee where have the big eyes gone?

Another year with only 2-3lb. fish?

I need a big fish fix and don't want to wait for steelhead fishing in 6 months.



Yes, I'm greedy, Id rather catch 1 big walleye than boat limits of these runts.


Paul

[Lady Bridge II]

I'm waiting to hear the answers.

Those big eyes are fun to catch but I'm also happy just to be catching fish.

This is a great time to introduce kids and newbies to walleye fishing. How can anyone not get excited about double or triple hookups?

[ebijack]

vermillion... then towards N.Y.

[Sluggo / NY]

Not to worry.. us NY guys will just play around with those big girls for a little while! We'll send them back in the fall. Good Fishing, Sluggo (Chris)

Amanda Too, you are right about the lack of big fish. Too many weak hatches in the early to mid 90s....those would be the hawgs we would be catching now. Right now, it's awesome fishing for eaters; but we will have to wait until the 2003 hatch grows up.

The 1982 and 1986 hatch sustained the big fish population for a LONG time. Those hatches produced the glory days for big fish. We were all spoiled by Erie....particularly those phenomenal falls out of Huron. I mostly do catch and re-lease, but we had many fall trips where the smallest fish was 24-25 inches. Many spring trips with 6-7 Fish Ohios for a two-man boat too.

About 15-16 years ago, a "Fish Ohio" was only a 25 inch fish. With the explosion of the 1982 and 1986 hatches, a "Fish Ohio" was raised to the current 28 inches. Today, I am very happy with a 25 inch fish, and consider that a real trophy like 15-16 years ago.

Our far eastern Lake Erie friends in Geneva and even farther east did great on big fish last year, when most of the big fish left the central basin due to the quick warm-up and/or oxygen depletion. We still had several awesome days this spring, but like The Boss sings, I long for those Glory Days. We should see them down the road again. For now, the 16-20 inch fish bite couldn't be bettter. And then there are the steelies !!!!

[Wahoo]

Only two and three pounders.Millions and millions of them!..What a pity!....lol.Just waite until about 2009/20010.
But for now~Head east for the monsters or learn to work the "up north" reef structure diligently.They are out there!!.....Wahoo

[CarpetBagger]

What are you gonna say in 3 years....Where are all the eaters???

LoL hopefully them big ones are swimming east to me....Swim little fishies...swim east....

I will say i saw alot of big big walleyes last year out of PA and Eastern Ohio ports...i had a ball....

CB
___________________________

[perchjerker]

I agree with the other who are saying count your blessings. It could easily be the other way around.

[falcon2082]

I have to agree also. It is great catching big fish! But it is very nice catching fish. I remember last year steelie fishing out of Lorain and listening to the radio traffic from the walleye fisherman wanting to know where all the walleye were. In the West Basin, it seemed like after Memorial Day weekend all we caught were 13" fish. It is great taking people out fishing and catching legal fish. But it will be just awesome in about 4 years!

[SUPERTROLLER]

Think also about the years following that,,,, these barely legal fish are spawning now! That will boost the population even more. We're looking at another 20 year run with just a little bit of help from mother nature in the recruitment area. Let's keep our fingers crossed.