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2013 Fishing Reports
March 20 2013
The annual spawning run on Lake Erie and in the Sandusky and Maumee Rivers is on hold due to cold weather. The Sandusky River enjoyed a few good days of early spring walleye fishing last week as the weather was a bit more stable. Reports were coming in from Anglers Supply in Fremont Ohio. Bernie Whitt reported a good run of walleye under way and fishing between the bridges down town was producing female and male walleye.
With the recent cold snap the walleye have retreated to deeper waters eagerly awaiting a few days of stable warm weather then the annual spawning run will be on!
It is shaping up as a average spring this year. Last year fishing started early by mid March walleye were being caught in the shallows in Lake Erie inside of K can - the near shore reefs inside the near shore reefs and the river run was well under way. This year it's back to normal. Lake Erie produced some walleye near the Moose in Port Clinton last week. That was before all the wind and cold arrived. Muddy lake conditions and cold weather has the spawn on hold for a few days. A warm rain will ensure a heavy run up the rivers as long as they get it in the next several weeks.
The walleye will spawn regardless of the rain just more will go up the rivers if conditions are right. To my understanding only a small percentage of the lakes walleye actually spawn in the rivers the majority spawn in the reefs in Lake Erie in the Western Basin. The lakes early spring fishing for walleye will start in the deep waters where the fish should be staged now near the out side shelf breaks 24 to 30 feet of water and as the weather cooperates they will make their annual assault on the shallows. That's when the jig fishing on Lake Erie Fires UP !
This is the only time of year that the walleye come to us!
Wariness goes out the door when the spawning urge kicks in!
Spring jig fishing you can't beat it and the fever is brewing! You can turn a hundred walleye in the 3 to 5 lb range in a couple hours and with some luck put some 10 to 12 lb trophy females in the mix! Yeah Baby - Cowabunga Bonzi !
Walleye are a beautiful fish and after a long winter a fresh catch will look even better in breading.
March 16 2013
Walleye are running in the Sandusky River
Anglers Supply owner Bernie Whitt says the Sandusky river is loaded with walleye. River conditions are a little high and fishable. Lots of anglers are dusting off their rods and reels seeking the trophy walleye as they run up the rivers to spawn. Be sure to stop by Anglers Supply and get the hot set ups for Sandusky River jig fishing.
Lake Erie has a few boats in hoping for a early start how ever it looks like mother nature has this springs jig fishing for walleye back to normal. I look for the reef fishing in the western basin to get started soon. The western basin needs light winds and some warm weather. Start fishing the deep ledges on the out side reefs. Walleye always show up and hold in the 30 feet of water from A can to Niagara Reef. The out side reef ledges and reefs will start first and the walleye will move to the on shore reefs with some stable warm weather.
We will start running charters out of Wild Wings Marina April 1 2013. Check back often as soon as the walleye fishing starts producing good catches you will see it posted here.
Lake Erie Fishing Report Ohio and Canadian waters
Their are a lot of walleye around this year - not a over abundance but healthy numbers. Given descent fishing conditions respectable box's to limit catches has been our normal for us and also for the skippers that we work with on the lake. The spread of the schools and the year classes of the fish are where they should be. Larger walleye are being taken near West Reef, Kelly's Shoal, Gull, Hen and Chicks, Chickenollie, King George, and the Wheel. On our end of the lake west of the Islands their are a good number of walleye in the flats from West Sister to Middle Sister - the Gravel Pits and the near shore reefs for those who know how and when to rock pick. The walleye in the flats - Ohio waters - and to the east in Canadian waters and Ohio waters are mainly 3 and 4 year olds. Most of the big heads are east of the Islands and in Canadian waters. The younger fish which is our bread and butter in the western basin are showing up in good numbers and they to are where they should be. Near the Cans A to D can especially near the out side shelf breaks of the near shore reefs and with in a mile or two of the outside shelf breaks - 26 to 30 feet of water.
It's just nice to see normal patterns and seasonal migration patters for a change.
Especially after the unusually warm winter.
It's the size of the schools of walleye that tell me we have a good number of fish. It is not just a small isolated area that is producing for a few veteran anglers. The areas where the older fish should be they are and the younger ones also. A lot of the younger two year olds are measuring 15 inches now- they are growing early - usually Lake Erie walleye put on a growth spurt in August. So there is plenty of forage out there.
Last we had a good hatch last year which gives us a good number of one year olds coming up behind a fair number of two and three year olds. Lake Erie has a healthy number of catch able walleye for this summer and fall as well as the next several years to come. I expect a good June July summer bite as well as a good fall bite judging the weather patterns - water temperatures and numbers of catch able walleye.
Drift fishing the flats yesterday bottom bouncers 2 to 4 cranks up and working the swing with a 3/4 on a 8 to ten count worked for us.
The annual May fly hatch has started. May fly hatches start in the near shore waters and work there way out from there. My normal strategy is fish the off shore waters while the main hatch is occurring in the near shore waters and vise versa. Some times it is better to fish areas holding fewer fish that are hungry.
Fishing the last several days has been spotty.
Catches have been all over the board the last several days any where from lousy 2 or 3 fish totals to mediocre catches with 10 to 20 fish and very nice boxes with limit catches. There have been trophy walleye caught around A - B and C cans drift fishing with spinners, bottom bouncers, jigs and trolling. Friday morning jig fishing was on near A can and coolers were loaded with very nice catches. Friday afternoon we fished hard to end up with only a few. Saturday morning with dominant east winds prevailing the fishing was off again. All of us captains were left scratching our heads with where do we go try next. Saturday afternoon the east winds picked up in intensity and turned the walleye on - fishing was great. We jig fished off Turtle reef in the afternoon and caught a nice boat limit of 3 to 5 lb males. The area between K can and Round Reef also has been very good again at times. Drives me nuts this time of year with what method do we try first and where. Reading the catching areas and patterns as I see it. There are plenty of walleye in the 14 to 24 feet of water any where from Crane Creek to Turtle Reef to in front of the Moose in Port Clinton. The fish have their heads glued to the bottom in these areas especially when the water gets to clear. Until the water warms up to around 60 degrees fishing will most likely remain spotty. I ran to the gravel pits Saturday morning to look at a blank screen. There are plenty of walleye in the area they just are very tight on the bottom and you can not mark them. With the spotty fishing comes the skill factor of the crew. Experienced fisherman will eke out a nice box while the in experienced will take a few. This will most likely be the pattern for the next couple weeks until the water temperature rises to around 60 degrees off Cleveland. The prime water temperature for the western basin spinner fishing is from 60 degrees to 75 degrees off Cleveland. We need about one week of warm weather to get the walleye off the bottom and more aggressive.
We are changing over to spinners - walleye are being taken with jigs also however the jig bite is all but over. Nice catches were taken around A can B can and D can using spinners. We seen several trophies in the 30 inch range.
Video link of May 2 jig fishing www.youtube.com/user/101erie
Starting in March the water temperature was way ahead of where it should have been. Jig fishing for walleye was on from the middle of March to date. This has been a very good jig fishing season, no major blows or flooded rivers pumping muddy water in. I would have to say the best jig fishing season I can remember in my 35 years of running fishing charters on Lake Erie. How ever with the colder weather that arrived around the first of April the water temperature is now right about where it should be for this time of year. We needed that colder weather because water temperature in the western basin determines when the older walleye start migrating to the east. By older walleye 4 year olds and up 22 to 32 inch gators. Things are back to normal. Jig fishing is nearing the end for walleye as they are all but finished up spawning now. The surface water temperature on my graph showed 51 degrees yesterday. I like to pitch spinners at walleye starting around 55 degrees. We have had some success drift fishing spinners prior to this last cold blast. The jig bite is getting spotty as the main schools of walleye have spawned and are moving out in the deeper waters of Lake Erie. This weekend Friday I took a limit catch jig fishing Saturday I needed one more for a boat limit and Sunday we strangled 12 with jigs. I have been catching older males ranging from 3 to 5 lbs the last several days. Most are not milking any more. The east wind shut the fishing down on Sunday. The walleye buried their heads in the mud and were tough to get a hook on. Jig fishing will hold strong for another week in the Maumee Bay near Toledo Light and Turtle Island as the last of the walleye return from the Maumee river back in Lake Erie. So be prepared to pitch spinners or jigs for the next ten days or so. Don't forget your night crawlers! Get out the bottom bouncers and tie fresh weapons or if you troll dust off the boards.
View today's walleye fishing videos. Copy and paste link below in your browser
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The jig fishing bite for walleye is nearing the end. The tell tale signs are here that the walleye are finishing up spawning. One the sheep head have swarmed the shallows both shore line waters and reefs. Also the spawning pods of walleye are smaller and harder to locate at sun up and they dissipate a lot quicker. The jig bite will hold another 10 days in the Maumee Bay how ever with each day from here out the jig fishing will steadily fade. Today Capt. Jeff trophy fished using weapons and bottom bouncers. Days tally was respectable with several big headed trophy walleye. I drift fished with jigs working the shallows. We also finished the day with a descant box of walleye how ever Jeff beat me on size. It is the crazy time of year where which way do I go- jigs or spinners! It is time to get the spinners and bottom bouncers out for you drift fisherman.
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Jig fishing remains very good but getting spotty.
Jig fishing near the reefs is getting harder as the walleye are finishing up spawning and the zebra mussels are getting the water to clean. Today the best bites for walleye was near the Darby or H can near the moose in Port Clinton and Maumee Bay in the Maumee Bay The areas that have been producing over loads of walleye dried up for many. In front of Wild Wings Marina -K can and most of the western basin near shore reefs, fishing was spotty at best. We had 11 walleye at 900 am with ten of us fishing on the big boat. All I could find near K can Turtle reef and in front of Crane Creek was one here and there but not enough to get it done. I fired the engine made a ten mile run west from Crane Creek State Park landed on the Pear and left with a boat limit of 3 to 5 lb males in 1 hour. 3/4 ounce jigs with a light short lift did the trick. Best depth was 13 to 14 feet of water. The jig fishing bite typically holds for about 2 weeks longer in the Maumee Bay.
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Jig fishing is still amazing!
We left the dock at 630 am with a crew of eight plus my self and we were limited by 8:30 am. Best depth was 14 feet right at the crack of dawn and we moved deeper as the sun rose finishing off in 17 feet of water. 3/4 ounce jigs black/chartreuse worked the best. The wind was non existent so we cast and hopped the jigs back in. Just enough of a sharp hit on the jig to lift it about 6 inches off the bottom. Males in the 3 to five pound range made up our catch. We fished near Turtle Reef and L can today. The main spawn is about 1/ 2 over so I am guessing two more weeks on the outside for jig fishing. Also the water temperature is right at 50 degrees and we start pitching spinners any time now - definitely before the water reaches 55 degrees. Don't forget the night crawlers they work well with jigs also.
Walleye are in mid spawn and fishing remains strong.
Jig fishing out of Wild Wings Marina has been very good Friday and Saturday. All four of our boats took limit catches near K can using purple/chartreuse jigs, 3/4 ounce. The bulk of our walleye were males ranging from 3 to 5 lbs. There is a lot of ways to work a jig. Saturday morning was a vertical slow lift about two feet and a tight line drop back. We struggled for a little bit until we cracked the combination and it was fish on after that. The evening bite was best the last hour before sun down.
Females were being taken trolling from A can to Niagara Reef and centering in the deep waters north of Cone reef. Husky Jerks and Reef Runners slow trolling at about 1 to 1 1/2 mph.
Jig fishing was on on all the reefs and the shore line waters inside the reefs. Best areas was from Crane Creek to Toussaint reef on them or shore ward. Start shallow and work deeper as the sun rises higher in the sky and fishing pressure increases.
Current Lake Erie fishing report March 22 2012
Lake Erie walleye are on fire - jig fishing does not get any better than it is right now! Due to the extremely warm winter and 80 degree temperatures recently Lake Erie walleye are in full gear spawning and there certainly is no plenty of them to be caught. Wild Wings Marina is a close dock to the action. K can to Crane Creek State Park - The western basin reef complex - Turtle Island to Toledo Light all are producing tremendous catches of walleye. Fish jigs tipped with minnows any where from 8 feet to to 20 feet of water you can not go wrong. Black /Purple and Chartreuse/Green have been working very well. Boat limits are being taken in one drift or a hour or two. You can easily turn over 100 walleye in couple hours jig fishing during the spawn. Males 3 to 5 lbs are on the reef tops and shallow waters with females hovering in the deeper waters near the cans during the day. Pictured below todays limit catch taken in two hours near K can in the western basin of Lake Erie.
Limit catch March 22 2012
Report - March 20 2012
Walleye are in full spawning gear in Lake Erie.
Walleye are being caught in front of Wild Wings Marina from K can to Crane Creek . Locust Point reef, Turtle Reef, Cone , Niagara, Crib and Toussaint Reefs are all producing nice catches. Jigs tipped with minnows are producing very well. Larger fish are being taken slow trolling crank baits - 1/2 to 1 mile per hour. Best areas are from A can to Cone to B can and Niagara.
March 17 2012
Lake Erie fishing reports for Port Clinton, Ohio, Wild Wings Marina
Sandusky River in Fremont, Maumee river
Due to the warm winter Lake Erie walleye are spawning about two to three weeks early. Walleye have moved to the reef tops and in the shallow waters near the shore from K can to Crane Creek State Park. Limit catches are being taken in ten to sixteen feet of water. All the reefs from Locust Point to Niagara are producing walleye. Jigs tipped with minnows and a trailer hook are working well.
Maumee and Sandusky rivers annual walleye run is in full swing. Jigs tipped with minnows are working well in the rivers also. No trailer hooks in the rivers, you will get a ticket and loose your fish. Check Ohio fishing regulations for details.
Ice fishing is not going to happen but the boats are out. Trophy walleye are being caught in all the traditional ice fishing spots. Green Island to Rattle snake Island to Niagara Reef - Cone Reef A- B- and C cans. Slow trolling crank baits and vertical jigging anchored are working. Jigs tipped with minnows - Swedish pimples- jigging rapalas all the ice fishing methods while anchored up. Large schools of walleye are being sounded by fisherman in the mentioned areas. This year walleye fishing out look is looking good!
Sept. 20 2010
Walleye fishing has been good on the reefs drift fishing best depths have been from 6 to 20 feet of water. We are marking walleye in the deeper waters off the reefs but the active walleye move in to the shallows to feed. The trick to catching shallow water reef walleye is to know when you are in contact with the bottom. When you feel the bottom give your reel three fast cranks and then back down to a steady crank. Walleye feed from the bottom waiting and watching for bait fish to swim by above. You want your lure to be just above the bottom not dragging on the bottom. We have been catching walleye all week as long as there is a descent wind to drift fish. Perch and bass fishing also has been very good especially in Canadian waters around Pelee Island. The bigger perch are now showing up. Joe S. and crew went Perchin in Canadian waters and pulled a 10 man limit catch of 300 perch in about 3 1/2 hours aboard Coe Vanna 1V. Nice job guys.
We have ran several bass trips using soft craws in the past week and have been pulling nice bass some in the 20 inch plus size 5 to 6 lb range.
ODNR Division of Wildlife - Fishing - Current Fishing Reports
*The following report provided by the Ohio Division of Natural Resources. To view article in its entirety click here:
2011 Lake Erie Sport Fishing Outlook Is Good
Lake Erie anglers should experience another year of diverse fishing opportunities during 2011, according to biologists with the ODNR, Division of Wildlife.
Walleye and Yellow Perch Bag Limits Announced
COLUMBUS, OH – Lake Erie anglers should experience another year of diverse fishing opportunities during 2011, according to biologists with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Wildlife.
“When you consider the variety of species and sizes of fish that are available to Ohio anglers, we are optimistic about Lake Erie fishing prospects this year,” said Roger Knight, Lake Erie fisheries program manager for the Division of Wildlife. “Weather is always the wild card on Lake Erie, but anglers who take advantage of seasonal fishing opportunities have good odds at catching walleye, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, white bass, and steelhead, often in combination during many trips.”
Lake Erie walleye and yellow perch fisheries are managed through an interagency quota system that involves Ontario, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio jurisdictions. Each jurisdiction regulates their catches to comply with their agency’s quotas and minimize the risk of over-fishing these species. Quotas for the upcoming fishing season are determined through consensus agreement by these jurisdictions through the Lake Erie Committee of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, which were just recently announced for 2011.
Ohio’s walleye and yellow perch bag limits were set after the March 25, 2011, LEC quota announcement, and will go into effect May 1, 2011. As a result of the 2011 quota allocation, the walleye bag limit will be six from May 1, 2011 to February 29, 2012, and four from March 1, 2012 to April 30, 2012. A 15-inch minimum size limit is in effect during the entire season. The daily bag limit for walleye remains four fish per person during April 2011. As a result of the 2011 quota allocation, the yellow perch bag limit will be 30 perch per angler in all Ohio waters from May 1, 2011 to April 30, 2012. There is no minimum size limit on yellow perch. Lake Erie anglers can find walleye and yellow perch bag limit information at ODNR offices, in special publications at bait and tackle shops, and on the Web at wildohio.com.
Lake Erie anglers have great access to fishing in the Western and Central basins due to the numerous public boat ramps, private marinas, and shoreline access areas. Anglers also benefit from having access to the largest charter boat fleet on the Great Lakes.
August 22 2010
Walleye fishing was tuff today we had wind for a nice drift go figure. The perch fishing was good off the east side of Perry's Monument, south t south east of Kelly's Island and around Green Island. I landed on some very nice Perch just east of Kelly's.
Small mouth bass fishing was very good on the east side of Pelee. We didnt run a bass trip but a couple other skippers did and they said they had plenty of smallie action!
August 21 2010
Small mouth bass fishing has been very good on the Canadian waters for us. Drift fishing and anchoring up on reef ledges using soft craws on a slip sinker rig has been doing the trick. Best depths have been from 10 feet to 20 foot. We turned 70 bass today 4 - 19 to 20 inch trophies and the rest heavy scrappers 14 to 17 inch out standing day!
Yellow Perch fishing has been on around the Island Areas where we dock. Limit catches have been being taken on Carpenters Point, Lucy's Point , American Eagle Shoal, Kelly's Island Shoal, North Bay of Kelly's, East of Perry's Monument. South of Kelly's Island and around Green and Rattlesnake.
Walleye fishing was on the mend for the drifters today. It was limits to respectable boxes of walleye. Coe Vanna 11 had 20 nice size walleye drift fishing the reefs and then anchored up and took a fair number of Perch to go with them.
August 19
Perch fishing has been very good around Kelly's and the Bass Islands. Limit catches have been caught on a regular basis.
Walleye drift fishing and trolling is starting to pick up and will only get better as the water temperature drops. Which won't be long! We have been running combo trips catching gators off the shallow reefs and then finishing the day perch jerkin.
August 8 2010
We are drift fishing the shallow reefs for walleyes in both the U.S waters and Canadian waters. Catches have been spotty. Trolling has been producing nice boxes of walleye mainly east of Kellys Island close to the Canadian Border and the Yellow Perch fishing is very good size yo yos from day to day and the Smallmouth bass have slowed a bit. This is normal for mid summer.
Trophy Walleye ,Bass and Jumbo Perch fishing fishing will pick up as the days get shorter and the water temperature begins to drop. Late August is the usual start time for the fall trophy fishing.
Sept and October are Big fish months on Lake Erie
July 21-22-23-24
Walleye fishing has been good in Canadian waters all around Pelee Island and 3 miles east of Kelly's Shoal old international C can on the border. Drift fishing working the swing using 3/4 or 1 ounce slip weights with a 10 to 15 count medium steady wind has been doing the trick with a gold Colorado blade. Our catches have been averaging nice boxes to limit catches of 3 to 4 lb walleye per trip.
July 20 2010
Drift fishing was very good in Canadian waters today some of the boats were limited by 10:30 this morning with 42 walleye! We took a little longer as we had a fresh crew but they caught on after a little coaching. Gold weapons on the swing at a 12 count with a one ounce slip sinker. Bottom bouncers 3 cranks up. We fished up north today.
Typical drift fishing catches this July in Canadian waters
July 19 2010
Limit catches of 2 to 4 lb walleye are being taken drift fishing the deep water reefs and open waters from North Harbor Island to Hen and Wagon Wheel, off Sheraton Point and North of North Bay Pelee Island and from Point Pelee to North Bay. Average weight for 42 walleye has been 130 lbs.
There also has been a spotty bite on walleye on the US waters on the western basin reef complex Niagara, Little Pickerel, Big Pickerel, A Can and also East of Kelly's Shoal. The fish on the US reefs are smaller 14 to 16 inches one pound on the average.
Small moth bass fishing has been very good to us in Canadian waters we handled around 100 yesterday most bass were averaging 13 to 15 inch and we caught several 19 inch Trophy's. Drift fishing with soft craws and a slip sinker rig
July 13 2010
We moved our boats to Catawba Landing and we have been fishing both Ohio waters and Canadian waters from D can to the Canadian border in the Ohio waters has been been producing lots of good eaters 15 to 17 inch fish both casting and trolling.
The Canadian waters have been producing a much better grade 18 to 24 inch walleyes with some 26 and 27s. We have been drift fishing fishing rod in hand casting gold spinners and doing very well in both Ohio and Canadian waters.
I an anxious to fish for Yellow Perch we have been catching a good number of good size Yellow Perch drift fishing for walleye.
That's a good indication that its time!
July 10
Bass fishing Canadian side. Drift fishing with soft craws just off the bottom and anchoring up we turned 70 bass in the 1 1/2 to 4 lb plus range. They were scattered you could site fish them in 10 feet of water but we did our best anchored in 20 feet.
June 25 -2010
Nice boxes of walleye and limits were caught drift fishing on the western basin Gold spinners low and slow was the ticket also a early start. The drifters that got a early go had 15 to 20 fish by 8:00 am and some 42 fish limits were caught drifting by 10 am this morning. If you missed the early bite the wind quit and the rest of the day was a pick. We ended up with 18 nice walleye on my boat and Coe Vanna 111 finished with 36. Trolling also produced nice catches of walleye. The Turn around buoy to the Gravel Pits to C can to the Canadian Border all produced walleyes. We fished between West Sister andMiddle Sister
June 22 & 23
Drift fishing limits are being caught on the western basin.
We are catching limits of 1 1/2 to 3 lb walleyes drift fishing casting gold weapons on the swing. Best areas have been from the Turn Around buoy near the Michigan border to just north of the Gravel Pits to south of Middle Sister. East of Kelly's Island has also been producing.
Nice size Yellow Perch are now showing up in the western basin just in time for the start of our traditional perch jerkin season on our end of the lake!
June 21 2010
Drift fishing limits were caught north of West Sister today. Two drifts a mile long each netted an average of 20 walleye per drift and ended up with a nice limit catch of 42 walleye by 1100 am!
The May fly hatch is finishing up in the western end of the Lake and our catching is picking up. My last four or five runs up to today I have fished from the 00 line to the 06 line and have been marking fair to good and catching an average of 20 walleye per trip casting on the swing using a 8 to a ten count and a 3/4 ounce #4 deep cup Gold Colorado blade and a medium to fast steady wind. The fish have been coming in the middle of the swing and some right by the boat.
June 13 2010
Drift fishing catches have been good off Huron - Vermillion- and around Pelee Island in the Canadian waters. The western basin reef complex has had its moments for drifters but not as consistent as the eastern bite. The Gravel Pits to the Michigan border the walleye fishing is showing signs of perking up as the main May Fly hatch is slowing down in these areas. Trolling catches over all have been more productive in the same areas but not a sure bet.
June 1
The drift fishing bite is picking up. Finally some wind and Gold harnesses are working. We have been fishing the out side reefs A -B and C cans. CV1V caught 43 drift fishing by noon on May 31 and today's drifters are doing good again. Best areas are from Crane Creek to The Islands and in Canadian waters around Pelee Island. The trolling bite is strong also.
May 29 2010
Drift fishing has been spotty there has not been enough wind to drift most days flat water and trolling has been the ticket. The trolling bite has been good around the Bass Islands both east, south and west sides also Niagara Reef C can and D can areas and up against the Michigan border.
Lake Erie Western Basin Fishing Report May 9 2010
Walleye fishing remains good fishing jigs 3/4 ounce or weapons { Carolina rig with a # 4 Gold Blade }and bottom bouncers. We have been fishing spinners and bouncers for about a week now while others continue to catch with jigs. The walleye are done spawning and are spreading into the open waters of the western basin. The gravel Pits - W-NW of West Sister are producing as well as A Can,L Can, 20 feet of water in front of Crane Creek State Park, between Crib and Round and Niagara Reefs and D can. The reefs especially in the deeper water between the reefs 20 feet or so. The early bite on top has been good after that focus on the deeper waters between. Although the fast pace of catching limits during the spawn is over we are still taking very nice catches of walleye it just takes longer as the limit is now up to six per person as of May 1 and the fish are spread out more.
Lake Erie fishing report May 4 2010
Walleye are just about done spawning. There is still a jig bite for walleye off the edges of the reefs, K can to Crane Creek State Park and in the western basin reef complex from 10 to 20 feet of water also in the Maumee Bay from Little Cedar Point to Turtle Island.
The open water spinner bite has been on from A can to Niagara Reef, between South Bass Island and Mouse Island and up near the border from Middle Island to Middle Bass Island and above Kelly's Island. Both bottom bouncers and weapons worked low and slow around the swing have been catching good. The color is always the same GOLD!
Lake Erie Fishing Report April 28-10
We left our dock at Wild Wings Marina at 700 am as it was a bit chilly. How ever we soon warmed up. I made our first attempt drifting across Locust Point Reef with no success so I moved to Cone Reef because it is deeper and no boats were on it. I started my drift in 22 feet of water and we landed 3 nice walleye on 3/4 ounce jigs John Deer green tipped with night crawlers. We caught a few fish on top but the best was off the upwind side in 22 to 20 feet of water. As usual it did not take long for several other charters to spot me and move in. Well when you get a couple charter boats close together on a tuff day it attracts attention and soon there was 15 boats too many for my likings on Cone Reef so I moved off to another outside reef and we caught our fish by our selves nice and quite the way I like it. I did make 2 casts with a gold weapon and caught two nice walleye which created a change a thon. I switched everyone over to spinners and when they did not catch as well so I switched them back to jigs. The spinner bite is easy when you have done it as long as some of us have. 3/4 ounce weight #4 deep cup hex gold. blade. Make a long cast working the swing scratching the bottom from time to time and almost jigging the spinner. Its easy if you have a good feel but hard to teach. Bouncers have been catching also when you have enough wind. Bigger walleye are being caught with spinners and bouncers around the Islands areas Green to Rattle snake and Middle Bass to Middle Island and above Kelly's Island.
Captain Dave. www.coevannacharters.com
Lake Erie fishing report April 25 2010
The wind has been east to north east for the last couple days and at times a bit brisk with 2 to 4 foot waves. This muddies the shore line waters up and moves the walleye deeper. Also the walleye are finishing up spawning so the strong spawning urge that drives them to the shallows and reefs and clam beds in big numbers is not happening any more. The catches are spotty and the walleye are moving to the open waters, reefs and ledges. Today I worked the deeper water between the reefs and we caught nice 5 lb males both on bottom bouncers and jigs. Two ounce bottom bouncers with a #4 deep cup hex gold blade tied short so it runs close to but just above the bottom baited with a night crawler worked well. We also caught on 3/4 ounce jigs purple/chartreuse casting the jigs 3/4 up wind and working them around the swing did the best. We were averaging 4 to 6 walleye per half hour drift and we came in with a nice box of walleye. We would have limited out but mother nature raised her voice and we headed in. Look for the weapon spinner bite very soon. Don't forget the night crawlers on your next trip! Capt. Dave www.coevannacharters.com
April 23, 2010
The walleye are finishing up spawning and are moving deeper and starting to scatter into the open waters of the lake. Today we took one long drift starting in 22 feet near Cone Reef and let it slide for a couple hours and picked fish all the way. We also took our first fish on bottom bouncers. So be prepared for the weapon bite as we are entering transition time now. Don't forget your night crawlers. It will be bouncing back and forth depending on who you talk to a
nd what dog you feed. One person will say its jigs and the next weapons and crawlers. Be prepared.
Capt. Dave
April 20 2010 Fishing Report
We left the dock around 6:15 am went out about a mile and a half shut off the key with in 5 min I here fish on 2 and three people at a time. I was Quick to get on the radio and tell my father we were on a hot spot. We took our limit of nice 4 to 5 ib average walleyes by 8:00 am. We fun fished till about 12:00 and threw back 20 to 25 nice walleyes. Purple hair jigs have been my favorite all year green and blue have been good also. Three CoeVanna boats left the dock that day and we all limited out really close to one another. What a great fishing day. I will be fishing tomorrow afternoon I will post another report soon Capt. Coe Allen
April 19 2010 Lake Erie Fishing Report
We loaded up at 630 this morning with a 6 man crew of Chicago brick layers. The water cleared up nicely over night and we were able to fish local in 12 to 16 feet of water. Green/chartreuse and blue and white jigs tipped with a minnow and a slow jigging motion did the trick. We had our limit of 28 walleye by 11:00am. Turtle reef, Locust Point Cone Crib and Toussaint reefs as well as L can to K can areas are holding lots of walleye.
