Lake Erie Walleye

erie skipper · 03-19-2009, 05:24 PM

The run has started on the lake and in the Maumee and Sandusky Rivers. Be careful on the lake as there are still icebergs floating around and lots of debris. Good catches and nice-sized fish reported. Weather has been just right.

TheSkipper · 03-20-2009, 08:25 AM

Erie Skipper,

How about some spring walleye fishing tips? I've been walleye fishing on Lake Erie for about 20 years, but have always waited until late May to start. At that time of the year it's like shooting fish in a barrel - just put anything on your line, find the fish, and it's easy to catch a bunch no matter what time of day.

What about April and early May? Are there certain times of the day that the fish bite? Are there certain programs that out-produce others? I've heard that a lot of guys use downriggers and/or mini-dipseys with small spoons in the spring. That would seem to indicate that the fish are in at least 20 feet of water.

By the way, I do almost all of my walleye fishing out of Bolles Harbor or Brest Bay, and usually try to stay in Michigan waters.

erie skipper · 03-20-2009, 10:17 AM

Lead headed jigs in the spring with a treble stinger hook works very well--you can tip it with a minnow or two or use nothing at all and get good results---have heard of spring trolling, but not that up to date on it. From your area, run to A or K can on our side and you'll get good results jigging through much of May

TheSkipper · 03-20-2009, 10:28 AM

What time of day?

Jeff42899 · 03-20-2009, 11:57 AM

Freebyrd (Steve) provided me with some great advice last year regarding trolling after ice out. We ran reef runners on inline planers with great success. The fish were not as plentiful as what you would encounter jigging but the sizes were amazing. At one point we had two fish totaling 21 pounds hooked at the same time. That sure helps shake the winter blues! Just run a little slower than summer speed and you'll be surprised what you catch!

erie skipper · 03-20-2009, 04:45 PM

Time of day doesn't seem to matter that much as they are very active most of the time during the spawn and right after Have had luck most any time of day I try to avoid reefs that have several boats already working them as the fish can get spooked at times from the noise Reef edges are sometimes better than the reefs themselves and nearshore in 8-16' of water inside of the reefs sometimes works well also

FreeByrd · 03-23-2009, 03:32 PM

I got out yesterday - Sunday March 22 (earliest I've ever fished). Hitched a ride and actually jigged for the first time in 4 or 5 years. It was fun but I was wondering the whole time about what my buddies were doing that were trolling. We found out when we were cleaning the little fish we caught jigging, some guys were cleaning the big fish they caught trolling Reef Runners and Ripsticks.

I'm ready to again sell my ENTIRE jig collection - it can be had cheap - like a couple cold Bud lights and they are ALL yours...the 6 hair jigs I bought Sunday morning - only needed one of them Sunday.

The hair jigs along with my rusty jiggin skills were indeed good enough to catch dinner. Hard to beat eating walleye that were swimming two hours before they went in the deep fryer!

For the guy asking about fishing and waiting until May - do yourself a favor and plan to fish in April - that can be the best fishing of the year. Also for real detailed reports do a search for a local site - Ohio Game Fishing

Steve

cobra427mnsi · 03-23-2009, 04:01 PM

Have been waiting all winter to hear this good news !!!
Guys, are you fishing (jigging) in rivers, river mouths or open water ? If open water, how deep? Are they in the usual places that they are found in in May? I have been thinking of trying off and around Grubbs reef. It is a gravel reef found between Point Pelee and Pelee Island on the Canadian side for those of you who don't know of it. Haven't heard much of anyone trying to troll in open water this early in the season. It stands to reason that not all the walleye in Lake Erie spawn in the Detroit river. They must spawn in the gravel in the lake as well.

FreeByrd · 03-23-2009, 05:18 PM

Cobra,
The OVERWHELMING MAJORITY of the fish spawn in the lake (like upwards of 80%) - and of those fish, the vast majority of them spawn in the western basin reef complex west of the bass islands, but there are definitely spawing populations all along the lake - grubb reef may indeed hold some spawners.

There were hundreds of boats out on the open lake in Ohio waters this weekend. Most people jigging the flats off the edges of the reefs and some up on the reefs (the first spawners are starting to move up - but many more are staged off the edges of the reefs).

Many people used to think you couldn't effectively troll for the fish until the water was near 50 degrees. Tournament fishermen have shed the light on that starting in the 90s when trolling with inline boards / cranks became popular for early season catches. Husky Jerks, Rogues, Reef Runners, Ripsticks are the most popular - AND FISH UP HIGH. Like top 5-10 feet of the water column over deeper water like 24 to 30 feet off the edges of the reefs. It is hard to get the deeper fish you will mark within 4 feet of the bottom to go after the cranks but there will be fish up higher feeding especially if you mark "baitballs" 8 to 12 feet down. The guys trolling this weekend were going VERY SLOW - like .8 to 1.2 MPH. Another week and you should be able to get them at 1.5 to 2 MPH.
Steve

davidkuhlmann · 03-23-2009, 06:25 PM

If anyone is interested I can post a report from yesterday as well as some pictures of walleye up to almost 13 lbs. They were caught on crankbaits trolling.

I'll be headed there in about 3 weeks.

cobra427mnsi · 03-23-2009, 06:54 PM

Freebyrd, thanks for the info. I am always willing to learn new stuff !

davidkuhlmann, a report would be much appreciated (what lures, depth, speed, maybe jigs,etc). Thanks for the offer.

brdawg2001 · 03-24-2009, 08:13 AM

Let's see some pics...I used to hit it hard but now I am in the south doing the salt water thing....loved them walleye but the saltwater gig is much better.

FreeByrd · 03-24-2009, 08:51 AM

Funny thing is the only picture I took on Sunday was at dinner. Hard to beat eating walleye that were swimming 2 hours earlier in 36 degree water!
Steve

greylion · 03-24-2009, 10:27 AM

Dang Steve, it's almost lunch time, now I'm really hungry! Sounds fun.

Jim

davidkuhlmann · 03-24-2009, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cobra427mnsi

Freebyrd, thanks for the info. I am always willing to learn new stuff !

davidkuhlmann, a report would be much appreciated (what lures, depth, speed, maybe jigs,etc). Thanks for the offer.

I'll upload the pictures later today I have to post them on another website then will link them here.

These big fish were caught pulling cranks Reef Runners and Husky Jerks 20' 40' and 60' back behind the boards. Trolling speed was .9 - 1.2 water temps were around 38.

Smaller males were being caught on the reef's on the good ole lake Erie hair jigs with stinger hook.

The trolling worked about anywhere you would troll even in the dirty water by D can. The big fish were caught trolling in clear water at the time it was about 7 miles out of Port Clinton of course this changes daily.

So I'll be back with some pictures of Sunday's catch.

cobra427mnsi · 03-24-2009, 03:42 PM

David, thanks for this report and the pics in the other thread

Lady Bridge II · 03-26-2009, 06:56 AM

Steve,

Looks like you had the walleye professionally cooked for you. Are there many places that will cook your catch? I don't think we have any places in Toledo that will do that.

brdawg2001 · 03-26-2009, 07:17 AM

Lady B, It is all about the temp....340 -350 and consistent...you need a thermometer...

Looks like that batch is done with corn meal seasoning and not the normal flour nastiness folks use up north. MUCH better and it sure looks good for sure.

r

brdawg2001 · 03-26-2009, 07:18 AM

Lady B, BTW, I used to live in Toledo and could have showed you the tricks but now I am in the ATL.

r

erie skipper · 03-26-2009, 04:36 PM

Also try Walleye on the grill using a grill topper or try the Geo Foreman A little cajun seasoning, some Mrs. Dash etc; wow beats deep fried for me and if you arent supposed to eat fried, this is a great answer Still hoping to get out soon, have heard more great reports on the rivers and lake both Looks like a great season ahead; hope the spawn is going well........