July 14 2010
I know it's been a while since this has
been updated, but despite that fishing has been wonderful this year. Fish are being caught from one side of the lake to the
other. Mostly been fishing between Cleveland and Lorain. If your looking to get out and get some walleyes, it's time! I will
try and keep this updated from here on out. I had a baby girl 4 months ago and my time has been very limited.
June 6 2009
Headed out of Cleveland to do a short
after noon trip. Boated 7 eyes and lost 3. Fished the dump off of Rocky river 51-53 fow. All the fish came on inlines
and spinners.
May 2 2009
Headed back to the vermillion area to get
our jig on. Ended up jigging up 13 eyes, 8 smallies, and around 100 sheephead(not exaggerating). We fished 8 to 16 fow with
hair jigs and vibes. Nothing like catching over a hundred fish in one day, even if most of the are junk fish! Best color was
John Deere Green just lifting it 3 inches off the bottom and dropping it. This year is starting out a little slow but
it should be great with warmer temps and stable weather in the next few weeks.
April 26 2009
Well the wife and I headed to the vermillion
area to give the jig fishing a try there for a change. It was deffinently worth the trip. We ended up jigging up 10 and trolling
1 up after dark. Also a few 18.5 to 20 in smallies were caught. What a blast hooking into them this time of year! It looks
like the season is going to be a good one again!
APRIL 18 2009
Well we decided to head back out and do
the jig bite again. It was a whole new day. Set up, within 5 minutes we had our first fish. Ended the day with 20 eyes and
1 smallie. What a difference a day makes some times. Best colors were john deere green and purple hair jigs tipped with minnows.
April 17 2009
Headed back to the western basin
for some more eye action. Fished the reef complex area with limited success. The jig fishing was a little on the slow
side. Most of the fish came in the 8 to 14 ft range. Around 12 we headed over to the west side of Kelleys island to do some
trolling. Ended up pulling 4 for 7. Reef runner and rapalas 65-80 back. Took a few swings and misses on a worm harness 15-30
back with a 1oz weight. Ended the day with seven eyes, one shy of the limit.
March-22-2009
After a Saturday of jigging
we thought we would go give a shot at trolling for the first time in 09. It was a great choice. Ended up pulling all our fish
in 2.5 hrs and getting a few pigs mixed in. Biggest fish went 11.8 lbs, second 9 lbs, and a 8 lber was 3rd, all the rest were
4-6 lbs. Not a bad way to start out the year. We pulled Rapala deep diving Husky jerks anywhere from 65-80, and Reef
Runners 35-50 back. 1 mile an hour was the ticket, water temp was 38.5-39.5 degrees. It looks like it's going
to be another wonderful year on Erie! Good luck and tight lines.
March-21-2009
Well it's that time of the year again! Headed to the western basin for the jig bite. Fishing was a little slow
but we did manage all of the fish for the day. Most of the fish were in the 18-22 in. range,typical for the reefs this time
of year. Sure was good to get back out again.
October 14-2008
Well I have been going through withdraws from the walleye,
so I headed out to vermillion for a couple of hours. Ended up boating 14 eyes in a little over 2hrs between 2 of us. Biggest
fish went 6.5lbs. Looks like this fall is going to be great. As I type this I bet the BIG eyes are biting after dark. From
here on out the night bite should be under way. Dont miss out on it, It is one of the Best times you can have while being
a little chilly!
October 10-2008
Well I finally made it out to Cleveland for
a fun day of perch fishing with the wife. Headed out to 26n 42w (53-54 fow). We ended up with 60 nice 10-12.5 inchers
in about 3hrs. Once we found them they were up and down. They will only get bigger as the season goes on. After we finished
the perch up we set up the trolling rods to see what we could find. Ended up hooking 4 steelies and only landing one of them.
There alot of fun, but hard to keep on. On the last pass we also boated a 14" smallmouth. What a nice day to be out.
Sept -27-2008
Headed out east to Geneva for the fist time this year.
Ended up fishing east of Ashtabula 3 miles. Boated 17 and dropped quite a few more. Ran dipseys 220 on a 3.5 and a 1.5 170-190
back, jet 40s with 4oz weights 191 back. We fished around 4-5 hrs total. Not bad for a limited amount of time. Spoons and
spinners worked.
Sept-20-2008
Fished the Hawg fest tourney and had fairly good success.
We fished on the 39n -23w line and found a decent school of fish. All the fish we pulled were in the 30-40 ft range in 47
fow. Used jet 40s 140-146 back with ppl Colorado blades. Biggest fish came on a dipsey 105 back with a leopard thong
stinger. Ended up pulling off a 6th place finish out of 105 boat field.
Sept 19-2008
Pre fished for the hawg fest with limited results.
Ran 70 miles looking for fish, only found 1 and lost 2 others. Fishing was tough for everyone I talked to.
August 13 and 14 2008
Well the fish are just staying in the same area.
Same program, nothing is changing.
August 9 2008
Went out of Lorain again. Fish are still stacked up in
the same area, taking the same program. 3 oz weights with harnesses. No color was better than another. 33n 16w line still
is great. Biggest fish was 28in.
August 7 2008
Still fishing the Lorain area. Had 1 of my best days this
year so far. Ended up boating around 35 eyes and losing a few others in 3 hours total. Had 2 go 27 in and a 1 in the
26 in range. Still fishing the 33n 17w lines. Same program as before, spinners 65-90 back. Here's a few pics of the southern
boy (Billy) that was out in some of the roughest weather I have fished this year.
July 31 2008
Fished Lorain again with about the same results. The
fish are stacked up about 7-9 miles north of the harbor, 35-36n line and 16-10w line. Same program, spinners with 3oz
inlines 60-85 back. Color really didn't seem to matter. Good luck and tight lines.
|
|
| Dad with an eye and Mason with his super Smallie |
July 29 2008
Finally went out fishing for something other than walleye.
Had a young man on board that had his heart set on fishing for smallies. That would be Mason Bennett, and he showed the rest
of us how to catch one. There was only one caught, but he was the one that caught it, and a nice one I must ad. It went 18
inches and it was fat. It never jumped but it ran under the boat a few times. We had to weed through alot of sheephead
to get that one. Then we headed north to look for the eyes. Went to the 35n -10w line and set up. Before we knew it we
had em going. Once again Mason showed us how to catch the fish! It was like a fire drill until it started getting
dark. Check out the pictures, he is the one under the Cool hat!
In a few years he may
even have his own fishing show 
.
Steve and Dick thanks for going along also.
July 25 2008
Headed right back out to the 35n 15.5 area. Boated
15 for 23 between the 2 of us. Had to throw 3 back this time. Pulled spinners 65-75 back on a 4 oz bottom bouncer and 85 back
on 3 oz inlines. Any color worked.
July 24 2008
Headed back out west to Lorain for the eyes. We went
to the 35 n -15.5 w line and beat em up! The fishing was great. We boated 20 eyes in an 1h 45m. They were coming so fast we
had to throw 2 back. Pulling spinners was the ticket. Any color worked 65-150 feet back. There is a school of fish
12 miles long and 5 miles wide out there right now.
July 19 2008
Started out fishing in 55 fow north of gordon park and fished
all the way out to 74 fow. The fishing has slowed down a little bit in this area. We still caught fish, but we had to
work for them. All the fish were pulled on inlines and spinners 80-120 feet back. Purple with silver back was on fire.
July 12 2008
Fished Cleveland again. The fish seem to be hanging out in front just waiting
to be caught. We pulled spinners and inlines with great success. 100 -120 with 3 oz weights, 80- 100 with 4oz weights. Colorados
worked the best at 1.0-1.5mph, any color. The 38n, 41w was the best area. 55-62 fow. There is also a school in close and a
school out deep, key is finding an active one and staying on them.
JULY 6 2008
We fished off the dump again with decent results then made a move
out to 70 fow. Ended up boating 20 eyes and 2 steelies. same program as a few days before, 150-160 on the dipsies and
150 on the 40's. Rattle snake again was by far the best spoon.
I want to thank Terry and Karen for a nice
day on the water. Thanks for showing me a new technique to reeling in the walleye. 
JULY 3 2008
It looks like the walleye are going to stay in the Cleveland area for a while.
We started on the sw side of the dump and finished up on the east side. Boated 18 eyes and 1 for 2 on the steel. Best set
up was 150-160 on a 3.5 with a rattle snake spoon and 100-120 on the 1 setting. 125-150 on 40 jets with and without weights also
pulled a few fish. Had good results with worms also. Biggest eye went 25.5 with a couple of 24-24.5 in there also.
|
| Shawn, Ryan, and Ryan with some steel and eyes! |
JUNE 26 2008
Headed
to Fairport with Off The Hook and Hardwork charters to have a little fun fishing for some smallies. Fished around the bubble
and ended up hooking 5 between the 3 of us. Fished for about 1.5 hours then the rain and lightning came. Not bad for such
a short trip.
JUNE 25 2008
Decided to move a little further off shore to find another group of fish.
Ended up fishing the dump off of Cleveland. Found a nice school just hanging out there waiting to be caught. Boated 21 eyes
for 26, and 1 for 2 on the steelies. Biggest eye went 28.5in @ 8lbs, also lost one in the 10lbs range right behind the boat.
Best setup was 93-112 back on the 3.5 setting and 79 back on the 1 setting. Also jets pulled a few fish 100-150
back. Rattle snake and Lami cakes worked the best.
|
|
| John with the one that didnt get away! |
JUNE 21 2008
Still fishing the Cleveland area with good results. Worked the area
around the crib in 52-54 fow. Ended up boating 11 eyes and 2 steelhead before a storm blew us off the lake. Best setup was
dipsies 85-93 back on a 3.5 seting and 79 back on a 1 setting. 40 jets 115 back. Blueberry muffin and lami cakes spoons
did most of the damage.
JUNE 15 2008
Headed back to Cleveland to look for the eyes again. Found the fish to
stacked up Northwest of the crib in 52-54 fow. When we found the bug hatch we found the eyes. We worked a small pocket over
to pick 20 eyes and lost a few also. Biggest went 8.13, 8.2, 8lbs with the rest at 3-5lbs. Dipsies 75 back on a 3.5 cat/dog
and a blue berry muffin same setting. Jet 30's 100 back with a dixie chicken (ole petes) spoon was on fire . Pulled
a few on a worm harness also. Boated 2 stealies mixed in with the eyes. Good luck and tight lines!
JUNE 14 2008
Decided to head towards the Cleveland are to do some checking. Found walleye
in the 48 to 54 fow east of the crib. Stealhead are starting to mix in also. Dipsies/spoons 3.5 86 back and jets30's/spoons
100-120 back produced the best. If you find a pocket of active fish stay on them!
June 12 2008
Well we were back at it again today with similar results. Same area, same
program, and same great crew as the day before. Started fishing at 5:45 and finished around 11:30 with 2 limits. Check out
this sunrise. Thanks to the crew, had a great couple days.
JUNE 11 2008
Fished the Lorain area again with fair results. Boated 4 and then the bite shut
down. Went towards Avon and found a nice pocket of fish in 30-37 fow. Pulling 2 and 3oz inline weights 50-75 back with spinners
worked the best. BB's worked great also. Biggest fish went 10.5oz, 30.25in. The rest of the fish were in the 22-23 in
range. Looks like the fish are really on the move.
JUNE- 7- 2008
Well looks like Lorain is still the place
to be. We started around 6:15am and finished around 1:30pm. In that time we boated 24 eyes and kept our 18. The last 6 were
just a little catch and release for fun. Still the same programs, 40 jets 120 back, dipseys 40 to 65 back, and cranks
125 back. 33-38 fow from beaver to lorain. Had a great time once again and a wonderful crew aboard today.
March 26-08
Walleye fishing in the western basin is just getting started. Ice is leaving and
the fishing is starting up. A few fish were caught out of Fenwick today, and it will only get better from here on out. It
looks like most of the ice has pushed to the east for now.
March29-08
Fished
around the reef complex off of Niagara reef, fish are still in the deeper water at this time. Water temp is only 34 degrees
so the fish will be in the deeper water until it warms up a few degrees. Dead sticking minnow on jigs were the best for this
day, but look for hair jigs to really start working. In the next week or so the fish should be moving onto the reefs.
April 6 2008
Fished the area off of Fenwick again today. The water is still muddy and
the wind just will not let up. It's just a matter of time till the bite is in full swing. The cold temps and high winds
are keeping the fishing a little on the slow side. The fish we caught today were all on ppl hair jigs. Also heard of a few
fish caught on vibes. Most of the fish seem to be up on the reefs at this time but a few are being caught out in
the deeper basin trolling stick baits.
APRIL 20
Fished off of Cleveland
for perch and eyes. Starting in 35 fow right off the light with great success for some Big perch. The fish are right up on
the walls and there are some very nice ones at that. Average was 10-12 in. After that we trolled for the eyes, ended up with
3 for the night 2 in the 27" range and one around 22". The night bite is just getting going , it should only
get better.
APRIL 23
Headed back out of Cleveland for the eyes, ended up
with 4 for 5 There was a mixed bag of fish in the 22"- 26" range. All the fish came on Husky Jerks and F-18 rapalas,
10-30 foot leads. Heard of a couple of fish caught on deep divers, but most were up high.
APRIL
25
Well fished Cleveland again for the night bite, still a little on the slow side. We started out slamming
3 fish real quick and then we picked up 2 more later in the night. (5 walleye total) The fish seem to be reluctant to
slide to the east like we want them to. Do to the water temp still only 43 degrees, I think good fishing is just
right around the corner! The fish were caught on rapala HJ's, glass blue, clown, 20-40 feet back and a
deep Renosky perch 100 feet back. If your looking for perch the bite is GREAT!!! Alot of Big fish are showing up off of lorain
to Cleveland.
May 10-08
Fished out of Vermillion today west of the river in 18 to 38 fow. Had 4 eyes
and 2 smallmouth trolling reef runners. The best depth was 24-29 fow for the day. Then we switched over for the night bite
and it was on! 5 to 7 fow for the night was the best depth. Ended boating a total of 22 eyes for the day/night. At the
end we had had to through 4 back. Reef runners for the day bite 125 to 140 back, PPL bare naked and Barbie was the best.
Then for the night, Bare naked, PPl prism, Barbie, and Orange peel Rip sticks were the best, 30 ft back took all the
night fish. 1.5 mph was the best speed. Night bite is on!!!
Fished out of Edgewater last night with limited success. Ended up with 5 walleye and a couple of pull
backs. Cleveland still is a little slow. Pink Glass rapala worked best with blue glass in a close second, 30-40 feet back
off the boards. Surface temp was 58 degrees.
May 16 2008
Hit Cleveland for the night bite, Started around 8:00pm and finished
around 1:00 am. Ended up with 8 eyes. Fish came on rapalas in glass clown and black/silver smithwicks 25 to 43 feet back off
the boards. Fish were on the break off of edgewater beach in 6 to 10 fow.
May 25 2008
Fished the Lorain/Beavercreek area today in 29-34 fow. Had a great day
for the eyes. Boated 18 eyes, biggest going 27.1/4 in . The fishing is heating up in this area. Pulled harnesses and spoons
off dipsies and jets. After we played c&r we headed in for a little smallmouth fishing. Made a drift, within 5 min.
we had our first one, around 4 lbs. After that we boated 2 more eyes and a yellow perch. Great day on the water with great
fishing to go with it!
June 1 2008
Headed back to the beaver creek area just west of Lorain. Fished in
the 33 to 38 fow range all day. Boated 21 eyes, kept our 18 for the day. Majority of the fish came off harneses, with
the rest off spoons. 115-120 back on jet 40's, 70 back on a 3.5 dipsey caught a few also. Ended up with 4 fish
that went 27in, a few in the 25in range and the rest were 21 to 24. Alot of BIG fish being were caught out there. Had a few
Big ones get off at the back of the boat also. It was a Great day to be on the water!
