I was fortunate to spend a full day on Erie near Cedar Point with one of my customers. We launched his Ranger 521 at 6 am and the 250 Evinrude had us skipping along at 60 mph on the way to the motherlode. We stopped at the first spot after a cold 20 minute run and wouldn't leave this area for the next 4 hours. The water temp was still only 48 degrees so we fished in the 6-15 foot range and both started with a goby imitation ned rig. The turd rig did the heavy lifting for us! It took a very slow presentation, sometimes even deadsticked, to get bit. The bottom we were fishing was littered with rocks covered in zebra mussels and the occasional large boulder. We got hung up quite a bit but with feel you could walk your bait through it. Line care was critical, as those zebra mussels are very sharp and your floro leader would get chafed very easily.
Once we dialed in, we went to work on em. We landed 35 fat prespawners from this area, as well as a bunch of sheep head in the mix too. The other guys in the area caught an occasional fish while we hammered em. They were not slowing down and adjusting to how the fish wanted the bait. Guys were coming up to us for tips or to ask what we were using, but they were just fishing too fast. We finally decided to leave this area, only because it was too beautiful of a day and seas were 1 foot or less and he wanted to show me around. I hate to leave fish to find fish, but we had a pile of great fish already, so it was a perfect day to run around. We caught fish everywhere we went, mostly on the ned rig, but did some damage with a Vision 110 jerkbait and a KVD 2.5 squarebill. The turquoise colored water and beautiful diversity of shoreline scenery were amazing. We ended the epic day with 52 smallies to 5lb 10oz, a dozen sheep head to 8 lbs and a bonus walleye that Casey took home for the table. Erie didn't disappoint and I had a great day chasing my favorite fish.
These were a 5 10 and a 5 0 double!
Tons of these 4 lb class footballs
Sheephead or drum. They pull really nice and are a fun fish, but locals don't care for them too much.
Great report. Lake Erie is a very productive fishery. That is a fabulous walleye area too but right now they are probably all still up in the rivers spawning. In a few weeks they will be out in the lake again around the islands. An Erie Dearie trolled with a nice night crawler on it is a great way to hook up. Once you find them just throw out the anchor and fan cast that lure for great action.
Fantastic work. It was so windy when we went last week that we got blown out of the harbors! Still, we managed about 30 each day, and I had a 5:10 on a blade bait. Water is super cold in about three weeks behind this year. Might get up there for Memorial Day weekend.... Nice report!
Sounds like you guys really dial them in, when it's on, it's hundred fish with too many for powders to count. Greatest place on Earth
Fantastic work. It was so windy when we went last week that we got blown out of the harbors! Still, we managed about 30 each day, and I had a 5:10 on a blade bait. Water is super cold in about three weeks behind this year. Might get up there for Memorial Day weekend.... Nice report!
Sounds like you guys really dial them in, when it's on, it's hundred fish with too many for powders to count. Greatest place on Earth
The weather has been cool and wet in Ohio. The water was cooler than I expected too.
Nothing wrong with 30+ on a tough day Mike. Congrats on the 5 10.
Don P
Member
Registered: 05/03/07
Posts: 19688
Loc: CLINTON, CT
Great trip Jon!
Lake Erie is home seeet home for me. My Dad and I fished it for 17 years together....Smallmouth, Walleye, Muskie, Channel Cats, Carp, Calico, Steelhead, Rainbows, etc..... AWESOME Fishery!
Great report sir, those are giants!
Some big smallies to boot.
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