Here is a report from the trip last week to the Western Basin of Lake Erie that we were all talking about. Even though the GTG did not happen in a large form it was still a great time had by all.
http://www.fishthelake.com/fishing_reports/index.asp?id=551
Thanks again Jason and Wes for the excellent fish fry we had on Friday night. (I think Fly liked it so much, he wanted to taste it the second time) sorry, inside joke!
Sounds great DeeZee! Next year though, you’re going to have to make room for one more at that fish fry! I will NOT miss this next year!……………unless of course Rivereyes poison’s my Pup-a-roni or something!
Nice report Steve,
How big of a boat were you guys fishing out of. Could a guy get away with a 18′ in most of the area you fished?
SEDNERB
Kid,
Yeah right! Next year at this time we will be saying the same thing!! 
JK
SEDNERB,
I run a 20 foot walleye boat and there is no reason why an 18 foot boat is not adequate enough. Ask Wes Janke that ventures out on Erie from time to time in a 14 footer. Using common sense and knowing your limitations are really all you need to have under your belt. If you take your boat onto Mille Lacs lake, then your boat is good enough for Lake Erie as well. Lots of people get a little intimidated by the waters out there, but really its not bad fishing the Western Basin. You can see a shoreline at all times in this area that we fish. Nice thing to know is that there are alot of public ramps out there to use to cut down on the amount of travel to your favorite spot. Take your time getting out there and you are fine! Our last day was honest 5-6 footers and we basically idled out to our fishing area that was about 6-7 miles out.
Here is a pic of Steve and Shawn in there boat. This was on Day one of the trip. (one of the roughest)
Here are a couple more pics from the trip.
I will add more when I get them uploaded!
another
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,
This is the last one for now. This is a picture of Steve Flygstad in his Ranger as Ron and I pulled up and tied off to his Ranger and proceeded to fish with both kicker motors running and pulling boards! (look in the backround)
To top it all off we had the grill going out there eating steak sandwiches and managed to catch about 5 walleyes while we ate. Biggest fish while tied up……31″ long!
Wow. Those are some beauties DeeZee. Just imagine if you would have gotten them before they spawned out! Looks like the rouges were the ticket.
DeeZee
I met you at the ramp at Erie on Thursday night. Glad to here that you had good luck. We ended up boating a bunch of nice eye’s with the biggest being 32.5″ and several over 30″. You can bet you’ll see us out there agian next year. WOW, Talk about setting a high standard for the year. Good luck the rest of the season.
Whoa there Steve! That’s a pony you don’t want to ride!!! 
I mean………..gee whiz………….you speak as if…. 
……..I’ve broken a promise before. 
That’s okay………. 
……….we’ve still got June to get through! 
Hee, hee, heee, heee………………See ya on the pond!
Nice fish Steve, Looks like you have some great memorize. Glad you got back safe.
Steve,
It was nice to have met you guys. Thanks for letting us stay the night. It’s a shame that we didn’t get a chance to fish together, maybe next year. You guys caught some really nice fish and have some great pictures. I’m glad your trip was productive. The offer still stands for some summer fishing or maybe for the Fall bite.
Sednerd,
I run a 15 footer on Lake Erie and it gets me out and back every time (knock on wood). As DeeZee said it’s just a matter of knowing yours and your boat’s limitations. The Western basin is ideal for smaller boats, you’re never more than a couple of miles from shore or an island if you have to seek refuge. It can be intimidating at first, but it you take your time and think about what you are doing, you’ll be fine.
Wes
Mike,
It was good to talk to you and your buddies at the ramp that evening. Glad you guys got into them as well. What a fishery. This particular trip was not quite as productive as years past but when you can boat fish like these…I am not argueing! 
Here are a couple more pics of Ron and his share of beauties as well.
another..
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one more!
Nice fish Ron!
Steve you are killing me with these great pics, if you see any slobber on this post that’s me drooling 
Any chance that this trip could be scheduled before or after the LPO next year?
Steve,
Absolutely, this was a fluke that this year was bad timing on my part. Next year will be different because I would like to fish the LPO next year for sure. I think we could have more visitors come out if there was not schedule conflicting events to choose from!
The entire Port Clinton, OH area is very accomodating to fisherman with Marine dealers, bait shops, grocery stores, fast food, Wal-mart, and various restraunts to choose from if need be.
See you out there next year Steve!
Way Cool !!!
DeeZee , sign me up for next year !! Excellent pictures and awsome fish !!Thanks for sharing…
Looks like a great time. Never been there, but I’m thinking next year will be the year.
Mike,
You would love it. Pretty easy fishing and the fish you do get are nice as you can see. Smallest fish we had to our boat all week was a 25 incher!
Steve, this trip was sure a blast! I attached a pic showing how we didn’t have time to stop fishing and eat a decent meal.
Here’s another pic showing the result of getting double pigs. We didn’t have time to take the first on out of the net before we dipped for the second. Nice net job Steve!
Nice fish guys! This looks like one of those dream trips I need to do. Maybe next year I could make it happen.
Dino
Ron,
That was a fun double a 9 & 10 lbers in the net!!
Ron’s fish hit his outside line and I proceeded to help clear his inside line when my outside board starting pumping like crazy and I yelled to Ron, “I got one too!” So we both tried to clear our inside lines while maintaining the fish on the other rod. Well, low and behold I managed to tangle my inside line up with my fish. So, my fish made it to the net first with a bunch of line wrapped all around her and I had no time to get her out and untangled when Ron’s fish was headed for the net as well! What chaos… 
yet so much fun!
Wow!! What a bunch of great fish. Great job on the photo’s. What was the average temp out there this time of the year? You said the water was still cold but how was the air temps. Were all the fish huge and if they are what size is a eater? It looks like a great place to check out. Steve
WOW STEVE, What a trip, just stop with the pictures, just can’t take it anymore. Any of these fish for most fishermen would be fish of a lifetime, wonderful pictures and report. and to think I lived in Indiana for eight years before I came to MN. (moved in ’85) I never made it there. Sure looks like a trip in the future is definitely in the cards. Changed my mind, KEEP THOSE PICS coming. WOW, I’m stunned. Jack.. 
Steve,
The air temps ranged all week from upper 50’s to lower 70’s. One year ago during the PWT event, I had upper 80’s and lower 90’s. WOW! Evening temps were from upper 30’s to lower 40’s most of the week and warmed up quickly during the morning hours. Like all of us that fish Red Wing in the fall, winter, or spring….this seemed like hat and t-shirt weather! 
As far as eaters go, we ended up filleting up a couple 25 & 26 inchers which seem really weird because that is not like us whatsoever to take fish like that to the frying pan. A little different mentality out there for harvesting of fish that I have noticed the last couple years. Most all tournies out there this time of year are harvest tournies that I am aware of. All fish are donated every year to homeless shelters or other less fortunate groups. Walleyes are definately in abundance out here on Lake Erie. Its very pleasant to see the system in such great shape. The walleye’s forage consists of alewives, perch, whitefish, gobies and several others that I cannot name I am sure. This type of forage gives the walleyes a very high protein diet that allows these fish to grow at rapid rates! The average age of these fish are baffling.
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