Keeping it budget minded on my solo trip Sunday eve…
Anyone have knowledge of the Best Western, or Quality Inn in Port Clinton? Safe parking and such?
Ever go out of Wild Wings, just to the south of Magee? Asking in case parking is an issue at Magee.
Last – anyone know if guys fish this are at night?
Never found anything, or even a mention of it.
I believe either of those hotels will be fine, assuming they still have rooms. Last week, I tried both and they were full.
As far as the access, just get there early, like 6am. You’ll be fine.
Night fishing? During our 2 days out, the bite seemed to slow in the late afternoon toward evening. The lake really starts to clear out at around 5, leaving very few on the ice past that. Even if there was a good night bite, I wouldn’t want to be out there alone on that huge lake. If something goes wrong, how will you get help? Cell phone service was spotty at best (Verizon anyway).
I don’t mean to seem all doom and gloom, because it’s not a scary place so much during the day when there are people around.
Good luck!
Andy
It is a huge lake and getting off it in the dark can be daunting. Even with GPS, I would come off before dusk really set it. Don’t for get about the time change this weekend and the earlier sunrises. I would try to arrive to the lake before 5:00.
Good Luck and be safe!
FDR
We stayed at Lake Erie Lodge (50/night), which is west of Port Clinton and Magee Marsh. We didn’t have any worries about leaving gear outside. Brought rods and flashers in of course.
After talking with the guy at the bait shop next to our hotel we made the decision to launch out of the marina that was about 2 blocks from our hotel (Mienke??) rather than Magee Marsh. Wherever you decide to launch out of, be there early. We were at our launching point before 5:30 both days and that gave us plenty of time to get things together and be on the ice by 6 when most people are just getting there. We didn’t hear of a whole lot of guys fishing a night bite but coming off of the lake both nights after dark there were still guys out fishing. My personal opinion resembles Andy’s, by 6 the lake was pretty well cleared off and it’s better to be safe than find yourself in a bind.
As stated, it’s a big lake. When making a move, think a mile, not a hundred yards. We found out the hard way saturday small moves don’t seem to make much difference. Sunday we moved every half hour if we weren’t catching fish and that honestly saved our trip. We could be marking fish but if they weren’t biting we were on the move.
Perfect….. thank you guys.
Last question I hope… fishing with minnows, be it tipping with heads or a full minnow. If I just carry them in a jar so they don’t freeze…. that is all good right?
We were using just heads, but I’m told on certain days they prefer the whole shiner. (lake shiners)
Our shiners died shortly after purchasing them both days. They work just fine dead so a jar should be a-ok.
Andy
This is where we stay. $30 a night, clean, good parking, and close to restaurants.
http://www.ourguestinnandsuites.com/
We’ll be back up on tues night to fish wed-thur. Not sure how long you are staying but if you need any info message me.
I was wondering which way people are driving to get out there? Going through Chicago or????
We stayed at the Best Western in Port Clinton. The parking lot fills fast with trailers but even with just a truck full of gear you don’t really have much to worry about. Being there’s so many rigs and rooms right there, guys will be checking on anything going on outside.
We launched at the one just NE of Magee Friday and wasn’t bad. Landing do fill fast in the AM. Guys were talking about getting to the launch by 530-6 just fir a spot to park.
As Andy said the night bite just wasn’t that great. My group stayed out til 10pm and didn’t have as much luck after 6pm and all but a couple groups had left the by 5-530pm.
We had luck using just the shiner head on #3 glow jiggin rap or rattle spoons with either a head or whole shiner.
Coming from Minnesota through Chicago without an I pass, be ready with lots of one dollar bills and quarters. Make sure to watch the signs of paying with cash. If you miss the toll, it’s toll fee plus $20 for a certain time frame and then goes up. If you remember the toll gate number you can go online and pay without the penalty.
#1519957
It is a huge lake and getting off it in the dark can be daunting. Even with GPS, I would come off before dusk really set it. Don’t for get about the time change this weekend and the earlier sunrises. I would try to arrive to the lake before 5:00.
Isn’t sunrise later? We lose a hr of daylight in the am. Gain it at night.
I was wondering which way people are driving to get out there? Going through Chicago or????
We went south to I80 to miss the Chicago traffic. Pretty smooth sailing with only a handful of tolls
I was wondering which way people are driving to get out there? Going through Chicago or????
Through Chicago. Just at the right time of NIGHT!
FDR
#1519957
It is a huge lake and getting off it in the dark can be daunting. Even with GPS, I would come off before dusk really set it. Don’t for get about the time change this weekend and the earlier sunrises. I would try to arrive to the lake before 5:00.Isn’t sunrise later? We lose a hr of daylight in the am. Gain it at night.
Yep that would be right!
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>ozzyky wrote:</div>
#1519957
It is a huge lake and getting off it in the dark can be daunting. Even with GPS, I would come off before dusk really set it. Don’t for get about the time change this weekend and the earlier sunrises. I would try to arrive to the lake before 5:00.Isn’t sunrise later? We lose a hr of daylight in the am. Gain it at night.
Yep that would be right!
My mistake!
FDR
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