Looking to make a trip in april/may to western part of lake erie for some jig or slow troll walleye fishing.does anyone have any advice as far as guides and lodging. we do have our own boats but would like to hire a guide for a couple of days first. Any input on fishing erie would be greatly appreciatred. Thanks, Rogan
Are you looking for numbers or the PIG females? I don’t think you need a guide for numbers that time of year is what I am saying. I would also try to be be as flexible as far as when you leave due to weather conditions and water temp.
FDR
FDR,big would be nice but numbers would be first.we could go anytime april or may. was thinkiing of a guide to get us on the right track.If we go without a guide what type of area would a guy target?
You will only need to travel a very short distance to the reefs for numbers. I like to go out of Turtle Creek. There is a marina there called Wild Wings Marina and RV park. You can buy a weekly pass to launch your boat daily at a very affordable price. They also have a fish cleaning station as well on site. You probably don’t want to camp that time of year, it can get pretty cold.
With two guys in the boat our best numbers in 3 hours of fishing was 72 eyes. It was crazy. We stopped netting fish that were less than 17″ so that we wouldn’t have to deal with tangles. I have never fished with a guide on Erie as we have friends that live on the lake and in the Port Clinton area.
Important to get the right drift speed, so have multiple drift socks. Some days you will one, two, or none. Different sizes are a huge advantage as well. Jigs and minnows. No secret. Don’t be afraid to go heavy! Leave your ML rods at home. We usually buy a couple days worth of minnows at the Happy Hooker. It is still cold in which the minnows stay lively without much care. We occasionally break out the blade baits as well. We actually fish them against the current/drift to help keep them in the strike zone.
Keep in mind that the daily limit in the early part of the season is only 3 fish per angler.
Let me know if you have other questions.
FDR
We have gone with this outfit three different years, each time for three days on Memorial day weekend. We always got our limit of six per guy (six guys) plus the captains. He would take the six we didn’t want. We always asked for Captain Ron as he would help as little or as much as we wanted, it was great.
excellent reply
limit 4 until may 1 then 6
unless they changed it
Everyone has shared some vaulable info here.
As mentioned, Wild wings would also be my choice. They have a gas station/convience store on location, Happy Hooker bait shop is just down the road, it is centraly located regarding reef fishing, and has a bar and resturant which also serves breakfast (or at least they still were last year).
Someone also stated you won’t have to travel far and that should also be a true statement.
My biggest advice, and this is coming from many years of spring Erie fishing is do you very best to allow yourself maybe an extra couple days in case of blows. When it blows, it get “Erie” and you simply don’t go out.
I wil also be headed down there right at end of April and planning on at least a week, but I have business I can do on blow days.
A Navionics Premium East chip (or equivlent) would be almost a must. Will show you reefs and will help you navigate while on water.
I ussualy stay in Port clinton at a Hotel but have rented condos at Wild wings and that was the cat’s meow.
Totally agree with not risking it when Erie blows. The worst is a wind out of the northeast. We have cancelled trips with less than 4 hours notice due to poor weather conditions. We have also packed up and left for Erie with 12 hours notice to take advantage of favorable fishing conditions and a hot bite.
I personally have always done better in April than May.
FDR
Thanks to all for the good advice, i will run this by the crew.
Good site with good people,
Thanks, Rogan
I fished last mid-April with my Brother-In-law in his boat out of East Harbor near Port Clinton. We stayed at “The Pond” condos owned by Pete of Captain Hook Charters. Controlled-drift fishing with jigs & minnows on the reefs around Catawaba Island was very productive. I have been out with Pete’s Capt. Hook Charter (out of West Harbor)guides in past years and they are great if you want a guide. My Bro-In-law has been staying at Pete’s condos and sometimes using him as a guide on annual spring trips for about 10 years.
The comments about weather on Erie are right on and make sure you have all the required safety gear if you take your own boat. A marine radio won’t hurt either. We got check last year the day after a WI boat got in trouble on a “Blow Day” off the Power Plant.
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