Fishing Reports

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Only one report came in today, but it was new information from Michigan waters.  The report said that fishing has slowed, but limits are still being caught.  Over the weekend 18' of water off of the Fermi cooling towers was good, and then earlier this week 18' of water from Toledo Beach to Luna Pier also produced limits.  The best set-ups were size 1 dipsys on a 3 setting 60' back with stinger spoons in purples, and hot-n-tots 80' back with a 1 ounce snap weight (20' in front of the lure, I assume) trolled at 2.5 mph.

The wind forecast looks pretty good through the weekend with everything being 15 knots or less from the west or southwest.  The temperature forecast is in the upper 70's into the mid 80's and it looks like thunderstorms are possible most days.

The latest observation at the Vermilion weather buoy has 36 knot W-NW wind gusts (a storm front just past through and it has actually calmed down already as I'm typing this), < 1 foot waves, 69 degree air temperature, 73 degree water temperature, and falling barometric pressure.

Travis

Two more reports to add to the past weekend.  Near limits were caught trolling along the Canadian border west of North Bass on a 330 degree heading.  Fish were caught on downriggers with #7 Rapalas, Jet20 and 30's 70 to 100' back, and dipsys on a 1 setting 50' back.  Hot spoons were halloween or anything with purple.  Limits were caught 4 miles NE of Niagara Reef in 29-30' of water.  Gold or rainbow bladed harnesses were trolled with snap weights (1.5 and 2 ounces) at 1.5 to 1.7 mph.

The latest observation at the Vermilion weather buoy has 7 knot E wind, < 1foot waves, 71 degree air temperature, 71 degree water temperature, and rising barometric pressure.

Travis

Today I had the privelege of fishing in the ODNR-Division of Wildlife "Fish Ohio" day.  I got to go out with captain Jerry Abele of Headhunter charters.  I was excited to see that I was on Jerry's boat because I knew Jerry's reputation for fishing shallow rocks.  Most of the Fish Ohio boats went west of the islands and caught a lot of fish, but we went north to Gull Island shoal and fished in 9 to 15' of water for bigger fish.  Our boat caught over 20 walleye up to 29" with many of the fish being over 20".  We were casting 3/8 oz and 1/2 oz Tiny Teasers (weight forward spinners).  The best colors were gold or variations of green.  Between walleye and drum we were busy all morning.  Division of Wildlife chief Steve Gray was on the boat and showed us all up by catching the most fish and the biggest.  I'll have to admit that is the first time that I've caught any walleye casting weight forwards since the 1990's.  After I remembered how to cast I had a great time.  We didn't get limits, but the average size was outstanding.

More reports coming in from the weekend confirmed that the West Sister to Middle Sister area is on fire.  It seems like farther north towards the border is where the best action is.  Fish have been caught on size 1 dipsy's on settings 1, 2, and 3 40, 50, and 60' back, respectively, with spoons or harnesses, and Jet30's 80 to 95' back with stinger spoons.  One interesting presentation mentioned was drifting snap weights 30/30 (30 feet of line, snap weight, 30 feet of line) with harnesses (gold blades of course).  Other good locations included 3 miles north of B-can and the northwest reef area (it's picking back up there after cooling down compared to a few weeks ago).

One of the reports included a timely reminder about how important towing insurance is.  For $90 to $140 you can get unlimited on-the-water towing from companies such as Boat US and other local companies, compared to a $600 to $800 dollar tow without the insurance.  I use Boat US because you can call them no matter what water body you are on and they will contact a local tow company to come get you.  It's good wherever you boat and they also have an option to add road coverage for your trailer.

The latest observation at the Vermilion weather buoy has 7 knot NE wind, < 1foot waves, 68 degree air temperature, 70 degree water temperature, and falling barometric pressure.

Travis

I just finished my second weekend of three straight weekends at home working on the house.  I'll get back out again in early July to start looking for fish around the sandbar for our July 22 tournament.  Right now I'm relying on all of you for reports.

The early reports from the weekend are mostly limits.  The great fishing hasn't slowed down based on what I'm hearing.  Out west limits were caught 4 miles NE of the turnaround buoy in 29 to 30' of water and also about half way from West Sister to Middle Sister.  It sounds like the largest pack was between West and Middle Sisters.  One report mentioned that everyone that owns a boat was there.  They were casting gold Erie Dearies and reeling them slow to keep them near the bottom.  Yellow perch continue to hit 1 mile north of the Toledo water intake.  Limits of 8 inch and larger perch were caught with about 1/3 of the fish caught being throw backs under 8".

The only island area report so far came from Gull Island Shoal.  Quality fish (up to 6.8 pounds) were caught even though it wasn't limit-filling action.  One ounce inlines 35' back with harnesses were used (hammered gold size 5 blades).

Over around the Lorain sandbar limits were caught both saturday and sunday around the 32/17 lines.  Spoons were hot, but casting also caught plenty of fish.

Keep the reports coming until I can get back out to give you some first hand information.

The latest observation at the Vermilion weather buoy has 3 knot E-NE wind, no waves, 68 degree air temperature, 71 degree water temperature, and falling barometric pressure.

Travis

Over the weekend reefs produced the biggest fish by far again.  Up in Canada Chickenolee gave up 5 fish tournament limits in the mid to upper 30 pound range.  Early in the day 1 ounce inlines with size 4 gold bladed harnesses 15 to 20' behind the board caught fish, and later in the day 30 to 40' back was better.  Down in Ohio waters Gull Island Shoal and Kelleys Island Shoal produced 5 fish that went 33 pounds.  The shallow rock fishing might not give you easy limits, but you will be rewarded with quality fish if you put the time in.  Some days they will give you both limits and size.

I received a rare (for this time of year) night report from Vermilion.  After good fishing the past few weeks Tuesday night was bad.  Not a single walleye was landed in 7 to 22' of water both east and west of the Vermilion River.

Last night an incredible 6 hour lightning show and downpour went through.  Some areas got as many as 10 inches of rain, and that's not an exaggeration.  Right now there are more strong storms going through this evening.  We went from dry to flooded in a hurry.  I would expect to see some tremendous mud plumes coming out of the river mouths very soon.  You might want to consider where you launch this weekend.  The river launches might be treacherous.

The latest observation at the Vermilion weather buoy has 9 knot N-NW wind, no waves, 73 degree air temperature, 70 degree water temperature, and falling barometric pressure.

Travis

A report from last Thursday said that the same area of the MI-OH border that has been good in Ohio waters is also producing limits on the Michigan side.  Bottom bouncers drifted/slow trolled with harnesses that had gold or hammered gold blades were best.

Walleye limits were caught off of Lorain this morning in an hour.  The 29/14 lines (the middle numbers, or "minutes", of the coordinates) provided fast action on dipsys and small spoons trolled 30' down over 40 to 50 feet of water.

The latest observation at the Vermilion weather buoy has 7 knot S wind, 1 foot waves, 71 degree air temperature, 67 degree water temperature, and falling barometric pressure.

Travis

Today was a beautiful, refreshingly cool day along the lake.  Reports are still coming in from the weekend.  7.5 miles east of Monroe MI (should be in Ohio waters based on my mapping program) in 26' of water limits were caught on Jet30's 80 to 100' back with stinger spoons in confusion and mass confusion at 2 to 2.5 mph.  Spoons out-produced harnesses and crankbaits.  A report from Niagara and "C" can didn't have much luck catching walleye, but said that 3 miles north of "C" can was much better.  Gold weapons were used to catch limits.

Perch limits of 7" and larger fish were caught 0.5 mile east of the south tip of Ballast Island.  If you're not familiar with Ballast it's the small island just east of Middle Bass and just north of South Bass.  Spreaders with blue blades or blue/pink blades did the most damage.

The wind forecast through at least Friday doesn't look bad at all, but watch out for the possible thunderstorms Wednesday and Thursday.

The latest observation at the Vermilion weather buoy has 5 knot E wind, no waves, 68 degree air temperature, 70 degree water temperature, and falling barometric pressure.

Travis

This is really amazing.  It's a lot of fun doing these reports when fish are being caught in so many areas with so many techniques.  Here are the reports from the weekend, in no certain order:

1 to 2 miles west of Port Clinton off the Moose Lodge in 8 to 12' of water (yes, that's right, it's not a mistake)- casters are catching limits using gold or chartreuse weapons and also gold weight forwards.  I'm not sure how long this one will last.  It sounds like it's attracting quite a pack of boats including charters and headboats.

0.25 mile west of the Niagara green can- walleye in slightly less than limits were caught on deep tail dancers (purpledescent) 185' back, gold/orange hot-n-tots 160' back, and bottom bouncers (2, 2.5 ounces) 110 and 125' back with gold or chartreuse/orange bladed harnesses at 1.9 to 2.7 mph.

West Sister Island (NE on Saturday, 5 miles N on Sunday)- limits on spoons in orange and gold or purple and copper.

OH/MI border (east of Monroe, Stony Point area)- no solid reports, but I've heard that it's still going.

Farther east the Cleveland crib is producing limits in 51' of water W of the crib.  Jet 20, 30, and 40's 70 to 100' back with willow bladed harnesses took fish up to 30" (unfortunately the 30" fish didn't quite make it into the boat).

I'm sure that more good reports from the weekend will keep coming in.  Get out and enjoy this fishing while it lasts.

The latest observation at the Vermilion weather buoy has 11 knot S-SE wind, 1.0 foot waves, 68 degree air temperature, 68 degree water temperature, and falling barometric pressure.

Travis

It has been a warm, windy day and it looks like rain and/or storms are headed our way.  The only new information that has come in since Friday's report is that the northwest reef area (west of West Reef) has slowed down and the fish seemed to have thinned out compared to earlier in the week.  Over between Vermilion and Lorain the 30/16 lines were producing fish on about anything that you could get down in front of them.  I'm sure plenty of reports from the weekend will come in over the next few days.

Last night the WBSA had a great meeting at the Cranberry Creek Marina with plenty of good food and spirited conversations on current topics.  Chris Redfern was there to update us on political topics and Jeff Tyson from the ODNR also gave a presentation.  If you are looking for an active fishing club to join this is the one.

The latest observation at the Vermilion weather buoy has 15 knot S-SW wind, 1.6 feet waves, 77 degree air temperature, 69 degree water temperature, and falling barometric pressure.

Travis

Yesterday (Thursday) I had the privelege of taking out a few students from the OSU Stone Lab for a day of on-the-water trolling instruction.  Fred Snyder and the Sea Grant crew are running an incredible one week sportfishing course this week.  Eleven students are getting a chance to learn about fishing techniques, tackle, and Lake Erie ecology.  Marc and I, along with a handful of other WBSA members, were assigned students to take out to show them how we troll for walleye.  The weather couldn't have been better and the fishing was great.  Numbers of 2003 walleye were caught and 3 or 4 fish Ohio's topped the day off.  Fish were caught mostly north of C can of the range and from Northwest Reef to North Bass.

I made my first pass between Northwest Reef and West Reef from the Canadian border headed south.  We started at N 41deg 44.933 min - W 82 deg 51.981 min and went to N 41 deg 43.761 min - W 82 deg 52.175 min.  2003's came fast and furious on harnesses trolled behind 1 ounce inlines 30' back at 1.2 to 1.5 mph with green or gold/firetiger colorado blades being best (as usual).  We made a second pass using jets and spoons to try a new technique, but only caught drum and white perch.  Then we went up on West Reef and caught 5 more fish that went 22 to 28.5".  The biggest fish came from approximately N 41 deg 42.876 min - W 82 deg 51.524 min.  We were in 15 to 20' of water on the reef pulling 1 ounce inlines 15' back (imagine that).  Just like gull island shoal last week the 17' depth contour seemed to hold the active fish.  4 of the 5 came on harnesses with 1 coming on a clown deep husky jerk 20' back.

Speaking of Gull Island Shoal it is still producing big fish.  Most of the reports I'm hearing second hand are coming from the deeper water north of the reef, south of Middle Island.  Our fish last week came from 17' of water (see Tuesday's report).  I just pulled the coordinates off of my GPS.  The best stretch was from N 41 deg 40.059 min - W 82 deg 40.963 min to N 41 deg 39.927 min - W 82 deg 41.108 min.

Other reports that have come in are still very good. Over near Toledo at the OH/MI border the best action has been at the 52/12 lines (straight east of Bolles Harbor in OH waters).  Between Vermilion and Lorain at the 29/18 lines 47' of water is producing fish on stinger spoons (superman).  Niagara and C can are still giving up limits, but I don't have any specifics.  4 limits of yellow perch were caught today 300 yards SW of the Green Island navigation light tower in 30' of water.