mayflies

how long does the fish fly hatch last. Iwasout 6/15/ and could not catch a fish.

That hatch starts slow, picks up and is strong for a couple of weeks and will die down but continue a couple of weeks after. It is just getting started. I was just in Port Clinton this evening and saw very little sign with a stiff North West breeze. That breeze will blow them in and cover everthing white in no time at all. I would imagine this weekend will be unreal for the hatch. Fish are still catchable, it just takes a little more time. The current conditions set up a nice evening bite. Full moon and mayflies. Fish till sundown if you can. I have had some of my best fishing during the peak of the hatch by running North to a rocky bottom. The North side of Pelee can be red hot during the hatch. Its deeper, colder and rockier. Perhaps not as many to hatch. This is also a time of year when we hear of many "dropped" fish. The hook to land ratio drops due to a softening of the mouth tissue that happens this time of year. I think it is a combination of, post spawn, forage, water temp, growth, migration that cause this to happen. Go light on the drag, slow or stop the boat to land, keep hook tips sharp. Don't horse em.

Great post spoontang!

Thanks for sharing the information.

Very nice report. Please keep us up-dated. I was up there last week had a good catch of walleye and noticed some hatching on Thursday on put in bay area. I will be coming back up on the 25 thru 28 so your report was very helpful.
Walleye Seeker

Date Fished: 6/15
Location: West of Rattlesnake and then North of Kelly's
Depth: 30-35 FOW
Speed: 2.0 - 2.4
Method: Trolling, Dipsies set #3 60-65 back, #250-55 back
Lures: Copper Melon Stinger best (4/6 eyes), 1 on Orange Crush, 1 on Mass Confusion.
Catch: Six walleye in about 2.5 hrs fishing (all over 22", biggest 5.5 lbs)


First time out this season, took the family out on Father's Day for a "Boat Ride" and a little relaxed fishing. Didn't get on the water until 1:00pm and Stopped fishing at 5:00 to go to dinner at the Boardwalk at Put In Bay. Started west of Rattlesnake in 32 FOW and trolled NE @ 2.0 to 2.4 MPH. Caught three nice walleye (all over 22") and an un-countable number of white bass and sheepshead (couldn't keep them off the lines) in an hour and a half. Large Dipsies set #3 60-65 back and set #2 50-55 back. Stinger "copper melon" caught 2 eyes and orange crush caught the third. Decided to move north of Kelly's, near what I think is gull shoal south of Middle Island in 30 to 35 FOW. Trolled east, north east around the edge of the shoal. Same trolling speed and dipsy set up. Decided to put out two in line boards one with a stinger and snap on weight and one with a reef runner (nothing). Dipsies caught three more nice eyes in an hour (again all over 22") two on copper melon and one on mass confusion (no white bass or sheephead). Then I couldn't find the fish again. Trolled same line on GPS, moved deeper then shallower, where did they go?? I was the only boat around, didn't get spooked by the pack. The only thing I can think of was it had been partly cloudy and then the sun came back out (much to my wife's satisfaction in the bow with her book). I did see some May Fly husks on the water but very few flies in the air or on shore. I was surprised by the lack of boats out on a beautiful day (lack of fish or the economy ?).

Sorry for the long story, great Father's Day, relaxed fishing and my 8 yr old daughter caught the biggest walleye 5.5 lbs, much to my son's chagrin.

Last year was my first year fishing on Erie and this site was a big help. I can't remember exactly when I started fishing last season (I think it might have been Father's Day weekend as well).

I have not seen too many posts talking about people fishing around the islands, have I missed the best fishing or is it yet to come?