Looking for some help

I am new to these boards, i have been on the fishusa boards for awhile. i just got a boat that is erie ready and i plan to be heading up that way sometime in the middle of may. I have been on erie many times with my father and grandfather, but now i get to play the captain and i am taking a couple of my walleye friends. i am looking for some advice as to where to start what to use. i have 5 very detailed maps of the lake with gps points. i am prepared tackle wise i believe. i will be staying in the port clinton area. i know there are some very knowledged ppl on these boards after reading past post. so i am hoping i get the chance to learn from you guys.
thanks for the help

Sounds like the way I started a couple years ago. This is a good place to learn some hot spots, techniques that are working, and most of all people that are fishing on the water with you in the area. Some captins post couple times a week. Look for skipper9. Hes not afraid to tell you everything he knows. I like this site, especially with our lovely gas prices, now if we can get the weather to stabilize- somthin fishy

thats good to know. and yea i sure hope the weather decides what it is going to do.

Thanks Ron.. Middle of May? Their should be plenty of action and places to catch'em.. Are you casting or trolling? What kind of tackle do you plan on using? worm harneses, forward weight spinners or ect. I am sure that as a group we will get you on the fish.. I know I will try to be as helpful as I can..

thanks skipper i really appriciate it. i have mainly harnesess and trolling gear i do not have anything in a spinner. i was thinking about drifting and casting. i also make my own jigs so i would like to try some of them up there as well

Thats Great.. Re you using in line boards or big boards? By the middle of may the water temp will be above 55 degrees. So most trollers will be using jets and spoons. I prefer michigan stingers and scorpions. I usually put out 50/50 and see what they want.. When I am casting I usually cast worm harnesses off one side of the boat and bottom bouncers off the other side under the boat like a 3 oz. Oh well give me a call if you want to talk fishing.. 614.327.7144 thks

i would use big boards if i was trolling and probably drop something off the downriggers as well. First thing i need to do is get a half decent fishfinder for my boat. i just got it, it is used but new to me and it didnt have a fishfinder so that is the first thing. but i wil def call you when i get up there i am trying to learn as much as i can about the lake.

Eye, when looking for a fishfinder it is a MUST to have GPS on Lake Erie. For a variety of reasons from safety to marking where the fish are. Just my 2 cents.

I agree with Jig, but to be a little more specific, a mapping GPS is the only way to go. One where you can put a navionics chip in so everything on Erie is right in front of you on the map. Then, everytime you catch a fish, mark the spot and it is a piece of cake to find and hit the same spots over again. I bought a humminbird a couple years ago with the chip it was about $900. They are probably cheaper now but you could spend several thousands if you want. This is a must have for Erie.

Yes, I agree, a GPS with the mapping chip is awesome. Last year was the first year that I had it, and what a difference. We used it last week to make drifts over Niagra Reef. You could really get a good drift line over the edges, and when we caught two on the first drift, we could go back to the exact spot that we started and do it again. I'm much more aware now of a few shallow spots that could really cause some damage to the boat if the water levels ever drop. The first time I ever saw one of these in action was on a charter and a heavy fog settled in while we were out. You couldn't see 10 feet away, but with the GPS mapping chart we got right back. I spent about $800 and I'm glad I did.

i have a real nice hand held gps which i have used in the central erie on my grandfathers boat. so should i invest the money in a combo. that might be tough to convice the old lady to let me get that one after getting the boat:)

Sell her on the safety features. I personally would go with the combo. It's awesome. I do figure 8's trolling off the marks and its way too much fun arguing with my buddies as to where we actually caught them. Plus it's easier on you operating the boat. Price wise it's not as bad a it was a couple years ago. It's all part of the game

It is borderline irresponsible to NOT have a mapping GPS on Erie. Old school hand helds take you in a straight line from A. to B. There could be a shallow reef between where you are and where you want to go.

I have to absolutely agree with everyone regarding a chart plotter. A mapping GPS, although not 100% required, does increase safety 10 fold over a standard GPS. My first year with my "new to me boat" I got by with just the GPS/sonar unit that was already installed on the boat. After nearly tearing my rudder off, and nearly getting stuck on a sand bar going into west harbor, I decided the GPS chart plotter was a wise investment. Although you can see chanel markers ahead of you might not actually be in that channel. this holds true for around the islands. The channel markers around ballast island can be quite confusing without the chart plotter.

guess i will have to save up for one of them i have been looking at the prices online. thanks for the advice

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Originally Posted by bocajemma

I have to absolutely agree with everyone regarding a chart plotter. A mapping GPS, although not 100% required, does increase safety 10 fold over a standard GPS. My first year with my "new to me boat" I got by with just the GPS/sonar unit that was already installed on the boat. After nearly tearing my rudder off, and nearly getting stuck on a sand bar going into west harbor, I decided the GPS chart plotter was a wise investment. Although you can see chanel markers ahead of you might not actually be in that channel. this holds true for around the islands. The channel markers around ballast island can be quite confusing without the chart plotter.

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Excellent post bocajemma! The same can be said about Lucy's Point, Gull Island Shoal, Kelly's Shoal, Sunrise Point, Short Reef and Crib Reef as they all have a dangerous spot or two that will eat your outdrive or worse. A GPS with a Hot Maps card makes for much safer boating in those areas.

well my old lady bought me one as a surprise. she got me a humminbird and it is a combo with the lake maps and plotter so i am pretty happy i will be up port clinton probably the 3rd weekend in may and going to try to put some fish on land. thanks for all the advice so far i really appriciate all of the help yenz have been supplying