Easy walleye at Geneva

I thought long and hard about saying anything about the Geneva bite but I promised some of my followers that when I got it going I'd let them know. I really don't think the pros want the good news to leak out but someone has to break the ice. I hit the ramp at Geneva State Park a little after 7 AM this morning. I was about Number 12 in line to launch but with 6 ramps I was underway in no time. 8 miles NW to the 02W and the 58N. Hammered gold and BumbleBee gold Contender spoons back 54' off 50TT behind Church Walleye side planers at 1.9 mph trolling due east in 71 FOW. I was done at 9:20. Would have finished sooner but my bad netting technique lost a Fish Ohio at the boat. To quote a member of the "A" team, "I love it when a plan comes together". Next trip: Monday. Hope to see you out there. It's a big lake and more than enough walleye for everyone.

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Originally Posted by Dr.Ed

. Hammered gold and BumbleBee gold Contender spoons back 54' off 50TT behind Church Walleye side planers at 1.9 mph trolling due east in 71 FOW.

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Dr.Ed please forgive my ignorance, but could you tell me what “50TT” means? I see this in other posted and I’m lost.
Thanks

great jod and it is really good of you to share your info. we need more guys like you out there and on this forum. I am always willing to share my good fortune. we cant catch all the fish so why not share??
Sherman

I could be wrong but I believe he is referring to tru trip 50,s

Those church boards, they full size planer boards or small boards? Must be full size to pull them 50tt yes?

The secret to catching walleye is to get a bait into the strike zone. The shorter the distance between the fish and the net the better. Yesterday I chose TruTrip 50 divers because a lot of my captain friends are using them and I picked 54 feet for two reasons. That lead puts the spoons just above the suspended fish and the second reason might seem silly but I graduated from Avon Lake high school in the class of '54 so it's an easy number for me to remember. To get to the same depth with 40 JetDivers, you have to let out almost 125' of line. That's a much longer pull with more chances of losing the fish bringing it to the boat.
The shortest distance between lure and net is off the downrigger. Next would be a 4 oz. bottom bouncer on wire line followed by a big dipsey on a "1" setting. Last would be long lines of mono or stainless steel line with and without in line sinkers.
Last fall the only presentation that worked well was a LongA Bomber on SS line back 350 feet. It made for a long day.
I've been fishing Erie since 1950. I don't have all the answers but if you have questions ask away. I'm good at making up answers. Ch. 68 tomorrow. Flash...a question just popped up. The Church board I use is not the smallest. It says Walleye Board on the face. I'm only running spoons off the 50TT and no faster than 2.1mph.

Today I ran basically the same program as Saturday except I ran west to the 05W and 56N. Probably a big mistake. The marks were few and far between.
It took a lot longer and my six fish came on six different spoons. 3 fish were just over 27 in. I'm now looking for a new hunting grounds where fish should come faster. If you killed them today, would you care to share???

hey Dr.Ed, I see you are using spoons there. I fish out of Buffalo and we use harnesses and sticks but not spoons, do you guys ever use harnesses? I am coming for a week starting Friday with my father, son and brother and want to make it a memorable trip so any tips would be appreciated. Mark

In the central basin of Lake Erie, the walleye are hitting on anything you put in front of them. Finding a good active school can be a problem. The info you get from this site should help a lot. In the past I always used harnesses behind Dipseys and behind bottom bouncers. Crankbaits were also effective. Today some captains are again using Long A Bombers out 300 feet on stainless steel line. Whatever works. Listen on Ch. 68 if you run out of Geneva State Park. It won't get more current than what you here from those talking. I'll be one of them and we share. Good luck.

thanks Dr Ed. We will be there friday with two boats, one a 16' aluminum and and a 25' home built cabin job. We'll be there for the week and maybe we can hookup with you and get some info. thanks again, Mark.

Be very careful with a 16' boat. Lake Erie can get angry in a hurry. Tune in the marine broadcast but take what they tell you with a grain of salt. I've been out there in 20 kt winds with 5-6 foot waves while they are saying 5-15 kt winds and waves 2 feet or less. That's the U.S. government in action. I'm
planning to launch from the Geneva ramp on Friday at 6:30 AM. My boat, the
Holly Lucas (Holly III) is a 201 ProLine WA with a blue stripe and blue bimini top flying the stars and stripes off the radio antenna. Ch. 68 to listen and talk.

We probably won't get there till 11:00 - noon. I'm very much used to Erie with this boat, but most of the time we will be on the big boat. The little one will be for perch mostly.

thinkin about comin 2 Geneva Sat. How did you do today? Any info would b greatly appreciated

Rough day for me today. 5 fish in five hours. 7-8 miles NW of Geneva. All on spoons off 50 TruTrips back 80' at 1.9 mph. All were nice 27 inch fish but with such a beautiful lake I should have had more in that time frame. I may hit the lake again Sunday as the forecast looks good. 6/22 update. I belong to a local fishing club and will be hitting the Geneva ramp tomorrow morning around 6:30 AM with two club members hopefully to show them how to catch walleye. Stay tuned....

2 Fish Ohio off watermelon and black and purple worm harnesses off "O" dipseys on a 2 setting back 135 feet at 1.9 mph 7 miles NW of Geneva. Six fish total which I didn't think was much but one of the club members was elated. A smile and a thank you is all I ever want when someone is on my boat. I got both.

What is easiest way to tell that you have fish on when using the "walleye" side planer board? Was out of Ashtabula this morning and drug a 29" for I have no idea how long. Ended up with 3 all caught on purple, purple/watermelon harnesses. You've helped me a lot with the info you have posted, hope to catch up with you sometime soon, Chuck

I run 2 Church Walleye boards in tandem on each side. The far board is out 100 feet. The inside board is out about 75-80 feet so they line up with the boat. As long as you run a straight course, even a white bass will pull the board back far enough that you can tell something isn't right so you can check that board for company. Yesterday a board dropped back about 4-5 feet and it turned out to be a 22 inch walleye.(table grade) You really have to pay attention. Hopefully I'll be out again tomorrow AM.

Only have one church board, thought would see if liked it before getting more, seems like have as much equipment now that I don't use as I have that I do use. Will give another go on calmer day to watch the board closer. Have you had any luck setting board up to release and run back to TT or Jet divers? Just wondering...thanks for quick response

Having the board release and slide back to the TT or JetDiver would defeat the smooth transition of bringing the fish to the net and increase your chances of loosing the fish. Fishing became expensive when that first fisherman put aside his cane pole in search of something better. I would strongly suggest you get another board to run side by side with the one you have. It will be well worth the investment and make life on the lake much easier for you and yours. I find staring at the boards can be hypnotizing and draw your attention away from the hazards of boat traffic so I try to find someone else to watch them for me. You won't believe how fast a fishing buddy will catch on and he or she will feel like they at contributing to the task at hand, especially when they get to yell, "Fish On!!!"

Will take your advice on getting another board, makes a lot of sense too. Won't be on lake again till 1st of July. Thanks for the posts, been great help

hey Dr how r u? fished out of conneaut sat&sun 23 fish landed many lost.Fished west in front of ashtabula.weighted bangos on 1 side ss with bombers on the other,0 on dipseys 3 0n downrigger. Everyone was talking dipseys & spoons or harnesses couldnt get that bite going most fish off the boards with ss line.:)

Nice to hear someone is catching fish. How deep was the water where you had luck and how long were you running the bombers? Colors? Deep or shallow divers? I assume you are referring to Long A's. The only presentation working for me are Contender spoons 50 plus feet back off 50TT. Watermelon with seeds caught a 29 inch Fish Ohio on Tuesday. Right now my boat is stick in wet grass and mud until I get help pulling it out.. The heavy rains have messed up more than the fishing.

yes long a`s black & silver,firetiger and orange 180 to 225 back, 65to70fow. Fish were 45ft to bottom we targeted 40ft range.lots of other fish mixed with them Good luck! fish-on! PS caught many big fish 31.5 was the biggest caught by ME! trolled a 4mile line at 2.1 to 2.3 over& over!

Did pick up 2nd board as your recommendation, nice calm day yesterday to give try and could even tell when hooked perch on harness, ended up with 5 eyes in box, losing 2 at boat. Thanks Dr. Ed :)