Great Aug/Sept Walleye & Perch Fishing?

[West Basin]

The general pattern is usually spawning reefs and nearby in April and May, out in a broader area from the reefs in late May and June, in late June and July the fish are more spread out and fishing hot spots vary day to day, week to week, all over the Western Basin. Late July and August the fishing gets tougher as the fish move all over and some out of the Western Basin or up into Canadian waters. By the middle of August the large majority of people who fish for walleye have quit for the season. Most of the fishing then is from Huron east.

But this year there are huge numbers of the 2014 year class walleye in the population that are now attaining legal size. My thought is many of these fish will still be in the Ohio waters of the Western Basin, near traditional perch fishing areas. They probably won’t move around as much as the larger fish, and even if they do there are so many of them there still would be a good number around. With many boats so far this season catching 20-50 of the undersized fish a day, so many of them in the Lake, it would seem logical that you could still catch them in August and September in the traditional June / July areas.

Ripnlip – trolling or drifting / casting. Drift fishing gets more successful (and is more fun for most people) as the water warms up and then decreases as the water cools in the fall. Trolling pretty much always works and generally is more successful. Both are subject to the fish bite of the day. The next month or two for larger walleye go east (Huron east) or north (along the border or into Canadian waters), for the 2014 fish you can fish all around from the Camp Perry range to North Bass Island to east of Kelleys Island to Catawba Point, that whole area. Early to midmorning is the traditional time but this time of year evening fishing can be as good or better. There are always walleye around, of all sizes, you just have to find them, and active fish.