spring fishing

[Reel_Deal]

i was starting to plan my spring trip today. i want to troll the reefs around besse. should i be trolling or jigging come mid march through april? i usually launch out of CSP but want to get a little closer to the reefs this spring. what are some of the ramps out there that i can use? also looking for safe hotels where you don't have to worry about bringing in your gear every night. thanks in advance fellow fisherman.

[BILLY JOE]

slow trolling will get the bigger fish cone reef D can good areas that time of year lots of fish to be caught jigging i would plan on doing both mid april would be a good time hopefully weather will be decent by then magee east rents trailers you can check there website out i dock there in april never heard of any problems

[vanatta22]

West Side of Put N bay. didnt mean to put east side. I do know some people fish around kellys on the shoals but that is a little far run for me.

[West Basin]

This is the time of year for a lot of cabin fever pre-season talk about Lake Erie walleye fishing. A lot of the fishing questions asked on here the last week are in the process of being answered by our state, federal, and other scientific groups. Many of you know about the GLATOS Lake Erie acoustic transmitter projects that have been in progress now for several years. During the warm water season there are about a hundred acoustic receivers deployed in Lake Erie. These receivers record walleye which have surgically installed transmitters in them. We already know a lot more about Lake Erie walleye than we did just five years ago, and we’ll know a lot more within the next few years. When you are out fishing this season you might be drifting or trolling over one of these underwater receivers. Here’s a link to a 10 minute video which explains the programs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkUfEvmrDAI You can get more info at the GLATOS website https://glatos.glos.us/ including a map of the receivers. Walleye spawn all over the Western Basin, so there should be good numbers of big fish near just about anywhere there is rocky or gravel / coble bottom. You just have to be there when they are. With millions of walleye in the Lake they couldn't all spawn on the big reef complex off Camp Perry.

[branhamautomotive]

I would agree on planning on both. There are days jigging can you your 4 fish in under an hr. But these are normally you males in 4lb and under range. Slow trolling the reefs, the can's, near the monument, West side of kellies, all produce big trophies. Normally above 15ft of depth. Don't be afraid to even put out in the top 3 to 5 ft. Bandits, p10s, dhjs, reef runners all work good

[itsbob]

This coming spring should present with some fantastic fishing,with the plentiful 2015 hatch being legal size.Those fish should be around 19" then.If we get any stable weather,you should be able to jig up your 4 fish limit in less than 2hrs.I remember the first spring the 2003 hatch was of legal size.After a week of stable weather and good water clarity,caught our 3man limit in around 90min jigging and another limit after 3hrs that we put back.A friend said he caught 30 fish himself in 90min the day before.I expect the fishing to be close to the 2003 hatch,except the 2014 hatch was also pretty good and we should be catching some of those fish too,this spring.

Depending on how you like to fish,is what I recommend you do.Alot of people will jig fish till close to limit,then ride out to deeper water to finish limit with bigger fish.There will be a lot of boats going out of turtle creek,which is close to early season jigging location.Back in 2006,when all those 2003 hatch were caught,Heard that ODNR fined a lot of guys for over limit and double dipping.Im sure this will happen again this spring,and I have heard they now use a drone to help with catching the illegal poaching.This spring should bring some exceptional walleye fishing.

[Reel_Deal]

thanks for all the input fellas. west of kelly's is american eagle if i remember right. i had some good days out there last june. i'm looking for pigs this year but i guess i'll just gas up the boat and head out of csp if turtle is a mad house. it's not too long of a ride over to k can and that reef complex. thanks for all the info. can't wait till spring. i'm starting to get cabin fever over here!!

[Lucky Duck]

I just want to clarify where the jig fishing will be. I dock in West Harbor, and don't want to go over to the reef area as my 17ft Whaler is a rough rider. Can I jig on American Eagle and get some fish or is everything by Kellys and West of Put in Bay going to be trolling. Just looking for any areas I can catch some walleye relatively close to the safety of West Harbor in April!.
Thanks,
Bruce

[branhamautomotive]

LD, I would imagine walleye will spawn on just about any reef. The areas in front of Davis Beese is just overly loaded, hince why it gets most of the attention. I know they can be had trolling in the area you talking about, AE, Scotts point, f can, Clinton reef. You can always trailer you boat to the other areas so it's not a farther drive, but glad you respect the limits of your vessel.

Last spring end of April early may we were trolling in front the moose, and the rock wall just east of Port Clinton. Kellies on the sw to nw side should also hold fish. As the fish move back east after spawning, the areas you mention will be on fire.

[vanatta22]

I myself am kinda in the same situation as Reel_Deal. I have been fishing out of turtle creek for over ten years. I normally have never made it up until late may or june. At that point i have either drifted worm harness or trolled lures at normal speed. This year I am going to try to get up there and hit the early spring. I am not sure to try slow troll around the reels or shoot over to the islands and troll. Ill probably troll before i jig mainly because im not use to it. Would I be able to pick them up slow trolling around the reefs and cans? Last years bite was unreal. Each trip out id say we pick up 50+ while picking through all the shorts to get my limits.