Early Season Launching

[itsbob]

Think Huron ok but Catawba and Mazurkas not ready yet

[West Basin]

One of the seminar presenters at the Columbus Fishing Expo fished Erie a few days ago. Got a limit trolling out off I think Huron, but it may have been Lorain. I can't remember for sure. Guy fishes over 300 days a year, a lot of it on Erie, most of the rest up in Michigan.

[DW72]

Looking at the live lake webcams it appears pretty much all the ice is gone and/or will be very soon! Water temp at Put-in-Bay is currently over 35 degrees. So from the feedback here is Huron the best bet for late February through March to have a significant dock to tie up to while unloading and loading? I've never tried Wild Wings or any other locations besides Mazurik's and Catawba. I don't think I can pull it off there without the wooden docks being in. Hope we can all get out safely pretty soon!

[Lynn M]

I was out Saturday, the 10th, and Mazurik was basically totally clear of ice other than a little on the west side of the west concrete pier. Had no problem launching by myself and tying up to the concrete pier. Water temp is about 2 or 3 degrees warmer at Mazurik than it was around Green island. I did not run over to Catawba to check the access there, so can't say. Spent most of the day fishing around the islands and having decent success getting eater size eyes. I'm not sure what year class the ones are that are around 20-22 inches, but I caught a bunch of them in that size range. Trolling speed was about 1.3 and didn't seem to be a definite pattern as far as the depth goes. Caught most on DDHJ14 in Headspin and DDHJ12 Chrome Huff Daddy. Also caught several on SPRO 120 Chrome Huff Daddy. P10's did not seem to be working. Water clarity was decent from stained to clear, but nothing was too stained where I was fishing.

[itsbob]

Thanks Lynn for the first fishing post of the new season.My guess is those 20-22" fish were from the 2019 hatch.Should be another great season catching with the string of great hatches of walleye.

[BILLY JOE]

turtle creek yesterday ramps were clear

[West Basin]

If anyone wants to see photos of the various launch ramps, you can go to the link below. Photos are 5-6 years old. I plan to update them this spring.

Lake Erie Boat Launch Ramps

[DW72]

Nice work Lynn and thank you for sharing. Appreciate the info from everyone. 🎣

[Bankangler]

I fished out of Catawba on Sunday. Found some stained water that was loaded with fish and had a frenzy getting our 18 in a few hours. Bandits, P10s and the star of the day was Reef Runner Skinny Stick in Wonderbread at 50 back.