July 2009 Western Lake Erie Fishing Reports

[PZeiler]

Tuesday night the casting bite was on. 2 miles north of west sister. 30 walleye in 3 1/2 hours. Only 3 were 15"- 17". There rest were bigger up to 25". Several small ones caught also, even a few 6" ones. Gold hammered blades fished very slow near the bottom. Bite was on the swing of the lure.

[ReelTime]

When you say "gold hammered blades" do you mean worm harness? Sorry I'm new.

[PZeiler]

Homemade "weapons"

20" loop to hook

#2 hook
5 beads (clear green or yellow)
#5 deep cup Indiana hammerd blade
1 bead
Loop with bead to hold slip sinker on

[ReelTime]

Homemade "weapons"

20" loop to hook

#2 hook
5 beads (clear green or yellow)
#5 deep cup Indiana hammerd blade
1 bead
Loop with bead to hold slip sinker on

What weight sinker do you use?

[PZeiler]

Depends upon the drift - wind speed and waves along with what position on the boat you are fishing from as well as casting angle. I always carry 1/4 - 1 ounce egg sinkers. Most of the time I will use a 3/8 or 1/2 ounce. It is very rare that I use a 7/8 or 1 ounce. Only if I am fishing in heavy seas and need to get the lure down near the bottom and keep it there.

Tuesday night I was using a 5/8 ounce in 3-4 foot waves fishing out of the back of the boat. I had the guys fishing on the up wind side of the boat using 3/4 ounce. They could not stay near the bottom with a 5/8 ounce. The size of the blade will also make a difference as far as how much weight you will need to keep your lure at a certain depth. The bigger the blade, the heavier of a weight you will need to keep your lure down. The resistance of the bigger blade pulls the lure back up to the surface.

As I mentioned on the earlier post, the bite was on the "swing" of the lure - meaning that I would cast out at a 90 - 110 degree angle of the drift. I would let the lure sink to the bottom and then begin to slowly bring the lure in. As my line would begin to straighten out, the lure would pick up speed and this would trigger the bite.

Best advice - Keep trying different things if what you are using is not working.


Hope this helps.

[ReelTime]

Thanks Pzeiler!

[PZeiler]

Was out Thursday night. Rough water. A few sick crew members. Did catch fish. Kept 7. Same area as Tuesday night. Bite was extremely soft. More small ones than big ones. Fished 2 1/2 hours. Also caught the biggest sheephead of the year - 28" Ugly looking fish