Concerns about fishing conditions.

[poncho2795]

Turn your dock neighbor in. He is greedy and not a sports fisherman and with all the others doing this it ends up hurting the future generation. Take what you use don't use what you take.

[wakina]

I blame allot of it on the double dippers more than anything else. I share a dock with a guy who gets all he can hauls them to Fla in the winter and sells them. What does ODNR d about thm? Nothing. So if you have ever double dipped look in the mirror at the problem.

Next time you get an answer of I can't or we don't have time, or we don't want to be bothered form the ODNR please PM me. I have some contacts that work in the ODNR Fishieries Office in Sandusky. I bet you I can get some results to the problem.

[bobd47fish]

A couple of points:
1) Populations of +2 year old walleye ae down over 60% from a few years ago, no good survival in any year class since 2003 except average for 2007. Thus, we're relying on 2003 year class (best ever) and average 2007 year class. Other years between 2003 and present have been BAD year classes.
2) Although I have no problem with Canadian commercial fishermen from taking their quota (after all, it is agreed upon by the GLC), I do have a big problem with NO Size Limit in Canada. If they are taking millions of 12-16" walleye (and they are), then these fish have not spawned even once.
That hurts the population no matter the arguement (a fish out in July is the same as a fish out in April).

[Fishin Crazy]

I have been hearing and reading allot about the walleye in Erie. Not sure what is going on but I am getting concerned about the fishing. I say that because I have not caught many short fish this year. In years past I almost always caught some fish that were below the minimum size limit. Don't get me wrong I don't like to throw them back but if we are not seeing any small fish what will the future fishing be like. Has anybody else noticed this or are the small fish out there and I am not catching them?

[poohbear1629]

In response to the Canadian Commercial Fishing, I know this is one problem with the walleye. I sold my boat about 3 years ago and had a fellow from Canada call me about it. While we were talking he was asking me about our fish limits. He asked me about our penalties and when I told him there could be jail time, heavy fines and seizure of your boat and vehicle, he laughed and said thats what they needed to do in Canada. He said that a commercial fisherman in his hometown had went to Court that week for being almost a thousand fish over and was fined under a thousand dollars and that was it. That was just pennies compared to his profit. He and others are not going to be worried if they are just slapped on the wrist. But back to the fishing concerns, I too think the bad spring we had this year has something to do with the tough fishing, but as I said I have noticed it dropping off yearly for the last 4 years, and not just with our walleye but perch too. I hope I am wrong but I also hope someone is doing some testing before its to late.

[Bryan]

I have been hearing and reading allot about the walleye in Erie. Not sure what is going on but I am getting concerned about the fishing. I say that because I have not caught many short fish this year. In years past I almost always caught some fish that were below the minimum size limit. Don't get me wrong I don't like to throw them back but if we are not seeing any small fish what will the future fishing be like. Has anybody else noticed this or are the small fish out there and I am not catching them?

I caught a little walleye on Sat, I guess it was about 12". I knew it wasn't a keeper so I didn't measure it, kinda wish I had now! Also caught two under 15" back in Feb.

[pap]

The fist year we decided to fish the west end of erie we were greeted with the dead sheepheads,everyone was concerned and rightly so,but we caught walleye like hell!!! fast troll slow troll drifting,if you had line in the water you cought walleye. The second year we stayed in port clinton tried what worked last year,nothing for 2 days. We booked a charter to learn what was working year #2 drifting bottom bouncers with big gold blades. Took our education back to our own boats, we did okay. Year#3 found this web site payed close atten. made some friends on here, took their advice did catch some walleye but not many(maybe I dont know what the hell i'm doing) Year 4 wind blew like the dickens for 3 days then a tornado,didnt wet a line. Year 5 this year 6guys caught 11 walleyes in 7 days 6-13 of may. What I'm trying to say,is the way we fish for walleye changing,or is there a real problem!!! I see a change and live in PA. I can't imagine what runs through you local guy's mind,not to mention the charter guys with more bad days than good,it's not good advertisement for the folks who make a living off the walleye.

[dreamcatcher]

I recently wrote to the state inquirring about the specifics in which everyone has presented in this forum, I would encourage you to do the same maybe we can get an answer possibly some more clarity on this matter. Ohio Division of Wild Life web site and go to the bottom of the screen and contact them...

[walleyewelch]

I saw my first walleye at the age of seven and i have had a love fest for the fish all of my fishing life. when I was a boy the only pickerel that were cought came from the canadian reefs the chicks and around pelee. and back then it was the flat fish hard bait and casting into the rocks on the reefs to catch fish and usualy early morning paid off. then came the weight forward lowe lure the answere to count down casting and a whole new way to find the elusive walleye then the hot & tot and every other stick bait that could dive deeper became a good bet. today the worm rig and bottom bouncers. I think every method that I have used in the past would work if i would want to try them today but as fishing conditions have changed the trolling moter has been mounted to the boat and worm rigs with weight forward on boards has been my best attack. it has been a good bait for the past seven years by changing blade colors to meet the conditions of the water. this year has been extreamly rough with high winds and muddy water I have not had a great spring but I think every one is hitting the panic button a little early no it is not 2007 or 2008 any more but the fish are out their and maybe a bad spring is what the fish needed so fewer spring fish pulled may help the population for all in the future

[airshot]

Yep, I hear all of you and everything you all have said is true, but I would like to add something else. Has anyone else noticed the explosion of sheephead, white bass and white perch? Well I have and guess what....they eat the same thing as the walleye and perch. Everyone who catches these including commercial fisherman just through them back and their numbers are growing at an alarming rate. If everyone would not return them to the lake or if you do make sure they will not eat or spawn again how much more food will there be for our sport fish? If their is plenty of food you will have plenty of sportfish. Fishing pressure thru 80's and 90's removed a good portion of our sportfishing stock and these were replaced by sheephead etc. We can help our destiny cause Lord knows the government won't, by severly reducing the number of rough fish and keep food sources for the sport fish.

Airshot