Concerns about fishing conditions.

[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

[FishOn205]

well i dont have 50 years on the lake but waleyewelch is right its a little early to hit the panic button. times are changin and so are the fish. maybe this is wat the fish need is a bad year for us to help their poplution so in the coming years fishin will be better. and thats why they call it fishin and not catchin its not always going to be a great day on the water but it will always beat a day at work.

[wakina]

well i dont have 50 years on the lake but waleyewelch is right its a little early to hit the panic button. times are changin and so are the fish. maybe this is wat the fish need is a bad year for us to help their poplution so in the coming years fishin will be better. and thats why they call it fishin and not catchin its not always going to be a great day on the water but it will always beat a day at work.

I do have 50+years on the lake and I could not agree more with your opinion you are spot on, those who have fished the lake for several years and those who are flexible seem to be catching their fair share of fish even though alot of people seem to draw a blank with only 1 or 2 and maybe no fish per trip. As I have stated before in earlier posts we would fish all summer during the 60's and early 70's for what we now catch in a day or two. Thats right maybe 30 fish all summer but we didn't give up and now we are reaping the benefits of those long fishless days as it made us better fishermen. Use this time to really get to know walleyes and how they behave.

Over the past 5 years alot of fishermen have become spoiled with the large amount of fish available from the 2003 year class fish. Now that the fish population has become normal to a little below normal and the weather has been as bad as it has to change the eyes feeding habits it seems alot of fishermen believe the sky has fallen, we are now just getting into the mayfly hatch and that will again slow things down for alot of fishermen. also the water temps are running 5 to 9 degrees below normal for this time of year just to throw another variable into the mix there is also a very large amount of baitfish out there to boot. The best thing that anyone can do to help them catch fish is to keep a log as to where fished, water and weather conditions,lures, speeds and direction, after awhile a pattern will start to develop as what worked, when, where, and under what conditions. Just my opinion on the subject and I did not write this to offend anyone but to try and help make everyone a little better at catching fish.