Michigan Waters

[Yonder]

Michigan waters suck this year. In the past (when Lake Erie was actually the walleye capital ie 3 years ago) we did well in MI. We were just talking about that today. We drift fish and I use to be concerned about drifting into other boats. Also, the OH charters would be lined up on the Mi-OH line. Not anymore. Of course it doesn't help that the walleye population is down 70% from 4 years ago.....

Ya down 70% because all those idiots keeping big pig females just to brag to there buddies,killing the future of the fishery!!!

[fishhead315]

You have no clue . Bet you have never kept a female walleye anytime of the year weather it be 18 inches or 30 inches ? Funny that the ice season and spring fishing were banner years for walleyes and the bite east of the Islands has been outstanding as well . Yep no eyes left in Erie. Time to find a new lake to fish .


Dale

[Yonder]

You have no clue . Bet you have never kept a female walleye anytime of the year weather it be 18 inches or 30 inches ? Funny that the ice season and spring fishing were banner years for walleyes and the bite east of the Islands has been outstanding as well . Yep no eyes left in Erie. Time to find a new lake to fish .
Dale

I'm guessing your one of the idiots, the point is fishing is advancing an today's fisherman can target big females weather it be spring or ice season, so the statements that you can't hurt the lake by hook an lining walleyes, that you can only hurt them with nets, was true 20 years ago but now a days with sonar and flashers and better boats,all the new equipment a guy can go out there and catch a 60 pound bag of fish. Every female fish that is taken out of the lake hurts it to sum extent, it's pretty obvious the reason why the walleye numbers other than algae an other effects, it's the advancement of the modern day fisherman has more a range an knowledge of the lake. I'm not going to lie I have kept a female fish before but never a 30 incher we caught multiple this ice season everyone went back, they taste bad an most guys that keep them take them around show them off then throw them away, what other reason would you keep multiple 30+'s for? One is fine for the wall the rest are just to see who has the bigger D!#%!!!

[fishhead315]

You bet I keep the big girls . The DNR says I am allowed 6 fish a day above 15 inches period !!! You think you know all but yet our DNR sets the rules and regs every year . How about you loke up and see the last time us hook, line and sinker fishermen caught out TAC set by them .

Like I said above , you know better then the DNR on the walleye situation in the lake . Just wait till this fall when the fish show back up into the Michigan waters and all will be good . Until then , I will keep and do so legelly any size walleyes I care to above 15 inches !!

Dale

[Yonder]

Well that's a good way of looking at things, kill all the big fish now, then when the DNR changes the limit to 3 or less you will wonder why? Hahaha never said I knew more then the DNR but I do know that every 30 in female that is being killed that's responsible for producing thousands of walleyes will hurt the fishery so you keep telling yourself that pulling those fish out doesn't hurt the lake.

[fishhead315]

you think you know . Once again DNR has stated over and over that the 28 inch and bigger (older females) have done their job of helping the population . The older they are the less fertile their eggs are with lower hatch rates . The 20-25 inch fish are the prime spawners so keep taking those out of the system and see what happens .
At my age . I have seen Erie at her best and worst through the days . Erie is far far from being fished out like some people believe . Mother nature has more control then any of us fishermen or DNR has . She controls the spawn weather good or bad .


Dale

[half pole]

I think them big 30 inchers taste pretty good myself

[bobd47fish]

You have no clue . Bet you have never kept a female walleye anytime of the year weather it be 18 inches or 30 inches ? Funny that the ice season and spring fishing were banner years for walleyes and the bite east of the Islands has been outstanding as well . Yep no eyes left in Erie. Time to find a new lake to fish .


Dale

The big problem with this post is Dale doesn't know how to analyze OR read. The original post stated MICHIGAN waters, and trust me, I've been fishing LE for 21 years and it has changed, due to GLOBAL WARMING. My catch rate is down as is that of a number of fishermen I know as well as most of the MI charter captains. I've caught more sheepshead and white perch than walleye the past three years and my catch rate (# or fish/ trip) is substantially down. White perch ( a warm water species) has exploded in LE. Charter captains out of Michigan ports used to take 36 walleye in the morning and 36 more in the evening (asuming 6 guests) (60 each when the limit was 10/angler). That RARELY happens now. Additionally, Ohio captains used to line up on the MI-OH line to fish AND I used to have to pay close attention to the drift of my boat to stay out of the way of other boats. That is past history, there are very few boats fishing MI waters compared to 4 years ago. THe reason in my opinion is that the lake is warming too quickly. The fish are moving east sooner. July used to be the best month but now it's May and/or early June. Quite a few MI anglers are switching to yellow perch on the 4th of July because we don't want the 25 mi run to West Sister. We rarely had to make that run in the past, now it's almost necessary mid June and beyond.

[fishhead315]

Being from Toledo, I would say 75% of my fishing is done in the Michigan waters out of SSP and Bolles. Yes I know how to read . Fully agree it is water temps as well. The main reason is that the majority of fish are now the bigger fish from the 03 year class in the lake meaning they dont tolerate the warm water. Erie goes in cycles with her bounty. I will be fishing out in the Michigan waters tomorrow evening as there are still plenty of fish there just not schooled ip .

Like Tom Ebijack said in his post, the Michigan fish in the summer are in places you wouldn't think. Guys who look for a steady report to catch their fish there are never very successful. Think outside the box and you may be surprised by the results.In this case this summer the pack is not your friend. Learn the area and try different areas and you may be surprised. Fishing memories will make for some not so good trips.

Dale

[Blue Eyes]

WOW, I started the thread and it got hijacked, lol! I've been fishing since I was a kid but only seriously fishing since my daughter was 2, so almost 14yrs. As to the hijacked topic I will throw in my 2 cents since I did start the thread. DNR sets the limits based on what the lake/fish population can support. We follow those laws. The laws state quantity caught and minimum size. They do not specify maximum length or ***. That is a personal decision for each angler to make for whatever reasons they chose. If I caught a 30 incher, that baby would be coming home with me whether its male, female, or hermaphrodite! I don't care what anyone thinks about it. I am not breaking the law. It would be my RIGHT to make that decision.