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Few if any people were out yesterday walleye fishing. Perch fisherman were in close to shore off Marble head and just outside the rivers at Huron and Vermilion. They took limits of perch but could not get out very far due to the waves once you get away from shore.

We went out yesterday afternoon around 3:30pm. The weather guessers said the waves would be 2 feet or less but on going out the Huron river we had 2 feet in the river and once we got out onto the lake we had 3 to 5 foot waves. We started near the 30/28 lines with fair to good fish marks but only pulled two walleye in the 24-inch range along with several 6-inch walleye. I have ever caught so many "young of the ear" walleye as we have seen this season. Well after a couple of hours of getting beat up we decided that we had enough and came in. From the reports it was a tough day for most folks fishing walleye. The perch fisherman did much better with limits around Rattlesnake and just outside the Huron River.

September 20, 2003 (Saturday) The 7:30am temperature is 57 degrees (burrr), wind is out of the WSW at 11 to 14 knots, waves at the buoy are .6 feet and the water temperature is 70.2 degrees and falling. No one was out yesterday and I expect the fishing to be slow today even though the lake is lying down. With the doping water temperature I hope the walleye turn on. We are planning on waiting until tomorrow afternoon to go out after the crowd leaves.

Note: The weather service is prediction possible GALE warning for Friday due to the hurricane that is off Florida at present. It sound like somewhere about Wednesday the weather could start turning bad with waves Thursday of 4 to 6 feet building to 5 to 7 feet Frida. You weekenders may want to pa special attention to the weather reports before planning a weekend at the lake.

September 15, 003 (Monday) Both Saturday and Sunday, large packs of boats fish for Walleye a little east of the sand bar around the35/18 lines, some did well and other not so well. Again the walleye were in small pockets and were not active all the time. We ent out last evening about 4pm and fished off Ruggles Beach in about 39 foot of water. It was slow going with only two walleye by 7:30pm then they turned on about 1/2 hour before dark and we ended up with 8 walleye, none bigger than 22 inches. /FONT>

Perch fisherman faired much better with limits just east of 35/18, off Luci's Point, off Kelleys Shoals, off Rattlesnake Island and south of West Reef. All areas reporting limits of good-sized perch.

September 13 2003 (Saturday) The 11:30 am temperature is 71 degrees; wind is 5 to 8 knots out of the south. Wave are 1.6 feet and the water temperature is 73 degrees. Perch fisherman are off B can on the range, off the north tip of Kelleys Shoals, north of Cedar Point Park, outside the Huron River and off Cranberry Creek in from of the Castle. Walleye are being taken off the west side of the sand bar out from Huron / Vermilion but I don't have reports and size or numbers yet. We are planning on going out tomorrow afternoon about the time all the working folks head for home. Unless I ear different we will be out around the 35/19 lines.

The weather guessers are predicting 4 to 5 foot waves for Saturday and 2 feet or les for Sunday.

Good perch reports from south of Middle Island, north off Marble Head, just outside the Huron River and east of the sand bar off Huron / Vermilion. Walleye fishing has been slow for the last couple of days off the sand bar. I have got a couple of reports that they are still picking walleye around the 35/19 lines but in less than limit catches. Small mouth are hot on the east and south side of Peele Island, the charters are making daily trip up there for the sallies./P>

September 10, 2003 (Wednesday) The morning temperature is 69 degrees, wind is 6 to 10 knots out of the southeast. Water temperature is 72 degrees and the waves are 2.3 feet at the weather buoy. Forecast are for 2 to 4 footers for the next couple of days hen laying down Friday and Saturday so we may have to watch the wave conditions before going out. Good prch reports from east of Kelleys Island, just outside the Huron River mouth and off the east side of the sand bar off Huron / Vermilion.

With the bigger Walleye being caught off the sand bar it is looking like a great fall IF the weather will co operate.< /DIV>

September 9, 2003 (Tuesday) The weekend reports are better with perch limits coming off the green can at the north end of Kelleys Shoals and north of Cedar Point Amusement Park. Walleye fishing was fair to good of Huron / Vermilion area also with some limits both days out around the 35/19 lines. The walleye that are being caught are god size 20 to 29 inches reported. This is the same area we fished Sunday and Monday, with limits Sunday. Monday was another matter, we only got one walleye but it was 25 inches. We left Huron boat basin about 1pm and as we were running out the wind started picking up out of the north and by the time we got to our spot from the day before we have 4 to 5 foot waves. We stuck it out for a while but decided it was a little too uncomfortable for us so we came in. The fish marks were there and I feel if we could have stuck it out until dusk the walleye would have turned on. Some folks were takingfish but it was slow going for most.

September 7, 2003 (Sunday) Its been a long day, we moved the boat to Huron this morning then went out on the bar fishing for walleye. We did not get lines in the water until after 11am and managed to limit by a little after 3p. Then by the time we got back in, dove to Port Clinton and cleaned the fish I am buhed. The largest walleye as 27 inches the rest were from 17 to 25 inches with several 16-inch throwbacks.

We were around 35/20 lines along with several more trollers. /FONT>

There was a large pack of perch boats just east of us a couple of miles. Also on the way past Cedar Point park, I saw a pack on over 50 boat perch fishing. Our neighbors went back perch fishing today and limited up off the northeast corner of Kelleys shoals.

September 6, 2003 (Saturday) Its a better day, my friends jus got in with limits and said perch fisherman were all along the boarder and due east of KeleysIsland about 6 to 7 miles. They had 7 to 11 inch perch mostly. Walleye fishing sounds to be picking up off Huron / Vermilion near the center of the sand bar around the 33/20 lines. With the cool nights the water temperature continues to drop. We are planning on moving the boat in the morning and if the weather allows we will fish for walleye off Huron tomorrow.

September 5, 2003 (Friday) The morning temperature is 65 degrees, wind is out of the NNE at 12 to 16 knots, wave are to 4 feet with an occasional 5 footer. Perch carters are on the southeast corner of Kelley Island this morning and are taking perch but I have not received size report yet. For the weekend around the islands I would perch fish south or east of Kelleys and maybe up off Kelley Shoals outer marker. For walleye I would try around Lorain o off Vermilion / Huron, not too far out in 20 to 25 foot of water, but your best chance is with the perch. With the morning temperature being in the upper 50 to mid 60s we should se the water temperature start to drop and hopefully with that the larger walleye returning to the sand bar area.

September 4, 2003 (Thursday) The morning temperature is 68 degrees, wind is 11 to14 knots out of the north, waves are 2 to 4 feet going to 3 to 5feet later today. Not much going on out on the lake with the muddy water, weather fronts moving through and now wind and waves. Some folks are perch fishing in close to the south side of Kelleys Island trying to stay out of the wind but I on't have any reports as to how they are doing. walleye "catching" in the western end of the lake as at a near stop Very few walleye are being caught of late. Some good catches are reported off Lorain and Vermilion east of the sand bar but it is also fairly quiet down that way also. We are just taking it easy and waiting for the weather to get better, hopefully by the weekend.

September 2, 2003 (Tuesday) We got bak to the lake this afternoon. It has been raining for days and the lake is a mess. We drove up around Catawba Point and there were 4 footers rolling in fro the north and the water is very muddy. Hopefully it will lie and after a couple of days clear up.

The only reports I have is of good to limits of perch being caught south and east of Kelley's Island. These perch seem to be bigger then the ones west of the Island.

A couple of reports of walleye being caught between Huron and Vermilion, off Ruggles Beach i 20 foot of water or so.

September 1, 2003 (Monday) Sorry for missing a few days but w have been away to a family thing but we are packing to head back to the lake sometie tomorrow. Reports are slow coming in but I have a few, mostly perch reports.

It seems most folks are having problems finding larger perch, best reports are around the northeast side of Kelley's Island and out of the last green marker off the north tip of Kelley Shoals where good size perch are being caught in the deeper waters. Folks are fishing for perch all around the Islands but the bigger ones seem to be east of Kelleys.

Some walleye are being caught off Huron / Vermilion out around the sand bar but it sounds like they are still the "residentquot; walleye which are smaller, the big ones have not yet arrived from the east, or at least I am not hearing about it./FONT>

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August 28, 2003 (Thursday) In response to several folks wanting to know what changes are being PROPOSED for next seasons fishing, the following is what I expect will be suggested.

MICHIGAN; 5 fish limit, closed season April and May and a 15-inch minimum size limit.

OHI; 6 fish limit May through February, 3 fish limit March and April, 15 inch minimum size limit and restrictions on use of more than one hook for river fishing in March and April.

NOTE: this is what I think will be proposed, not to be confused with what may or will happen. All this will have t be voted on by the "governing body" after public hearing in both states.

August 27, 2003 (Wednesday) Reports are still slow coming in but it is more of the same. Walleye fishing is slow over most of the western basin, mostly due to the algae bloom and warmer waters. Walleyes are being caught off Huron / Vermilion / Lorain but the six is still small with most in the 14 to 19 inch class. Perch fishing seems to be fair to good EAST of Kelley's Island with a couple of good report from SOUTH of Kelley's and also just out the rivers from Huron and Vermilon. What we need now is an early fall with temperatures cooling the water a little.

If you have any information on the proposed walleye limits change in Michigan please send me the information or link t the page. I have several roamers but nothing official.

August 26, 2003 (Tuesday) From the reports I am getting it sees the walleye fishing has been poor all around the Islands. Perch fishing was better but the folks fishing west of the islands had to sort through bunches of small perch to get their limits while those east of Kelley's seemed to b getting larger sized perch. Also south of Kelley's gave up some limit catches of perch.

August 25, 2003 (Monday) I've only receive a few reports from the weekend but it sounds like it was slow around the islands. A heavy algae bloom is present from Middle Sister Island back past the Bass Islands also Saturday was a fairly rough day with 3 to 5 foot waves reported.

Good to limit catches of walleye were exported out of Breast Bay in Michigan waters (23 foot). Perch fishing was spotty with limit catches coming off the east side of Kelley's Islands by some folks with other in the same general location reporting very few catches.

Den down at Vermilion reports the walleye fishing is starting to pick up out off the sand bar around the 33/19 lines (middle numbers). Te fishing off Huron / Vermilion should be getting better and better in the coming weeks. As I aver said before we will be moving the boat o Huron boat basin on or after the 7th of September.

August 22, 2003 (Friday) Good reports of walleye still up off the Canadian border form F and G can to Middle Sister Island, while the number are good there are lots of walleye being caught that will not be legal next season so handle them with care and lets put those under 15 inches back s they can help out with the coming spawns.

Perch fishing is still hot with limits coming from Northwest Reef, west of Rattlesnake, west of Green, Starve Island, Marblehead, east of Kelley's Island and offthe dumping grounds at Cedar Point Amusement Park.

FONT face="Arial" size="3" DESIGNTIMESP=14534>Both perch and walleye fishing is good off Huron / vermilion. Walleyes are being caught east of the sand bar while perch limits are being caught just outside the river at both Huron and Vermilion.

If you have not read the letter from he fisheries biologist from yesterdays report, please do so.</FONT< DIV>

August 21, 2003

We have all been wondering hat the outcome would be regarding the 2003 walleye hatch, I sometime feel like an expectant father again. I recently wrote to Travis Hartman, who is a fisheries biologist with the Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife at Sandusky, asking if he could share with s any information&nbs;on how the test trawls were going.

The following is his response and I for one want to personally thank him and the other fine people at DNR and the Division of Wildlife for their continuing efforts to keep this great fishery as health as possible.

PLEASE pass this on to anyone you know who loves this great lake as we do, I am sure they will be gad you did.

It's no secret that or summer trawls have yielded very promising results.
We trawl 41 sites from Huron to Toledo once per month (since May). As you
might exact we are hesitant to make predictions about the hatch early on,
but by the time August and September roll around we have a pretty good handle on the strength of the year classes. To validate what we saw last
year (unfortunately), the 2002 walleye class is non-existent. We have
caught very few yearling walleye this year (I believe less than 10 all
year). This year's class, however, appears to be excellent. We trawl at
each site for 10minutes, and then expand the catch to report as an hourly
catch rat. In past yeas the average catch of young-of-year (newly
hatched) walleye is about 13 fish per hour (ranging from 0to 35). Without
having the final results calculated, it's safe to say that we might be ABOVE
our highest average in recent history. To be conservative, I must mention
that we are trawling with our new boat this year, and it is probably not
fair to directly compare this year's catch to prior years. We are, however,
currently working out a conversion factor to better compare historical data
to current catche with the new boat. It is fair to say, though, that weBR DESIGNTIMESP=32625>have seen over 200 young-of-year walleye in certain 10-minue trawls, and
virtually all of the sites have at least a few walleye. I would guess hat
our average trawl has had around 15 to 20young-of-year walleye. It is also
worth mentioning that the yellow perch year class appears to be very strong.
Along with the numbers of walleye that we are seeing they are growing very
well and in veer good shape. We have already caught young-of-year walleye
over 6 inches, and they are all very healthy with many of them already
eating fish. Besides our trawls we have also heard of the minnow
netters catching plenty of walleye, and perch anglers are catching them on
small shiners. Our September trawl and Octobe gill netting will lend
further insight into the walleye and yellow perch year-class strengths, but
I m cautiously optimistic. It is important, however, to keep in mind that
the 1996 year class looked equally impressive, and did not end up being as
strong as was originally predicted.
There are quite a few theories as to why this year appears to have been so
good, but here are the factors that I personally believe had the most
impact:
It was a windy spring, but we did not have violent storm event.
Although it was a cold, late spring, the temperature slowly and steadily
increased instead of "jumping around" like we get some springs.
After the hatch we got a lot of rain in May and June thatbrought loads of
nutrient in from the Maumee and Sandusky Rivers to "feed" the plankton
blooms and support the young-of-year hatch.
This is a little farther out there, but I also think that the hard winter
with significant ice cover may lead to a more "normal" cycle of egg
production for the females, and although maybe not necessarily producing
more eggs but possibly better quality eggs (again, that is a reach, but not
without merit).
Also with the hard winter there is usually a significant winterkill of
gizzard shad and white perch, which both compete with young walleye for food.
As far as the proposed regulations, I believe this hatch proves without a
doubt that the totalnumber of females in the lake does NOT directly
correlate to he success of the hatch. Some people opposed o the regs.
Want to turn this into a female issue, and claim that reducing fall harvest
would accomplish more than spring reductions. This year goes to show that
we have more than enough eggs being produced and factors after the eggs are
laid are more critical than the absolute number of eggs laid. We have
enough females producing enough eggs to support not only the current
fishery, but also enough to grow and recover the fishery if conditions
allow. We do, however, need to keep our harvest within our allotted quota
while at the same time not be too restrictive and limit opportunities. I
would much rather keep the fishing open dring the spring (no closed season)
ad also not reduce limits during the peak summer periods. Three fish for

a responsibility to make the 15" size limit work. I d not believe the suggestion that "over half quoat; of the released fish will die. You know as well
as I that a properly handled fish has better than a 50% chance of surviving.
Yes, if you troll a fish around for 30 minutes or throat hook the fish it
may die, but everyone needs to be a little more ethical and responsible to
ensure that a sub-15quot; fish is not excessively handled or dropped before
being returned.

Thanks,

Travis

Travis Hartman
Fisheries Biologist
Ohio Department of natural resources
Division of Wildlife
Sandusky Fish Research Unit
305 E. Shoreline Dr.
Sandusky, Ohio 44870
Phone: 419-6258062
Fax: 419-625-6272
Travis.Hartman@dnr.state.oh.us

August 21, 2003 (Thursday) Perch fishing continues to be the better fishing with limits coming off Northwest reef, west of Green, west f Rattlesnake, north of Marblehead and on the dumping grounds off Cedar Point amusement park.

Walleyes are still being taken in good to limit numbers off F and G cans on the border, south of Middle Sister Island, and northwest of West Sister Island but are the smaller size 14 to 17 inch fish.

I have been busy at home this week doing "fall" type jobs, cleaned the furnace, garage and barn in preparation for winter, by getting all this done it won't interfere with the fall fishing in September. We plan on being back at Port Clinton around the 3rd of September and move the boat to Huron on the 7th. Thanks to the many folks sending reports which allows me to keep up the reports page.

August 19, 2003 (Tuesday) Still more reports of great perch catches generally all over the western end of the lake and I suspect off Huron / Vermilion as well. Top spots seem t be our old favorites of Niagara, B and C cans on the range, Green, Rattlesnake and Northwest reef along with Starve, Marblehead and east of Kelley's Island.

Walleye are still giving up limits off of G and F cans on the border, southwest of Middle Sister Island and all around West Sister Island. Good to limit catches between Huron and Vermilion around Cranberry Creek are reported.

Some information is coming out of Ohio Sea Grand and Ohio DNR regarding this spring walleye and perch hatch and it is very positive. While tests nets are still being calculated it is looking good. Along with many of you, I have been awaiting the results and hoping for a good year, especially sinc last year was a bust.

August 18, 2003 (Monday) Good reports from the weekend with good to limit catches south of G can on the Canadian border, west of Northwest Reef and north of Niagara Reef. Most reports were for Saturday with Sunday being a little rough for most folks.

Perch fishing continues to be great, with limits coming all around the island with the best spots being off Northwest Reef, west of Rattlesnake and east of Kelley's Island. Look for perch fishingto be really good the rest of the season while walleye fishing should have slowed by now but does not show any signs of doing so. This has been really good season for those of us ho had the time to get out on a regular basis.

August 17, 2003 (Sunday) not much going on the lake today, it has been windy and the waves are 3 to 4 feet. Good perch reports from yesterday again west of the islands.

There is a good article in theToledo Blade (link below) about the proposed changes on walleye for next year. Basically what Ohio DNR is proposing is a 3 walleye limit in March and April instead of the 4 walleye limit we had this year, then walleye limit the rest of the season. In addition they are asking for a single hook rather that treble hooks be used in the spring river fishing to reduce the snagging. Also a 15-inch minimum on walleye al season.

For what is worth it sounds to me like a reasonable proposal and I will not object to it.

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20030817/COLUMNIST22/108170101

August 16, 2003 (Saturday) We got some thunderstorms with lots of rain last evening but it is clearing this morning.

The walleye school that was north of Northwest Reef has moved back west to the area south of G can once again. This is about the third time they have been around this same location.Also I got a couple of reports of good walleye east of Kelley's island off the airport opening, which might be worth a look.

Perch fishing continues to be very good with limits coming off Green, Rattlesnake, Northwest Reef, Niagara Reef and off Marblehead.

We are going to take a couple of weeks away from the lake to give ourselves a change of scenery before the start of the Huron adventure in early September. I will continue to update the reports page as information comes in so please keep it coming.

August 15,2003 (Friday) Walleye fishing was slow yesterday with less than limits coming south of F can on the boarder and west of Rattlesnake Island. Perch fishing was good with limit catches coming off Green, Rattlesnake and east of Kelley's Island.

About 4PM last evening the lights went out in Port Clinton, along with a lot of other places but did come back on about 9:00 PM and all is well this morning with the power situation. To add to our problems the water main to our trailer park split about 2:00AM and we have been without water all day.

August 14, 2003 (Thursday) Another great day at the lake, wind is calm, waves are flat and the temperature is 78 degrees.

Last evening we again went out to just south of Northwest Reef and started trolling north. It was fairly slow going all evening; we did end up with 12 walleye and 11 good-sized yellow perch, all on spoons. Same program as in the past days. Best colors were killer bee, confusion, chicken wings and the PA' sail fish, mako and blue marlin.

We had a great evening, the wind ad waves were calm and we were treated to a great sunset, who could ask for more.

Today the charters and head boats are hunting fish, it sounds like further west may be where the fish removing to. Several reports of down toward Middle Sister on the 00 line.

Perch fishing is going great so this may be the time to switch to perch for a few weeks. Best spots for perch seem to be west of Green, west of Rattlesnake, north of Marblehead, on the dumping grounds off Cedar Point and off the airport opeing east of Kelley's. Just about any place that has been good in the past is working now.

August 13, 2003 (Wednesday) We took yesterday off, needed a little rest. Not much going on this morning, most head boats and charters are up around F can on the Canadian border and are looking for walleye. The walleye are scattered in small pockets all the way from the border, west of North Bass down toward Rattlesnake Island. If you can locate an active pocket and stay on it you will do good but the challenge is in finding them.

An old fisherman told me that walleye are not hard to catch just hard to find.

Perch fisherman are west of Green Island and Rattlesnake, they are taking perch but I don't know the size or number yet.

We mad a trip to Huron yesterday and contracted for a dock at the Huron Boat Basin starting September 7th. We will be there through the end of October or early November. We are betting on the big walleye being off the Huron/Vermilion area by mid to late September and the run will be much shorter by boat from here.

Once we make the move most of my reports will have to do with the Huron/Vermilion area and the Islands information will depend on feedback from others.

August 12, 2003 (Tuesday) Perch fishing is definitely in the increase, while walleye fishing the last few days we are getting 10 to 15 nice sized perch in the area of Northwest Reef and I have reports for Niagaa, Cedar Point, west of Green and east of Rattlesnake of limit catches.

We again last evening went out to Northwest Reef and trolled north to the Canadian line. At first it was slow going but we finally picked up three nice walleye within a quarter of mile, so we set up a pattern and worked that area over good. We had five people on board and limited about 9:00PM. About 1/2 of the walleye were 16 to 18 inches while the other 1/2 were 18 to 23 inch fish. The later in the evening the better the bite, with 10 or 15 fish coming in the last hour of so of fishing.

Program was four dipsy's, two per side set at 2 and 3. The 2 setting was back 40 while the 3 setting was back 60 fee. Then two jet 30s off in line boards with the jets back 100 feet to start and later up to 75 feet as the walleye got active.

Early in the afternoon the fish are flat on the bottom and we try and run the baits just over the top of them but as the sun goes down the walleye start getting active and come off the bottom, when this happens we raise the baits to keep them above the fish.

August 11, 2003 (Monday) the wekend was good for those that found the walleye and bad for those who did not. The best spots still seemed to be north of B can on the range, north of Niagara Reef and around Northwest Reef. Perch fishing was good off Green, Rattlesnake, Niagara, Marblehead and on the east side of Kelley's Island.

We went out Sunday evening, ran up to just south of Northwest Reef ad trolled north. Fishing was slow with the walleye being in very small pockets and then it required a lot of sorting to get good size walleye. We ended up northwest of the reef in 30 to 32 foot of water working a couple of small pockets until we got our limit about 9:00PM. In addition to the walleye we picked up 11 nice perch, mostly right on Northwest Reef.

It as a great evening with a little breeze, waves were1 foot or so and we were treated to a full moon for the ride in, don't know what more a man could ask for.

NOTE: as the season goes on the walleye are become harder to locate, the secret is once you find a couple of walleye, to stay on that spot by circling or working a figure 8 back across the spot until you are no longer getting any hits. We worked about 4 spots last evening no bigger than 1/2 mile across each.

August 9, 2003 (Saturday) the morning is cool with temperature at 73 degrees wind is out of the northeast at 6 to 10 knots, wave are 2 to 4 feet.

The walleye fishing is slow this morning with most folks off the Niagara, B and C cans area catching smaller walleye. Another large pack is fishing the Northwest Reef area also with slow picking and many throw backs in the 14 and smaller range.

Perch fisherman are doing better off Rattlesnake Island, Green Island, Niagara Reef, the northeast tip of Middle Bass and off the northeast tip of Kelley Shoals.

August 8, 2003 (Friday) Walleye are being caught west of Rattlesnake Island, north of Niagara and near the Canadian border markers F and G. Perch fishing is looking better with good to limit catches off Marblehead, Cedar Point amusement park dumping grounds, north of Niagara and west of Green Islands.

Report of good steel head fishing off Erieau (Canada) in 60 feet of water.

The afternoon temperature is 78 degrees, wind is out of the north at 3 knots and waves are 1 foot or less.

The weekend is looking good with more like today with the possibility of thunderstorms (pop-ups), which are common in the afternoon this time of year.

I have some un official reports saying that the 2003 walleye and yellow perch hatch may be looking good. This is really great news since the 2002 hatch was so poor.

August 7, 2003 (Thursday) Last evening we went out west of Rattlesnake Island but the fishing was poor, we saw a pack of boats down toward C can on the range and trolled that way, slowly picking walleye as we went. The size was still small; we tried not to keep any less than 16 inches but had to throw back a bunch. We ended up with 19 about dark and decided to call it a day.

For the weekend, walleyes off Niagara, C and B cans on the range and maybe up off Northwest reef though we could not find them last night. Perch off Rattlesnake, Green, and Starve Islands and off the northeast corner of Middle Bass Island and off the greencan on the north tip of Kelley Shoals.

I talked to Den at Vermilion this morning and he tells me the bugs (midges) are thick on the water and have shut down the fishing. I had hoped to make a trip down there tomorrow but think we will set it out until next week.

August 6, 2003 (Wednesday) From reports the walleye were scattered by the storms Monday evening, we ran out to a spot west of Northwest Reef and trolled north toward Middle Sister Island, we were generall around the 44/55 lines (middle numbers). While the fish marks looked good we had a slow start but as the evening got later, around 6PM the walleye got more active. We limited about 8:30PM so it took us around 5 hours to get our fish. I tried several different spoons but the best were as in the past weeks, PA's blue marlin, sailfish and Mako along with netcrafters Proeye's (put together) in killer bee, perch and confusion. We were still running two dipsy's and two jet 30s per side. Dipsy's were back 40 to 70 feet while the jet 30s were back 100 feet. The walleye were in the 17 to 22 inch range; we threw back lots of 16 and under fish.

The Port Clinton head boats are perching off of Niagara Buoy this morning and doing well, some have limited by 10AM.

August 5, 2003 (Tuesday) yesterday evening we ran out to west of Doo-Dah's reef (41 45.10 082 55.70) and started trolling toward Middle Sister Island. In short order we started taking walleye and got up to 19 before the weather turned bad causing us to pull the lines and head in. There is still a lot of walleye in the area east of Middle Sister toward Northwest Reef but the size is not the greatest. We threw back several under 16inches to find the ones we kept. The weather has been a fooler for the last few days, rain and blow followed by sunny and calm followed by more rain and blow. The area north of B can on the range still holds walleye, I have had several reports of limit catches from thatarea lately.

Michigan fisherman report good walleye fishing 2 miles in front of Luna Pier in 14 foot of water.

Smallmouth are being taken around Middle Bass Island using soft craws and Carolina rigs in 20 foot of water or so.

Perch are being caught off Rattesnake in 30 to 35 foot of water, also northeast of the green can at the north end of Kelley Shoals. While folks are taking perch they seem to come and go, in other words a bunch comes through, bites for a while then moves on. You have to wait the out and another bunch will show up. I still think the perch bite is just getting started so hold on to your socks.

August 4, 2003 (Monday) Even though it was a fairly nasty weekend, weather wise, those folks that could get out caught fish. The walleye hot spots were 1 to 4 miles norh of B can on the range and west of Northwest Ref in the area off Doo-Dah's Reef. Perch fishing spots were west of Green Island (small perch) and north of Niagara Reef (better sized) perch.

The walleye fishing is still in the "Great" range, really unusual for this time of year. Normally the walleye have slowed down by now and perch fishing becomes the "thing to do", but as long as the walleye keep biting we will keep after them.

Today’s weather is looking better and we hope to get out this afternoon, wind is calm, waves are 2 feet or less and the morning temperature is 70 degrees.

August 3, 2003 (Sunday) Thunderstorms and rain have been in the area since yesterday afternoon. The waves are 2 feet and picking up.

FONT face="Arial" DESIGNTIMESP=25464>Walleye are being caught off B can on the range between F and G cans on the Canadian border, nnw of West Sister and west (2 to 4 miles) of Green Island.

Perch fisherman are doing better and reprting limit catches off C and G cans on the range, north of Niagara Reef and west of Green Island.

Small mouth are still hitting on the south and east sides of Peele Island.

August 2, 2003 (Saturday) The weekend is here this morning so we will take the weekend off. Lots of walleye lying between F and G cans (location) on the border. This school seems to extend south toward Niagara Reef, basically the area of what is called the flats or triangle crated by West Sster, Middle Sister and a few miles west of Green Island all seemed to hold fish yesterday. We did have a fairly violent thunder and lightning storm last evening that lasted for several hour, it is yet to be told if it effected the fishing or not but time will tell though I am hearing that the fishing this morning is slow.

I have reports of limit catches off B and C cans on the range. Perch fisherman pulled good to limits off of C can on the range, northwest of Kelley's Island and west of Green.

August 1, 2003 (Friday) Again we started just south of Northwest Reef, trolled due north to F-can on the Canadian border, then turned west toward Middle Sister Island catching a few walleye as e went. The action was a little slow until we got about 1/2 way between F and G cans on the boarder where the catching got better. Fish marks were stacked from 20 feet to the bottom and we limited in a little less than 4 hours. Once again (why change if it works) we pulled two dispy's and two jets 30 per side. Dipsy's were back 40 and 60 feet while the jet 30s were back from 75 to 125 feet, all were pulling small 2 3/8" spoons. Best were Netcrafters Pro-eyes in monkey puke, killer bee and confusion and PA's blue marlin, which is 1/2 gold and 1/2 pink. Early in the evening the fish were flat on the bottom at 32 feet but once the sun started going down they come up to 20 feet or so. Watch your fish marks if you miss this raising off the bottom and continue to un your baits under the walleye you won't get many bites. There were a few fish in the 20 to 24 inch range but most were in their teens. We threw back a bunch of 16 and under. Only a few boats in the area so we let the autopilot drive most of the trip, we needed the extra person to keep up with all the rod action.

Perch fisherman are reporting good to limit catches west of Green Island and down of B and C cans on the range. The perch seem to be scattered and slow to school up so you will need to look for them. What you want to see is bunches of smaller marks on or very near the bottom; it may even look like a carpet over the bottom of the lake.

July 31, 2003 (Thursday) We ran out t Northwest Reef last evening about 4:00 PM, started trolling about 1/2 mile south of the reef, once we got up close to the reef we turned west toward Middle Sister Inland, which we could see. By the time we had got close to the old G-can location we had limited. The fish were a "mixed bag" of 16 to 20 inch walleye with a few 22 to 25 inch ones. The program was two dipsy's per side ran at 1 and 3 settings back 40 to 60 feet on the inside and 50 to 75 feet on the outside ones. Then two jet 30s back 75 to 100 feet, pulling small spoons. Best spoons were pink and gold colors, we had out Netcrafters perch, killer bee, monkey puke and Luhr-Jensen's hammered copper fire tiger. The walleye were flat on the bottom until about 6:00 PM but then they rose up to arund 20 to 25 feet. The pick was study all evening; it took about 3 hours to limit.

Perch fisherman are having good days followed by bad ones. I suspect the perch are moving a great deal so where you find them one day, you may not the next. A large pack of perch fisherman were west of Green Island as e went out. Also down of what looked from a distance to be either C-can or maybe a little west of Niagara.

July 30, 2003 (Wednesday) Lots of boats fishing for walleyennw of West Sister Island and south of Middle Sister Island. Both drifters and trollers are doing well, drifters are using weight forward spinners in gold and green, trollers are still using gold/copper spoons.

Perch fishing seems to be on the rise. Good to limit catches are reported off the nw corner of Kelley's Island, south of Middle Island, west of Green Island, off C-can n the range and off Marblehead.

July 29, 2003 (Tuesday) Last Friday evening aout 10 PM a boat hit the southeast side of Mouse Island, one man died as the result. The story is covered in the Port Clinton paper. The link follows:

http://www.portclintonnewsherald.com/news/stories/20030728/topstories/543873.html

Now I hear that another person has died from an overturned boat off Cooley Channel (MaumeeBay). The link to that story follows;

http://www.onnnews.com/story.php?record=25700

After dark, unfamiliar waters, maybe alcohol or in the case of the most recent, too small of a boat, unsafe maneuvers. Lake Erie is very unforgiving of those who take chances; don't ever take her for granted.

July 28, 2003 (Monday) I have received several report from the weekend, it seems the walleye are still between West and Middle Sister Islands, while they are in smaller schools they are still in the same general area as the last few weeks. Drifters report taking walleye in this area on "Erie Dearie" type baits in green with gold blades on 20 to 25 count.

Luna Pier, Toledo Lighthouse and McDonalds (marker in shipping channel) all were hot walleye spots fo our Toledo and Michigan friends.

Peele Island down toward Middle Island is great for small mouth at this time, several reports of limit catches of smallies in this area.

Perch fishing has been slow but I do have reports of good to limit catches off Ballast Island and the northwest tip of Kelley's Island.

Note; have had a few enquiries from folks concerned a to why the perch fishing has not taken off so far. I feel that we are two o four weeks behind last year due to the colder than normal winter, late spring and fairly cool summer to date. So just hang in there the perch will turn of before long (hopefully) and in the mean time enjoy some of the best walleye fishing we have had in many a season.

July 26, 2003 (Saturday) From the reports I am receiving, it looks like the big school has busted up into at least two or more smaller packs. One is futher north and west of West Sister Island than they have been over the past weeks, a second is still between Middle and West Sister Islands but they are smaller fish. A possible third school is north of Middle Sister Island, well into Canadian water. Also some walleye are being taken within a few miles of Northwest Reef off North Bass Island. It just takes a little looking to find them. Learning what to look for can make a big difference in your success. The same programs we have been running are still working, trolling with dipsy's or jets and spoons and the drifters are using worm harnesses or may fly rigs with good success.

Speaking of may flies, we are still seeing some of a morning in and around Port Clinton. When I checked my boat Wednesday it had severl on board, so it is not over yet but the numbers (in my opinion) are not great. We have a bad year with mayflies when the roads get slippery from them.

July 24, 2003 (Thursday) Reports have been few so far de to the bad weather the first of the week, I have got a couple from yesterday and today saying that the walleye are still between West Sister and Middle Sister Islands so that is the way I would go. The charters are running north toward Middle Sister and up into Canadian water so I don't know how the are doing. Some folks are taking perch west of Rattlesnake and doing wel.

We are going to take some time off and will be gone until next week so if you get out be sure to give me a report so I can have something to tell the rest of the folks out there. I will update the site as information is available.

July 23, 2003 (Wednesday) The afternoon temperature is 76 degrees, wind is 10 to 14 knots, waves are1.3 feet and the water temperature is 72 degrees.

Charters and head boats are working off the inner range markers and north west of West Sister Island. It looks like the big school if walleye we have been following have moved back west as the result of the storms of the past few days. The may be broken up into smaller schools, this will require some looking on your part to locate these small "bunches" of fish. The charters are finding and taking some walleye but the reports are slim at best.

Perch fisherman from the weekend report limit catches of perch just west (1 mile or so) of Rattlesnake Island.

Another note of clarification; The inner range markers are the outside of Camp Perrys danger zone number 1, they are numbered 37 thru 60. If you will go to my home page, click on Pictures and Maps Index, the scroll down to "Camp Perry Range Map - Goes with above (2003)" you will find a map of the danger zones and markers. The reason I call the the inner range markers is because they divide zone 1 from zone 2. The outer range markers would be A, B, C, D, etc.

July 22, 2003 (Tuesday) We had a series of thunderstorms roll though all day yesterday and it looks like more of the same today. Very few boats were out but some head boats were back off West Sister Island and taking walleye.

From the weekend reports most everyone fishing for walleye were between West and Middle Sister Islands down to the old G can location. Most report good to limit catches of 17 to 22 inch walleye with an abundance of throw backs less than 15 inches. Also good reports from the inner range markers on walleye.

Perch fisherman seemed tobe doing better with good to limits catches coming northwest of Ballast, west of Green Island and on the dumping grounds off Cedar Point.

A note of clarification; To the best of my knowledge the international border cans (between Canada and the US) were remove a few years ago, BUT the locations are still shown on many charts and maps. SO when I talk about "G-can or any other border marker, I am referring to the old location of that can and not a physical marker buoy. Sorry for any confusion to the folks who looked for these markers and could not see one.

July 21, 2003 (Monday) We went back to G can last evening, it was rougher than we would have liked and a storm was coming in. We ended up with one or two short of our limit but decided it was time to leave when the waves got up to four foot or better.

Several Reports from people fishing off Middle Sister over the weekend with good to limits both days. Walleyes were also taken northwest of West Sister, off the inner range markers, and north of A can on the range.

Perch fisherman did much better this weekend with reports of good to limits coming off Green Island, Rattlesnake, and B can on the range and off Marblehead.

The weather this morning is a cool 68 degrees and it is raining, winds are calm to 5 mph. Thunder storms are predicted for the next few days and one come through earlier this morning.

July 20, 2003 (Sunday) We took Friday and yesterday off to rest up a little and clean up the boats. After 5 or 6 trips they really get to be a mess. We plan on going out this evening, weather permitting.

From the weekend reports, walleye are being taken on the inner ranger markers around cans 48 to 51. Also northwest of West Sister and east of Middle Sister Island along the Canadian border all the way to F can.

Some perch were taken southwest of Green Island but not limits also good reports of perch near A can on the range and west of West Sister Island.

July 18, 2003 (Friday) We were back to G can on the boarder last evening and again limited in a short time. The walleye are loaded from east of G can to Middle Sister Island, lots of nice sized fish, you will have to throw back some small ones but the bigger ones are also in there. </FONT< DIV>

Perch fisherman were working off the south side of Green Island as we went out but I don't know how they were doing. The only other place I have hear of perch being taken was off B can on the range. If you get out perching this weekend please giv me a report, I have lots of folks looking for perch information and I can't help them.

July 17,2003 (Thursday) The weather yesterday had us convinced that it would be too rough to go out. I even drove up around Catawba Point at 2:00 PM and it was white capping. About 5:00 PM I got a call from a fellow (thanks Dick) who had launched at Turtle Creek and was on the way out to West Sister, saying the waves had laid down and the water was clear. Well that was enough for us to pack up and head out, we got to the border just east of G can location about 6:30PM and trolled parallel with the Canadian Border past Middle Sisterand back to G can where we reached our limit. The fish we kept were 17 to 22 inches but we had a bunch of throw back under 17". A small pack was northwest of West Sister and taking fish. This is a very large school of walleye, which seems to be within a couple of miles northwest of West Sister to Middle Sister and east along the line past G can location. The walleye were belly down on the bottom in 31 feet of water, we ran our dipsy's and jet divers both at 25 to 27 feet deep. Above that we could not get them to hit until very late when they did come up to 20 feet and below.

We were treated to a beautiful sun set on the way in as well as a great evening of fishing. Waves were 1 to 2 feet at best, bugs were a little bad but tolerable. I saw a few mayflies but so far they have been a non-event.

Without a doubt this has been our best spring and early summer ever on Lake Erie, I thank God for this great fishery and the good folks at DNR and Sea Grant who look over it.

July 16, 2003 (Wednesday) Yesterday started off like a good day but by 10:00 AM the winds picked p and the waves went to 4 to 6 feet or as much as 5 to 7 feet, depending on who you ask (the smaller the boat the bigger the waves). Most folks including charters and head boats were back in by noon. They did well northwest of Wst Sister Island and south of Middle Sister Island until the wind and waves ran them off the lake.

The winds are still strong this morning at 12 to 1 knots, wave at the buoy are 2.3 feet but it is predicted to lay down this afternoon (we will wait and see). If it does lay down we will again run back up to Middle Sister and see what we can do.

July 15, 2003 (Tuesday) Same game different day, we again ran out to "G" can off the Canadian Border last evening,set down ad trolled parallel with the border about 2 to 2 1/2 mile until we were west of Middle Sister picking up 16 walleye, we then turned around and went back to "G" can finishing out our limit. Total time was little over 3 hours. The program was (per side of boat) two large dipsy's set at 2 and 3 back 45 and 60 feet pulling net crafter Pro eye spoons in monkey puke and confusion then two jet divers off small boards back (20s) 100 feet and 30s back 80 feet. Boot jets had PA's holographic spoons in sailfish, mako or blue marlin colors. Same combination ran on other side of boat.

Lorain reports good to limit catches of 17 to 23 inch walleye east of the sand bar and off the southeast tip. It looks like another couple of weeks before the walleye off the sand bar will move west and within the range of us folks around th island. The bigger walleye will follow, I hope by late August or early September and we will move the boat to Huron or Vermilion then.

July 14, 2003 (Monday) We left the dock about 4:00 PM yesterday evening, ran out to "G" can on the Canadian Boarder with one stop along the way that did not produce any fish. We trolled from G can to Middle Sister, picking up a couple of walleye then turned toward West Sister and trolled on a straight line for the next three hours. We had good study action and limited with nice size (17 to 23 inch) walleye. The fish started out up high but soon went down to 20 to 25 fet in 32 feet of water. Dipsy's were ran back 30 to 50 feet and the jets 20 were back 100 feet. The charters and head boats worked this same area over the weekend. Best spoons were confusion, monkey puke, PAs sailfish, Mako and bull shark. Again pink and blue seemed to be the combination favored by the walleye. I have a good report from the south tip of the sand bar off Vermilion of limit catches. Nothing so far on perch but hopefully we will get several reports before the day is over.

The lake is calm this morning temperature is 67 degrees with little or no wind.

July 13, 2003 (Sunday) The wind finally laid down last night, the lake is clearing and the waves are 2 feet or less, the noon temperature is 73 degrees.

Lots of folks out fishing today off the inner range markers down to Locust Point Reef also southwest of Middle Sister Island. Most were taking good to limits of decent sized 17 to 21 inch walleye. Perch fisherman seemed a little slow but were taking fish off the east side of Kelley's Island and up on the east side of Kelley Shoals.

We are planning on going out this aternoon about 4 PM and ill report how we do in tomorrows report.

July 12, 2003 (Saturday) Yesterdays wind really messed up the lake, lots of muddy water this morning. Also the Sandusky bay is muddy from the storms of the past week. Some folks got out yesterday in close to the shore off Camp Perry and did manage to pick up a few walleye in 12 to 15 feet of water, mostly drifting with weight forward spinners, worm harnesses or may fly rigs. Gold and chartreuse were the favorite colors.

This afternoon the winds have laid and the lake is starting to flatten but I suspect it will take another day for the water to get back to normal (fish able) condition. Most reports today are from none to a few walleye taken. Nothing so far on the perch fishing but I suspect it will be better than the walleye.

July 11, 2003 (Friday) We were thinking about taking today off anyway and when I checked the weather this morning it was asure thing to stay in. Winds are out of the southwest at 27 to 32 knots, wave are 3 to 5 or 4 to 6, depending on whom you talk to. What few boats that went out have either came back in or are talking about it. Sounds like 3 to 5s for Saturday with the wind laying down in the afternoon then Sunday should be 2 feet or less.

For you folks looking for a spot to fish this weekend I recommend south of Middle Sister on or very near the Canadian line, north west of West Sister around the 40/06 line or 3 miles north f "B" can in 29 feet of water for walleye. For perch try east of Lucy's Point which is the northeast point off Middle Bass Island, east of the airport pening on the east side of Kelley's Island or east of the green can on the northeast tip of Kelley Shoals. Also you might try down off Locust Point Reef and inside around the inner range markers.

July 10, 2003 (Thursday) Left the dock again at 6:30AM and ran west toward West Sister but when we got about even with "B" can and a mile or so north we started seeing good marks, we set down and started trolling toward West Sister. We picked up walleye right away and fond two small pockets where we took fish every time we ran across them. The walleye were 15 to 24 inches with lots of throwbacks, a few white bass an some of the biggest sheep head I have ever seen. We had out four small boards pulling jet 20s and 30s back 120 feet o the 20s and 100 feet on the 30s, also six large dipsy divers (5 people on board) all had small 2 3/8" spoons. Again the top spoons were PA's fintails and the Netcrafters build your owns. Best color in the PA's were mako, sail fish and bull shark while in the Netcrafters confusion, monkey puke and oil slick were tops.

The big boys (head boats and charters) were northwest of West Sister Island and south of Middle Sister Isled and it sounded like the were doing well. Also we could see a large pack down toward Locust Point Reef, can't say if they were after walleye or Perch.

July 9, 2003 (Wednesday) Went out about 6:30AM, ran to west of Northwest Reef (west on North Bass) and found some good fish makes, started trolling and after a couple of hours we had 11 walleye but the size was not the greatest (15 to 20 inches) so we moved further west to just north of West Sister where we again found marks to our liking and started trolling again, the size of the walleye was a little better but still nothing to brag about (17 to 21 inches). They would come in small bunches of two or three at a time than nothing for an hour or so. We ended up with our limit but I really don't like taking walleye under 19 inches so we will e on the move tomorrow looking for bigger fish. The charters and head boats wereworking further west than we were, more toward the Toledo Shipping channel and we may try there tomorrow.

Best spoons were PA's Fintails in sailfish, mako, and bull shark. These spoons are holding p very well with one spoon I have kept track of taking over 50 walleye. It shows lots of tooth marks but the paint is still in tact.

July 8, 2003 (Tuesday) Strong thunderstorms passed through our aea yesterday afternoon, again about 4:00 AM this morning and are going to hit us again late this afternoon. Lots of lightning, wind and rain, needless to say we decided to stay in until the weather quits this foolishness. Some had boats are out today southwest of Middle Sister Island and northwest of West Sister Island. Others are fishing in close off the eastern end of the inner range markers. All are taking walleye but size wise they are not reporting many big ones.

Perch fisherman are working off the northeast corner of North Bass Island and again east of the north tip of Kelley Shoals.

July 7, 2003 (Monday) The morning temperature is 69 degrees, wind is 9 to 15 knots, waves are 2 feet and the water temperature is 70 degrees. We got some thunderstorms about 9:00 PM last evening and it rained with thunder and lightning most all night.

Good to limit catches of walleye coming off the inner range markers, the walleye are up high, the drifters are casting may fly rigs and weight forward spinners on shallow casts (3 to 5 count). Others did well south of Middle Sister 3 miles and are getting limits of small to medium size walleye.

The walleye bit is getting better east of the sand bar off Vermilion with good catches of 18 to 22 inch fish being reported.

Perch fishing is still spotty with some limits but others report difficulty in finding the perch.

We hope to got out this afternoon if the wind and wave co-operate.

July 6, 2003 (Sunday) We got back the lake about noon today, the temperature is 80 degrees, and winds are 4 to 6 knots out of the south. Waves are 1 foot or less.

From what little I have found out so far, walleye are still around the west end of the inner range markers and toward "K" can. Also in Michigan waters off Fermi (Monroe, MI.) good to limit catches are common.

Perch fishing is somewhat slow with less than limits coming off Green Island, east of North Bass and off Kelley Shoals. Hopefully with the weather cooperating we will get out tomorrow and I will have more to report.

July 5, 2003 (Saturday) The morning temperature is 72degrees, wind is out of the WSW at 19 to 23 knots, waves are 2.6 feet and the water temperature is 70.9 degrees.

It seems to be one of those weekends where the folks that find the walleye are getting good to limit catches and others are getting little or very few. A good school of walleye is still off the west end of the Camp Perry range near "K" can and the inner range markers. The are in shallow water, 10 to 15 eet depth. Bottom bouncers with worm harnesses or may fly rigs are working best with trollers still using spoons or harnesses.

The Michigan end of the lake is doing well with good to limit catches reported off Sterling State Park and out from Femi in Ohio waters. Again the schools are small and in "pockets" so if you catch two or more fish close together, mark the spot and work it over several times until you are no longer getting any hits.

Perch fishing seems to still be somewhat spotty with the northeast corner of North Bass and the north tip of Kelley Shoals being the best spots reported.
NOTE: The storms that hit the Port Clinton area yesterday afternoon caught lots of folks unaware and unprepared. The Coast Guard answered numerous calls for help starting at 2:20 PM and lasting most of the evening as the storms rolled through. In my opinion there was no call for this, I am setting 200 miles south of Lake Erie and I knew there were storms on the way so PLEASE listen to the weather radio, TV, internet, etc and don't go out if conditions are not favorable.

To see he article in the Port Clnton News Herald click this link.

July 3, 2003 (Thursday) I am still getting good reports from Locust Point Reef of 17 to 22 inch walleye also between West and Middle Sister Islands in 30 feet of water using bottom bouncers and worm harnesses. East of the sand bar (2 to 3 miles) off Vermilion is starting to produce good to limit catches of 20 to 26 inch walleye. Perch fishing seems to have slowed but it is time that they were getting busy, lots of folks will be out this weekend and I expect the old favorites spots to give up perch, like west of Green, off Marblehead, east side of Kelley's off he airport and off Gull Shoals can. We plan on heaing back to the lake Sunday in time to watch all the weekender heading south.

July 2, 2003 (Wednesday) Avon Point is reporting good catches of walleye about 3 miles out. Lorain also reports walleye 2 to 5 miles off shore but the size is small. Locust Point Reef continues to be a good spot for walleye with good to limit catches of 17 to 22 inch fish reported.

Perch are being taken off the east side of Kelley's Isand out from the airport opening and off the green can at the northeast corner of Kelley Shoals.

July1, 2003 (Tuesday) Only a few reports today of fair to good catches of walleye off the reefs, Toussaint, Flat Rock and Locust Point. Mostly 17 to 22 inch walleye with lots of throwbacks. Also west of Green Island there is a school of walleye wondering around so keep your eye on the fish finder. No new perch reports since the weekend but as soon as some come in I will get them posted. I know lots of you are switching over to perch for the time being. Cleveland, Avon Lake and Lorain all report good to limit cathes of walleye 2 to 5 miles out. The fish are still on the small side, 17 to 22 inches so the big gals are still up in Canadian waters in my opinion.

June 30, 2003 (Monday) As usual this time of year the walleye are on the move, it just takes time to find them. Good reports from over the weekend;

Toussaint Reef to southeast of Flat Rock Reef, 15 to 16 feet of water on spoons.

Toussaint Reef to Locust Point Reef, 18 to 23 inch fish with lots of throw backs (15 or under)

Between West Sister and B can on the range, 18 to 21 inch fish with lots of throw backs.

South of Ballast Island in shallow water drifting from shallow out and casting cranks or may fly rigs.

Perch fishing is o the increase, same areas as yesterday.

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June 29, 2003 (Sunday) Reports from an area between West Sister and the turn around buy where limits were taken yesterday in 31 feet of water. South of Middle Sister where it has been good for a while is now slowed down as well as most anywhere around the islands. The only really good reports other than the one mentioned above was the perch fisherman are taking limits off Ballast and off the red can at Gull Shoals. When I get back I am going to start looking east toward Huron. Anyone that gets out down that direction please let me know what is going on.

June28, 2003 (Saturday) Not much to report today, another slow day with few reports so far. Fishing around Kelley's Island is still sow. Charters are working west on the Canadian line southeast of Middle Sister with limited success. Crib and Round reefs are giving up some walleye with less than limit catches of small to average fish. Perch fisherman are doing better off Ballast and the red can off Gull Shoals.

We are taking some time off from the lake and will be back July 6th. As reports come in I will still update but be sure if you get out to let me know how yo do.

June 27, 2003 (Friday) The morning temperature is 63 degrees, wind is 4 to 6 knots out of the west and waves are 2 feet at the weather buoy.

Walleye fishing was again slow yesterday with only a few fish being caught. A friend worked north of Kelley's all day and ended up with six walleye. Charters were up toward Middle Sister Island and reportd very slim catches of less than 3 per person. Lorain continues to improve so it looks like the larger walleye have moved east into the middle/east basins.

On the bright side perch fishing is picking up with limit catches east Ballast Island and east of Kelley's Island. I expect lots of folks to be out perching this weekend.

June 26, 2003 (Thursday) Fishing success rate has dropped signficantly n the last few days. Mayflies, hot temperatures and grass in the water are to blame in my opinion.

There are still lots of fish north of Kelley's Island and west of North Bass so it's just a matter of time before they get hungry again.

Reports of less than limits from Kelley Shoals, west of Northwest Reef and southeast of Peele Island. Lorain reports good to limit catches out around the 32/12 to 13 lines (middle numbers). Steel head fisherman are doing well off Avon Point this week.

The 7:30 AM temperature is 78 degrees, wind is out of the south at 6 knots and waves are 1 foot.

June 25, 2003 (Wednesday) We took yesterday and today off to let the may flies and grass settle down a little but are planning on going back out tomorrow. The water around the island is loaded with floating grass and may fly, fishing is tough since trollers are having to continually clean lines.

Good catches east of Peele Island and northeast of West Sister Island have been reported. Perch fisherman are getting good to limit catches east of Kelley's Shoals, off the air port opening on the east side of Kelley's and off Marble head in the ferry boat passage.

June 24, 2003 (Tuesday) I know it could not last, last night we went again east of Kelley Shoals, started just east of the first green ca off Kelley Shoals and worked all the way up the east side and around the north end then down the west side. Did not pick up a fish for two hour, then on the west side about even with the second green can we turned west toward Gull Shoals can. We picked up three very quick and I thought we were in good shape, but after that it was slow all evening. We continued to pick fish but ended up two short of our limit, size wise they were not the greatest, with most in the 17 to 22 inch class. May fly larva was ever where, we had to keep cleaning the lines as it built up on the surface and ahead of the dipsys. I am not ready to give up on the shoals yet but will give it a few days to see if the mayfly larva goes away. We were still marking lots of fish and I feel they were just "pigged out" on the larva.

Weather is great this morning with the morning temperature at 69 degrees, wind is calm and wave are 2 feet or less.

June 23, 2003 (Monday) My prediction of a slow weekend turned out to be very wrong. Lots of reports of good to limit catches from over the weekend from;

West of West Reef ~ 3 miles.

South of Middle Island on the Canadian Line.

Northeast of Kelleys, walleye and perch.

West of Green Island, walleye and perch.

3 miles north of West Sister.

Canadian border between West and Middle Sister.

Both drifters and trollers did well, I guess the winds from last week did not mess up the lake as bad as I had expected.

Mayflies were in abundance last evening we saw swarms along sr-169 in the way back from the marina about 9:30 PM.

We went fishing yesterday afternoon, left the dock about 3:00PM. While on the way out I got a call saying the walleye were east of Kelley Shoals (thanks Tim) so we checked the area we had fished last week on the way out but found few marks, we continued on to Kelley Shoals. We stated about 1/2 way between Long Point and the 3rd green can, maybe a little to the east. We trolled toward the green can and picked up our 24 fih limit in a little under hours. All fish were nice size with one 30 inch, one 28 inch and lots of 22 to 25 inch fish. The sheephead were active with about two sheephead to each walleye, we finally changed to the larger spoons, which did slow down the sheephead some. The large spoons (blueberry muffin, superman and cat/dog) took all the bigger fish as well. I think we will start out with big spoons tonight instead of the stinger sized ones.

June 22, 2003 (Sunday) Wind and waves laid down yesterday and the lake has cleared, looks like we wll be going out this afternoon. Waves are 2 feet or less, wind is calm and the moning temperature is 64 degrees

Some of the charters are working east of 
Kelley's this morning, it sounds like the fish moved from west of the Bass 
Island to east of Kelley's but we will know more tomorrow after I get out and 
some of the weekend reports come in.




I personally saw my first may fly last evening. I have been getting several reports of citing but this is my first one. They are going to have to get more than this to effect the fishing any.

Reports of nice size perch in limit catches from northeast of Kelley's Island in 42 to 45 feet of water.

June 21, 2003 (Saturday) The wind continued to blow until yesterday afternoon and is 3 to 6 knots this morning. Waves on the lake are 1 to 3 feet, water temperature is 59 degrees. The water is stained to muddy.

Lots of folks out this morning and are reporting slow fishing with one charter reporting one ticket (6 walleye) and he is the most successful I have heard. As I said yesterday it will take at least one more day for the water to clear and the lake to lay down where we can get back to some serious fishing, maybe Monday after all the weekenders go back t work.

Today most folks are working off Niagara, West Reef, West of Kelley's, North of Kelley's and up near the line north between the Bass Island and Kelley's Island.

Good reports before the blow from Michigan and Canadian waters. as follows;

Sterling Park (MI.) 2 to 3 miles out.

Colchester (Ca.) 8 to 12 foot of water.

Breast Bay (MI) out to West Sister Island./SPAN>

Vermilion / Lorain 2 to 3 miles out.

Perch fisherman are starting to do better with limits being taken at various spots.

NOTE: All these were before the winds of the last two days so only time will tell.

June 20, 2003 (Friday) The wind blew all day yesterday, last night and is still blowing. Waves on the lake were 5 to 7 feet yesterday and are still bad, the lake was turning muddy yesterday afternoon when I took my last look.

Today northeast wind 15 to 25 knots, wave at the buoy are 3.9 feet, water temperature is 59 degrees.

Only a few charters out yesterday an they spent most of the day bringing sea sick fisherman back to the dock, most came in early with less than limit catches. It was a good day to stay on the beach.

Those of you coming up this weekend might want to bring a good book. We are staying in again today and don't plan on going back out before Sunday afternoon if the wind lays today.

Perch fisherman are starting to send reports of good catches off Marblehead, west of Kelley's Island and between Green and Rattlesnake.

Before the blow Sterling Park (Mi) was reporting limit catches out near the Ohio boarder.

June 19, 2003 (Thursday) It is raining and windy this morning, the 9:30 AM temperature is 62 degrees, wind is out of the North at 17 to 21 knots, waves at the buoy are 2.6 feet with predictions of 2 to 4 feet but it looks to me like it may be worse than that.

We again went fishing yesterday afternoon about 3:00 PM. Back the northwest side of Kelley's Island. Our day could have been called "A day on the farm" since the sheep head were i abundance, for every walleye we caught we got two or three sheep head. The walleye are still in the area between Kelley's and Gull Shoals in 38 to 42 feet of water but so are the sheephead. We tried raising and lowering our baits to get away from them, changed location several time by a mile or so but they kept coming. Finally we went t larger spoons, which slowed the catch of sheep head, but we still took some. We did manage limits of Walleye mostly 20 to 26 inches with one 29" but it took almost 6 hours to do it.

Good reports from;

Niagara Reef, West Reef, west of Rattlesnake and north of the boarder around Wagon Wheel Reef where charters are mostly drifting using bottom bouncer or weight forward spinners with worms. Some are also casting the mayfly rigs.

Speaking of ma flies, I keep getting questions as to the start of the emergence but as of yet I have not seen one. We have had several hatches of the "midge" which looks like a large mosquito and is sometimes mistaken for the may fly. I will post the first one I personally see. It is my belief the cool weather has delayed the hatch.

June 18, 2003 (Wednesday) The wind laid down about noon yesterday afternoon and the waves were 1 to 3 feet by the time we left the dock about 3:00 PM. We ran out past American Eagle Shoals and on a line toward Middle Island, once we past the northwest corner of Kelley's Island we shut down and got the lines out. We had two dipsy poles per side set at 2 and 3, back 40 and 50 feet respectfully. Two jet 30 poles per side both back 50 feet. We were targeting around 25 feet of water where we saw god fish marks. All lines had small spoons for bait, best colors were PA's sailfish and bull shark, net crafters (build your own) in shrimp, perch and killer bee. In less than three hours we reach our limt. About an hour before we limited it started to rain lightly and the walleye really turned on, we had as many as four on at one time.

Other areas reporting good catches are;

Off Lorain in 39 feet of water.

Sterling State Park about 5 miles out.

West of West Reef.

All around Niagara reef.

Between Niagara and Rattlesnake.

This has to be the best six weeks of fishing in my life, it is hard to believe how good ithas been and the season is just getting a good start, so far there is no sign of the fishing slowing down. Our being here all the time and being able to stay on top of where the fish are makes a major difference from those of you fishing only weekends or less.

From the reports I have been getting from many of you, it looks like the folks fishing between the hors of 9am and 3pm are catching less fish than those who fish early (daybreak to 9am) or late (4pm to dark). If you are having problems you might want to see if this pattern fits your fishing habits.

June 17, 2003 (Tuesday) Yesterday turned out to be a "blow day" winds out of the northeast all day with 3 to 5 foot waves kept most folks including us off the lake. Charters are working west of West Reef this morning and trolling toward Niagara Reef, they have been taking walleye in this area for a few days now but I can't say as to the size since we have not been out there. Additional reports from over the weekend are north of Niagara, West Reef, Northwest Reef, West of Rattlesnake and West of Green Island. All these spots are in the same general area of the flats or "bumps" as shown on my Pictures and maps index and are taking good to limit catches.

We hope to get out this afternoon if the thunderstorms don't keep us off the lake. We will be going back up north of Kelley's Island.

The Lorain area reports good to limit catches of really nice sized walleye up to 30 inches not too far off the beach. West Sister and the turn around buoy have slowed down.

June 16, 2003 (Monday) After a day of rest my "crew" was read to go last evening and as usual we started a mile or so south of the red can off Carpenters Point. We started picking up walleye right away but they were small also we were getting 3 or 4 sheep head to every walleye. After an hour we decided this was a major pain and started moving north. When we got above the northwest tip of Horseshoe Bay (North side of Kelley's) we started seeing really good marks. We trolled from the northwest tip of Kelley's aiming at Middle Island and trolled up until we get close to Gull Shoals. The walleye were good sized with all we kept over 17 inches and many in the 22 to 27 inch range. It looks to me like they are moving more north though some folks did well over the weekend off the red can.

Sundays reports shows fishing was slow around the turn around buoy in Toledo Channel and west of West Sister. Others did well north of C can on the outer range markers. Charters were working west an north of Rattlesnake Island and did well Friday and Saturday with Sunday slowing down for hem. Limits were still being taken off Sterling Park (MI.) about 5 miles out. Stony Point (MI) reports limits in 20 to 24 feet of water.

Morning temperature is 63 degrees, wind is calm, wave are 1 foot or less, water temperature at the weather boy is 67 degrees.

June 15, 2003 (Sunday) We took yesterday off and maybe today also, us old folks can't handle more than 4 or 5 days in a row.

The usual "herd" of weekenders were on the lake yesterday, the lake was fairly flat and the temperature got up into the 70s. Fishing was slow in some areas but there were fish to be caught for those who stuck with it.

Good t limit catches were reported from west of West Sister, northwest of Niagara reef in 22 feet of water, on North West Reef and between Niagara and Rattlesnake Island. Some walleye were taken southwest and north of Kelley's Island but it was slow there. I think the area around Kelley's is much better very early or late than it is during the day.

This mornings temperature is 65 degrees, wind is 3 to 5 knots out of the north, wave are 2 feet or less.

June 14, 2003 (Saturday) To say the last three week have been great would be an understatement. The fishing this spring has been as good or better than any other spring I have experienced in 20 years on Lake Erie. The exception might be back in the early 90s when the limit was 10 fish but I don't recall getting as many good days in a row as we have this spring, the weather has really been great.

Again yesterday afternoon we went to the red can off the southwest corner of Kelley's Island and as soon as we got some of our lines in the water we started taking fish. The bad news is they were on the small side (lss than 17 inches) and we threw back nearly a dozen. I got calls from two different boats that were working north of Kelley's (thanks guys), saying they were taking good sized walleye so breaking my rule about "never leaving fish to find fish" we pulled up and ran to the north side of Kelley's and son were boating much better sized walleye. Due to the slow stat we did not limit until 9:00 PM. The program was basically the same as past days while the dipsy's did take about 1/2 of the fish this trip. The lake was as flat as I have seen it.

Reports of limit catches of walleye from 1 to 2 miles west of the turn around buoy in Toledo Shipping channel, limits of prch from the southeast side of Kelley's off the airport opening in 39 to 40 feet of water, limits of perch off Lorain as well as good catches of walleye, Vermilion walleye fishing is getting better also. All said it looks like a great season to be had by all.

June 13, 2003 I wish I had something different to tell you but it is "daja vu" all over again. We went back to the red can off the southwest corer of Kelley's about 3:30 PM last afternoon, started catching walleye right away and was nearly done by 6:00 PM when the fish turned off on us. After an hour of looking we found they had moves a mile or so east nd we managed to pick up the last few fish we needed.

Jet 20's 50 foot back pulling small spoons, PA's holographic any with some pink on them works, netcrafters "roll your own" in perch, confusion and monkey puke with #4 rapala RED treble hooks.

Dipsy's set at 1 1/2 and 3 back 30 and 40 feet, pulling some of the same spoons as the jets took heir share of the fish for a change. Up until last evening the jets were getting almost all the fish but the dipsy's got about 1/2 of them last evening, we had a 2 to 3 foot chop which may have contributed to the dipsy's working better. A front moved through about 6:00 PM, which may have caused the walleye to shut down and mov. The fog (mist) got thick and we could not see Kelley's from the red can and came all the way into the west harbor channel on "instrument rules".

Lorain reports good perch catches 3 to 3.5 miles out of Hot waters also walleye are being caught not far out of the Lorain harbor on may fly rigs and bottom bouncers with worm harnesses.

June 12, 2003 We did it again last evening back in the same spot, worked all around the red can off the southwest corne (Carpenters Point) of Kelley’s Island. Started right about 4:00 PM picking up walleyes soon as we get the lines in the water and limited around 8:00 PM. Managed to get soaked when a pop up shower came through while I had a couple of tangled lines and could not run for the cabin. Two jet 20s and two large dipsy's per side with spoons. The jets took 22 of 24 fish, I think the fish are so high that the boats shadow causes them to move out and away from the dispy's. Best spoons were PA's new holographic with "bull shark" top color and netcrafters put together in perch, monkey puke and confusion colors. Ran jet 20s back 50 feet off small boards while the dipsy's were 25 and 35 back set on 1 1/2 and 3.

Lots of charters and private boats working off Rattlesnake Island and seemed to be taking fish, but the were doing a lot o complaining about all the small walleye they were culling to get a keep able catch.

We got 24 fish to clean and I am worn out already but most likely we will hit it again tonight.

UPDATE; Just finished cleaning the fish, 1 30, 2 26s, 4 24s and a bunch of 22s. NOTHING under 20 inches kept. Who says the big fish have all moved east.

Point to ponder, should I leave a place whee I am catching walleye to run all over the lake because of something I have heard on the radio? (or how many fish have you caught using a radio for bait)

June 11, 2003 The wind laid down yesterday afternoon and we went fishing about 4:00 PM. We started back on American Eagle Shoals, marks were few and we did not get into any walleye so we move inside the red can off the southwest corner (Carpenters Point) of Kelley's Island, he marks looked better and we started taking a few fish. We found that as we move further toward the north the marks got better, we continued taking walleye at a 4 to 6 per hour rate. By :30 PM we had our limit working from just inside the red can north to where we could see back into Horse Shoe Bay at the north side of Kelley's. We were running two jet 20s and two dipsy (large size 1) per side with most fish coming off the jets. Best spoon color were perch and confusion.

During the day yesterday several charters and a large pack of boats were fishing off Rattle Snake Island and doing well, I heard of limits being taken between west of Rattlsnake and up toward West Reef.

This mornings weather is looking good with temperature at 7:00 AM of 67 degrees, wind is out of the southwest at5 to 10 knots and wave re 2 feet.

June 10, 2003 I got totally faked out by the weather yesterday, it looked like it was going to stay rough so we decided to go out for dinner instead of fishing, well by the time we go back it had laid down nicely but it was too late to go. I did talk to a friend on the lake about 9:00 PM, he was out between Kelley's Island and the can off American Eagle Shoals and had limited in three hours. Oh well we will try again tonight.

Charters were off the east side of Kelley's Island yesterday trying to find flat water and did take a few fish. Weekend reports are still coming in telling of good catches all around Kelley's Island, West Reef, west of West Sister (a little northwest about 1/2 way to the shipping channel),off the turn around buoy (Toledo channel), Breast Bay and Bolles Harbor. It sounds like most everyone caught some walleye.

I am starting to get some reports from Huron / Vermilion area of walleye being caught not too far off shore around the Castle area.

June 9, 2003 The weekend reports indicate it was hit and miss. Those who found the pockets of walleye did well those that did not find them didn't do very well.

East of Kelley's seemed to be the popular spot with good to limit catches off the southeast corner and off the airport opening. The northeast corner off Long Point produced some good catches for the most part in the 25-inch range or less. One fisherman reported starting to American Eagle Shoals and stopping at Scott Point Shoals which is the red can southeast of Starve Island, and picking up limits both days.

Best programs were again jet divers with small spoons that had some "hot pink" color and bottom bouncers with either worm harnesses or mayfly rigs.

So far I have yet to see any mayflies but it can't be far from the emergence.

At 8:15 AM the temperature is 62 degrees, wind is out of the southwest at 6 to 10 knots, waves are 1.6 feet and are expected to lay down this afternoon. If that happens we will be going back out to the same area as last week. "I ain't leaving until the fish do".

June 8, 2003 I got a report from a fisherman who has been fishing out of Sterling State Park (Mi.) and limited both Friday and Saturday straight out from the park in 20 to 25 feet of water using bottom bouncers and harnesses. Also northwest of West Sister and around the turn around buoy are both producing walleye.

Locally northwest of Rattlesnake and around West Reef have started giving up a few walleye. Kelley's Island is still my favorite spot to date. This weekend both the southwest corner where we have been ishing for the past two weeks and the southeast corner produced good to limit catches.

At 4:30 PM there are thunder storms moving through the area with rain and some wind but I think tomorrow will be "good to go" for us. Have a nice workweek .

June 7, 2003

I have had several questions regarding the location of American Eagle Shoals and the red channel marker off Kelley's Island. I have marked up a map and added it to my "Pictures and Maps Index" page if you are interested.

These spots are marked on any good NOAA chart and I hope everyone going out on the lake would have one and study it. The are available at BoatUS or West Marine outside Port Clinton. Make sure you ask for a NOAA map and not a "hot spot" map which in not as detailed for navigational purposes.

Heads Up! I got a report from one of our readers saying that he had a bunch of fishing tackle taken from his boat while docked at Anchor Point. He said a deputy told him there was a lot of this going around so let's all be careful of our equipment.

ANOTER HEADS UP! Got a report from some out of town folks who had fished one day and limited. The next day they went back and did it again. The problem was they had the first days catch in their vehicle all iced down, they were checked by the game warden and were ticketed for over limit. I suggest either taking your catch to the fish cleaners and picking them up after you are done fishing or clean them your self and leave them someplace away from the lake until you are ready to leave.

June 6, 2003 I got two reports from southwest of Kelley's for last night, both did very well trolling the same area we aver been working for the last two weeks. Jet 20's back about50 feet off small boards with spoons. Best colors were again perch, confusion and superman. Also West Reef, west of North Bass produced good catches for the second evening in a row. ALSO got a great report from way down east in the Cleveland area. Two fisherman, boat fishing off the break walls last night, took 10 walleye with four of the being fish -Ohio's the biggest was 30 inches. Thanks for the report, we don't get many from that far east.

For you coming up this weekend, I would try Kelley's Island, southwest, southeast and north off Long Point and West Reef.

Look for these fish to be active until the water warms a little, so don't be complaining to loudly about the cool weather, its helping us out with the fishing. We can get our suntans later

BTW we will be taking the weekend off to see the grand kids and pay a few bills. Hope to be back Monday.

June 5, 2003 It is Thursday morning and the weather is still cool but the winds are laying down. Morning temperature is 55 degrees, wind is 5 to 10 knots and waves are predicted to be 1 to 3 feet.

We again last evening (4:00pm) went out to American Eagle Shoals and trolled toward the red channel marker ff the southwest side of Kelley's Island. It was slow catching for the first hour but he wind picked up about 5 PM and the walleye turned on a little. Anyway we managed to limit with "eater" size walleye by 9:00 PM. We had out two dipsy's with spoons and two jet 20's with spoons per side. The jets took 22 of the 24 walleye we caught. We were in 20 foot of water or a little less and I think the boat caused the fish to move out away from it to where the jets were running off the small boards. Best spoons were the perch colored netcrafter "put together spoons", PA's holographic in anything with some pink on it and confusion.

Got some reports that good to limit catches of walleye are coming of the southeast corner of Kelley's with several charters working that area during the day. Also West Reef is starting to produce walleye on hot-n-tots. Many folks are doing well on worm harnesses, it looks like a good season so far for both drifters and trollers.

If I sound like a broken record, it because as long as the walleye stay around Kelley's we won't change our tactics. NEVER LEAVE FISH TO GO FIND FISH.

Opinion: As long as this cool weather holds the walleye seem to be staying active in the western nd of the lake and around the island. I expect as soon as the weather starts to warm into the 70s and 80s we will see the big schools of walleye leave the islands and move into the central basin.

June 4, 200 The wind and waves kicked up some yesterday afternoon and we decided not to go out It really did not get too bad but we always try and error on the side of caution.

I did get some reports of good walleye fishing west of the turn around marker in Toledoshipping channel and west of West Sister Island. Kelley's Island is still producing good to limit catches on the southwest corner around American Eagle Shoals, on the southeast side between the airport opening and the southern most tip and again off Long Point and the second green marker.

Though for today; </FONT< P>

During spring the ducks, geese and swans and their young can be seen as we come in and out of west harbor channel. I remember when there were very fe ducks or geese and I never saw a swan until a few years ago when they started nesting on a small island that we pass every time we go fishing. We see spawning carp, muskrats and even deer from our boat. The sun rises and suns set are spectacular as they backlight the islands. If you will just look in the sky it is easy to see the handy work of God. We are so fortunate to have such a great fishery, as Lake Erie, but do not over look that she has so much more to give if you just look for it. There is so much more to fishing than catching fish.

June 3, 2003 I got a couple of reports for west of West Sister Island and west of the turn around buoy in the Toledo shipping channel of good to limit catches of walleye over the weekend as well as Breast Bay. Looks like the far west is getting better.

We went out last evening, left the dock around 4:00 PM. We had started for Kelley's southeast side but saw several boat off American Eagle Shoals, which is southwest of Kelley's and only a little over 3 miles out of west harbor. The marks looked fair so we put out lines, before I could get mine all in my buddy popped two walleye than while boating them he got another. Needless to say we stayed on the spot and ended up trolling circles around AmericanEagle Shoals for four hours. We got our limit by 9:00 PM. The walleye were nice size 17 to 25 inch fish. We started out with 3 dipsy's with spoons per side and one jet 20 off a small board with a spoon. The fish son told us they really preferred the jet over the dipsy so we switched to two jets per side. Best spoons were the Netcrafter "build your own" in "Perch" color, which is a reddish maroon with black spots. PA's holographic also took their share. This area is 20 feet deep or less, so the jet 20s were ran back between 40 and 50 feet before the board while the dipsy's were back 25, 30 and 35 feet for settings of 1, 2, and 3 1/2.

You may have heard of the RCL tournament boat getting swamped in the big wave we had last Saturday. There is an article in the Port Clinton News Harold, which is interesting. This is a link to it.

June 2, 2003 The Camp Perry Firing Range "Special Firing Notice - 2003" has been uploaded and can be viewed by going to the "Pictures and Maps" page, the scroll down to until you se the notice and the accompanying map. Note the map stayed to same as 2002.

It is Monday morning and the weather has cleared, wind is 4 knots and waves are 2feet or less. Some carters are working south and west of Kelleys Island and are taking walleye this morning. The weekend was slow due to the weather. I got a few reports o walleye caught around Kelley's even in the bigger waves, also from west of West Sister. Things around the Bass Island are slow or no one is talking. We plan on going out this afternoon and I will let you know how we do in tomorrows report.

June 1, 2003 Its about noon on Sunday, the wind has been blowing since yesterday morning and the wave were up to 6 foot or better for a while. At this time the are 3 feet at the weather buoy, wind is 15 to 18 knots but it does seem to be laying down. Before all this started good fishing was reported off the southeast corner of Kelley's Island in 24 to 32 feet of water by drifting out from the shallower after toward the deeper.Trollers did well further out in deeper water. Drifters did best with worm harnesses or may fly rigs while the trollers were using spoons and some harasses off bottom bouncers.

Good reports from west of West Sister Island, Bolles Harbor in 15 to 24 feet of water and off Turtle Island.

Clear water seems to be the key for finding walleye at least clearer than muddy.

I have had several request for how I tie may fly rigs and have added it the "helpful hints" page.

May 31, 2003 It is Saturday morning and it is raining. The wind is 3 to 5 knots out of the northeast but according to the weather guessers it is to turn bad sometime this morning with gale force wind and waves predicted.

We went out yesterday afternoon, started north of Kelley's Island and picked up a couple of walleye on holographic spoons with some pink on the edges, but the marks were not nearly as good as we have been seeing. Moved over the east side of Kelley's where several charters were trolling, still few marks, I suspect the storm coming in has either scattered the fish or tey have gone to the bottom and are not active. Anyway we ended up with less than two limits of smaller sized walleye (17 to 22 inches).

I got several reports from east of Kelley's (before this storm) where limit catches were being take specifically off the airport opening and toward the southeast corner.

The RCL tournament will finish up today and hopefully we will get some feedback from those folks as to where and what worked for them. I do know that both sides of Peele Island, Gull Shoals and east of Kelley's were areas where the tournament fisherman were working hard during pre fishing.

May 30, 2003 It is Friday morning and we took yesterday off, just too hard on us old folk dragging in all those walleye for five days in a row. The morning temperature is 57 degrees, wind and waves are calm. Thunderstorms are possible for the afternoon with storm predicted for Saturday afternoon and evening with gale force winds. Yesterday several charters were working northwest of Kelley's Island and caching limits. I have several reports form the east side of Kelley's off the airport opening where limits of walleye are also being caught. I don't know how long the walleye are going to hang around Kelley's but it has been good so far. I am still getting good reports from the reefs area aound Locust Point, Crib, Cone, K-can and Niagara of good catches, mostly on bottom bouncers and harnesses while those of us fishing Kelley's seem to be using spoons with good success. While I expect the mayflies to start any day now so far I have not seen any. Once they do, break out the may fly rigs and work the bottom it can be very productive as the walleye seem to go into a feeding frenzy during the emergence.

The Huron / Vermilion are is producing some average to food catches of walleye within a couple of miles of shore. Look for this area to get hot in the coming weeks.

May 29, 2003 It is Thursday morning and this report is for Wednesday evening. We again left the dock about 4:00 PM., went back out to the west side of Kelley Shoals (second green can off Long Point). We got off the a better start with six walleye in the first hour and the remainder of our four limits by dark. Several times the walleye quit hitting but we just kept working over the spots where we had ought the first six until we reached our limit. Hot spoons were again the PA's Bull Shark, the Netcrafter "Perch", confusion, superman and cat - dog. All the spoons had some "hot pink" color and that seems to be the common factor. Again this season the walleye are in small schools and working over spots were you have taken fish seems o be imperative. The weather was great, temperature never got above the mid 60's and cooled into the 50's by evening. The lake was calm, this past week has been great weather and great fishing. This past week my well be our best week ever for the month of May. We moved back on the last day of March and have mostly set and waited for this one week to come, hopefully it will continue but if the walleye move out tomorrow we have had our fun.

May 28, 2003 (Wednesday) Tuesday evenings report, we went back to Kelley Shoals about 4:00 PM yesterday. Fished spoons behind large dipsy's and jet30 divers. Dispsy's were set on 1, 2 and 3 were ran back 0, 40 and 60 feet to target fish at the 25 to 30 foot range. Jet30s were ran back 70 feet off small boards. Again it was a slow but study pick until about 8:00 PM when they walleye really turned on. It got to be funny to see four "old folks" falling all over each other while having three or four walleye on lines at the same time. We limited right at total darkness and made it to the dock about 10:00 PM. tired but happy.

It is hard to believe the number of fish marks we are seeing. Got other reports from the east side of Kelley's near the airport opening of walleye being caught all weekend. Also off Niagara, Cone and Locust Point Reefs are producing limit catches. Most folks are still using bottom bouncer and harnesses but we have gone with all spoons for the last week now. Our hot spoon last night, PA's new holographic fintail "bull shark". I only had one and could haveused a dozen. This spoon has lots of the ht pink color that has worked so well all week.

May 27, 2003 (Tuesday) The big weekend is over and I have lots of reports from the folks that put up with the crowd. Mixed reports from the reefs with limits to just a few fish taken being reported. Bottom bouncer and worm harnesses (weapons) seemed to be the bait of choice with gold and silver being the most successful color. North of Kelley's Island held fish all weekend with many good catches reported mostly between Gull Island and Kelley Shoals.

I received several reports from Bolles Harbor and Breast Bay area telling of good to limit catches in 18 to 22 feet of water using bottom bouncers and gold bladed harnesses. One person reported taking a 14 1/2 inch perch (only ne) out of Bolles.

Vermillion area reports 1/2 limits of walleye out around the 25line and the perch bite is going strong a mile or so out in front of Vermillion.

We went out yesterday afternoon, back to Kelley Shoals and started at Long Point and trolled north toward the green can off the west side of Kelley Shoals. The area is stacked with really great marks but the walleye were not much in the mood. It was near 6pm before we really got much going. We managed to get 13 nice size walleye in the 20 to 26 inch range, not the really big ones but still good size. We were running dipsy's (big #1s) and spoons (2 3/8" size). I use 6 to 7 foot leaders between the spoon and the shock cord attached to the dipsy. Best colors were confusion, monkey puke, cat/dog and superman. Again it seemed the important color was "hot pink". The fish were down around 30 foot to start but move up to 20 to 25 feet when they become active. It was good enough we are going back this afternoon.

Have a happy work day :).

May 26, 2003 I took four guys and went out last evening about 5:00 PM. We went north of Kelley's and started in the bay, worked toward "Long Point" (northeast corner). Picked up two walleye in the bay and got into really good marks north of Long Point. We fished until 10:00 PM. We had a total of 19 by dark but once it got dark the fish shut down, no moon or light at al. These were 17 to 24 inch walleye. Water was calm with waves of 1 to 2 feet, temperature was in the mid 50's until the sun went down then it got cold. I am planning on going back out this afternoon and see if they are still they. Lots of folks still working the ree area with mixed results. Some are doing well on bottom bouncers, but we got all of ours on dipsy or jets and spoons. Again the best color seemed to be anything with "hot pink" color.

May 24, 2003 Lake Erie is a zoo today with so many people on the radio that it sounds like recess in kinder garden. The weather is still cool with temperatures in the mid 50s. Waves are 2 to 3 feet.

Lots of folks fishing north of Kelley's Island and all round the reefs, west of Green and Rattlesnake. All are taking some walleye. Most are using bottom bouncers and harnesses

Canadian waters around Wagon Wheel Reef are producing limits of nice size fish using bottom bouncer and harnesses.

K can off Turtle Creek is reporting good catches of nice sized walleye.

Ruggles Beach down toward Huron is yielding limits of walleye using bottom bouncers and harnesses also the small mouth fishing is coming on strong in that area.

May 23, 2003 Well it was a strange day, we got on the lake by 8:00 am. Run out to just east of Middle Island and drifted with mayfly rigs (my home made weapons) and worms. In three hours e caught one walleye and lost one at the boat. Decided about 11:00 am to start trolling. Put out 6 lines with dipsy's and spoons and two with small boards with plugs. By 3:00 PM we had a total of 12 walleye, the strange part was that 4 of the 12 were fish-Ohio. There were two 28 inch, one 29 inch and one 30 inch walleye. The hot bait was small spoons with any combination of colors as long as it had some hot pink on it. Waves were 1 to 3 feet early but laid down to 2 feet or less. Temperature never got much above 50 degrees. Pictures.

or you that are coming up of the weekend, try between Middle Island and Gull Shoals. Target around 25 feet for the active walleye.

May 22, 2003 Another day, same game. The wind is still blowing out of the northeast with wave around 4 foot. Some charters are working up around Gull Shoals and are taking a few walleye trolling. It sounds like they are using jet divers and spoons, shrimp and superman are the good colors. Several boats are west of Catawba Island in the sheltered water out of the waves, I have not heard how they are doing. Weather wise it looks like this evening and tomorrow will be our best chance of getting out this week. The weekend is looking better with 1 to 3 footers predicted.

May 21, 2003 Not much to report today except the weather. It has been windy most of last night and today so far. The wind is out of the northeast at 15 to 20 knots, wave are 4 foot at the buoy. If this keeps up for a couple of days more we are going to be back where we were last week. As of now the water near shore is starting to muddy up again.

May 20, 2003 We got back at the lake about 1:00 PM, the lake is fairly flat but it is windy. Temperature is 68 degrees, the wind is out of the southest at 10 to 15 knots.

I did find out that the charters are going all the way to the "wagon wheel"which is on the Canadian side of the line for walleye and they are getting good catches. The area west of Gull Island is still producing some good size walleye, I suspect they fish migrating toward the central basin and may not be there for long. Tomorrow is supposed to be windy also with 4 to 6 foot waves, decreasing to 2 to 4 foot by evening.

May 19, 2003 From the few reports I have from over the weekend the fishing was slow while the lake was crowded. Some walleye were taken off Kelley's Shoals in 30 foot of water or so while dragging bottom bouncers and worm harnesses and casters caught a few using "weapons" worm rigs. Also some walleye were taken west of Catawba towed Niagara Reef and off Locust Point Reef. I got a report of good sized perch being caught off Loran 33 to 35 foot of water. If the weather lets us alone I expect the coming weeks to get good. The water temperature is about right to start aggressive feeding behavior.

May 17, 2003 From the reports I have received it sounds like the weekend so far has been a "boat ride" with few if any walleye being taken. The only spots I have heard of producing fish is off of Catawba Island to the west toward the reefs. Some walleye have been hanging in that area for a week or two now as well as around Mouse Island Reef. These are not good spots for me but may be worth trying in nothing else works. Waves and winds are not too bad with 1 to 3 foots so far. Hopefully I will get some additional reports from the folks who are out this weekend and I will update soon.

May 16, 2003 Even though we are still not at the lake I thought I would try and put together what little I know. The lake has been fairly calm for the last two days, with waves in the 1 to 3 foot range. The water is starting to clear but is still muddy near shore. Water temperature is in the low 50s with the air temperature running about the same. What reports I have received have not been good with few walleye taken, mostly due to the muddy conditions. If I were fishing this weekend I would be starting from scratch and when that happens I usually go west of the Island and try off of Green or Rattlesnake Islands. Look for clean water and watch you fish finder until you see something to work with. The walleye should start schooling up and be hungry after the bigblow and muddy water. Look for concentrations of bait fish (bait balls) and for walleye suspended some where off the bottom. I would be running dipsy's and spoons while pulling a couple of plugs and some worm harnesses, hoping the fish would tell me what they wanted.

We plan on being back sometime Tuesday.

May 13, 2003 It is still blowing this morning but may have slow a little. The morning temperature is 52 degrees, wind is out of the WNW at 24 knots with ust to 30 knots. Waves at the buoy are 3.6 feet and the water temperature is 50 degrees. The forecast is for more of the same into Wednesday when the wind are supposed to lay a little and the waves should drop to 2 to 4 feet. IF all this happens I don't expect the fishing to be worth much before the weekend at best.

We are going to take a few days off and go see the grand kids and catch an appointment the first of next week we plan to be back sometime Tuesday. If I get any reports in the mean time I will pass them on.

May 12, 2003 The winds blew hard all day yesterday and are still at it, we had gusts up to 40 knots, no one on the lake that I could find. It is predicted to keep this up at least until early Wednesday. If it does lay then it will take another two days or so for the water to clear and the fish to school back up. So maybe it will get better by the weekend but don't count on it. This may be a good week to just forget about fishing.

UPDATE: At 5:00pm winds at South Bass Island are 33 mph with gusts to 37 mph

  nbsp;                            at the Vermillion weather buoy are 25 mph with gusts to 33 mph

                                        at Huron weather station are 27 mph

May 11, 2003 Rain, lightning and thunder again came through about 6:00 am, winds have been less than 10 knots but are now on the rise. The weather guessers say that by afternoon we will see 2 to 4 foot waves building to 3 to 6 foot and the front that has caused all this will be over the lake until Tuesday or early Wednesday.

I talked to a few people who were out yesterday and received a couple of reports, all saying it was a tough day with takes of zero to less than 6 per boat. I really feel that the lightning causes the bait fish and the walleye to scatter and it takes at least a couple of days for them to school back up If my theory is true then its going to be late in the week before fishing gets better, IF we don't get storms after Tuesday.

On the bright side, I talked to some crappie fisherman in our marina that were getting a few crappie and also some small mouth. The are working minnows on a small float in around the piers.

Additional: 3:30 pm gale force winds up to 40 knots expected by evening, wave at the buoy are 6.6 feet.

May 10, 2003 Again this morning we got thunder and lightning storms until about 8 am. Then it laid down and has been nice since. The 2:30 PM temperature is 70 degrees, winds are 3 to 5 knots and the wave are 2 feet or less.

A large pack of head boats, charters and weekenders are strung from Catawba State Dock out to CIC can and all the way in to "Burger King" in Port Clinton. Some are taking walleye drifting with bottom bouncer and worm harnesses. Also a few boat were of Mouse Island Reef and seemed to be catching walleye also. This area has been good for a couple of weeks or so now.

The weather is predicted to turn bad again this afternoon or evening with big storms and possible tornado alert. If the weather guessers are correct it won't get "fish able" before Wednesday at the earliest.

May 9, 2003 Severe thunder storms are coming through this morning, the rain is really coming down. The weather guessers are predicting 1 to 3 footer for tomorrow along with thunder storms then for Sunday and the next two day, 4 to 6 footers building to 5 to 7 footers. So it looks like fishing this weekend and early next week&nsp;is on the bleak side. Thee storms are off shoot from the tornados that have ravaged Kansas and surrounding states for the last few days.

Head boats yesterday were south of Catawba State park and the CIC can. Reports are that they did well drifting with bottom bouncers, worm harnesses and weight forward spinners.

The small mouth fishing is picking up, I have received several reports of small mouth being taken in shallower waters. Some of the spots are the southwest tip of North Bass, southeast tip of Kelley's Island and near the mouth of the Huron River.

Ma 8, 2003 The morning temperature is52 degrees, little or no wind and the waves at the buoy are 1.6 feet. It has rained all night and there still is a light mist falling, one of those cool and damp days. The lake got a little rough yesterday afternoon and I took a ride up around Catawba Point, the east side was rolling fairly strong but on the west side the water was flat. Several head boats were fishing just off Catawba Cliffs, back in the lea of the west side of Catawba a little south of the CIC can. This morning several boats are working down off the reefs and a cuple on Locust Point Reef are taking walleye. Trollers and drifters are still fishing between Gull Island Shoals and North Bass with some success. If you are coming up this weekend, I suggest for the drifters, the reefs, especially Locust Point and the area just outside the mouth of Turtle Creek. For the trollers again west of Gull Island Shoals.

May 7, 2003 We had all good intentions of going fishing this morning but before we could get started we could hear thunder in the distance and the it started to rain. Not bad, but enough to keep the "old folks" off the lake. At 10:00am it is still raining, wind is out of the east at 5 knots or less, temperature is 53 degrees, waves are 1 foot, water temperature is 47 degrees. I looked back at last years records and find that the water temperature is about the same this year as a year ago on this date. I thought it would be colder this year but wrong again.

The weather tomorrow is looking good so hopefully we will get in another day before the weekend.

May 5, 2003 The weekend was a little rough with 2 to 4 footers most of the time. Limits and under were taken west of Gull Island Shoals on Saturday and about 1/2 limits on Sunday with reports of far less fish marks being seen on Sunday. Trollers tried west of the Bass Island but did poorly mostly due to muddy and stained water. The Port Clifton Head boats and charters are still working the reefs and are taking some walleye but I did not get any first had reports as to how many. One troller using spoons reported taking a few walleye between A and B cans and another couple between West Sister Island and the Toledo Light, so that western bite may be beginning.

May 3, 2003 Another cool day with the temperature barely getting over 50 degrees. Winds have been 10 knots or so, out of the North to northeast. The jigging off the reefs seems to be slowing but they are still taking some walleye. A large pack was drifting between Middle Island and he north tip of North Bass today, using bottom bouncers and worm harnesses. Reports ranging from limits to a few walleye taken were the order of the day. Some folks were trolling west of the Bass Islands, I even heard some using dipsy's and spoons but no reports as to how they did. The water south of Middle Bass is muddy while north of there it is clear./SPAN>

May 2, 2003 The weather is "nasty" light rain / mist with 8 to 12 knots winds out of the north. Temperature is 50 degrees. Saturday and Sunday are predicted to be better with no rain, temperatures up to 70 degrees. Only a few boats out today and they are fishing in close to shore, just outside Turtle Creek, K-can and off Camp Perry. Trollers are still working up near the Canadian line near the old E-can location. Jigs and minnows are working for the onshore bite and worm harnesses and spinner baits for trollers.

May 1, 2003 We had plans to go fishing this morning, but at 5:00 am the thunder and lightning woke us. Fairly strong storms moved though early today out over the lake. As the saying goes, "discretion being the better part of valor" we decided to forget it for now. I have got new reports from both the reefs and west of Kelley's, tat walleye are being caught. Hopefully the storms will quit and we will be able to get out one of these days.

April 30, 2003 We made it back about 1:00pm today. At 3:30 pm the lake is nearly flat, wind is 3 to 4 knots out of the east and he water temperature is 44 degrees. I heard reports of good to limit catches from Locust Point Reef by jiggers and good to a few from trollers working north and west of Kelley's Island. If the weather co operates we plan on fishing tomorrow.

April 29, 2003 I received several additional reports from over the weekend and for Monday saying that the walleye are hitting north of Kelley's Island andwest of Middle Island. The hot baits Husky Jerks, Reef Runners and Power Divers all ran back 40 to 60 feet so the depth would be around 12 to 15 feet. Blue and silver seem to be the popular colors. The reefs are still producing limit catches early in the morning using blue or purple hair jigs with stinger hooks and minnows. Boles Harbor and Breast Bay are also reporting good catches in 17 to 22 feet of water using Reef Runners back 50 to 75 feet. We head back to Port Clinton tomorrow morning and I hope to be on the water Thursday, weather permitting.

April 28, 2003 I knew if I left for a few days the fish would urn on. Good reports from the reefs, Niagara, Locust Point, Crib, Toussaint, most all of good catches of smaller males Sunday. ALSO trollers are starting to catch walleye between the Islands and north of Kelly's so it looks like the water has warmed enough to turn them on. The morning temperature is 49 degrees, winds are southwest 10 to 20 knots, and waves are PREDICTED to be 1 to 3 feet building to 2 to 4 feet tonight. It looks like more of the same through Thursday.

April 27, 2003 The morning temperature is 43 degrees, wind is slight and the wave are 1 foot or less. Water temperature at the weather buoy of Vermilion is 43 degrees. No reports from the weekend so far but I expect there is a crowd on the reefs. I had a request to post a picture of how to rig jigs, stinger hooks and minnows and will do so as soon as I get back but for now here is how we do it.

1. Use the lightest jig possible that will get down and you can feel he bottom with. This could range from 1/4 oz to 3/4 oz.

2. Blue or purple hair jigs have been the hot colors so far.

3. Some come with stinger hooks or you can buy them separately. Stinger have a leder about 1 1/2 inches long and a loop to put over he hook of the jig.

4. Get the largest shiner minnows you can find. Hook the jig hook through the head of the shiner then I loop the stinger around to the top of the shiner and insert it near the tail. This keeps the stinger hook up off the bottom so it won't snag. I like the treble hook stingers.

5. Look for what elevation the walleye are located on your fish finder. Try working the jig up and down just above that elevation where the walleye are suspended. If they are on the bottom then drop the jig to the bottom and work it up and down about 6 inches or so. Keep a snug line when letting the jig down as most hit will come on the drop.

April 25, 2003 Looks like a great day, the lake is nearly flat, morning temperature was 48 degrees, and winds were slight to nothing. I received several reports of folk fishing off the reefs and most were taking limits (4 per person until May 1st). Locust Point, Crib, Toussaint and Niagara are all producing walleye though most are smaller males in the 17 to 21 inch range. Also it seems the earlier you get out the better, some are trying to be on the reefs by 6 or 6:30am at the latest as the fishing slacks off the later it gets. Trolling seems to still be very slow, but I have hopes that i will pick up soon with the water temperature (surface) getting close to 50 degrees. Jigs tipped with large minnows and stinger hooks, vibe-e's and other blade baits are working well.

April 2, 2003 It has been a nick day, temperature is 58 degrees, wind is out of the north at 6 knots. Waves on the lake are 2 feet or less and the water temperature is 48 degrees.

We went fishing this morning, started off Green Island and trolled all the way to Niagara. The ater was muddy all the way and we never got a hit. At Niagara there were several boats jigging so we pulled the lines and joined then. We managed to pull a few smaller male walleye but even that was slow going. The marks were good west of Green Island and if the water clears up the walleyes should start to hit. Also I got some reports of walleye being taken north of Kelleys Island but have not been there myself.

We are going back south for a few days to keep a couple of appointments and will be back next Wednesday. If you get out this weekend e sure and let me know./FONT>

April 23, 2003 The morning temperature is 41 degrees, wind is out of the north at 13 to 16 knots (South Bass weather station). Waves are 3 to 5 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet this afternoon and the water temperature is in the mid 40s. Only a couple of boats were out yesterday and so far today I have heard no one. It looks like the wind and waves will lay down later today, so maybe tomorrow and through the weekend will be fishable. The only good news is that I have a few reports of trollers taking some walleye around Green Island, Mouse Island Reef and north of Kelley Island. Only a few, 2 to 5 fish per boat but it is a good sign.

April 22, 2003 Yesterday was a "blow day" and it is looking like today will be another. The morning temperature is 44 degrees, wind is out of the west at 18 to 20 knots. Wave are 3 to 5 feet, building to 4 to 6 feet. Water temperature is 42 degrees. What few reports I got from over the weekend were not very good. Some folks did catch up to limit catches of smaller males off Locust Point Reef, Toussaint and Flat Rock. Trollers took very few larger walleye. I did have on person that pick up two in the upper 20s between Green and Mouse Islands. Also I got a report of males being jigged up off Mouse Island Reef. I never have had much luck around Mouse due to the sheephead but it might be worth a try.

April 20, 2003 Weather wise it has been a great day. The evening temperature is 70degrees, wind is out of the south at 8 to 10 knots and waves are 1 to 3 feet. We have a front coming through this evening with thunder storm warnings now in effect. Tomorrow’s weather is looking "iffy" with waves building to 2 to 4 feet going to 3 to 5 by evening.

The fishing today seemed to be more of the same. Drifters (jiggers) did will off Locust Point Reef, Toussaint and around K can. Trolling is still tough with few catches reported. Hopefully it will get better as the water warms but for now jiggng with vibe-es and jigs with minnows are the name of the game.

April 19, 2003 It has been a nice day, the evening temperature is 64 degrees. Wind is 3 to 5 knots out of the east. We went out fishing this morning. Lots of folks wee jigging on and near the reefs, we did see several fish boated but basically it was slow going. Trollers were working north of Niagara Reef and both towards Green Island and toward the A,B,C cans area. Trollers were having another bad day, we did not see any fish netted by the trollers, nor did we get any ourselves. The water was still muddy in spots and clear in others, water tmperature is 42 to 44 degrees. I still feel the best is yet to come, as the water warms and clears up we are going to have some great spring fishing, the trick is to be here when it happens.

April 18, 2003 I just got back from the pwt weight in. I only watched 3 or 4 boat come in but they are bring in walleye. Biggest I saw as two that weighed 16+ pounds. From the comments of the pros the fish are all coming high, in the top 10 foot of water, at least that s were all he big ones seem to be. They said the fish were scattered and it was difficult to get a handle on where the were. Most pros seemed to be fishing ot along the cans (a,b,c, Niagara, d, etc.). I did hear of some coming down inside near the humps just off Catawba Cliffs. If you are looking for numbers rather than size, try in close to shore near J or K cans just out of Turtle Creek. That s where the head boats and locals are fishing. The water is still somewhat muddy but is clearing, hopefully the weekend will be a good one.

April 17, 2003 What a difference a day makes. The morning temperature is 39 degrees, winds are out of the nne at 10 to 25 knots. Waves are 5 to 7 feet. We had a front come through yesterday afternoon, which really turned things aroud.

The PWT had a good first day but I don't look for them to get out today. The leader had five fish that weighed over 45 pounds. Most tournament participants that I witnessed were off A can to Niagara and north of Kelleys Island. I'm sure many other spots also.

NOON UPDATE; The wind is still blowing strong, 15 to 25 knots out of the northeast. Waves are blowing onto the roadway at Catawba Point, water is back to very muddy. The PWT was canceled for today. I would expect it to take two or three days for fishing to return provided the wind lays later today.

April 15, 2003 It’s looking like a nice day. The 11:00am temperature is 70 degrees, wind is out of the southwest at 6 to 10 knots. It is another slow day for trollers with scattered walleye being taken, three is the most I have heard. Jiggers are doing much better in close to shore, 2 to 3 miles out. Fuzzy jigs tipped with minnows seems to be the best combination. Some folks are using chartreuse while other like black or blue colors. Water temperature is now 40 to 42 degrees. Several folks have reported catching spawned out females so the spawn mywell be in full swing. The PWT tournament starts tomorrow, but the wind is supposed to pick up in the afternoon with 3 to 5 foot waves predicted.

April 14, 2003 We took the boat out today for a "shake down" raise and o do a little scouting. Lots of tournament boat were trolling from D can toward Niagara Reef. We only saw a couple of fish netted and the marks were scattered. A large pack (mostly 6 packs and larger charter boats) were also in on Crib Reef drifting. I could not find any good marks so we did not stay very long. The water is clear out around Niagara butstained closer to shore. I have got some reports of folks doing well off Niagara over the weekend, mostly while jigging./DIV>

April 13, 2003 The 7:00am temperature is 39 degrees, wind is out of the northeast at 3 to 5 knots. Waves are 1 to 3 feet with an occasional 4 footer and the water temperature is 39 degrees.

Some folks did well jigging off the reefs yesterday, the hot spots seemed to be Toussaint and Flat Rock Reefs. It was slower for trollrs but they did take some fish with the areas of A and B cans being the better spots. Some perch are being caught off Marblehead. No reports from Sandusky bay this morning. The water is clearing but some murky water still exists.

april 12, 2003 The noon temperature is 46 degrees, wind is out of the north at 6 to 10 knots. Waves are 1 to 3 feet and the water temperature is 39 degrees.

Lots of boats on and north of the reefs off Camp Perry, also off Marblehea and in Sandusky Bay. Reports of 2 to 5 fish have been heard, but the fishing is basically slow.

our boat is at the dock and ready to go. If the weather warms a few degrees we will give it a try, but from our point of view there is no need to go out and freeze if it is not necessary. After all we don't have to go to work Monday...

April 11, 2003 Well it is finally a better day, the noon temperature is 42 degrees, and wind is out of the north at 3 knots. The lake looks fairly flat, water is clearing and the water temperature is still in the upper 30s. Lots of folks are out today working the are north of Davis-Besse and north of Kelleys Island. They are reporting taking a few walleye but it is very slow. I expect lots of tournament fisherman for the PWT to show up this weekend and pre-fish for the tournament. IF we get a few warm days that will bring the water temperature up just a little the PWT should hit it about right. The dates of the tournament are next Wednesday through Friday. Any of you coming up this weekend I suggest north of the reefs or off Kelley Shoals. Work baits up high in the top 15 feet of water and up.

April 10, 2003 It is a little warmer today, 43 degrees at 3:00pm, wind is out of the northeast at 10 knots, wave are ~4 feet. I give up on waiting of warmer weather to clean up the boat, she is going in as is tomorrow, ready or not.

Some folks out in Sandusky Bay and are catching a few walleye (2 or 3 per boat). Also a few others are fishing in close to shore off avis-Besse and in Maumee Bay. The are taking some walleye but it is lso slow going, we still need a few warm days to get things going.

April 9, 2003 The morning temperature is 35 degrees, wind is 7 to 10 knots out of the northeast. Water temperature is ~37 degrees. Some walleye being caught in Sandusky bay and off Marblehead light. Also some folks fishing off Camp Perry and around the reefs. The folks working in close to shore in shallow water (15 feet or less) seem to be doing a little better that further out. "I think" we need a few days of warmer weather to get the water temperature up over 40 degrees or so and the walleye fishing will get better. The pawn on the reef should be getting under way in the next week or so. There are signs that some walleye have already spawned up the rivers.

Addition 3:00pm; I have received several questions regarding coming up this weekend. Right now it is miserable, cold (35 degrees) and windy (10 to 15 knots). The folks fishing today are not doing very well. If I only had one trip to make in the spring, I would put it off a week.

April 8, 2003 Morning temperature is35 degrees. It rained most of the evening but it has stopped this morning. Winds are out of the northeast at 5 to 8 knots. Wave are 1 to 3 feet and the water temperature is ~ 37 degrees.

Reports from over the weekend indicate that lots of fish were marked near the reefs off Camp Perry, but the could not get ten to hit. This tells me that once he water warms a few degrees, fishing will get "hot" in that area. Maybe another week but it is coming.

April 7, 2003The morning temperature is 34 degrees, it is raining, and wind is out of the northeast at 13 to 18 knots. Wave are 2 to 4 feet going to 3 to 5 feet. Water is still muddy in some areas. What few people that did fish over the weekend are reporting very limited catches of one or two per boat. A tournament was held at Catawba State Park and the winner had two walleye with a total weight of less than 8 pounds (second had report).

In my opinion it is just too miserable to be out. The walleye will turn on but the water temperature needs to warm up just a bit.

/SPAN>

April 6, 2003 Yesterday was mostly a "blow day" with high winds, rain and snow flurries nearly all day.

This mornings temperature is ~ 33 degrees, winds are out of the northeast at 5 to 15 knots, waves are 2 to feet going to 3 to 5 feet, water temperature is ~ 39 degrees. The water is the color of double Dutch chocolate milk. The weather is not looking much better until later next week.

About the only folks fishing yesterday were in Sandusky Bay near the RR bridge. A few walleye were taken but way less than limits. Talked to a neighbor who fished with two other people and they got two walleye between them. One 19 inch ma and a 8 to 9 pound female who had "no eggs", so she must have spawned out already.

April 5, 2003 Thunder storms, rain and sleet move through last evening. Morning temperature is 40 degrees, wind is out of the west at 12 knots, and waves are 2 to 4 feet. Water is very muddy and water tempeature in the high 30s. Walleye fishing in Sandusky bay was slow yesterday due to the wind, waves, and current and water clarity. Not much fishing going on in other locations due to the weather. It looks like it will be mid to late next week before the weather starts to improve.

Good reports of steelhead being taken are coming in from the Vermilion and Rocky River areas.

April 4, 2003Few people out today as the weater is miserable, it is raining, cold (38 degrees) and windy 6 to 10 knots out of the east, I am getting some reports from Sandusky Bay near the bridges and off Marblehead where walleye are being taken using vib-e and jigs. It looks like the fish are staging near the mouths of the rivers for the spawn.

We took a ride over to Vermilion to Sportsman's Outpost to pick up a few items. Talked to Den and when ask about the weather (bad he said "Steve (Freebyrd) had put his boat in and that was the cause of the bad weather".

Thursday, we took a ride up to Dempsy Access (southeast of Marblehead) where several boats had launched. The were working near the Bay view railroad bridge. I talked to some who said the were taking walleye in less than limit numbers but the cold snap had really slowed down the fishing. Several boat off Marblehead jigging while anchored. They were west of the lighthouse and 1/2 to 1 mile off shore.

April 3, 2003 We had a front come through yesterday evening and dropped the temperature about 20 degrees. This mornings temperature is ~ 40 degrees, winds are out of the northwest at 8 to 10 knots, waves are 1 to 3 feet and the water temperature is 37 degrees.

I received some reports from the last few days, walleye fishing off Marblehead has been slow of late. Some good reports from Maumee Bay of smaller walleye (mostly males) being taken are starting to come in. Fishing off the reefs is slow for now but should pick up as the water starts to warm.

I got a lot done on the boat yesterday and am now down to scub, wash and wax, but with the weather as cool as it is today I may wait for a warmer day to finish up.

April 2, 2003The morning weather s better, temperature is in the high 60s, winds is out of the south at 10 knots. Wave are 2 to 4 feet, water temperature is ~ 37 degrees.

DIV class="MsoNormal" DESIGNTIMESP=24134>We drove up to Mazuricks Access this morning, about 2 dozen trucks and trailers in the lot. The ramps are in place and no ice to be fond. It looks like most everyone is fishing off Marblehead about 1/2 mile from shore for the Marblehead light back to the west. No idea as to how they were doing.

April 1, 2003The 8:30 am temperature is 48 degrees, wind is out of the s.w. at 16 knots. In a short trip around the lake (Port Clinton) I saw no boats in the water, no vehicles or trailers at Catawba state park and no one is on the radio. There were some signs of boats being readied to launch at Mid-Way marina. The County ramp next door to Mid-Way was still closed. No ice anywhere that I saw.

Personally we are trying to get our "stuff" put away, trips to the grocery and Wal-Mart to stock up. I hope to get started on the boat later this week, but right now it is a little chilly.

March 31, 003We are back at Port Clinton and are getting things set up. The weather is cold, temperature is 40 degrees, winds are out of the north west, and waves on the lake are four feet with white caps out as far as I can see. Catawba state park ramp is open and clear but no dock are in yet. The marinas look clear of ice(at least mine). No boats on the lake that I could see. Water is muddy out toward Green Island...

Anyone looking for a trailer lot for the season, the camp grounds that I am at has a few openings. Call 419-734-5580. Tell Bob I sent you.

March 30, 2003 Today has been a day of packing and loading the truck in preparations for the big trip north tomorrow morning. The weather looks like it will start to warm-up about Tuesday. Hopefully I will have time to get out and see what the situation is, sometime tomorrow. I will try and have an update tomorrow evening or Tuesday at the latest.

My kids bought me a Davis weather station for Christmas and once I get it mounted it will aid in my weather reports.

March 26, 2003 Not everyone has seen an iceberg on Lake Erie. Thanks to Buck (boat owner), Marc (just along for the ride) and Chris (brains of the outfit who took the pic.)

Link to picture

March 25, 2003 If the coming season is anything like the ice fishing season we should have a great time. I have received several reports from folk telling of the fabulous season of ice fishing they have experienced. It seems that the area North of Camp Perry has been hot for the past several weeks, also Breast Bay in Mihigan waters. Hopefully this is a sign of good fishing to come.

We are getting packed and will be moving back to Port Clinton next Monday.

March 24, 2003 I have received several reports that the ice is going fast. It looks like fishing will be possible around the 1st week in April with the lake being ice free by then. Our plan is to head back to the lake this coming Monday and I will be able to give better reports after that.

March 19, 2003 We are starting those some open water around the lake. Next weeks weather looks like all above freezing and with the rains I am still betting that by April 1st we will have open water. We may have some ice still floating but it should be fishable. Anyway we are still planning on moving back to Port Clinton by the 1st.

March 13, 2003 The following link show the ice conditions on the Great Lakes. They are by date so scroll to the bottom for the latest.

http://140.90.54.35/pub/great_lakes/D9_Support/

March 8, 2003 The cabin fever finally got too much for us so we went up to our place on the lake for a couple of days. While the boat and trailer have survived the winter, there is still a lot of winter left just laying around Port Clinton. Many parking lots have snow pile in excess of 10 feet with a few inches laying in our front yard.

The lake seems to be completely frozen over as far as I could see from Catawba Point. At the State Park the parking lot was full of cars and trailers. Lots of 4-wheelers and ice shacks out on the lake. It’s hard to believe that it will all be gone and we will be out both fishing in three weeks or so. Lets hope that comes to be.

March 1, 2003 Cabin fever has reach a high of around 8 on a 10 scale. I went to Bass Pro Shop in Cincinnati today and bought a couple of rods that I did not need, sorted my stick baits for the third time and check on the lake Erie weather about 6 times with no change. Even looked at lake cam just to make sure that the ice was still there and it was. I told Sue to start packing that I wanted to be back at the lake by the 1st of April regardless of the snow or ice. Oh well another month and things will be better.

February, 26, 203

I went to Florida this past week to visit some old friends and attend a reunion. Had a great time and enjoyed the warm weather. Came back to a large pile of snow and a renew yearning for spring.

If you sent me a e-mail reently and did not get a reply, I may have lost it. If you were expecting a reply and did not get it, please write again.

February, 2003For any of you that are experiencing "cabin fever" I have put in a few of my favorite pictures from last season. They are "Sunrises over Lake Erie" and are linked from my pictures and maps page or by clicking on this link. Think spring, its only another couple of months.< P>

January 25, 2003  Helpful hint has been updated.BR DESIGNTIMESP=19699>

January 15, 2003We made a trip to Port Clinton, Vermilion and Huron this past Monday and Tuesday. We stayed the night at our trailer. Weather was in the low 20s during the day and dropped to around 10 at night. The lake is fairly well frozen over with some open water showing in the south passage. No ice houses were seen out off Mouse Island or Green which make me thing that it is not thick enough for safe fishing as of yet. We did see several ice houses back in Sandusky bay and down toward Whites landing. The Huron and Vermilion rivers were also iced in, with blow ice piled up on shore. Port Clinton is still working on the damaged done by the tornado back in December. Lots of new roof and ones with tap covering, waiting on the roofers. I don't envy anyone working construction that close the lake. The wind-chill was bad.

January 7, 2003Back during my working days, we called Wednesday "hump day", once you got past Wednesday it was down hill to the weekend. To me December is "hump month" and we are down hill toward spring. Evidently lots of you feel the same way since I can see the number of visits to this site picking up since the 1st of the year. Its time to start cleaning reels, checking tackle, sharpening hooks and maybe visiting a few tackle shops with a sports show or two thrown in so we will be in readiness for spring. We plan on getting back the lake around the 1st of April or so wth the boat being in the water by the 15th. God willing it will be so.

January 4, 2003Rudy Gaal of PA's lures sent me four of his new "Holographic" fintail spoons and they do look good, to see a picture of them click on the above link. The colors are vivid and he says the paint will stay on. At the walleye central get together in October he had some and tried to scratch the paint with a pocket knife ad the held up well. Now all I need is some good weather to see if they will catch walleye. Rudy says they will be available at Wal-Mart soon.

January 1, 2003I am back working on helpful hints and have added one recently. I hope to add a few more before spring, if you have any ideas for helpful hints that you would like to see send me an e-mail and we will see what can be done.A Health and Happy New Year to You All.

December 24, 2002 At this time of year with all the Christmas doing going on, I like to take the time to reflect back on all the good things that have happened in my life. My wife and family, my work life that allowed me to retire and enjoy things as I do and even though I have had my share of health problems, I have out lived many of my peers. The peace and joy I get from just being on the lake and watching the sun rise, the hrill of landing a walleye, all this combines to make me very thankful. Finally I am thankful for all you good folks that take the time to read the ramblings of an old fisherman.
God willing we will all meet on the 'big lake". Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to You All.
Sue & Dean

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