Lake Erie Fishing Reports - Coe Vanna Fishing Charter Guide

Coe Vanna offers current Lake Erie fishing reports from Port Clinton, Ohio.... Before you go fishing check here for our updated fishing reports for walleye-bass and perch. Covering the United States waters and Canadian waters of Lake Erie from Port Clinton, Ohio to Toledo to Detroit including the Western Basin reef complex - Bass Islands - Kelly's Island - Pelee Island and east to Lorain

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We will recommend the best areas to fish during your visit with us on either the United States or Canadian waters. You do not need a passport to fish Canadian waters or anything special.
Purchase Canadian fishing license instantly on line same day with this link.
www2.on.wildlifelicense.com

When we fish Canadian waters you do not need a Ohio license.
Just a fishing license and you can also get them by calling 800-667-1940.
It takes three weeks to get them by mail.

Purchase Ohio fishing license with this link
www.wildohio.com

December 19 - 2012
Major weather change coming in tomorrow - light winds today conditions were stacked in our favor for slow trolling open water. What a day all Trophy Walleye 8 to 10 lbs best was 11 lbs. Slow trolling husky jerks and reef runners - speed 1 mph - bright colors pink lemonade was our best - 80 to 100 back was our best setting. Direction was north - south troll. North - North west of Rattle snake about 1 mile. The bite is better early and late. Daylight - noon and three pm until dark.

Pier Fishing
Good catches of Trophy walleye have been reported from Mizericks - Lake side and Catawba State Dock. Casting crank baits from dusk till when ever. Best times seem to be the first couple hours after sunset.

December 8 2012
Slow trolling crank baits and casting crank baits from the piers
Walleye bite continues slow trolling crank baits behind yellow birds. The slop shoot from Mouse Island to South Bass - Green and Rattle Snake - Clinton Reef to F can is producing nice catches of walleye. The last several days more big heads have been showing up - the grade has picked up another notch.

December 2 2012
Day time slow trolling crank baits
Is producing nice boxes of walleye including
Trophy walleye.
#12 or 14 Husky Jerks or Reef Runners speed varies from day to day any where from 3/4 mph to 1.4mph seems to be the best. Line leads are from 25 ft to 100 feet most days 50 to 60 has been working. The out side shelf line you can pretty much follow around from Catawba Island to F can to Niagara Reef- A can. The outside shelf break is the final drop of water from 24 ft to 30. All areas are having their days producing nice catches of walleye. There are a lot of 8 and 10 lb Trophy walleye being caught.
Night time shore line bite from the piers is producing walleye along with Kelly's Shoal, Starve Island Reef, Mouse Island Reef, Gull & all the traditional night fishing spots.

November 23 2012
Stable Lake conditions have turned the walleye on. Shore Line night bite is as consistent as usual for this time of year. Mizericks - Lake Side - Catawba State dock - Huron pier all the normal night fishing areas are producing nice fall walleye average 3 to 6 lbs along with trophy big heads. Casting crank baits husky jerks - rip sticks etc from sunset to 10 pm seem to be the best. The same ole some have good success others not. Prime spots on the pier fishing are hard to come by as some anglers arrive hours before sunset to secure their spots. That's why I prefer to fish from a small boat and avoid the crowds.As always there may not be a fish caught for hours give up and go home only to hear that they turned on shortly after you left. That's fishing. The day time trolling near A can has been awesome. Number 12 big lip husky jerks trolled around 1 mph. Fisherman are reporting limits in a few hours. The other area that is producing during the daytime using similar methods is between Rattlesnake Island and Green.
We are running the Key Largo on Lake Erie until ice up.

October 24 Fishing Report
Walleye fishing is still slow with no pattern to any kind of a stable regular bite.
Looks like the night bite near the shores will be the next shot at trophy walleye. This bite should be starting any time now. Trolling crank baits near shore and casting from the piers.
Yellow Perch fishing is very good the best we have seen in years!

October 18 Lake Erie Fishing Report
Walleye fishing remains slow. What happened? We had a excellent year catching limits of walleye from March all the way through the heat of July and August. With the water temperature as warm as it was in August I fully expected the walleye to shut down but they kept on biting. Labor Day weekend which usually signals the beginning for the Trophy Fall fishing for walleye this year started the shut down. Are we catching walleye? No not anywhere close to what we expect to be catching at this time of year. How ever on the bright side it has been a excellent year over all walleye fishing on Lake Erie. We are expecting the walleye bite to pick up yet this fall the question is is it going to be in time for us to get in to the action? We will be fishing into early November.
Yellow Perch action has been absolutely fantastic this fall. Size and numbers have been excellent. Most days 8 1/2 to 9 inch yellow perch is what we have been keeping along with a good share of 10-11-and 12's.

Oct. 2 2012
Trophy walleye have returned to the east side of the Bass Islands - Deep water near the reefs- Kelly's - Middle- and Pelee Island are producing limit catches of walleye for the drift fisherman. I think it is safe to say the fall trophy walleye season has begun!

Sept 30 2012

The deep water walleye is getting under way.
The area from the Kidney to Rattlesnake to about 2 miles west produced some nice catches of walleye for both drift fisherman and trolling. The area south of the Kidney in about 32 feet of water.
Kelly's Island to Middle Island produced some very nice limit catches of Walleye for some drift fisherman. Trophy walleye are now showing up in the Islands areas. The schools of walleye in the Islands Areas should increase everyday as the main schools are arriving in there wintering areas.

Perch fishing is out standing in Canadian and Ohio waters.
Canadian waters- the Wheel and near Sheriton Point .
Ohio waters - Kelly's Shoal- South and east of Kelly's Shoal - The dumping grounds off Huron and Old International C can. Absolutely awesome perch fishing! The best we have had in years!
Small mouth Bass action in Canadian waters drift fishing with soft craws - bonsai! The fall feeding frenzy is on! We fished the east side 12 to 16 feet of water.

September 27
What's been typical about the fish patterns in Lake Erie this year?
It has been a very good year over all with above average walleye catches right through the hottest July on record and the walleye continued biting all of August and then the one day wind event on Labor Day weekend finally put the walleye bite at bay.
Typically the deep water rock bite starts the last week of August and holds through Sept. Well it has not materialized with any back bone worth speaking of this year and it typically stops around the last week of September.
The common denominator has been water clarity all year. Find the water with healthy algae bloom and you have active fish.
The drought which was wide spread this year has affected the water levels in Lake Erie they are running about a foot lower than normal for the fall levels which average about 2 to 3 feet lower than the high water levels of spring and summer. No run off from the farm fields and no rain fall creating over flow discharges from water treatment facilities along Lake Erie's shores has kept the lake water unusually clear. What a blessing no harmful algae blooms - how ever virtually no algae bloom. There are healthy algae blooms also. Which algae bloom period has been on the light on Lake Erie this year.
The trick to finding active walleye and smallmouth bass all year has been to find the healthy water color with a stain, allowing about a foot or two of visibility. I am guessing that the water has been just to clean on the reefs to hold any amount of walleye so far this fall. Now that what little algae bloom was in the water is dying - the clean water issue is compounding.
How ever there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Now that it is time for the deep water bite to start the walleye holding in the deeper waters are not as finicky and sensitive to water clarity as the shallow water fish are. The deep water walleye bite should start at any time as October 1 generally it starts.

Yellow Perch fishing has been outstanding this year.
Wow what a perch fishery!
No commercial nets in the western end of Lake Erie this year at least by Ohio Fisherman and the numbers and size of the Yellow Perch has been over all incredible. Limit catches from Sheriton Point to the Helo Pad and Mill Point to the sand bars east of Chickonille are producing awesome yellow perch limit catches.
Ohio waters Kelly's Shoal to Old International C can to the Dumping Grounds off Huron the Yellow Perch fishing has been excellent - outstanding all season. Were not talking about little wimpy perch were talking 9 inch and up. The off days we keep some 8's.

Small mouth bass action has been very consistent in Canadian waters. It just takes a knack. Water clarity is a issue for catching these rascals also. So if shallow is not producing try deeper and deeper as don't be afraid to try 30 feet. I have caught lots of nice bass out of 30 plus feet of water off the sides of the reefs and in the mud. The east side of Pelee and North west corner of Pelee near Sheriton Point are producing.

September 18

Yellow Perch Fishing Awesome!
Yellow Perch catches and over all size has been excellent. Limit catches of Yellow Perch have been pretty much normal on a daily basis. Except for the occasional off day and even then you will get a limit it may take a few hours longer. Ohio waters on the east side of the bass islands you can easily grade 9 inch and up Yellow Perch. Kelly's Shoal just north of the green can in about 40 feet, the far east bell buoy off Kelly's shoal either north or south about 1/4 mile in 45 feet also east and south east of Kelly's Island. Old International c can on the Canadian Border has personally treated us very well. Near the dumping grounds off Huron in about 45 feet of water. The size of the Perch will as always come and go so we take into account the weather for the day the skill factor of our crew and come up with our grade for the day. Most days 8 1/2 to 9 inch and up is the cut. What a sweet box of perch at days end!
Canadian waters Perch Fishing has been even a notch faster on the catching with the same grade may be even a touch better than we get in Ohio waters. Wagon Wheel to Sheriton Point and pretty much any where in between. Awesome perch fishing totally awesome they are just plain stupidly easy to catch most of the time! Walleye and bass reports below perch pictures.

Small mouth Bass Sept 18
Our preference is Canadian waters The Big Boys are active with the shortening of the days and the water cooling. You will see on the average day 15 bass a day ranging from 18 to 20 inch plus. The average numbers pulled on the Canadian trips are 50 to 60 bass per day. Soft craws fished just off the bottom out of goby reach but still in the bass zone. I prefer to anchor on reef shelves where I can maneuver my boat shallow or deeper with the anchor rope. Bass will look at your boat as structure - to them a anchored boat at home is a welcome sight and they will come to you! You end up catching 3 to 5 lb smallies like they are blue gills in a barrel.
Ohio reefs I have not fished for bass I do not know what is happening there. When we left the area the water on those reefs was plain to clean to hold bass. I have been concerned that the over all water clarity on the western basin reef complex has not been good for holding smallies. Again I don't know I have not tried those reefs. Sept 18 walleye report below.

Walleye fishing has been on the slow side ever since the blow about a week and a half ago. If we fish hard all day working the reefs 20 seems to be about the average catch. The walleye we are getting are very nice, like the ones pictured below. I just hope the numbers pick up. I believe water clarity is the issue on the rock fishing. All year finding stained water has been the key to successful walleye fishing on the western basin. Now that the algae is dying - the water is pretty clear more so than I would like to see and the deep water reefs have not been producing like they should be. We may have to give up the rock bite for the open water bite which usually takes off on the border between Middle Island and North Bass any time now. The lake water has not rolled over yet I am guessing a couple weeks.

James W - casting weapons - Canadian waters

Sept 13 - 2012
Walleye seem to be getting on typical fall patterns - a late day bite. Trolling west of Green and Rattle snake has been producing limit catches of walleye. The trouble with trolling is that there is a lot of weeds in the water and as the vegetation dies this will continue to plague trolling.

The drift fishing bite seems to be picking up in the afternoon. Limit catches were taken drift fishing the deep water reefs casting weapons. The wind switched yesterday around 2:00pm and the walleye turned on. Drift fisherman then took their limits in a short while. Whether it was the wind change or the time of day remains to be figure out. I am betting it is the time of day. We will keep you posted as we are watching this closely. If a late day bite is what is happening we will adjust our departure times accordingly to capitalize on it. Stay tuned.

Sept. 12 2012
Walleye bite slowed by one day blow on Sept 8.
Perch and Bass are on the bite!
Walleye have slowed since the blow a few days ago. They are allowed to not bite for a few days after all it has been a blockbuster season up till now! With the numbers of walleye in the area prior to a one day wind event I do not think the walleye have moved very far. Most likely they are going on the typical fall pattern of firing up in the afternoon. I have witnessed this in the past and as we get farther down the road this fall I expect this pattern to continue. We will start offering 10 to 6pm trips to capitalize on the afternoon bite.
Perch fishing has been very good. Sheriton Point off the NE corner of Pelee is producing very nice Yellow Perch - 9 inch average with 12 and 13 inch perch in the mix. N of the bell buoy off Kelly's Shoal in the 45 feet of water - The old International C can just east of Kelly's about 5 mile as well as the dumping grounds off Huron are also producing limits of nice yellow perch. Closer to Port Clinton G and H cans - Green - Rattlesnake and on the South side of South Bass near the Ferry docks.
Small mouth bass fishing has been excellent in Canadian waters near Pelee. We turned 54 bass yesterday - Ten of which were Trophy's 19 to 20 inch the best was 20 1/2 all of which we took pictures and released. The bass fishing will pick up from here on out and its great now how ever the Trophy's will show them selves more often as the water cools!

Sept 2 - 2012
Walleye and perch fishing good for some and slow for others.
Drift fishing for walleye yesterday near Green Island was spotty with limit catches like the one pictured below from Coe Vanna 11. Trolling and drift fishing in the area from 1 1/2 miles west - NW of Green Island to west - NW about 4 miles from Green and Rattlesnake. The main school seems to have shuffled a mile or so basically west and remains a sizeable school. I expect this school of walleye to remain in the same general area near the Bass Islands. There is plenty of bait fish in area and it is in seasonal wintering patterns for walleye. It most likely will take a major wind event to shut this fishery down. With that being said we avoided wind and the rain from the hurricane. Lake conditions remain as close to perfect as one could hope for. So fish on!
Perch fishing from Green Island to Rattle snake remains strong. South of Green and west the perch fishing has been fast but the grade is off a bit from my observations so we have been doing our perch fishing near Rattle Snake and West Reef.

Sept 2 2012

Sept 1 2012

August 31 - 2012
Respectable catches to limits of walleye continue from Lake Erie Islands Area
We have been drift fishing the area from Green Island to West Reef for walleye daily for almost a month and we have not been disappointed. Today was get your weapon to the bottom and work it back. Few fish were willing to hit on the fall but the angle back up from the bottom was the ticket. Short to medium cast 12 count stop and go on the retrieve. Deep cup Colorado blades #4 Gold Hex pattern with chartreuse beads one ounce weight. It was in the angle of the retrieve n- a long cast did not work. Cast just enough line to get to the bottom 3/4 way around start your retrieve and hesitate from time to time. The fishing here has not been easy. If you fish consistently - give it your best most of the time you will be rewarded with a nice catch.

Walleye are shifting to a afternoon bite they seem to be at there peak from 11 am to 3 pm. This pattern is typical of walleye in the fall on Lake Erie. By the end of this month usually 2 pm till dark should be the best.

Perch Fishing Good on the Canadian Reefs and near the Islands

Wagon Wheel to Sheriton Point Canadian side and US waters from Green Island to D can. Generally the perch west and south of Green Island are faster and easier to catch but not as nice as the deep water perch. Rattle Snake to West Reef the perch fishing is slower with a better grade.

August 29 Todd Y & crew
Limit catch of walleye Drift fishing aboard Coe Vanna IV

August 28 fishing report.
Walleye and Perch limits continue on Lake Erie for both drift fisherman and trollers. Same general area Green Island to Rattlesnake to West Reef. Today we took boat limits of walleye aboard Coe Vanna II and Coe Vanna IV drift fishing casting gold weapons on a 10 to 12 count. A picture is worth a thousand words - today's drift fishing catch pictured below.

Boat Limit aboard Coe Vanna IV August 28

August 25 Limit Catch of Walleye

August 25
Walleye Limits caught drift fishing aboard Coe Vanna IV

August 25 Fishing Report
Walleye fishing continues to be very good in The deep waters near Green Island and Rattle Snake. There is a large school of walleye in this area they are wandering from just South of Green Island to near the Kidney. We are marking lots of bait fish as well as visual sightings of emerald shiners in the area. These schools of walleye and perch seem very content to hang around and why shouldn't they. I expect they will stay here until we get a blow. The bonus is nice boxes of Yellow Perch and Walleye from the same area. So our combo fishing trips have been Double Dipping catching both walleye & perch - excellent. Drift fisherman and trolling this area is producing limit catches of walleye.
Bigger walleye are showing up on the deep water reefs near Kelly's and Middle Island both U.S. and Canadian waters. How ever the numbers are not their yet. This will change any day. The water temperature is nearing 70 degrees, it has dropped almost 10 degrees in the last several weeks.

August 19
Walleye fishing went very well with limit catches on the deep water reefs east of the Bass Islands. Working the ledges from 29 to 6 feet casting weapons and hard ware lures. Trolling worked near the Kidney - Rattlesnake area . The reef walleye are a notch bigger east of the Islands and this is typical. We managed a limit catch of 36 today. Three pound average with several nice ones. Hardy crews and seasoned skippers make a big difference this time of year.
Yellow Perch - Green Island - West Reef - Kidney - N edge of the wheel and Sheriton Point.

August 18 Walleye Limit Drift fishing

August 17 2012

Yellow Perch have been biting on the North edge of the wheel. Good reports are coming in from this area with limit catches of 9 inch average Yellow Perch.
Small mouth bass fishing in the Canadian waters near Pelee Island is above average. Reports on the small mouth fishing in this area are very good.
Walleye fishing on the rocks! Shallow reef fishing for walleye produces during the lean times. We have been working the reef ledges from 30 feet to 6 feet of water. One here 3 there and at the end of the day you have a very nice catch of walleye.
West Reef - Chickonille - King George - Gull - Mill Point are producing walleye. Some days better than others. Successful fall fishing depends on a knowledgeable skipper that can read the fishing conditions for the day and capitalize on them. The other major factor is the skill level of the crew - along with the skippers ability to teach the crew. This is the difference between two boats fishing the same area one ends up with a cooler full and the other excuses.

August 16 limit August 10 limit catch

August 7
Walleye continue to bite on Lake Erie's Western Basin and the Jumbo Yellow Perch fishing has started! A picture is worth a thousand words - pictured below today's catch with several Trophy Walleye!

August 6 - 2012
Walleye fishing continues to be well above average on Lake Erie's western basin.

Limit catches have been consistently coming in drift fishing casting weapons or trolling. We are mainly drift fisherman so we have been doing our thing- drift fishing. Same ole gold spinner - it isn't broke so why try and fix it! Bottom bouncers 2 and 3 cranks up and casting 3/4 weapons on a eight count in thirty feet of water. Just get your spinner turning before it gets to the bottom and don't drag bottom. You want your lure to go around the swing 2 to 4 feet above the bottom. Best areas have been above B and C cans about 2 miles - West reef near the Kidney and most of the reefs around the Bass Islands and Kelly's.
Perch fisherman reported good catches near Rattlesnake- H- G and D cans - also around Kelly's Island.

Fishing charters on lake erie

August 5 walleye limit catch

Limit catches from above C can August 5 drift fishing

August 4 2012
Walleye fishing was fantastic today!

August 4 Limit Catchs of walleye
Three of our boats took limit catches of walleye drift fishing today- casting weapons and using bottom bouncers. The flats above B and C cans are holding a large school of walleye and the catches show it. Both the drift fishing and trolling worked well today. Some of the areas that produced walleye today - Kelly's Shoal, Carpenters Point, Gull, Lucy's Point, Mouse Island Reef, Starve Island Reef and American Eagle Shoal.
How ever on the flip side of that the Yellow Perch fishing was very slow today at least west of the Islands minimal catches and so so on the size. Is it because all that was available was Gold Shiners or Chubs? I am superstitious. I have a much higher degree of confidence when I leave the dock Perch fishing with Lake Erie Emerald Shiners.

August 2 - 2012
Drift fishing for walleye was as good as it gets today!
B can to C can and north about 2 miles walleye were only to eager to snap a lure today. There is a large school of walleye in this area as we took a 2 mile drift never turned the key and pulled our 60 walleye. 8 to 10 count with a 3/4 weight ahead of a #4 deep cup hex blade gold. Drifters and trolling caught limits.
Yellow Perch limits were taken near Rattlesnake Island to West Reef to Green and also near B can.
Small mouth Bass fishing has been on fire in the waters around Pelee Island. Middle grounds, Lizard Point, Old Light House Point, to Mill Point fishing from 8 to 20 feet drifting or anchored up. North Bay also is producing nice bass for a change this year. Along the break wall to Scudders Marina and the rocky shallow waters by Sheriton Point. Most smallies have been around 13 to 17 inches 2 to 3 lbs with some 19 and 20 inch trophies showing their heads already. The bass fishing has really picked up tempo the last few years as we have been turning really good numbers. Soft craws are the sure bet and big minnows work well also. Salt tubes and artificial lures are catching also. We prefer soft craws smallmouth can not resist them. Soft craws will catch bass almost all the time.

August 1 2012
Good catches of walleye are coming from the weather buoy near the Canadian border off Vermillion. These are deep water fish - temperamental with some big ones. Casting 1 oz weights and just let the boat pull your lure around the swing with just enough wind to keep the lure tight. Bottom bouncers 4 ounce touch and lock. The shallow water reefs are producing walleye as well. Off shore reefs have been doing the best both in U.S. and Canadian waters. A lot of reefs that get over looked by most fisherman is the Islands . Islands are reefs that are above water fish the structure around them bars, drop offs and ledges .24 to 6 feet has been the best. Night bite for walleye is happening on the shallow off shore reefs also. Best depth here has been around 5 feet. N NE of B can 2 to 4 miles has also been producing descent catches of walleye drift fishing. There has been a lot of trolling going on above B can so I suppose they are catching as well. Yellow Perch are coming in good around B can, American Eagle, Kelly's Shoal and in the Canadian waters on the west and north west side of Pelee. Anchor up in 30 feet of water using Lake Erie emerald shiners on perch rigs , spreaders or crappie rigs. Check with us for our docking location as we will be docking east of the bass islands soon.

July 20 2012
Fishing report Western Basin West of the Islands Area
Yellow Perch fisherman have been having good success near B can - Niagara Reef - D can - near Green and Rattle Snake Islands. Anchor up to perch fish. Perch are a schooling fish and the trick to catching these tasty critters is to get them fired up. To do this you anchor up near a shelf break if possible and I tend to lean on near 30 feet of water. Perch need to get chummed in and fired up. We do this by barley hooking about 3 sets of minnows on your rig. Drop it to the bottom and jerk the bait off. This helps to get them started feeding. When the perch get started as you pull them in they spit out their stomach contents which in turn acts as chum drawing in more perch from the surrounding area. Don't make the mistake of taking a break because they are easy to catch. They will leave as soon as the chum slick is broken. So do not break the rhythm. When you get them turned on stop when you reach that magic number - Your Limit!
Canadian waters near Pelee are producing a notch better grade of Perch. The Wheel to Hen Island and my favorite 30 feet of water off Sheriton Point.

July 20 2012
Walleye fishing has been very good for the drift fisherman.
West of the Island Areas
Drift fisherman have been enjoying good catches on the western basin of Lake Erie. Except for a couple off days in the extreme heat walleye fishing has been and remains very good. July has always been a very good month for walleye on Lake Erie. Drifting working the shelf breaks has been working very good for us. A - B cans and the reefs including West Reef which has personally been very good for me recently. Casting weapons and working from shallow early to deeper as the sun rises. Best over all depth west of the islands has been 24 to 30 feet.

Walleye fishing East of the Islands is very good.
You name it American Eagle -Buckeye- Gull and Kelly's Shoals - Airport Reef and Sunrise Point as well as the deep waters off Huron and Vermillion all have been taking nice boxes of walleye.

July 20 2012
Walleye fishing Canadian Waters around Pelee Island
Where do you want to start. The waters near Pelee are fired up for those who know how to work the reefs. Hen and Chicks - King George - Wagon Wheel - Chickonille- Mill Point all are having their days giving up nice boxes of walleye. The deeper waters from Middle Island to North Bass on the border has been a recent hot spot for open water drifters.

Trophy Walleye and Bass Season will be here soon.
As the days grow shorter and the water starts to cool from its warmest point Perch - Bass and Walleye will pick up their feeding pace. This combined with Lake Erie's walleye annual migration patterns makes the areas EAST of the Bass Islands the prime areas to fish. Trophy fishing starts every year the last week of August making September and Oct prime times. We will be docked at Catawba Landing by mid August to take advantage of this fall fishery.

Water Clarity on Lake Erie
Algae blooms are not happening on the western basin at this time. The western basin reef complex and the surrounding areas have very clean water. By this time last year the entire western basin of Lake Erie was infested with microsistis algae. Last year we experienced above average rainfall and above average storms which produced excessive amounts of rain. The fertilizer run off from the farmers fields combined with the over flow from sewage treatment plants along Lake Erie and its tributaries consistently feed this algae to epidemic proportions. This was Lake Erie's cry for HELP ! It is black and white as you will read. This year we have experienced the exact opposite drought conditions on the western end of Lake Erie. There is no harmful algae bloom or very little. No run off from fields and no major over flow from water treatment facilities and no or very little algae. The only areas that has algae to any extent is the areas east of the islands which is the final resting place for the majority of last years enormous algae bloom. As I understand it the currents in Lake Erie deposit the algae in the area basically off Cleveland for its final resting spot. This is the area known as having the dead zone and also where left over phosphorus is reintroduced into the eco system of Lake Erie.

I hope our political leaders in the local- state and federal levels read this. Lake Erie has given us her warning signal. She is ok now. Thank you mother nature. It has been put in black and white. Lake Erie's future depends on actions taken now. Everyone adds a little from lawn fertilizers - weed killers - farming practices & fertilizers and water treatment facilities.
Our leaders could make a win win situation out of this and start up dating water treatment facilities and city infrastructures putting people to work and saving Lake Erie. Farmers could also be subsidized to change their farming practices and help cut down on the phosphorus loads that feed the harmful algae blooms that have occurred on Lake Erie

July 10- 2012
Perch fishing has been producing nice limit catches.
Drift Fishing for walleye excellent.
Small mouth Bass action near Pelee

Walleye fishing on the western basin east of Port Clinton has been very good and the bite has been consistent since July 1. July has always been one of our better months for catching lots of walleye on Lake Erie. Drift fishing has been better than trolling for the last ten days or so. It kinda frustrates the trollers when us drifters are limited well before them! We have been looking for and working the transition waters from murky to clean. These areas are like a brick wall for walleye and they collect in them offering some very hot fishing for those who pay attention. These areas change every day but they are there you just have to look for them. To much in the murk and you catch some to clean you catch some but catch the drift in the transition waters and things can really heat up. We have been fishing from Niagara Reef to just west of West Sister. The same ole #4 deep cup Colorado blade, hex pattern has been doing very well. Also we have been concentrating on the final breaks off the out side reefs from 28 to 24 feet of water. Early in the morning the fish are higher in the water column - 4 count with a 3/4 and with each drift you can watch them sink deeper as the sun rises. So you need to adjust your count deeper. They seem to concentrate at about 24 feet most of the day. Which is about a 8 to a ten count. Trolling has been producing well also mainly from B can to D can. Best leads have been 50 to 65 on 40 jets, speed around 2 mph. Color makes a big difference trolling as well as direction. The trolling bite is no different than drifting when it is over its done! So when you see a pattern on color, depth or direction get on it !
The kidney to west reef to the border has been producing walleye as well as the Wheel in Canadian waters, all the Canadian reefs and Kelley's From Gull Shoal to Middle Island on the border and American Eagle anglers have been cranking in walleye also.

Perch fishing July 10 has been producing nice boxes around B and D can, Green and Rattle Snake, Near Gull and Kelly's Island. Pretty much the same ole traditional spots.
Small mouth fishing also is excellent around Pelee Island in the Canadian waters. North Bay, Sheriton Point and the east side on the glacier grooves and Middle Ground has been hot. Best depths from 8 to 16 feet. Same deal here shallow early and late deeper as the sun rises. Soft craws drifting or anchored on rocky bottom is a sure bet. Avoid the full moon when bass fishing. Three days minimum on either side or pray for cloud cover. Smallmouth will feed all night during the full moon. The moon light sucks the bait to the surface for easy pickings. If there is a lot of bait in the area they will bite until around 9 am then it is over until late afternoon.

The walleye fishing on the western is picking up tempo. We have been taking nice catches of walleye drift fishing the out side shelves from 30 feet to 24 feet. Yesterdays tally was 43 walleye casting and cranking gold weapons. Some times the shallow reef bite on the reef peaks is on but it has been spotty and not near as consistent as the out side shelves. The trick to casting weapons is to get your lure spinning before it hits the bottom and to get it near but not drag the bottom especially on the reef peaks. This is true in the deeper waters also. You want to get your lure turning above the depth that you are marking fish and keep it a foot or two above them. Walleye mainly feed from below watching above them so you want your lures to go around the swing above them. Our standard deep cup premium gold hex pattern Colorado blade size #4 has been working very well. The reef areas from A can B-C-D have all been having their moments and giving up good amounts of walleye drift fishing. The Gravel Pitts to the Turn around buoy also has been producing well again at times as well as near the Kidney and West Reef to Rattle Snake and Green Islands. East from there Gull and Kelly's Shoals have been producing as well as American Eagle Shoal. East from There in the deep waters off Huron and Vermillion near the Canadian border by the weather buoy has been giving up nice catches of some bigger walleye again drift fishing.
Yellow Perch are being taken near B can and Niagara Reef also West and North of West Sister.

Small mouth season opens this Saturday and as always the opening ding should produce well. Bass are a sport fish and really not very good eating. So we encourage catch and release for these sport fish. They sure are a blast to watch flying threw the air when surprised by a hook!. We see a lot of Trophies 20 inches and over 5 to 6 lb smallies - pretty hard to resist.

The Canadian reefs are also producing walleye - King George - Wagon Wheel - Chickonille to the south and west sides of Pelee and Winter and Mill Point to the south and east of Pelee for you rock hounds.
Trolling has been producing walleye near the same areas but trolling you can not get to close to the reefs or you could learn a expensive lesson when you get to shallow water and rocky bottom.

June 27 Lake Erie gives up another Trophy Gator June 26 Limit catch drift fishing on the Key Largo
Just wanted to say we were on the afternoon charter Saturday June 23rd and had a great time. Jake did the best he could showing us exactly what to do and even with our inexperience we managed to catch a decent amount of fish, we were definitely on the fish just didn't land them all. We all wanted to say we had a great time and Were very pleased with Jake as our captain. We plan on returning September when my brother comes home from his tour in Afghanistan as a Marine. Highly looking forward to having Jake as a captain again. Thanks for a great time. Patrick

June 23 fishing report Ohio waters.
The may fly hatch is pretty much over and the walleye are biting pretty good. It has not been a slam dunk on the walleye fishing how ever catches are in the respectable range if you fish hard. Today we took a boat limit drift fishing on Coe Vanna IV working the out side shelf ledges. The best depths was drifting from 30 to 24 feet of water. A slow crank after a 8 count and let it hang on the end worked out well. The biggest thing that screws shallow water fishing up is boat traffic. So find a spot out by your self and work it. Best areas have been from A can to B-C and D cans. All the shallow reefs were holding some walleye but I would have to think most of them have been thinned out. Rattle Snake to the Kidney or West Reef and the Gravel Pitts have also been producing good catches drift fishing.

Drift fishing catches from Saturday June 23 2012 - Pictures below are from June 23 also

Capt. Jake VIA SJJ with a limit catch on the Key Largo June 16
We have to Jake in line. Jake is our green horn still working on getting his Coe Vanna shirt.
I am going to talk with Jeff and Rizo we will see. I think it is a bit early.
Even a blind hog finds a acorn once in a while!

June 14 fishing report
Ohio waters Western Basin and Canadian waters near Pelee
Walleye fishing has been very stable this year right through the annual May Fly hatch. May Fly's are finishing up now at least in the shallow waters and the walleye fishing will get a couple notches better real soon. We have been averaging 25 walleye per run drift fishing casting weapons for the last couple weeks. That 25 number is up or down given the fishing conditions for the day and the skill factor of the crew. We finished with 24 walleye today with a family crew including three youngsters. Pretty dog gone good! Limits catches were taken today aboard charters with hardy crews drift fishing. Six to eight count slow steady wind and about half way around the swing bam! We have been fishing near the ditch to the turn around buoy. The fish are feeding in the stained water which is algae bloom a healthy algae bloom. This is occurring from the shore line waters out to about 26 feet. The walleye that are feeding out west will start to make their way east down the shore line and most likely remain in 16 to 24 feet of water. There is a abundance of emerald shiners and gizzard shad in the shallow water and this should hold walleye and attract more so if any thing the walleye numbers will increase in these waters. I would look for a bite near the Toledo intake soon and also from K can to the Darby near Port Clinton. There also was a good walleye bite for the drift fisherman on the Canadian Line near East Sister also in the same general area near West Reef and the Kidney. We continue to check our home turf waters before making the journey north or west every day. The other bite that will take place soon is between the Islands West Sister and Middle. Every year around the third week of June it is like some one waves a magic wand and then seemingly out of nowhere there is a abundance of 2 and 3 year old walleye in these areas that are only to eager to grab a spinner!
July has traditionally been one of our better months on Lake Erie for catching walleye. The bite is more stable as the May Fly's are out of the way. Answer me this. Why are they called May Fly's they never come up in May it is always in June. I guess there already is a June Bug. LOL!

The trolling bite has been the same from West Sister to the Turn around buoy - Respectable boxes to limit catches of walleye. The trouble with trolling is that it zaps the confidence out of captains that do it every day and they soon forget how to drift fish. I guess the dog you feed from within is the one that grows. We try to drift and troll when it is necessary or when our customers request it. We love the excitement of getting a walleye to hit a spinner and set the hook in them and hang on! Best trolling leads have been from 50 and 60 back with 40 jets in the 22 to 26 feet of water and 60 to 70 back in 30 feet of water. Trollers have been working between West and Middle Sister as well as near Taco Bell on the Line above North Bass. We will re visit these waters soon as the May Fly's finish hatching in the deeper waters of the lake. The shallow water bug hatch is finishing up now.

Canadian waters have been producing a spotty bit on the wheel. One day it is single digits and the next nice boxes for the drift fisherman. The deeper waters just North of Middle Island also has been having its moments.

Smallmouth season opens the last Saturday of this month and the bass fishing has been very exciting the last several years. Smallie fishing has had a very strong rebound on Lake Erie and I look for a very good season for them. Best times to Bass fish on Erie is July August and September - the same for Yellow Perch.

June 9 Western Basin
Lake Erie's Annual May fly hatch is happening now.
There have been plenty of May Fly's to wash off the boats the last few mornings. In spite of the bugs hatching we are taking respectable catches of walleye both drift fishing and trolling. The catches depend one on the skill factor of the crew and the captain - two the fishing conditions and three which way you choose to fish - troll or drift. A hardy crew that stands and fishes and gives it 100 percent usually ends up with a descent box of walleye and even limits. How ever right now walleye fishing during the bug hatch laid back fisherman's - catches will show up as a light box at the end of the day. This is almost always true to a extent any time of the year but much more so for the next week or so until we get through the main hatch. Trolling has been exactly the same some catch limits some respectable and some light boxes. To sum it up it - fish hard this time of year and you will can be rewarded with a nice catch of walleye. The best producing areas are the gravel pits to the w nw of West Sister to the turn around buoy- east of West Sister about 2 miles and between West and Middle Sister.
We have had good success casting 3/4 ounce weapons on a 6 to 8 count just get it spinning before it hits the bottom and keep your lure off the bottom. The walleye we are catching are marking around 20 to 24 feet in 30 feet of water. Trolling leads on a 40 jet have been ranging from 50 back to 75 back speed around 2 mph. My best sets have been at 60 and 65 back on 40 jets.

June 6 2012 Western Basin Report
The Lake is settled down from the recent blows and the fishing is coming around.
Today drift fishing was ok out the gate but fizzled out as the wind quit. So we dropped the trolling gear and pulled some more walleye.
Trolling right out the gate caught pretty good some limits and respectable boxes. Best areas have been the gravel pits to the turn around buoy, east of West Sister about 2 miles and between Middle and West Sister.

June 2 2012
Heavy winds Thursday night shook the lake up Muddy water is all across the western end from The Islands to Detroit. Yesterday we ran to the flats between Middle and West Sister and six inches of visibility at best was what we found. The continued heavy winds of last night and today is insult to injury. We are advising our customers that fishing conditions are less than desirable right now and giving them the option to move to another day. It will take a few days for the dirty water to settle out and fishing to get going again - or should I say catching there will be lots of fishing going on tomorrow. I am staying home.

June 1- 2012
Lake Erie Fishing Report Ohio and Canadian waters

Their are a lot of walleye around this year - not a over abundance but healthy numbers. Given descent fishing conditions respectable box's to limit catches has been our normal for us and also for the skippers that we work with on the lake. The spread of the schools and the year classes of the fish are where they should be. Larger walleye are being taken near West Reef, Kelly's Shoal, Gull, Hen and Chicks, Chickenollie, King George, and the Wheel. On our end of the lake west of the Islands their are a good number of walleye in the flats from West Sister to Middle Sister - the Gravel Pits and the near shore reefs for those who know how and when to rock pick. The walleye in the flats - Ohio waters - and to the east in Canadian waters and Ohio waters are mainly 3 and 4 year olds. Most of the big heads are east of the Islands and in Canadian waters. The younger fish which is our bread and butter in the western basin are showing up in good numbers and they to are where they should be. Near the Cans A to D can especially near the out side shelf breaks of the near shore reefs and with in a mile or two of the outside shelf breaks - 26 to 30 feet of water.

It's just nice to see normal patterns and seasonal migration patters for a change.
Especially after the unusually warm winter.
It's the size of the schools of walleye that tell me we have a good number of fish. It is not just a small isolated area that is producing for a few veteran anglers. The areas where the older fish should be they are and the younger ones also. A lot of the younger two year olds are measuring 15 inches now- they are growing early - usually Lake Erie walleye put on a growth spurt in August. So there is plenty of forage out there.
Last we had a good hatch last year which gives us a good number of one year olds coming up behind a fair number of two and three year olds. Lake Erie has a healthy number of catch able walleye for this summer and fall as well as the next several years to come. I expect a good June July summer bite as well as a good fall bite judging the weather patterns - water temperatures and numbers of catch able walleye.
Drift fishing the flats yesterday bottom bouncers 2 to 4 cranks up and working the swing with a 3/4 on a 8 to ten count worked for us.
The annual May fly hatch has started. May fly hatches start in the near shore waters and work there way out from there. My normal strategy is fish the off shore waters while the main hatch is occurring in the near shore waters and vise versa. Some times it is better to fish areas holding fewer fish that are hungry.

Paul D May 27
We would like to thank Coe-Vanna Charters for the last 3 days and letting Jeff be our captain! He did a great job with the other 2 old guys Ronnie and Duwayne! Think Jeff needs a medal! We limited all 3 days with walleye more than limited with sheep head; white perch and white bass! Thanks again and will recommend Coe-Vanna Charter and Jeff to anyone looking for a place to go! Thanks Paul D. and friends from Wisconsin!

May 26

May 26 fishing report
Drift fisherman took limit catches of walleye on the out side shelf breaks.
Drifting between 26 to 24 feet of water worked the best. Areas from B can to Niagara to Toussaint Reef as well as the gravel pits had nice catches. My best lure today was a #4 deep cup Colorado blade copper with a hex pattern - green beads and a single hook. Average cast slightly behind the drift tighten up as soon as your lure hit the water and start your count. 3/4 ounce sinker working the swing on a 6 to 8 count . The bite was either 3/4 around the swing or close to the boat. Fishing was hot right out the gate then a front line moved in with some lightning and it slowed the bite a bit. Fortunately for us we had the bulk of our fish before then. Today's catch was a mix mostly 3 and 4 year old walleye weighing in with a solid 3 lb average - netting a 120 lb box of walleye.

Drift fishing and trolling has produced very nice catches of walleye this weekend. Drifting west of West Sister we took a boat limits aboard Coe Vanna 11 and a respectable catch on Coe Vanna 111. Three quarter ounce sinker in front of a #4 Deep Cup gold Colorado on a 8 to a ten count. Basically get it spinning before your lure hit the bottom and keep it spinning just above the bottom. There was little to no wind in the morning how ever the drift fishing was very good if you had the touch.

Trolling Saturday was very good also I trolled aboard Coe Vanna1V and we took 32 nice walleye in the morning. Speed varied from 1.8 to 2.5 mph. My best color was confusion and cat dog. Turning and slowing down and speeding up helped to keep fish hooked up. I fished the area just north of West Sister about 1/2 mile. The afternoon trips we fished two boats with boy scouts from IN. I trolled and finished out very good and Jeff drifted and also did very well.
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May 19 Boy Scouts

May 18 2012
Drift fishing has been very good when we have a breeze - Trolling has been producing better during flat lake conditions.
Walleye fishing this morning was ok but on the slow side with light to no wind. We tried drifting and managed to wrestle in a few. So we dropped the trolling gear and finished out in the respectable range with 20 walleye. This afternoon the wind picked up and turned the walleye on. Casting 3/4 ounce gold weapons on the swing with a eight to a ten count and 3 ounce bouncers 1 to 3 cranks up. We landed a nice boat limit with 42 walleye. The best time to be out is when it goes from flat to a chop on the water it activates walleye and they start feeding. How ever the vise versa is also true from a nice chop to flat fishing is going to get tuff.
Best sets for trolling has been 50 to 60 back on 40 jets running moving around 2 mph.
Purple demon, cat-dog and happy hooker.

The best producing areas the last few days has been around Green Island, Niagara Reef, C & B cans and the Gravel pits.
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Typical of cold water walleye behavior. If the bite is lethargic in the morning the afternoon bite fires up!
Morning catches were 50/50 some figured the fickle bite out while others in the same place using the same lures struggled. On our afternoon trips all three of our boats scored heavy. Coe Vanna 11 trolled up a nice limit - Capt Rizo and Capt Jake hit um hard drifting. The walleye rose up in the water column late in the afternoon fishing the same areas I did in the morning and the bite was on. Eight count using 3/4 ounce slip sinkers ahead of a #4 Deep Cup Colorado blade tipped with a small piece of night crawler. The Lake was flat usually bad for drifters but the aggressiveness of the evening bite replaced the wind.
Long cast tighten up the line right away and as your lure the lure turned it's way down through the water column - plink - your hooked up!
Their are a lot of walleye around this year as the spread of the schools and the year classes of the fish are where they should be. Larger walleye are being taken near West Reef, Green Island, Kelly's Shoal, Gull, Chickenollie, King George, and the Wheel. We are still picking off some big heads near Niagara but most have leaned to the east which is where they should be. These walleyes are 4 year olds and up. The younger fish which is our bread and butter on the western basin are showing upin good numbers and they to are where they should be. The Gravel Pits, Dumping Grounds, Three Circles and out in front of Crane Creek State Park 22 to 26 feet of water.
It's just nice to see normal patterns and seasonal migration patters for a change. Especially after the unusually warm winter.
It's the size of the schools of walleye that tell me we have a good number of fish. It is not just a small isolated area that is producing for a few veteran anglers. The areas where the older fish should be they are and the younger ones also. Another week of warm weather and you will have walleye chasing down and smacking into your lures.
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Afternoon Trip

Walleye fishing still remains spotty. Drifters have had their moments coming in with heavy boxes of walleye and trollers have had their way with the walleye also. How ever both drifters and trollers have also had their share of the walleye having their way returning with light coolers. The water temperature is warming fast and the bite is just starting to lean out and become a bit more consistent. We are just starting to see the walleye showing up in the mid depths and nice boxes came in today drifting working a 10 to a 12 count 3/4 gold weapons low and slow. Get them spinning just before they hit the bottom later in the day a 6 to 8 count was working. Bigger fish are being taken around Niagara Reef and the Bass Islands especially Green Island near the top of the slop shoot . Walleye will get more aggressive each day as the water warms which will make them easier to catch. Trolling using crawler harnesses is working as well as spoons. Best sets have been around 60 back on a 40 jet speed around 1.8 to 2 mph any thing with purple.

May 6, 2012 Lake Erie - Port Clinton, Oh - Fishing Report - Walleye
Fishing the last several days has been spotty.
Catches have been all over the board the last several days any where from lousy 2 or 3 fish totals to mediocre catches with 10 to 20 fish and very nice boxes with limit catches. There have been trophy walleye caught around A - B and C cans drift fishing with spinners, bottom bouncers, jigs and trolling. Friday morning jig fishing was on near A can and coolers were loaded with very nice catches. Friday afternoon we fished hard to end up with only a few. Saturday morning with dominant east winds prevailing the fishing was off again. All of us captains were left scratching our heads with where do we go try next. Saturday afternoon the east winds picked up in intensity and turned the walleye on - fishing was great. We jig fished off Turtle reef in the afternoon and caught a nice boat limit of 3 to 5 lb males. The area between K can and Round Reef also has been very good again at times. Drives me nuts this time of year with what method do we try first and where. Reading the catching areas and patterns as I see it. There are plenty of walleye in the 14 to 24 feet of water any where from Crane Creek to Turtle Reef to in front of the Moose in Port Clinton. The fish have their heads glued to the bottom in these areas especially when the water gets to clear. Until the water warms up to around 60 degrees fishing will most likely remain spotty. I ran to the gravel pits Saturday morning to look at a blank screen. There are plenty of walleye in the area they just are very tight on the bottom and you can not mark them. With the spotty fishing comes the skill factor of the crew. Experienced fisherman will eke out a nice box while the in experienced will take a few. This will most likely be the pattern for the next couple weeks until the water temperature rises to around 60 degrees off Cleveland. The prime water temperature for the western basin spinner fishing is from 60 degrees to 75 degrees off Cleveland. We need about one week of warm weather to get the walleye off the bottom and more aggressive.

May 3 2012
We are changing over to spinners - walleye are being taken with jigs also however the jig bite is all but over. Nice catches were taken around A can B can and D can using spinners. We seen several trophies in the 30 inch range.
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Lake Erie fishing report April 30 2012
Starting in March the water temperature was way ahead of where it should have been. Jig fishing for walleye was on from the middle of March to date. This has been a very good jig fishing season, no major blows or flooded rivers pumping muddy water in. I would have to say the best jig fishing season I can remember in my 35 years of running fishing charters on Lake Erie. How ever with the colder weather that arrived around the first of April the water temperature is now right about where it should be for this time of year. We needed that colder weather because water temperature in the western basin determines when the older walleye start migrating to the east. By older walleye 4 year olds and up 22 to 32 inch gators. Things are back to normal. Jig fishing is nearing the end for walleye as they are all but finished up spawning now. The surface water temperature on my graph showed 51 degrees yesterday. I like to pitch spinners at walleye starting around 55 degrees. We have had some success drift fishing spinners prior to this last cold blast. The jig bite is getting spotty as the main schools of walleye have spawned and are moving out in the deeper waters of Lake Erie. This weekend Friday I took a limit catch jig fishing Saturday I needed one more for a boat limit and Sunday we strangled 12 with jigs. I have been catching older males ranging from 3 to 5 lbs the last several days. Most are not milking any more. The east wind shut the fishing down on Sunday. The walleye buried their heads in the mud and were tough to get a hook on. Jig fishing will hold strong for another week in the Maumee Bay near Toledo Light and Turtle Island as the last of the walleye return from the Maumee river back in Lake Erie. So be prepared to pitch spinners or jigs for the next ten days or so. Don't forget your night crawlers! Get out the bottom bouncers and tie fresh weapons or if you troll dust off the boards.

April 21 2012 Fishing Report Lake Erie
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The jig fishing bite for walleye is nearing the end. The tell tale signs are here that the walleye are finishing up spawning. One the sheep head have swarmed the shallows both shore line waters and reefs. Also the spawning pods of walleye are smaller and harder to locate at sun up and they dissipate a lot quicker. The jig bite will hold another 10 days in the Maumee Bay how ever with each day from here out the jig fishing will steadily fade. Today Capt. Jeff trophy fished using weapons and bottom bouncers. Days tally was respectable with several big headed trophy walleye. I drift fished with jigs working the shallows. We also finished the day with a descant box of walleye how ever Jeff beat me on size. It is the crazy time of year where which way do I go- jigs or spinners! It is time to get the spinners and bottom bouncers out for you drift fisherman.

April 21 2012 Drift fishing w spinners

April 15 2012 fishing report below - today's video
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Jig fishing remains very good but getting spotty.
Jig fishing near the reefs is getting harder as the walleye are finishing up spawning and the zebra mussels are getting the water to clean. Today the best bites for walleye was near the Darby or H can near the moose in Port Clinton and Maumee Bay in the Maumee Bay The areas that have been producing over loads of walleye dried up for many. In front of Wild Wings Marina -K can and most of the western basin near shore reefs, fishing was spotty at best. We had 11 walleye at 900 am with ten of us fishing on the big boat. All I could find near K can Turtle reef and in front of Crane Creek was one here and there but not enough to get it done. I fired the engine made a ten mile run west from Crane Creek State Park landed on the Pear and left with a boat limit of 3 to 5 lb males in 1 hour. 3/4 ounce jigs with a light short lift did the trick. Best depth was 13 to 14 feet of water. The jig fishing bite typically holds for about 2 weeks longer in the Maumee Bay.

April 15 catch from Maumee Bay

April 13 2012 Lake Erie Fishing Report 4-13
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Jig fishing is still amazing!
We left the dock at 630 am with a crew of eight plus my self and we were limited by 8:30 am. Best depth was 14 feet right at the crack of dawn and we moved deeper as the sun rose finishing off in 17 feet of water. 3/4 ounce jigs black/chartreuse worked the best. The wind was non existent so we cast and hopped the jigs back in. Just enough of a sharp hit on the jig to lift it about 6 inches off the bottom. Males in the 3 to five pound range made up our catch. We fished near Turtle Reef and L can today. The main spawn is about 1/ 2 over so I am guessing two more weeks on the outside for jig fishing. Also the water temperature is right at 50 degrees and we start pitching spinners any time now - definitely before the water reaches 55 degrees. Don't forget the night crawlers they work well with jigs also.

April 8 2012 fishing report western basin
Walleye are in mid spawn and fishing remains strong.
Jig fishing out of Wild Wings Marina has been very good Friday and Saturday. All four of our boats took limit catches near K can using purple/chartreuse jigs, 3/4 ounce. The bulk of our walleye were males ranging from 3 to 5 lbs. There is a lot of ways to work a jig. Saturday morning was a vertical slow lift about two feet and a tight line drop back. We struggled for a little bit until we cracked the combination and it was fish on after that. The evening bite was best the last hour before sun down.
Females were being taken trolling from A can to Niagara Reef and centering in the deep waters north of Cone reef. Husky Jerks and Reef Runners slow trolling at about 1 to 1 1/2 mph.
Jig fishing was on on all the reefs and the shore line waters inside the reefs. Best areas was from Crane Creek to Toussaint reef on them or shore ward. Start shallow and work deeper as the sun rises higher in the sky and fishing pressure increases.

April 2 - 2012
Walleye fishing in the western basin of Lake Erie is on Fire!
Stable winds and weather is the major factor in the above average jig fishing . Anglers have enjoyed fantastic walleye fishing in Lake Erie's western basin from Crane Creek State Park to Camp Perry. The reefs are producing 3 to 5 lb average walleye using jigs. Best depths for jig fishing has been 8 ft to 20 feet. Black/ Purple has been my favorite. All the reefs are producing walleye. Big females are being taken trolling husky jerks and reef runners from A can to Cone reef to Niagara reef focus on 27 to 30 ft near the reefs. Best speed 1 1/2 miles per hour. Lots of females still loaded with eggs are being taken.

Fishing Report Aboard Coe Vanna by Port Clinton News Herald Posted March 27 2012
Charter captains relish catch in few days before customers
http://ohne.ws/GT6Qv2 via @PCNewsherald

CARROLL TOWNSHIP -- As the sun rose on a recent clear morning at Wild Wings Marina, four charter captains and a friend took advantage of the unusually mild weather and the few days before paying customers arrive to spend a morning fishing for walleye.

Make that 90 minutes; that was all it took for Coe Vanna II captain Jeff Kuelling and his party to land their limit of 20 walleye.

Some of the fish approached 30 inches and 10 pounds.

"I hate to say it," Kuelling said, "but the fishing is easy right now."

He said he hoped those words wouldn't jinx the bite, which for now is on.

Having launched the 30-foot Sportcraft, one of Coe Vanna's four boats, on March 18, the group had already fished three days, catching spawning walleye that have come onto lake reefs and shallower waters, like those 1.5 miles north of Wild Wings.

All the fish taken that day were males.

"We been fishing three days and we haven't seen a female yet," said Jeff Bauer, another Coe Vanna captain.

He said the females move in at night to lay eggs, then retreat to deeper waters where they spread out during the day.

Last year, Bauer said, decent fishing didn't start until June because of turbulent spring weather, which kept the lake churned and the fish acting strangely.

At 8:45 a.m., more than 200 boats were visible east and west of Coe Vanna II.

By 10:30, there were fewer than 50.

"They limit out, and it's a short day," Kuelling said.

As soon as the weather warmed up, he said, people began calling to find out when charters begin.

Coe Vanna Charters has at least five trips scheduled this week, Kuelling said.

"The weather sparked a lot of phone calls," captain Dave Gwin said. "Most of the callers and customers are from out of state."

Gwin said local anglers are either on their own boats or those of their fishing buddies.

The description of easy fishing was no exaggeration.

Using 3/4-ounce lead hair jigs in purple and green with short casts and choppy retrieves, leaving the lures close to the lake floor, produced quick results as the Sportcraft took a slow, meandering drift in about 12 feet of 42-degree water.

Kuelling said customers don't mind the short one- to two-mile trip; they just want to catch walleye.

He said catches so close to the marina are excellent for the bottom line.

Fuel at Wild Wings is $4.09 a gallon.

Coe Vanna II's eight-cylinder inboard engine gets about 1 mpg, Kuelling said.

After catching limits quickly, he said, many customers will want to "fun fish," a term for catch-and-release.

"When people hear the fish are on," Gwin said, "everyone's excited."

Ottawa County Visitors Bureau Executive Director Larry Fletcher said traffic at the welcome center in Portage Township has increased greatly.

"Just in the last couple weeks, we've been hearing that charter phones are ringing off the hook, and ours have been, too," he said.

Fletcher said calls placed to the welcome center for fishing and weather reports have skyrocketed recently.

He said many charter captains were hurt by lack of winter ice fishing, because many are also ice guides.

"We weren't happy to see no ice fishing, so hopefully some of the captains can make up ground with this early start to the charter season," Fletcher said.

For now, most of the charters are groups of men, captains said.

Later in the season though, after yellow perch begin biting, another customer segment arrives.

"We get a lot of families," Kuelling said. "Especially before school starts."

In early July, Coe Vanna's vessels head east to dock on West Harbor.

There, they will fish the deeper, cooler waters near the border or in Canada.

Jim Wertenbach said he was amazed by the fishing.

"This is the best I've ever seen," he said of the mid-March bite. "This time last year we were ice fishing."

Captain Steve Ashley said he savors the time when captains get a chance to fish and relax.

"This in the only time we get to fish for fun," he said. "Occasionally, if the fishing is good in the morning and our customers (make their) limit, we'll get to go out in the afternoon."

When the captains get together, joking is abundant, with a steady stream of angling insults.

Lake Erie Charter Boat Association President Rick Unger said about 200 captains are full members operating on the lake in Ohio.

Altogether there are more than 800 on Lake Erie, he said, including many smaller organizations also affiliated with the LECBA.

"The busiest guys are the ones around Wild Wings, west of the islands right now," he said, citing the spawn.

Unger agreed that rising fuel prices could hurt the charter business.

"Most guys are talking about raising prices or adding a surcharge if fuel keeps going up," he said.

After bringing charter customers in, Kuelling said, Coe Vanna captains or staff clean their fish.

That, captains said, is the least glamorous part of the job.

But they made quick work of their own catch, using a pair of electric knives, a cutting table, tailgate and cold Bud Lights.

"They don't get any fresher than that," Bauer said.

In 15 minutes, 20 walleye were filleted and bagged.

"In the summer we give our fish to the customers," Smith said, "so this is our time of the year to put fish in our freezers."

After morning fishing, the friends pondered the possibility of another passion: golf.

"We're better at fishing than we are at golfing," Ashley said.

In the last several years, the Internet has been providing those interested with fishing info.

Many people are checking online to find out about fishing on the lake and to find out how the bite is, Gwin said.

"Last week we had 1,800 views on our Facebook page," he said. "Social media is really starting to take off."

Kuelling said he's optimistic about the season, despite last year's algae troubles.

"It did hurt a little bit," he said. "It's really going to depend on the amount of rainfall we get, because that's what makes it all happen."

Kuelling said the weather has been perfect so far.

"I think it's going to be a really good season," he said.

Unger agreed.

"C'mon out and go fishing," he said. "It's going to be an excellent year."

Current Lake Erie fishing report March 22 2012
Lake Erie walleye are on fire - jig fishing does not get any better than it is right now! Due to the extremely warm winter and 80 degree temperatures recently Lake Erie walleye are in full gear spawning and there certainly is no plenty of them to be caught. Wild Wings Marina is a close dock to the action. K can to Crane Creek State Park - The western basin reef complex - Turtle Island to Toledo Light all are producing tremendous catches of walleye. Fish jigs tipped with minnows any where from 8 feet to to 20 feet of water you can not go wrong. Black /Purple and Chartreuse/Green have been working very well. Boat limits are being taken in one drift or a hour or two. You can easily turn over 100 walleye in couple hours jig fishing during the spawn. Males 3 to 5 lbs are on the reef tops and shallow waters with females hovering in the deeper waters near the cans during the day.

March 22 jig fishing near K can

Report - March 20 2012
Walleye are in full spawning gear in Lake Erie.
Walleye are being caught in front of Wild Wings Marina from K can to Crane Creek . Locust Point reef, Turtle Reef, Cone , Niagara, Crib and Toussaint Reefs are all producing nice catches. Jigs tipped with minnows are producing very well. Larger fish are being taken slow trolling crank baits - 1/2 to 1 mile per hour. Best areas are from A can to Cone to B can and Niagara.

Limit catch from K can area March 20
March 17 2012
Lake Erie fishing reports for Port Clinton, Ohio, Wild Wings Marina
Sandusky River in Fremont, Maumee river
Due to the warm winter Lake Erie walleye are spawning about two to three weeks early. Walleye have moved to the reef tops and in the shallow waters near the shore from K can to Crane Creek State Park. Limit catches are being taken in ten to sixteen feet of water. All the reefs from Locust Point to Niagara are producing walleye. Jigs tipped with minnows and a trailer hook are working well.

Maumee and Sandusky rivers annual walleye run is in full swing. Jigs tipped with minnows are working well in the rivers also. No trailer hooks in the rivers, you will get a ticket and loose your fish. Check Ohio fishing regulations for details.

Limit Catch taken near K can March 17 2012

Lake Erie Fishing report March 12 2012
Walleye are running in the Maumee and Sandusky rivers. The river waters ran high from recent rains at just the right time as Lake Erie walleye are ready to spawn. The combination of current flowing from the rivers and the warmer water has large numbers of walleye in the rivers.
Walleye fishing near the reefs in the western basin reef complex is excellent - as always when the water conditions are right. The first males are showing on the reef tops. This activity will increase with every warm day the walleye will get thicker and shallower swarming the reef tops .
The mouth of the Maumee river from Toledo light to Turtle Island is loaded with walleye and is producing limit catches. The bulk being males in the 3 to 5 lb range. The Sandusky Bay under the railroad tussle by where Rt 2 crosses the bay, between Bay View and Marblehead is also producing limit catches of walleye.
Jigs tipped with minnows are doing the best in the rivers and in the shallow waters of the reefs and slow trolling crank baits from A can to Niagara in 28 to 30 feet is producing large females.

Lake Erie fishing reports March 3 2012 - Port Clinton Ohio
Walleye are being caught on the outside shelf breaks mainly in a line from A can - B can - C can to Niagara Reef. Walleye are holding in the deep water near the outside reefs in preparation for the annual spawn which normally takes place starting around the last week in March and is in full gear by mid April. With the warmer winter it looks like the spawn may start a week or so early this year. Its a combination of the water temperature and length of day light that triggers the annual spawn. Wild Wings Marina is a prime area to ramp from because it is located near the western basin reef complex. Slow trolling crank baits in 30 feet of water has been producing trophy walleye. Anchoring and vertical jigging has been working also. The intensity of the walleye fishing will pick up substantially by April 1 as the walleye get into full spawning mode.

Lake Erie Fishing Report Feb 28 2012 Ohio waters
Limit catches were taken trolling crank baits and vertical jigging. Lots of BIG Female Walleye are being caught from A can to Niagara Reef. Both trolling and jigging has been working. Looks like the spawn may happen a week or so early this year due to the warm winter. No fish are being taken on the shallow reef tops. The main schools of walleye are holding in the deep water near the outside reefs. Slow trolling crank baits - and vertical jigging rapalas, Swedish pimples and jigs tipped with minnows have been producing.

Feb. 6 2012
Boats are running and Lake Erie Walleye are biting!
Ice fishing is not going to happen but the boats are out. Trophy walleye are being caught in all the traditional ice fishing spots. Green Island to Rattle snake Island to Niagara Reef - Cone Reef A- B- and C cans. Slow trolling crank baits and vertical jigging anchored are working. Jigs tipped with minnows - Swedish pimples- jigging rapalas all the ice fishing methods while anchored up. Large schools of walleye are being sounded by fisherman in the mentioned areas. This year walleye fishing out look is looking good!

Trophy walleye Feb 6 - 2012