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Coe Vanna covers Lake Erie fishing in Ohio.... Before you go fishing in Erie,
check here for our recent reports covering the United States waters and Canadian
waters 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
Fishing reports for Lake Erie on walleye, smallmouth bass and
yellow perch.
Coe Vanna offers Lake Erie fishing
charters on the
United States and Canadian waters of Lake Erie.
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.
Just a fishing license and we have them on our boats. It is better if you call
800-667-1940 and get them ahead of time.
Purchase Canadian fishing license on line same day www2.on.wildlifelicense.com
www.on.wildlifelicense.com
When we fish Canada you will not need a Ohio license.
Canadian trips to the west
and south side of Pelee are the same and is where we fish the majority of the
time. How ever should we want to go to the north or east
side of Pelee there will be a $60.00 fuel charge. You will be asked and that
will be your decision. Sorry we can not eat all the fuel costs.
Purchase Ohio fishing license with this link www.wildohio.com
Jerry B and crew limit catch Oct.1 2010 4lb average 150lbs of walleye.
These Pennsylvania Guys can fish! Nice Catch!
October 11 2010
The Perch fishing has been
fantastic.
Yesterday we took 240 perch in 3 hours.
We have been fishing the Canadian side a lot and catching 9 inch average
Yellow Perch with the occasional bonus perch going 12 to 13 inches. Very solid
boxes of perch. Today we rounded our limit catch of 150 perch off with 16
walleye drift fishing. The walleye have moved deeper and our best depths were
from 24 to 30 feet.
Walleye fishing has been good on the reefs drift fishing best depths have been from 6 to 20 feet of water. We are marking walleye in the deeper waters off the reefs but the active walleye move in to the shallows to feed. The trick to catching shallow water reef walleye is to know when you are in contact with the bottom. When you feel the bottom give your reel three fast cranks and then back down to a steady crank. Walleye feed from the bottom waiting and watching for bait fish to swim by above. You want your lure to be just above the bottom not dragging on the bottom. We have been catching walleye all week as long as there is a descent wind to drift fish. Perch and bass fishing also has been very good especially in Canadian waters around Pelee Island. The bigger perch are now showing up. Joe S. and crew went Perchin in Canadian waters and pulled a 10 man limit catch of 300 perch in about 3 1/2 hours aboard Coe Vanna 1V. Nice job guys.
We have ran several bass trips using soft craws in the past week and have been pulling nice bass some in the 20 inch plus size 5 to 6 lb range.
August 22 2010
Walleye fishing was tuff today we had wind for a nice drift go figure. The perch
fishing was good off the east side of Perry's Monument, south t south east of
Kelly's Island and around Green Island. I landed on some very nice Perch just
east of Kelly's.
Small mouth bass fishing was very good on the east side of Pelee. We didnt run a
bass trip but a couple other skippers did and they said they had plenty of
smallie action!
August 21 2010
Small mouth bass fishing has been very good
on the Canadian waters for us. Drift fishing and anchoring up on reef ledges
using soft craws on a slip sinker rig has been doing the trick. Best depths have
been from 10 feet to 20 foot. We turned 70 bass today 4 - 19 to 20 inch trophies
and the rest heavy scrappers 14 to 17 inch out standing day!
Yellow Perch fishing has been on around the
Island Areas where we dock. Limit catches have been being taken on Carpenters
Point, Lucy's Point , American Eagle Shoal, Kelly's Island Shoal, North
Bay of Kelly's, East of Perry's Monument. South of Kelly's Island and around
Green and Rattlesnake.
Walleye fishing was on the mend for the
drifters today. It was limits to respectable boxes of walleye. Coe Vanna 11 had
20 nice size walleye drift fishing the reefs and then anchored up and took a
fair number of Perch to go with them.
August 19
Perch fishing has been very good around Kelly's and the Bass Islands. Limit
catches have been caught on a regular basis.
Walleye drift fishing and trolling is starting to pick up and will only
get better as the water temperature drops. Which won't be long! We have been
running combo trips catching gators off the shallow reefs and then
finishing the day perch jerkin.
August 8 2010
We are drift fishing the shallow reefs for walleyes in both the U.S waters and
Canadian waters. Catches have been spotty. Trolling has been producing nice
boxes of walleye mainly east of Kellys Island close to the Canadian Border and
the Yellow Perch fishing is very good size yo yos from day to day and the
Smallmouth bass have slowed a bit. This is normal for mid summer.
Trophy Walleye ,Bass and Jumbo Perch fishing fishing will pick up as the days
get shorter and the water temperature begins to drop. Late August is the usual
start time for the fall trophy fishing.
Sept and October are Big fish months on Lake Erie
July 21-22-23-24
Walleye fishing has been good in Canadian waters all around Pelee Island and 3
miles east of Kelly's Shoal old international C can on the border. Drift fishing
working the swing using 3/4 or 1 ounce slip weights with a 10 to 15 count medium
steady wind has been doing the trick with a gold Colorado blade. Our catches
have been averaging nice boxes to limit catches of 3 to 4 lb walleye per trip.
July 20 2010
Drift fishing was very good in Canadian
waters today some of the boats were limited by 10:30 this morning with 42
walleye! We took a little longer as we had a fresh crew but they caught on after
a little coaching. Gold weapons on the swing at a 12 count with a one ounce slip
sinker. Bottom bouncers 3 cranks up. We fished up north today.
Typical drift fishing catches this July in Canadian waters
July 19 2010
Limit catches of 2 to 4 lb walleye are being
taken drift fishing the deep water reefs and open waters from North Harbor
Island to Hen and Wagon Wheel, off Sheraton Point and North of North Bay Pelee
Island and from Point Pelee to North Bay. Average weight for 42 walleye has been
130 lbs.
There also has been a spotty bite on walleye on the US waters on the western
basin reef complex Niagara, Little Pickerel, Big Pickerel, A Can and also East
of Kelly's Shoal. The fish on the US reefs are smaller 14 to 16 inches one pound
on the average.
Small moth bass fishing has been very good to us in Canadian waters we handled
around 100 yesterday most bass were averaging 13 to 15 inch and we caught
several 19 inch Trophy's. Drift fishing with soft craws and a slip sinker rig
July 13 2010
We moved our boats to Catawba Landing and we
have been fishing both Ohio waters and Canadian waters from D can to the
Canadian border in the Ohio waters has been been producing lots of good eaters
15 to 17 inch fish both casting and trolling.
The Canadian waters have been producing a much better grade 18 to 24 inch
walleyes with some 26 and 27s. We have been drift fishing fishing rod in hand
casting gold spinners and doing very well in both Ohio and Canadian waters.
I an anxious to fish for Yellow Perch we have been catching a good number of
good size Yellow Perch drift fishing for walleye.
That's a good indication that its time!
July 10
Bass fishing Canadian side.
Drift fishing with soft craws just off the bottom and anchoring up we turned 70
bass in the 1 1/2 to 4 lb plus range. They were scattered you could site fish
them in 10 feet of water but we did our best anchored in 20 feet.
June 25 -2010
Nice boxes of walleye and limits were caught
drift fishing on the western basin Gold spinners low and slow was the ticket
also a early start. The drifters that got a early go had 15 to 20 fish by 8:00
am and some 42 fish limits were caught drifting by 10 am this morning. If you
missed the early bite the wind quit and the rest of the day was a pick. We ended
up with 18 nice walleye on my boat and Coe Vanna 111 finished with 36.
Trolling also produced nice catches of walleye. The Turn around buoy to the
Gravel Pits to C can to the Canadian Border all produced walleyes. We fished
between West Sister and Middle
Sister
June 22 & 23
Drift fishing limits are being caught on the
western basin.
We are catching limits of 1 1/2 to 3 lb walleyes drift fishing casting gold
weapons on the swing. Best areas have been from the Turn Around buoy near the
Michigan border to just north of the Gravel Pits to south of Middle Sister. East
of Kelly's Island has also been producing.
Nice size Yellow Perch are now showing up in the western basin just in time for
the start of our traditional perch jerkin season on our end of the lake!
June 21 2010
Drift fishing limits were caught north of
West Sister today. Two drifts a mile long each netted an average of 20 walleye
per drift and ended up with a nice limit catch of 42 walleye by 1100 am!
The May fly hatch is finishing up in the western end of the Lake and our
catching is picking up. My last four or five runs up to today I have
fished from the 00 line to the 06 line and have been marking fair to good and
catching an average of 20 walleye per trip casting on the swing using a 8 to a
ten count and a 3/4 ounce #4 deep cup Gold Colorado blade and a medium to fast
steady wind. The fish have been coming in the middle of the swing and some right
by the boat.
June 13 2010
Drift fishing catches have been good off
Huron - Vermillion- and around Pelee Island in the Canadian waters. The western
basin reef complex has had its moments for drifters but not as consistent as the
eastern bite. The Gravel Pits to the Michigan border the walleye fishing is
showing signs of perking up as the main May Fly hatch is slowing down in these
areas. Trolling catches over all have been more productive in the same
areas but not a sure bet.
June 1
The drift fishing bite is picking up. Finally some wind and Gold harnesses are working. We have been fishing the out side reefs A -B and C cans. CV1V caught 43 drift fishing by noon on May 31 and today's drifters are doing good again. Best areas are from Crane Creek to The Islands and in Canadian waters around Pelee Island. The trolling bite is strong also.
May 29 2010
Drift fishing has been spotty there has not
been enough wind to drift most days flat water and trolling has been the ticket.
The trolling bite has been good around the Bass Islands both east, south and
west sides also Niagara Reef C can and D can areas and up against the Michigan
border.
Lake Erie Western Basin Fishing Report May 9 2010
Walleye fishing remains good fishing jigs 3/4
ounce or weapons { Carolina rig with a # 4 Gold Blade }and bottom bouncers. We
have been fishing spinners and bouncers for about a week now while others
continue to catch with jigs. The walleye are done spawning and are spreading
into the open waters of the western basin. The gravel Pits - W-NW of West Sister
are producing as well as A Can,L Can, 20 feet of water in front of Crane Creek
State Park, between Crib and Round and Niagara Reefs and D can. The reefs
especially in the deeper water between the reefs 20 feet or so. The early bite
on top has been good after that focus on the deeper waters between. Although the
fast pace of catching limits during the spawn is over we are still taking very
nice catches of walleye it just takes longer as the limit is now up to six per
person as of May 1 and the fish are spread out more.
Lake Erie fishing report May 4 2010
Walleye are just about done spawning. There
is still a jig bite for walleye off the edges of the reefs, K can to Crane Creek
State Park and in the western basin reef complex from 10 to 20 feet of
water also in the Maumee Bay from Little Cedar Point to Turtle Island.
The open water spinner bite has been on from A can to Niagara Reef, between
South Bass Island and Mouse Island and up near the border from Middle Island to
Middle Bass Island and above Kelly's Island. Both bottom bouncers and weapons
worked low and slow around the swing have been catching good. The color is
always the same GOLD!
Lake Erie Fishing Report
April 28-10
We left our dock at Wild Wings Marina at 700 am as it was a bit chilly. How ever
we soon warmed up. I made our first attempt drifting across Locust Point Reef
with no success so I moved to Cone Reef because it is deeper and no boats were
on it. I started my drift in 22 feet of water and we landed 3 nice walleye on
3/4 ounce jigs John Deer green tipped with night crawlers. We caught a few fish
on top but the best was off the upwind side in 22 to 20 feet of water. As usual
it did not take long for several other charters to spot me and move in. Well
when you get a couple charter boats close together on a tuff day it attracts
attention and soon there was 15 boats too many for my likings on Cone Reef so I
moved off to another outside reef and we caught our fish by our selves nice and
quite the way I like it. I did make 2 casts with a gold weapon and caught two
nice walleye which created a change a thon. I switched everyone over to spinners
and when they did not catch as well so I switched them back to jigs. The spinner
bite is easy when you have done it as long as some of us have. 3/4 ounce weight
#4 deep cup hex gold. blade. Make a long cast working the swing scratching the
bottom from time to time and almost jigging the spinner. Its easy if you have a
good feel but hard to teach. Bouncers have been catching also when you have
enough wind. Bigger walleye are being caught with spinners and bouncers around
the Islands areas Green to Rattle snake and Middle Bass to Middle Island and
above Kelly's Island.
Captain Dave. www.coevannacharters.com
Lake Erie fishing report
April 25 2010
The wind has been east to north east for the
last couple days and at times a bit brisk with 2 to 4 foot waves. This muddies
the shore line waters up and moves the walleye deeper. Also the walleye are
finishing up spawning so the strong spawning urge that drives them to the
shallows and reefs and clam beds in big numbers is not happening any more. The
catches are spotty and the walleye are moving to the open waters, reefs and
ledges. Today I worked the deeper water between the reefs and we caught nice 5
lb males both on bottom bouncers and jigs. Two ounce bottom bouncers with a #4
deep cup hex gold blade tied short so it runs close to but just above the bottom
baited with a night crawler worked well. We also caught on 3/4 ounce jigs
purple/chartreuse casting the jigs 3/4 up wind and working them around the swing
did the best. We were averaging 4 to 6 walleye per half hour drift and we came
in with a nice box of walleye. We would have limited out but mother nature
raised her voice and we headed in. Look for the weapon spinner bite very soon.
Don't forget the night crawlers on your next trip! Capt. Dave
www.coevannacharters.com
April 23, 2010
The walleye are finishing up spawning and are moving deeper and starting to
scatter into the open waters of the lake. Today we took one long drift starting
in 22 feet near Cone Reef and let it slide for a couple hours and picked fish
all the way. We also took our first fish on bottom bouncers. So be prepared for
the weapon bite as we are entering transition time now. Don't forget your night
crawlers. It will be bouncing back and forth depending on who you talk to a
nd
what dog you feed. One person will say its jigs and the next weapons and
crawlers. Be prepared.
Capt. Dave
April 20 2010 Fishing Report
We left the dock around 6:15 am went out about a mile and a half shut off the
key with in 5 min I here fish on 2 and three people at a time. I was Quick to
get on the radio and tell my father we were on a hot spot. We took our limit of
nice 4 to 5 ib average walleyes by 8:00 am. We fun fished till about 12:00 and
threw back 20 to 25 nice walleyes. Purple hair jigs have been my favorite all
year green and blue have been good also. Three CoeVanna boats left the dock that
day and we all limited out really close to one another. What a great fishing
day. I will be fishing tomorrow afternoon I will post another report soon Capt.
Coe Allen
April 19 2010 Lake Erie Fishing Report
We loaded up at 630 this morning with a 6 man crew of Chicago brick layers. The
water cleared up nicely over night and we were able to fish local in 12 to 16
feet of water. Green/chartreuse and blue and white jigs tipped with a minnow and
a slow jigging motion did the trick. We had our limit of 28 walleye by 11:00am.
Turtle reef, Locust Point Cone Crib and Toussaint reefs as well as L can to K
can areas are holding lots of walleye.
April 18 2010
Sunday April 18 we took out a father and son team right after the wind and we
picked away on the reefs. Not fast but ok for the lake conditions.
April 15 2010
Coe Vanna 111 and Coe Vanna 1V each took limit catches drift fishing in a couple
of hours out in front of our marina. The best depth was at daylight 12 to 14
feet and a hour after daylight 16 to 18 feet. Same ole 3/4 ounce jigs tipped
with minnows purple/chartreuse and blue/white tipped with a minnow. Cast about
45 degrees down wind wind just enough to get your line tight and jig the lure
about 3 inches. Fishing the swing worked good all day.
April 13 2010
We held off in the morning as east winds were howling at 20 to 30 mph. By noon
they had backed off to 15 mph and we loaded up and went fishing. We fished
Locust Point Reef and were very happy as we took our boat limit of 24 four nice
walleye. It took a while but the crew hung in there. We averaged 2 to 4 fish per
drift and six hours later we were done and going home with a cooler full of
walleye. The zebra muscles are now active and we used this to our advantage as
they filter and clear the water up. There was about 2 inches of visibility in
the water when we first arrived on scene and by evening it was 10 inches. This
was our secret to success to fishing right after the wind. Finding fishable
water that holds fish during the spawn. The same jigs were used 3/4 ounce
purple/chartreuse tipped with a minnow.
Sunday April 12 2010
Today we had the pleasure of taking out a large family crew with 5 youngsters.
The kids, moms and dads caught their share of walleye. The bite was a little
tougher than I expected. On our first stop we caught 3 nice walleye right away
in 10 feet of water then it stopped. I made several more attempts in the area
and landed two more. Then we moved a couple miles west into 18 feet of water
away from the main cluster of boats and we ended up with a nice box of 37
walleye in the 3 to 4 lb range. A slow lift on the jig tipped with a minnow on
purple/chartreuse did the trick. The zebra muscles are getting active as the
water is very clear. I could see the fish 10 feet down. This causes the walleye
to extra spooky, hold tight on the bottom and move deeper.
Saturday April 10 2010
The Lake water had cleared up pretty good over night however the water
temperature dropped on the surface from 56 degrees to 48 degrees from the recent
cold spell and winds this made the fishing a little tougher. It was not a slam
dunk. I stayed out of the boats and fished deeper water from 18 to 12 feet.
Purple and chartreuse jigs with a minnow with a slow jigging motion did the
trick. I needed 40 walleye for my 10 man crew and we had them by noon. I had
been spoiled catching limits most days with in a hour or two and then play
around. Back to fishing a bit harder and really a reality check for the captain.
I had all three of my boats out and we all caught limits. I fished for 5 hours
to limit out. In a month from now that will be a fast day when we start
traveling off shore!
April 6 - 2010
I ran two trips two trips today and both trips were limit catches in a couple
hours. This morning was a absolute slam dunk we caught what we needed in 1 hour.
This evening took about 2 1/2 hours 3 drifts to catch our 6 man limit of 24
walleye. Most fish are being caught in 10 to 12 feet of water in the evening and
8 to 10 feet in the morning. The reason for the early morning shore line bite is
the walleye push to the shores after dark to spawn so they are heavy in the
shallow water at day break. The water is a bit clear now so between day light
and boat noise the walleye move deeper after the first hour in the morning. This
after noon the bite was very strong in about 10 to 12 of water. I fished just
inside of K can. The reefs are all holding lots of walleye in the western basin.
The area off Little Cedar Point as well as Toledo Light to Turtle Island are
producing plenty of walleye too. Jig fishing in the clear water this evening a
small side ways slide action worked the best. You wanted to slide your jig not
hop it. In very clean water most of the fish are glued right to the bottom.
. Purple and chartreuse and blue and white did the trick again.Another trick to
success is to keep away from the boats in the shallow water as it doesn't take
much to spook fish in ten feet of water.
April 2
Bachelor party today group of ten customers my self and a mate. We caught 37
walleye on our first drift. Limit catch in just over 3 hours. Nice job guys and
congratulations! The older males showed up today 50% of our fish were 5lb males.
The best depth was 14 to 16 ft. We fished that depth near our marina. 3/4 ounce
jigs tipped with minnows. Purple and chartreuse was the best and blue/white
April 1
Party of 8 limit catch jig fishing reef areas 10 to 16 ft of water. The fish
have been holding a little deeper than I thought. 16 foot of water was the best.
March 31 2010
Spring fishing jig bite is on! Limit catch today for 8 people 32 walleye in 3
hours! Jigs tipped with minnows 3/4 ounce purple and chartreuse and blue and
white worked the best. We fished in front of our marina from 16 to 10 feet of
water was the best. We worked the ledges of the reefs. Limit catches are
happening at Little Cedar Point and the Turtle Island Area. In front of our
marina Wild Wings and off all the reefs in the western basin of Lake Erie. Hope
the weather holds. Capt. Dave
Typical catch of this falls walleye
24 to 26 inch. Sept & Oct is when the Trophy Walleye are caught 27 to
30 inch. Tomorrow may be your lucky day! Fall also is the best time for Jumbo
Yellow Perch fishing.
Oct 1 - 13 2009
October has been producing nice catches of 4 to 11 lb walleye. Drift fishing the
reefs and fishing the deep waters off Cedar Point, Huron and Sawmill. When we
have descent weather for a couple days fishing has been good. We have not been
taking limits but Trophy fishing is not about limits it's Big Walleye. On the
average day we catch from 15 to 30 walleye drift fishing. Remember these fish
average 5 lbs and up and most days we see one to three walleye in the 9lb plus
range.
Perch fishing has been good off Huron dumping grounds, Sand Bar and in 40
ft of water out from Cedar Point.
Bass fishing has been the best it has been in 10 years. Best areas are
around the Bass Isands and Pelee and the western basin reef complex. Fishing was
a bit slow for two days after the big winds but as soon as the water clears up
bass fishing is back on track.
Sept 11- 15
We have been catching nice boxs of walleye and perch drift fishing. Most of the
walleye are 3 to 6 lbs with an occasional bigger one. Small mouth bass fishing
has been the best it has been in years both around Pelee Island and the western
basin reef complex. Most of the smallies have been ranging from 15 to 17 inches
a solid 3 lb average with some trophys of 20 inches.
In 2010, sport anglers made nearly 750,000 trips to fish Lake Erie. Private sport fishing
effort topped 3.6 million hours. This was a 7% increase, compared to 2009, but was about 1.3
million hours lower than private sport fishing effort seen in 2008. Charter boat fishing effort was
about 0.26 million hours; a 5% decrease from 2009 levels. Most of the private boat effort was
directed toward walleye (56%), followed by yellow perch (39%), and smallmouth bass (2.6%).
Largemouth bass (0.8%) and white bass (0.5%) were minor components of the open water
fishery. Private boat anglers seeking anything that bites made up 0.7% of the 2010 estimated
angler effort. Charter boat anglers mainly sought walleye (86%), followed by yellow perch
(13%), then smallmouth bass (0.5%). Total harvest of sport fish increased by 12% in 2010,
relative to 2009, due primarily to increases in harvest of yellow perch.
In 2010, the Ohio commercial fishery harvested a total of 4.13 million pounds of fish, an
18% decrease from the 2009 harvest of 5.01 million pounds. The Ohio 2010 commercial fishery
harvest of bullhead, carp, channel catfish, and gizzard shad increased, as compared to 2009, but
declined for the other commodity species including buffalo, freshwater drum, quillback, white
bass, white perch, whitefish, and yellow perch. Ohio’s yellow perch commercial harvest (1.28
million pounds) was still above the long-term average, but was 11% lower than the 2009 harvest.
The bulk (75%) of the commercial harvest (in pounds) was harvested by the end of July,
however, lake whitefish and channel catfish harvest was substantial in October and November.
The dockside value of the Ohio commercial fishery increased to $4.115 million; up from $4.009
million the previous year.
Assessment surveys during 2010 were completed by the Ohio Division of Wildlife’s two
Lake Erie Research Units using bottom trawl, gillnet, hydroacoustic, and lower trophic sampling
gears. Most of our fish assessment surveys tracked the continued persistence of the large 2003
year class that was produced by many fish species in Lake Erie. Growth and condition of Lake
Erie fishes remains within acceptable ranges. Detailed trends in relative abundance, growth,
maturity, and diets are presented in other sections of this report. From assessment surveys for
juvenile fishes, abundance of the 2007 year classes of walleye and yellow perch were generally
near the long-term average in the west basin, and well above average for yellow perch in the
central basin. The 2008 year class of walleye and yellow perch was below the long-term average
in the west basin, while the 2008 year class of yellow perch was above the long-term average in
the central basin. The 2009 year classes of walleye and yellow perch appear to be well below
average in all surveys and in all Districts; similar to hatches in 2000 and 2002. The 2010 year
classes of walleye and yellow perch appear to be at, or slightly below, long-term averages in all
surveys; however, their growth rates are average to above average, similar to those seen with the
2007 cohort. The fall assessment surveys also showed that the 2010 cohorts for forage species
were generally below average across both basins, with an average showing of rainbow smelt in
the central basin, but a poor cohort in the west. Juvenile gizzard shad abundance was low in
trawls lakewide
. Average, to above average, juvenile white perch catches were observed in thewest basin, while below average juvenile white perch catches were observed in the central basin.
A strong hatch was recorded lakewide for white bass. Declines in juvenile cohort strength were
evident in the west and west central basin for emerald shiners, spottail shiners, and trout-perch,
while increases were seen for freshwater drum and round goby.
Walleye
In 2009, the walleye harvest was dominated by fish from the abundant 2003 year class
(54%), followed by the 2007 (22%), and 2008 year classes (5%). Overall, the Ohio sport harvest
of 0.958 million walleye was a 1% decline relative to 2009. Western basin sport harvest of
walleye increased 6%, relative to 2009, but was slightly below the long-term average (2000-
2009). Central basin sport harvest of walleye decreased 10%, relative to 2009, and was also
slightly below the long-term average (2000-2009). Angler effort for walleye in Ohio waters of
the western basin increased 35% for private anglers and 12% for charter anglers compared to
2009. The only increase for central basin walleye effort in Ohio waters was observed for charter
anglers in the west-central basin; other basin and angler types observed a decrease in walleye
angler effort, as compared to 2009. Angler catch rates decreased over the previous year in
District 1 (from 0.51 to 0.41 fish per hour), but increased in Districts 2 (0.36 to 0.38 f/hr) and 3
(0.43 to 0.51 f/hr), relative to 2009. Angler release rates of walleye (0.06 fish/hr) were low in
2010 due to the fact that many fish from the 2007 and 2008 year classes exceeded the 15”
minimum size limit.
The Maumee and Sandusky rivers sport fisheries for walleye were assessed again in 2010.
Walleye angler effort increased in the Sandusky River but decreased slightly in the Maumee
River, as compared to 2009. The harvest rate for Sandusky River walleye decreased slightly, but
was near the long-term average. The harvest rate for Maumee River walleye increased for the
third consecutive year and was one of the highest on record.
The abundance of walleye in Ohio waters of Lake Erie have been assessed annually with
gill nets since 1978. Total walleye gill net catch rates in 2010 were higher than those seen in
2009 in Districts 1 and 2, but were lower in District 3. Strong contributions from the 2007, 2008,
and 2003 year classes were observed in all three districts.
As active participants of The Great Lakes Fishery Commission’s Lake Erie Committee, we
continue to participate in a review of the walleye population model and a review of our harvest
assessment programs. We continue to implement research to examine the performance of
individual walleye stocks spawning in both tributaries and the open lake reef complex and have
initiated research to describe fine scale movement patterns of spawning walleye. Under a new
process that was approved by the Wildlife Council last year, the daily bag limit for walleye will
be set following the determination of the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for walleye at the Great
Lakes Fishery Commission’s Lake Erie Committee Meeting. Daily bag limits will be
determined based on Ohio’s portion of the Walleye TAC and projected estimates of Ohio sport
angler effort and harvest. The new daily bag limit regulations will take effect on May 1, 2011,
and will be effective through April 30, 2012.
Yellow Perch
In 2010, yellow perch sport and commercial fisheries continued to flourish in Ohio waters,
particularly in the central basin. Total harvest, in pounds, from Ohio waters declined slightly
(1%) during 2010 relative to 2009. Yellow perch harvest, by weight, increased substantially in
District 1 compared 2009 (+92%), due to the return of the commercial trap net fishery and a
return to a 30-fish daily bag limit for recreational anglers. In District 2, harvest by weight
decreased 19% in 2010, relative to 2009, due to a 30% decrease in the commercial fishery
harvest, while there was a 13% increase in the sport harvest by weight. District 3 yellow perch
fisheries exhibited a similar overall trend to District 2, with a 20% decrease in harvest expressed
as weight due to a 33% decrease in the sport fishery, but an increase of 37% by weight in the
commercial fishery harvest. Angler effort for yellow perch increased in Districts 1 and 2 for the
private and charter boat fisheries, but declined for both fisheries in District 3. Angler catch rates
for yellow perch increased in all districts and fisheries with the exception of the charter fishery in
District 2. Catch rates are near the long-term average in all districts. The 2007 cohort
supplanted the strong 2003 cohort as the dominant age-class harvested, while fish from the 2006
and 2008 cohorts contributed more to the fishery. Yellow perch up to 14 years of age were seen
in the fishery samples.
Yellow perch in Ohio waters of Lake Erie are annually assessed with bottom trawls, with
trawling sites located throughout the Ohio waters of Lake Erie. The bottom trawl survey was
initiated in 1969. In 2010, the abundance of age-2 and older yellow perch in District 1 was
slightly higher than the 2009 abundance, but below the twenty-year mean. In District 2, the age-
2 and older yellow perch catch rates were lower than the previous year and well below the longterm
average. In District 3, the age-2 and older yellow perch catch rate was sharply lower and
well below the long-term average. Younger fish (ages 1-3) dominated the catches in both
basins.
Average or below average reproduction in the past four years will limit the population of
yellow perch over the next several years. The strong 2003 year class will continue to dwindle
and will not contribute much to future fisheries. Future contributions from the 2005-2008 year
classes are expected to be moderate, based on their average to below average abundance in most
districts within our assessment surveys. The weak 2009 year class lakewide and weak 2010 year
class in the District 1 are not expected to contribute much to future fisheries. The 2010 year
class will contribute to fisheries in the central basin in three years.
Under a new process that was approved by the Wildlife Council last year, the daily bag
limit for yellow perch will be set following the determination of the Total Allowable Catch
(TAC) by Lake Erie Management Unit for yellow perch at the Great Lakes Fishery
Commission’s Lake Erie Committee Meeting. Daily bag limits will be determined based on
Ohio’s portion of the Yellow Perch TAC in each Management Unit, projected estimates of Ohio
sport angler effort and harvest, and the sport and commercial sharing formula for Ohio yellow
perch fisheries. The new daily bag limit regulations will take effect on May 1, 2011, and will be
effective through April 30, 2012.
Smallmouth Bass
Smallmouth bass sport fishing effort in 2010 declined sharply (45%) for private sport
anglers, compared to 2009, associated with significant declines in effort in Districts 2 and 3,
while the smaller charter boat angler effort increased by 15%. Tournament effort may be a
bigger factor than charter boat effort in smallmouth bass dynamics. Harvest of smallmouth bass
declined by 21% overall compared to the previous year, but harvest remains a small component
of the fishery; only 5.5 % of the estimated smallmouth bass catch of 50,059 fish were harvested.
The 2010 catch rates are dominated by released fish (0.42 fish per angler hour) compared to
harvested fish (0.02 fish per angler hour). Overall catch rates did decline somewhat compared to
2009. In 2010, catch rates of younger smallmouth bass did increase, with the 2005, 2006, and
2007 year classes combined comprising 70% of the harvest.
In 2006, we began a more robust smallmouth bass population assessment survey to track
recruitment and biological parameters. The smallmouth bass assessment survey results indicated
that younger fish are more numerous than earlier this decade. Catch rates for age 2 and older
smallmouth bass in District 1 were slightly higher than those seen in 2007-2009. In 2010
surveys in the central basin, smallmouth bass catch rates were higher than 2009 in District 3, but
lower in District 2. A five-fish daily bag limit and a 14-inch minimum length limit remain in
effect to reduce exploitation of smaller fish.
Fair to good numbers of cohorts appear to havebeen produced in 2005-2007, and a very good year class appears to have been produced in 2010.
Again this year, the “catch-and-immediate-release” season is in effect from May 1 through the
last Friday in June (June 24, 2011) to reduce harvest on
spawning bass.
The open lake steelhead fishery in the central basin declined in 2010, relative to 2009.
This fishery is reliant in part on “combo trips” of trolling anglers seeking walleye and steelhead.
Lake harvest (3,911 fish) decreased to the second lowest level seen since 1999. This was the
first year in recent times when there was no recorded charter boat effort directed specifically at
steelhead. Catch rates of 0.06 steelhead per angler hour for private boat anglers were the lowest
observed in recent years. Low amounts of effort may make these estimates less reliable and
highly variable. Tributary and lake fisheries will remain good with continued annual stocking of
yearling Little Manistee River (Michigan) strain steelhead. Ohio Division of Wildlife personnel
raised and stocked 433,446 Little Manistee River strain steelhead yearlings in 2010. Excellent
returns to anglers have been seen in the five Ohio stocked streams: Vermilion, Rocky, Chagrin
and Grand rivers, and Conneaut Creek. Stray steelhead have been caught in many of Ohio’s
other Lake Erie tributaries. The second year of a two-year creel survey on Ohio’s steelhead
streams provided detailed results about the fishery and demographics about our steelhead
anglers. A final project report will be published by June 2011. A 12” minimum size limit
remains in effect for steelhead and the daily bag limit is 5 fish from May 16 to August 31, 2011,
and 2 fish from September 1, 2011, to May 15, 2012.
The sea lamprey population and its predatory effect on steelhead and other Lake Erie
coldwater species remains a concern. The nine biggest sea lamprey producing streams in Lake
Erie were treated in spring 2008 and in fall 2009 in an effort to significantly reduce the sea
lamprey sub-adult population. In 2010, lakewide wounding rates were some of the highest on
record, just down from record highs observed in 2009. Monitoring of sea lamprey populations
and wounding rates will continue. The loss of another dam on the Chagrin River, at Gates Mills,
may open more river habitat to spawning sea lampreys, and this river stretch will need
monitoring and evaluation.
White Bass
In 2010, sub-adult and adult white bass populations were similar to 2009, but continue to
be above long-term averages in Districts 1 and 2. The population is dominated by individuals
from the 2005-2008 year classes. Sport harvest of white bass in 2010 decreased 36% over the
level observed in 2009. Targeted effort on the open lake for white bass decreased 56% from
2009 effort levels. Targeted harvest rates for white bass increased in 2010, relative to 2009, due
primarily to higher than average harvest rates in District 1. In 2010, reported commercial harvest
of white bass declined 47%, relative to 2009, but was similar to the long-term average. Older
adults (ages 3+) have begun to contribute more to fisheries in recent years. A strong white bass
hatch was observed in our bottom trawl assessment surveys in 2010. The strong 2005, 2008, and
2010 hatches will continue this moderating trend.
The Maumee and Sandusky rivers’ sport fisheries for white bass were again partially
evaluated in 2010. White bass were assessed as a part of the survey designed to estimate walleye
harvest, however, the entire white bass spawning run was not sampled. White bass angler effort
was lower in both tributaries in 2010, with harvest rates decreasing, relative to 2009. Fisheries in
both tributaries were well below the 1975-2009 average values in effort and harvest, however,
these data are not comparable to earlier surveys which included the entire white bass spawning
run during May.
In 2010, District 1 August trawling indices for forage fishes indicated increases in
abundance for spottail shiners, alewife, trout-perch, freshwater drum, and silver chub. Noted
decreases in abundance occurred for rainbow smelt, gizzard shad, and emerald shiners. Due to
sampling constraints, no bottom trawls were collected in Districts 2 and 3 in August, 2010. In
the central basin, September age-0 trawl indices for rainbow smelt, round goby, emerald shiner,
and trout-perch increased in Districts 2 and 3 in 2010, relative to 2009. Rainbow smelt, in
District 2, and emerald shiners, in District 3, were the only two species above the long-term
average. The abundance of age-1+ rainbow smelt abundance decreased in both districts in 2010
and was below the long-term average.
Eighty-one lower trophic level samples were collected from May 10-October 15, 2010 at
eight sites in District 1. In District 2, 48 samples were collected at four sites from April 8-
September 9, 2010. Thirty-four samples were collected from May 7-September 22, 2010 at four
sites in District 3. Samples included turbidity, dissolved oxygen, water temperature,
zooplankton, phytoplankton, and water samples for phosphorus and chlorophyll-
a analysis.These samples are a part of a larger sampling program through both the Ohio State University
and the Forage Task Group of the Lake Erie Committee, and are used to monitor changes in the
physical and chemical environment in Lake Erie and to explore changes in the biotic community.
ODW Research Projects
Staff from both research stations participated in a variety of research projects in 2010. A
nearshore fish community sampling program in District 1 continued in 2010, and used
electrofishing to compare fish community health between different habitat types and levels of
shoreline protection/armoring. In 2010, a total of 459 individuals from 26 species were collected
at 12 sampling locations. Overall Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scores were down slightly in
2010, relative to 2009. Fish community health tends to be highest in wetland and bedrock
habitats, while shoreline development did not appear to have any effect on IBI scores. Efforts
continued in the development of the Lake Erie Shoreline Erosion Management Plan (LESEMP)
and numerous education and outreach events.
In 2010, there were 13 Lake Erie sightings of lake sturgeon reported to the Ohio
Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife. Six of the 13 sightings were from
commercial trap net fishermen, while seven were from recreational anglers. Similar to past
sturgeon sightings, the majority of fish were observed around the Bass Islands in the western
basin (District 1).
Division of Wildlife personnel also continued to research yellow perch spawning
movements, VHS prevalence in yellow perch, and recruitment factors affecting yellow perch in
the west and central basin of Lake Erie, and research exploring factors affecting recruitment of
walleye in the west basin. Work concluded on an interagency grant project assessing lake trout
habitat in Lake Erie, and work concluded on fish community and walleye/white bass run strength
assessment in the Sandusky River.
May, June, July and August.
Expect limit catches of walleye on a daily basis
this spring and summer on the western basin of Lake Erie.Daily
bag limit is 6 walleye per person per day. May 1 threw December.
Smallmouth Bass: season opens in Ohio and Canada the last Sat. in June before that it is catch and release.
Yellow Perch fishing. April, May, July, August, Sept, Oct and Nov are the best times for jumbo perch.Yellow Perch limit is 30 per person per day.
Trophy walleye fishing.
Late Sept, Oct and early November is Trophy Walleye and Jumbo Perch fishing.
I expect this to be a good fall with four year old
walleyes having a strong spawning urge and staging off Vermilion this fall.
We will be there! Docked in Vermilion.
Coe Vanna IV is a 30 ft. Island Hopper powered
by a 350 HP 2116 cat. Cruises up to 30mph. She is 14 ft wide, coast guard
inspected and licensed to carry up to 10 people, remember if you have more than
six people this boat can handle those larger parties!
Efforts by government agencies around Lake Erie to conserve and boost the
lake's walleye stocks via three years of very strict sport and commercial
catch-rules, plus a big smile from Mother Nature in 2003, are paying off with
the brightest fishery status since 1990.
That, in a nutshell, is the proverbial rest-of-the-story behind this month's
announcement of substantially larger Erie walleye catch-allotments for 2005 by
the Lake Erie Committee of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission.
The LEC, using a new modeling approach and harvest policy developed in response
to once-falling walleye stocks, has boosted the lakewide walleye fishery's total
allowable catch or TAC to 5.8 million fish for 2005.
Ohio receives a lion's share of that at about 3 million fish and Ontario
receives about 2.5 million. Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New York receive
relatively small allocations based on their limited ownership of the lake.
"It's not a political thing," stressed Ohio's Roger Knight.
"It's a scientific estimate of what the TAC ought to be." The new TAC,
he explained, still is below the 6.6 million average compiled since 1979 though
it is more than double the TAC of the 2.4 million that was in place during the
lean years of 2001 to 2004.
The magnitude of changes in the TAC from here on likely will not be so
dramatic, especially under an LEC harvest policy aimed at trying to keep
harvests at sustainable levels.
For Lake Erie sport fishermen, the new TAC does not mean that the fish will
be jumping into the boat this summer. That depends on favorable weather for
fishing, especially on weekends when most anglers have time to get out, and on
the fish staying where anglers can get to them.
Nor does the new, larger TAC mean that conservative fishing rules suddenly
will evaporate. But state fisheries managers are not ruling out easing at least
some restrictions for 2006.
"Any changes will hinge on the forecast [for the walleye stocks] and
early signs of the status of the '05 hatch," said Knight, who is Lake Erie
programs coordinator for the Ohio Division of Wildlife.
Because of the time-consuming path built into changing fishing regulations,
wildlife division managers will have to decide roughly by late summer whether to
make changes for 2006, and that allows only a preliminary assessment of the 2005
hatch. Spawning is under way now, and, as Knight so well notes, "weather
trumps everything."
Last week's unrelenting northeast winds did nothing to buoy up enthusiasm
for 2005, given that such prolonged blows push cold central-basin waters into
the western-basin spawning reefs and fish-nursery areas. Such blows also stir up
spawn-choking silt from the shallow western-basin bottom. Still, the spring of
2003 witnessed some questionable weather and yet that year-class of walleye was
the best in 20-plus years and it forms the bulk for the renewed stocks today
followed by 2001 and 1999 fish. The 2000, 2002, and 2004 year-classes were rated
poor, or worse.
Knight declared it "a possibility" that Ohio will return to a
daily creel limit of four walleye in March and April, up from the severe limit
of three implemented last year for those months along with a 15-inch year-round
minimum length. The cut from four to three was met with strong protests
especially from the charter- sportfishing community, guides contending that they
could attract early-season customers with a four-fish limit but not with three.
The daily creel limit in Ohio waters is six walleye May through February. In
Michigan waters it is five fish June through March, but the fishery is closed
altogether in April and May. In Ontario the sport fishery is closed March 15 to
May 13, with the daily limit otherwise being six walleye, no size minimum.
It is less likely that Ohio will give up the 15-inch minimum as it continues
to aim at protecting younger fish in its waters.
Most male walleye are not mature enough to spawn until age three and females
at age four. Moreover, managers are not prone to making annual changes given the
vagaries of hatch success from year to year. So doing could create a
roller-coaster effect in which rules rarely seem in synch with stock size.
For instance, the pool of catchable walleye this year is 42 million fish,
including about 30 million 2003 fish, most of which will be legal size in Ohio
and Michigan waters by mid to late summer and some of which already are legal.
It is the biggest pool of walleye since 1990 and stands in stark contrast to the
mere 16.3 million fish in 2000, the lowest stock noted since 1978.
But next year's walleye pool is forecast at just 31 million because of a
poor hatch in 2004, and thus relatively few two-year-olds will be entering the
fishery. Knight said that the LEC's model forecasts that about 2.7 million of
the 30 million 2003 fish available this year will be caught lakewide. That will
leave a sizable pool of '03s for 2006 and beyond, natural attrition aside.
The whole TAC system and quotas for each governmental jurisdiction has
evolved essentially because of Ontario's commercial gillnet fishery, which has
tremendous catching power.
Rest assured that Ontario gillnetters will get their 2.5 million fish this
year. Large, toughly-built gillnet tugs run in all weather. Northeasters and
even monstrous 15 to 18-foot seas do not stop them from "pulling
twine," unlike sport- fishing boats that typically are pinned down for
safety's sake by four to six-foot or larger seas.
"We won't even come close to the quota," acknowledged Knight of
Ohio's allotment of nearly 3 million walleye. Last year Ohio sport anglers took
just 859,000 walleye when the state quota was 1.23 million. But if the fishing
this year is good, especially with lots of 2003 fish available, and word get
around and interest surges, that catch possibly could double this year.
"It's a cap," Knight said of the annual TAC. It does not mean that the
total should be met every year. Commercial walleye fishing in Ohio waters has
been banned by law for more than 20 years. "Quality fishing is the
goal," Knight added about Ohio's strategy in regard to its quota and
regulations. For instance, the 15-inch length minimum is expected to eventually
help boost the number of larger walleye in the overall stocks, and larger
walleye in turn are known to prefer the central- basin haunts in summertime. The
central-basin walleye fishery, it is noted, has suffered for lack of fish in
recent summers.
Knight noted that during the last several years of conservative catch
restrictions and a very low TAC, about 15 percent of the lake's walleye stock
was taken each year. Under the new TAC policy and models developed by the LEC,
about 14 per cent of the lake's walleye stock will be taken in 2005, "if we
hit it." So while the TAC seems so much higher, the percentage of the stock
targeted to be taken is essentially the same. And even low stocks can produce
bumper crops of fish, as witnessed by the super 2003 year-class.
The newly developed LEC approach, moreover, will react quickly to
"droughts" or series of poor hatches, Knight said. "Hopefully
with this [harvest] policy we'll avoid getting as low as we did."
In related news, the LEC set the yellow perch quota for Ohio at 5.4 million
pounds out of a lakewide total TAC of 11.8 million pounds. That is a slight
increase of the state's 2004 quota of 5.1 million pounds. Ohio's daily
sport-creel limit of 30 perch remains in place.
The lake's perch stocks continue to show improvement, this after declines in
the early to mid 1990s led to conservation restrictions for that species. Those
measures, too, have worked.
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