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Lake Erie fishing reports for Walleye, Perch, Smallmouth Bass. Western basin reef complex, Island areas on both the U.S. and Canadian waters.
 June Specials
Remaining week day 8 hour am trips in June
$490.00 
Two and three people small group pricing 
Call for details

This June and July walleye fishing will be above average in the western basin due to the cool water tempeture for this time of year. The cooler water will keep the bulk of the walleye in our end of the Lake through July. We are still catching Trophy Walleye because of the cold water tempeture

May 21 -29
Walleye fishing has been good and steady. When we have enough wind drift fishing has been good with respectable catches to limits and trolling has also been good. We have been drift fishing from the Gravel Pits to Niagara reef. Lake conditions and wind determine where we fish. Most of the trolling has been North of Niagara to the Kidney to West Reef. Drift fishing has been good from the reefs to outside shelf break and in the open waters

May 17, 18, 19 & 20

Walleye fishing has been good. Limit catches and respectable boxes of walleye have been the norm for us. Drift fishing with gold weapons and bottom bouncers. Casting work the swing low and slow with a 10 count slow steady or stop and go retrieve  fishing in 26 to 28 feet of water. Just get the spinner turning just before it hits bottom. Trolling with bottom bouncers or with jets and spoons is also catching walleye.
 The Gravel Pits A, B, C, D Cans from crib reef to north about 1 mile from Niagara Reef have all been producing nice walleye. We are still catching some trophy walleye because the water temperature is cold.
   

May 16

The spinner bite is on. I had 10 people on the Island Hopper and we tallied 52 walleye weighing in at 160 lbs. Better than a 3 lb average. Coe Vanna 11 tallied 36 crew limit with a 29 inch big head and Coe Vanna 111 boat limit of 48. Bouncers and weapons gold. Cast and let the boat pull the spinner around the turn. They were taking it at the end of the swing. Bouncers set just to where they were not touching the bottom. A can, Cone, Flat rock east to D can and from Crib reef to Niagara all produced nice catches of walleye today.

May 14 & 15
We caught nice boxes of walleye both days limit catches with some big headed 26  to 29 inch walleye. Both bottom bouncers set 1 to 2 cranks off the bottom and weapons low and slow and even jigging weapons around the turn crank n stop or just let the boat pull the spinner around the turn. Cone , Crib, Niagara, Clinton Reef and in front of the moose in Port Clinton all produced nice catches of walleye.

May 13 

Both our boats took limit catches of nice size walleye. There are some 28 and 30 inch walleye are still around due to the cold water tempeture.. We used bottom bouncers with gold blades. Walleye were caught from K can to cone Reef , Toussaint Reef and Clinton Reef. The spinner bite is on.

May 12 2009

This was the windiest April I can remember in 30 years nothing but wind and cold. The water temperature in the deep water is 57 degrees. The spinner bite starts at 60 degrees. We are catching nice size walleyes daily with bottom bouncers and jigs. The deep water bite is just shaping up now. The good news is that with the water temperature way behind for this time of year our bite in the western end will hold through July. Look for good fish numbers now through July as the water finally gets warm enough for the spinner bite.

April 23
W
e are setting up for a good weekend of fishing. April has been over all bad due to constant winds and cold fronts and muddy water. We could not string together more than 3 days with out wind and cold. How ever when we did have descent weather for a couple days the fishing was good. It is almost May and time to get off the winter weather patterns in Northern Ohio. I expect to be jig fishing 2 weeks into May as a lot of the walleye have not spawned due to conditions and water temperature.

April 18
 The shore line from 1/2 mile east of K can to Crane creekToussaint Reef , L can a later day bite , Toledo light to Turtle Island all produced  limits of walleye. Blue/white 3/4 ounce jigs tipped with minnows worked the best for us. Work the  water depts from 8ft to 24 ft. Start shallow and work deeper as the day goes on and go shallower in the evening as the walleye will run the shores shallow again late in the evening.

April 17
Walleye fishing was good in the afternoon. We left the dock at 3:00 pm and came in with a boat limit at 6:30 pm. The shore line from K can to Crane Creek produced 2 to 4 lb average walleye. Jigs tippep with minnows 3/4 ounce black and purple.

March 26
Purple hair jigs and  blade baits 
We caught limits of walleye drift fishing using jigs and blades. Nice average size of 4 pounds. K can, Turtle , Locust Point, Tousaint all were holding walleye.

October 18

Walleye fishing was good again today on and near the reefs around the Bass Islands. CV111 boat limit of walleye with one fish Ohio and Coe Vanna 11 nice catch of yellow perch 3 to a pound that's 9 and 10 inch average. They did not limit out but most likley would have it got to rough to stay anchored. We have been catching very nice limits of yellow perch this fall around the Islands.
October 17
Walleye fishing was very good today. We took a boat limit of 42 walleye drift fishing gold weapons on the Canadian reefs. Most fish were three to four pounds with one fish Ohio of thirty inches.
 
October 6
Smallmouth bass fishing is the best it has been in years. We have been averaging 30 per day good days at 70 and also wall hangers 20 inches plus. East side of Pelee as well as around the bass islands and the reef complex in the western basin.
Big walleye have finally started with 27 to 30 inch walleye showing up off Huron, Vermilion and Sawmill in the deep water along the final shelf break. Both drift fishing and trolling. Catches have been spotty but that's the way the deep waters off Huron are. Big walleye take your chances. The reefs have been producing much steadier catches of walleye with 20 to 36 walleye per day average. 
Yellow perch fishing has been good around the islands and off the sand bar off Vermilion. We have been grading our perch most of the time at 9 inches and better
.

September 22
Nice catches of jumbo perch out of the Canadian waters around Pelee. Our boats took limits there a lot of 12 to 13 inch perch. Reef walleye fishing was good around Pelee, North Bass Kelly's and Middle Island. All the reefs are holding walleye just some have more than others and that changes every day. The deep water walleye fishing started right on schedule with some limit catches drift fishing with fish Ohio walleye, 28 to 30 inches. North of Huron around the dumping grounds was the best. The Trophy walleye fishing should get more consistent from here on out. Bass fishing is the best it has been in a long time and we have been handling on the average of 30 plus bass per day. Good days 60. There is a good mix of 18 to 20 inch smallies 3 to 5 lbs..

September 20
Smallmouth bass fishing has been the best in years. We are averaging 30 to 50 small mouth bass per day from 14 to 20 inches. Bass fishing should get even better as the water cools and the days shorten. Walleye catches have been good drifting over the rocks fishing the reefs. Drift fishing and casting weapons has been the ticket. The deep water trophy walleye fishing has been spotty. This will change any day now they are due to turn on. Perch fishing has been good around Kelly's Island Lucy's Point and above North Bass. 

September 13
Small mouth bass fishing has been the best I have seen in about six years. We have been catching an average of thirty plus bass per day in the 3 to 5 lb range. 16 to 18 inch average and that is not counting the scrappy 14 inch bass. Perch fishing has been good with 8 to 10 inch yellow perch. Kelly's, North Bass, Lucy's Point, West Sister have all been producing perch with the best grade coming above the Bass Islands, Kelly,s and around Pelee.
Walleye fishing is good on the reefs in the shallow waters around the Islands. Both Canadian waters and U.S. waters. The deep water walleye fishing off Huron and Sawmill has been spotty so we have been fishing the rocks. The deep water fishing is due to turn on again any time now. I heard some reports that it was perking up  drift fishing.  Yesterday I took 45 walleye with a eight man crew off the rocks. It took a full day and we ended with a nice box of walleye.

August 22 
We are catching limits of walleye drift fishing and the average size is going up. North of Kelly's Shoal, Around the dumping grounds North of Huron about 8 miles and the east edge of the Sand Bar off Vermilion are producing walleye as well as North West Reef in the Western Basin. Nice catches of Perch are being caught around Kelly's Shoal and near Rattlesnake and Green Islands. The fishing will only get better as the water cools and the days grow shorter.
   
Lake Erie Western Basin Walleye Fishing Reports
July 29 and 30
Limit catches of walleye drift fishing casting 3/4 ounce gold weapons. July 29 limit of 60 walleye caught at 10:30 am and July 30, 66 walleye caught by 11:30 am drift fishing. Best areas are off Crane Creek State Park A, B, and C cans also the gravel pits.
July 24 
42 walleye drift fishing by 10:30 am All casting around the swing. 3/4 ounce weapons 8 to 10 count slow to medium retrieve. Gravel Pits to Noth of West Sister Island. Also caught some nice bass on the reefs. 
July 19
We are catching limits of walleye drift fishing just North of West Sister Island 2 to 4 miles. Also the Kidney just west north west of Rattle snake Island and North east of C can about 3 miles. Trolling is also catching limits in the same areas. 
Canadian waters are still producing on the Wheel.

July 13

Walleye are biting along the shore lines in front of Crane Creek State Park 14 to 24 feet of water, A, B, and C cans to north of the cans for 2 miles. We have been catching mostly limits north of B can both drift fishing and trolling. The Canadian waters aroung Pelee Island have also been producing limits of larger walleye. Wagon Wheel on the west side, Chickoneole and King George on the south side. Winter and the Helo Pad on the east side and Sherton Point to 3 miles North of Scudders Marina on the north side. My favorite is the wheel.

June 11
We have been catching limits pretty much on a daily basis. Gold spinners on a five to a ten count. Adjust your weight so it meets the drift. You want enough weight to get you deep on a medium speed drop. Your lure should swing close to the bottom but not dragging the bottom. Most fish are coaxed into biting on the swing. Bottom bouncers are also working three to four cranks up. Gravel Pits, North of West Sister A, B, C, cans are all producing walleye. 
May 31
Walleye fishing has been good not easy. Most days we are catching limits of nice size walleye drift fishing. When you have a drift, rod holders and bouncers combined with casting the swing will net you a nice box of walleye by days end. If there is little or no drift cast and crank. Gravel Pits, A, B, C, D cans are all producing walleye as well as North for three to four miles of any of the cans. The walleye are every where and no where. Just buckle down and fish. Trolling is also producing walleye for those who do not like rod in hand fishing. We will do either how ever we prefer drift fishing and casting. Drift fishing is much more personal and requires some hands on teaching.
May 23, 24, 25
Fishing has been excellent. We have been fishing around West Sister Island with in two miles. North, North East and west of West Sister have all been good. A, B, C and D cans are producing walleye also. Walleye are every where and know where. You mark fish you catch fish. I have taken limits on four mile drifts and it is the same all over, no big concentrations the fish are every where. We have been casting gold weapons and taking limits. Low and slow. Bottom bouncers when there is enough wind. Trolling is catching fish also. We have not had to troll yet. Just work your lure a bit harder mark fish and stop on them when it is calm you will catch.

May 19-20-21
May 21 bouncers under the boat , bow and stern along with working the swing low and slow deep cup smooth gold blades one ounce weapons and 2 or 3 ounce bouncers. Nice grade today very heavy box 170 pounds of walleye on one drift. We are fishing the gravel pits to north of West Sister Island. Other areas producing walleye are D can to Niagara to North Bass and Rattle snake and Kelly's  Island to Middle Island to Ballast Island. Closer to shore areas such as A, B and C cans are holding walleye as well as the waters in front of Crane Creek state park. Just the water has been to muddy to catch them this will change as the warm southerly winds arrive this week end.
May 19, 2 to 4 foot waves both Coe Vanna 11 and IV one drift for 4 miles 48 walleye. Bouncers and gold weapons low and slow let the boat slide the weapons around the turn. Bouncers 3 and 4 ounce touch and lock to three cranks up. May 20 The same as above except we had to finish up casting for the last dozen or so as the drift slowed.  
May 16 and 17
Bottom bouncers set from just hitting the bottom to 3 cranks up worked well when there is enough wind. Bouncers leads are about 3 feet long and gold is the color. Casting gold weapons low and slow weapons are about 16 inches long 3/4 ounce is best over all. Gravel Pits, A can, D can to Rattle Snake all produced walleye.
May 13 2008
Five guys and Captains limit today caught on weapons and bottom bouncers. The weapon bite is on at the Bass Islands, D can, A Can and west of West Sister. Low and slow with the weapons and for me gold is always the color. 

May 11 and 12
Canceled May 11 and 12 fowl wind and weather.
May 9 and 10
We fished the deeper waters with bouncers and weapons. Friday  around Rattle Snake Island drifting toward Niagara. Winds were north east and pretty stiff. So we took one to two mile drifts. The walleye were nice size. We did not take the boat limit of 42 but we did catch the customers limit of 36. Not a bad day with the weather and wind. Friday evening we fished around B can with crawlers. Fishing was slow as the wind let off to nothing and the currents changed. Final tally four hours fishing, 20 walleye with a 27 and a 28 Fish Ohio's. Saturday we fished around A can. The morning started with a good bouncer bite then the wind stopped and so the switch over began.  Cast and crank gold weapons working them low and slow to fill the coolers. Coe Vanna 11 boat limit with 48 Coe Vanna IV peoples limit 36 and CV III family crew 15.
May 5, 6, 7, and 8,  2008
We have been bouncing back and forth from jigs to bouncers and weapons. Right now you can catch walleye either jig fishing or with weapons and bottom bouncers. We have been taking in account our customers fishing preference water clarity and wind direction and speed as to which way we fish. The jig fishing is in the Maumee Bay Turtle Island to the lighthouse, K Can, Turtle Reef, Niagara Reef, Cone Reef. etc. The jig bite has been strong for may be the first two hours after day light after that the walleye scatter and the fishing can get tough. Weapons and bottom bouncers have been producing around Middle Island, Kelly's Island, Green and Rattle Snake. A can and D can have also been productive on the weapon fishing. Today I took forty two walleye drift fishing with bottom bouncers and weapons.
Forty two walleye weighed in at 160 pounds!
Deep cup #3 and #4 Colorado blade smooth, and gold is the color.


May 4 2008
The wind last night muddied the shallow water in front of Wild Wings as well as the reefs. So we fished A can and caught well jig fishing. Other areas that produced jig fishing today were Niagara Reef and the shallows from Turtle Island to Toledo Light and in front of the Inside light. It was a tuff bite however the veterans came through. Just work the structure stay on the ledges or on top. 

May 3 2008
We are still jig fishing today two out of three of our boats took limits. Turtle Reef area was good 3/4 ounce jigs purple/chartreuse was the best. The other key is as the jig fishing is finishing up the first hour and a half after daylight is the best after that it slows down to a couple walleye or so per drift. Today I took 18 walleye on my first drift, thirteen on the second drift and five on the third drift and one here and there to finish the limit of forty two. Boats fishing the deeper waters around the Islands are drift fishing using weapons and bottom bouncers. Their catch ratio was slower but they are catching bigger fish. They are fishing from North Bass to the Canadian border and around Middle Island to the Canadian border. The jig fishing bite is finishing up so have night crawlers and weapons ready any time now as you will hear the bite switching over.

April 30
Walleye were caught on most of the reefs on jigs. Locust Point, Toussaint, Niagara, Crib and Round. Fishing was not fast and furious two to four fish per drift they added up to limit catches. The deeper waters around North Bass and Middle Island to Kellys are producing walleye drifting crawler harnesses and bottom bouncers with night crawlers. Best color blade is gold. 
April 28 
The walleye spawn is finishing up. Fish shallow early for a a fast hit then move deep. The easy fishing is over. Its back to reality. The reefs are producing Locust Point, Cone, Niagara. The deeper waters are holding bigger fish. Most are the large males 22 to 24 inch 4 pounds. Today I fished L can, A can and Locust Point. Average drifts were 3 to 5 walleye per drift. I used all jigs tipped with minnows. The weapon bite has started around the Islands. Drifting harnesses and casting weapons. I have started taking crawlers with me as I will start using spinners and bouncers  any day. I will be working the out side ledges A-B-C-D-L cans to the gravel pits as well as the out side reefs.

 April 22, 23, 24 and 25
Walleye fishing has been very good due to fair weather and friendly winds we have been catching limits of walleye around K can ,Turtle reef and between Turtle Point and Crane Creek State Park. 3/4 ounce jigs tipped with minnows have been the best. Blue/white and chartreuse and purple/chartreuse have been producing. Fish from 10 to 15 feet of water. The reefs are producing also how ever we have been doing fine right out front of Wild Wings Marina. The jig bite should hold for another week . 

  April 21
Today we had two boats run 7 people on one and eight on the other. It was their third day of fishing and they wanted to get a early start for home. We left the dock at 6:30 am and both boats were tied back up at 8:00 am. We used jigs tipped with minnows blue/white, purple/chartreuse and green/chartreuse were very productive. The walleye just started spawning heavy last Friday and the walleye fishing just doesn't get any better than we have it on the shore lines and reef areas in front of Wild Wings Marina. The spawn will go on for three weeks taking us through the second week of May. May first the walleye limit goes up to 6 per person. 

 April 20, 2008
The walleye bite is on.

 Friday the water cleared up pretty good and we caught limits on Toussaint Reef it took about four hours.. Saturday and Sunday the shore line bite lit up and most everyone caught walleye! Locust Point, Cone, Toussaint, Flat Rock, Round, Turtle Reef all produced walleye. The shore line bite is on from Crane Creek state park to 1 mile east of K can. Best depths are from 10 to 14 feet. Hair jigs tipped with minnows are working great.  Most any color will do purple/chartreuse and blue/white have been our top producers. The spawn just started it should go strong for the next three weeks. Today we took one drift with 8 fisherman starting in 9 feet of water and drifted to 14 feet in two and a half hours we handled well over one hundred walleye in the two to four pound range. 

 April 14, 2008 
Jig fishing action is one of my favorite times of the year. You not only get numbers but size as well. The majority of Lake Erie walleye are in the western basin spawning in April.   You have a honest shot at big walleye in April!Lake Erie Spring  jig fishing is just getting started. 
On April 8 we left the dock at 7:00 am and were done, limited out at 8:00am fishing around K can. Keep in mind the water just warmed enough to get the fish shallow and cold fronts will move them back out. 
Since then the weather has been dead against any fishing on Lake Erie. Muddy water and cold fronts have pushed the spawn back another week. Fortunately this could be a good thing for the walleye hatch. The walleyes wanted to spawn earlier how ever the weather stopped that and now the weather forecast for April 15 - 20 is warm with south winds and the spawn will be in full gear by this week end. South winds will clear and warm the water. The water temperature was 48 degrees last Tuesday by K can. This means the walleye will have a chance to spawn heavier in a shorter period of time and the water should warm enough to let the eggs develop and hatch. 
We have pretty much moved all our fishing trips  waiting for mother nature to be kind. We will start fishing again on Tuesday April 15.    

May June July warm weather limit catches months. You give a bit in size but you get warmer weather. Most walleye these times will be in the 2 to 4 pound average size.

We will be fishing out of Wild Wings April, May and June.

The Weapon
Gold , Gold and more gold is the color my favorite set up is number 4 deep cup colarado blade either smooth or hammered.{ I tend to lean on the smooth one.} Make the casting rig about 10  to 14 inches long, use three or four beads in gold or orange/ red and finish with a medium size hook  a mustad all around sproat hook size # 4 works fine.. When fishing for suspended fish always try different methods of retrieve. Slow steady, Medium steady. Stop and go etc. Until you find out what is working the best for the day.
  Capt. Dave.
Walleye:     Best months for limit catch action is April, May, June, July, August, September and October 

Smallmouth Bass: season is open in Ohio and Canada .Smallmouth Bass fishing is looking good from the numbers of smallies I have seen while walleye fishing. We will be running Bass trips on the US and Canadian waters this year. Best times are Sept. and October.

Yellow Perch fishing. July, August, Sept, Oct and Nov are the best times for yellow perch. 
Jumbo Yellow perch fishing is at its best in Sept. and October
Yellow Perch limit is 25  per person per day.

No commercial netting of yellow Perch in the western basin. This is great news. The western basin is a line due north from Huron. This eliminates the nets around Kelly’s Island and the east edge of the Sandusky Bay. What this means is better size perch fishing especially around Kelly’s Island as Kelly’s borders the 45 feet of water and is where the western and central basins meet. Kelly’s has always been a hot spot for fall jumbo perch fishing .

The walleye bite was very good in the Canadian waters in September and October last year and we will fishing there again this fall. I will be docked at Catawba Island in September and October this gives us the same run to fish the deep waters off Huron or fish the Canadian waters off Pelee Island. So we can go either way where ever the fishing is the best.

You do not need pass ports or any thing special to go to Canadian waters and fish except a Canadian fishing license. We have all the permits on our boats to allow us to take you fishing over there and back with out a hassle. Here are the numbers to call and get your Canadian fishing license. It takes 3 weeks to get a Canadian license by mail and it is nice to have them. We can stop on Pelee Island and pick them up if we have to. There will be a fuel surcharge of $100.00 per boat on Canadian trips only if we go a long way into Canadian waters. East or North sides of Pelee. Canadian License call 800-667-1940 fax 705 755 1677.

Our lodging at Wild Wings Marina is about a 15 minute easy drive on high way 2 to our docks on Catawba Island and I appreciate it if you lodge with us every bit helps during these tough times. 

Hope to see you this fall for the Trophy Walleye, Bass and Jumbo Perch fishing.

Coe Vanna IV is a 30 ft. Island Hopper powered by a 350 HP 3116 cat. Cruises up to 25mph. 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!


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Get Directions to our docks: Click on the get directions link.

Coe-Vanna II, Coe-Vanna III and Coe-Vanna IV
Fish with Experience  
"
See you soon and welcome aboard, 
Capt. Dave Whitt 
I am a full time guide on Lake Erie and I do not check e mail regular. 
 Questions about our fishing adventures on Lake Erie.
Call Captain Dave's cell phone 419-355-4732.
     

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