Just read in our local paper that the population of walleye in lake Erie is at a 20 year high. Report from friends said last years fishing couldn't have been better.
http://www.goerie.com/sports/20180422/biologist-lake-erie-walleye-population-is-strongest-in-more-than-20-years
Hi Hodgey, That's great to hear about walleye populations in Lake Erie. I've never fished that lake. I live in Toronto and kept my boat on Georgian Bay. I wish they'd transfer some of your fish there. Walleye catches were mostly incidental. Mostly bass, pike and musky. Not a bad combo really. Musky would add a whole new dimension to kip.
Funny, since I got my camp I only fish kip. All my gear is there as well. Before that I've fished all over Ontario.
Quote from: puckster_guy on April 24, 2018, 08:32:45 AM
since I got my camp I only fish kip. All my gear is there as well. Before that I've fished all over Ontario.
Puck, I completely understand not fishing elsewhere when you own a slice of heaven. Do you have another fishing spot in Ontario that comes close to the tranquility of Kipawa?
No, Georgian and the Muskokas the fishing was good but they're too busy and noisy. I got several spots near camp where I'm guaranteed(almost) to be alone all day. With walleye to boot. Nothing beats Kipawa.
Some spots along the French river towards Georgian Bay held lots of walleyes and quiet.
Quote from: puckster_guy on April 24, 2018, 09:40:33 AM
Some spots along the French river towards Georgian Bay held lots of walleyes and quiet.
I looked on google maps and see the French river connects Lake Nipissing to the Georgian Bay. There's some quite spots left to fish there Puck?
Interestingly, there are no size restrictions for fishing walleye in Lake Erie (Zone 19).
Jay
Quote from: Jay Thomas on April 24, 2018, 12:25:59 PM
Interestingly, there are no size restrictions for fishing walleye in Lake Erie (Zone 19).
Jay
Jay, Pennsylvania waters of Lake Erie are 15" minimum and 6 per day. I hope to find out how the population is doing soon! ;)
Around here Hodgey, and west towards Georgian bay. https://goo.gl/maps/c3QWA3ac3MD2
Walleye fishing out of Erieau, ON last year was on fire.
Limit in an hour and unfortunately there were the same boats going out (not charters) day in and day out.
The best I have seen it though is fishing (right now) out of the Detroit River (where all the erie pickerel go in the spring).
Lowrance was showing stacked from 30 feet up to 10 feet and side imaging was unreal.
Quote from: crackers42 on April 24, 2018, 06:31:03 PM
Lowrance was showing stacked from 30 feet up to 10 feet and side imaging was unreal.
Wow, that's crazy, when I was a kid in the 70's they talked of Lake Erie being a dead lake. Things have come a long way in 30-40 years.
Quote from: puckster_guy on April 24, 2018, 02:01:54 PM
Around here Hodgey, and west towards Georgian bay. https://goo.gl/maps/c3QWA3ac3MD2
Incredible multi-species fishing on the French as well. Caught 6 species in one day last year ( Sm Bass, Walleye, Pike, Muskie, Perch, Catfish) I backcountry camp here every year, fishing from kayaks. Tons of quiet spots. The French is a close 2nd to Kipawa if I was ever to buy a camp.
Quote from: Kyle Skelding on April 25, 2018, 09:15:46 AM
Tons of quiet spots. The French is a close 2nd to Kipawa if I was ever to buy a camp.
Sounds like a beautiful place, I might need to take a week a do some exploring. Is the river system navigable with a small motor boat?
Quote from: Jay Thomas on April 24, 2018, 12:25:59 PM
Interestingly, there are no size restrictions for fishing walleye in Lake Erie (Zone 19).
Jay
Jay, that is interesting. I looked, zone 19 is the entire Canadian waters of lake Erie.
Sounds like a beautiful place, I might need to take a week a do some exploring. Is the river system navigable with a small motor boat?
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Most of the system is navigable by boat, Hartley Bay is a good launch point. Just be care when boating, there are a few shoals in open water that often come up to just below the surface (depending on water levels they are tricky to see).
Quote from: Kyle Skelding on April 25, 2018, 11:47:32 AM
Most of the system is navigable by boat, Hartley Bay is a good launch point. Just be care when boating, there are a few shoals in open water that often come up to just below the surface (depending on water levels they are tricky to see).
Thanks for the tips, I love exploring new areas.
I got my first chance to get out on Lake Erie fishing today, out of a dock in Erie Pa. We were on the water before sun up, first walleye on before 6am. We had the boats limit of walleye “24†in two hours. Almost all 17- 21†and one 24â€. So the population seems to be as advertised “ best in 20 years†. Our Method was trolling deep diving stick bait out on planner boards.
We Ate a few for dinner tonight, they were delicious!
That's a great day on the water. Congrats.
Quote from: Ozzy30 on July 09, 2018, 08:59:28 AM
That's a great day on the water. Congrats.
Thanks OZ, it was. Glad to see our fishery is doing so well.
I got another chance to get out yesterday with my son Inlaw, the fishing was crazy good!
(http://i67.tinypic.com/2n7quqg.jpg)
Great picture Hodgey1. Thanks. Since I fished the western basin of Lake Erie out of Colchester back in the early 60s, I'm interested in the depth that was productive for the walleye. From the picture of the stick bait, I'd guess 24 to 30 FOW.
Jay
Quote from: Jay Thomas on July 14, 2018, 02:24:28 PM
I'm interested in the depth that was productive for the walleye. From the picture of the stick bait, I'd guess 24 to 30 FOW.
Thanks Jay, that picture captured our day well, great fishing and perfect weather and lake conditions. We were primarily fishing 45-50 of water with fish suspended at 30. We fished threw a few Massive schools, picking up fish on flat line with deep diver and spoons off of downriggers.
Thanks for the depth information Hodgey1.
Jay