backinthegame

Fished 80-105fow this morning and found that the east wind pulled in a bunch of cold water. Found 50* water down 50’ with 64* surface temps. Lake trout and steelhead were active. Found a pocket of decent water temps in 72-76fow with a couple straggler fish on their way back to Ohio that gave us a little action. Covered a lot of water this morning in order to determine that the party is over. There may be some warm stable water left somewhere west of Dunkirk but not from Dunkirk east back to the Catt. Hope this helps for anyone debating on trying to fish this weekend.

Picked away yesterday NE or port, 94-96fow was best. 70.6* from surface to down 70’ after the wind on Tuesday. Worms were better than sticks. Riggers were quiet other than popping and letting them flutter while over schools of fish.

How did it go yesterday?

Fished NW of port this morning. Started in 75fow, found 51* down 50’. Decided to go deep to find stable water and better temps. Hooked 3 lake trout, landed a 17#, broke one off, and pulled the hook on another. Once we hit 120fow we found 65* down 60’ and the eyes started chewing. Lots of marks and lots of bait. Put 17 keepers in the boat in less than 2 hours. Threw back 1 short, lost a few more. Finished up in 140fow. Rained most of the time and it got pretty nasty out there. Shut it down when one of the guests buried a treble hook in his hand. I’ve never fished in that deep of water for walleye before.

Did you ever get anything going out there on Monday?

Great morning out of Barcelona harbor today. Set up in 80fow NE of port, 10 color leadcores, 1 rigger at 65’, dipseys at 160-170’ back on 2.5 setting. Worm burners and harnesses were best. Caught a couple on sticks, Bay rats got more attention than bombers. Had our 2-man limit by 930, threw 2 legal fish back while clearing rods, 4 shorts, lost a couple good ones. Sheephead were active too, ran into a couple big slugs. 3 double headers, 1 triple. Can’t ask for much more. It really didn’t matter where we were. Caught fish all over from 81-97fow.

You can see the line of the road cut out from the trees going all the way up the hillside when you’re perfectly lined up with it. Visible on a clear day all the way out to the Canadian line.

You can’t miss it when you’re looking south.

That is exactly where we ended up getting our fish Jimdski.

Started straight out of the Catt. on Friday, 75-82fow, (79*13.148’ west line). Turns out we were too Far East and did not move a rod for 2 hours so we moved about 3 miles west. We passed my buddy and his wife while we were looking for fish on the Garmin. I got on the phone and he already had 10 before 9am. Got set up and put 10 in the boat fairly quickly. Deep rigger at 70’ with a grape ape worm burner, bomber long a northern lights and yellow perch sticks on 10 colors were our best set ups. 79-84fow was best depth. 8.5# fish came on yellow perch bomber. 75* water down 70’. Good reminder that location matters out there.

Fished 80-90fow today, found pockets of very cold water (47-60*) 60’ down and lower, right where we have been doing well lately. Had 75* down 75’ in this area Thursday. We did our best to pivot and make the best of it with some different tactics. The bite really slowed up for us after 8am and we really had to work for the last few fish of our limit. “Northern Lights” Bomber Long A on 10-color leadcore saved the day for us.

Thanks! That particular pattern is sold out at FishUSA currently. Nick’s Sporting Goods on Kenmore Ave. might have them though so just give Roy a call. If not try Dick’s Sporting Goods. Good luck!

Took two first timers out with me this morning. Got set up a little before 7am closer to Dunkirk in 80fow. Worked 80-90fow and had 10 in the boat pretty quick. An inexperienced fisherman turned right across the back of us and hooked one of our 10 color leadcores on a planer board. The whole fiasco cost us some time and we ended up getting off of the fish. We didn’t lose any of our gear so hopefully they learned a lesson. Once we got back on them, it was game on. We ended the day with a double header. Had our 3 man limit by noon, two throwbacks and some bonus perch. Hooked a few monster sheepshead unfortunately. Deep rigger with a “Grape Ape” worm burner was by far our best setup. Introducing two good friends to Lake Erie walleye fishing was a great pleasure today.

1 10-color, 1 dipsey, and 1 rigger to start. Ended with two dipseys and a rigger. Dipseys at 170’ back on a 3 setting with worm burners were the best setup tonight.

Solo limit out of the Catt. tonight. Fished 530-8. 4 on worm burners, 2 on sticks. Ended with a double header. First time fishing alone. Not as bad as I thought it would be. Set up in 90fow, ended in 84fow. Lots o fish out there, go get ‘em.

80-85 FOW again, fish were taken on riggers at 60&70’, wire dipseys back 170 on a 3 setting, 2.0 down speed. We set up on our marks from last week but we found scattered pockets of 55* water at lure depths. After an hour and a half of seeing that and no fish, we went west towards Dunkirk about 2 miles. Water was stable and 67* at 60’. We quit at 1130 but I’m sure we could have picked away and finished filing the cooler.

Last walleye trip of 2021 for us today. Fish were west of where we have been working last several weeks. Managed 8 in the box in 4 hours. We did not catch a fish on a stickbait. We also only caught 1 fish on leadcore. Worm burners off downriggers and spoons off dipseys saved the day for us. Lake Erie has been very good to us this year. Good luck to everyone still trying to get a few more for the freezer.

2 man limit in 3 hours this morning, 80-85fow, straight out of the Catt. Fish were taken on riggers set at 70&75, wire dipseys 160-170 #3 setting, 10-color leadcore on boards. Spoons, stickbaits, and worm burners all caught fish. 65* surface temp, 68* @70’.

The Catt. Or Dunkirk, whatever is closer for you to trailer to. We have been fishing an area roughly halfway between.

Fished 830-2 yesterday, put nine good fish in the box and a bonus slob perch. 80-84fow, slow grind, lots of marks, light bites. 10-color with sticks was the best, northern lights bomber was the hottest pattern. Slowest day I’ve had since June. Thermocline nonexistent after all the wind and mixing. 72* water from surface down to 69’. Lots of marks and bait. Good luck!

2.0-2.2 on FishHawk. Forgot to mention 76* down 60’. 😳

Catt. 8/31: 23 walleye, including 5 throwbacks between 14-16”, 5 perch, couple sheephead, and a few silver bass. 3 man limit by 11am. Got off the fish when we got complacent and wasted an hour. 77-85FOW. 10-color leadcore, dipseys out 150-170’, and riggers at 60-70’ all produced. Bay rat long shallow divers, bomber long As, scatter rap minnows, worm burners, harnesses, and spoons all took fish. Great morning on the water.

First walleye trip out of Dunkirk this season. We worked 52-67 FOW off of Van Buren point. 5-color leadcore, 7-color leadcore, wire dipseys 80-100’ back on #2 setting, and downriggers at 40-50’ down all produced. 1.7-2.1 speed, 61-64* @50’ depth. Steady pick all day, fished 530-2. 10 fish on sticks, 8 fish on harnesses, and 2 fish on spoons. Size range was 18-24”. Great day on the water.

Has anyone been out between Barcelona and buffalo in the last two weeks? Any info would be greatly appreciated.