Lake Erie bite 2023

[Gill-T]

I haven’t heard too many walleye reports this year other than a decent night bite out of Dunkirk. In a lake with tens of millions of walleye swimming around  I would have thought I would hear more chatter.  

Edited May 23 by Gill-T

[Stillwater]

There have been a couple reports of catches over on the LEU forum.

[Gill-T]

Any updates?  Ross Robertson’s bigwater podcast episode with Dr Chris Vandergoot discussed a delay in big spawners getting to the Western shoals this April. I think this means the fish will be late getting back East. 

[Totally Hooked]

Fished Buffalo last weekend and got 9 on sticks and worm burners. I think the daily pressure from the Southtown’s tourney really slowed things down. 
 

Went to Dunkirk on Sunday and got 7 and lost a few at boat. Slow pick but there are fish around.  I needed to stay west of Van Buren point to keep a decent screen and get the few we did. Not hot and heavy yet. Dipseys out 140 on a three setting with worm burners were our best but we did get fish on five and seven colors with sticks as well.    

[Gill-T]

Thanks for the report. Sounds a little more promising 

[sherman brown]

all the reports I've been reading on another sight are giving good reports. if you find the right depth you will get good fish and not as many dinks. but if your not in the right depth you catch mostly dinks and farm animals. but these reports are coming out of the south side of the lake in the central basin. it seems some are getting a few fish as shallow as 55' but others are doing better in 58' to 68'. hope this helps in your search.

[Gill-T]

Sounds like if we don’t get the SW winds cranking, maybe mid-July the Ohio fish get here. I was hoping to get into them in  June ahead of the LOC summer derby. Better reports on Ontario 

[lachsforelle]

For me, it's been slow.  Couple trips out of Buffalo and a couple out of Catt with nothing much to show.  I worked the weigh station for the STWA derby the first Sunday of the derby and only a handful of fish were weighed in.

From talking around, it sounds like the night bite went later into the month that it normally does.

[Gill-T]

I think on years of no ice coverage, the emerald shiner migration into and out of the upper river doesn’t happen. The local East homebody Walleyes have to go roaming to look for food as a result. 

[Gill-T]

East winds all week ….

[Jomat]

Was out at Barcelona all last week for the derby. Lots of fish around.  20”ers wanted suspended crawler harnesses.  Big fish wanted cranks.  Lotta bycatch to contend with, but if it’s limits ur after they def can be had.

[Gill-T]

Thanks for the report. Looks like a road trip is in order. I have never fished West of the Catt. Are fish near the harbor at Barcelona or do you have to go hunting for them?

[Jomat]

There was a big whack of fish west of the harbor down by the PA border, and we ran into several pods of very active fish east of the harbor to van buren.  It’s a 12 mile stretch.  Drive around in 45-60’ and you’ll see them…unless they move….if the water temp stays consistent I doubt they will…the big west wind last week didn’t move them.  More active fish will be suspended.  Like I said the eaters didn’t want cranks so much last week, of course that can change as well.

[Gill-T]

Dunkirk Sunday west of port. Mostly worm harnesses on leadcore when the lake went flat

[Stillwater]

Way to go Gill. Nice looking catch. Thanks for sharing.

[Totally Hooked]

Thanks for the report. That area off Van Buren has been producing some eyes. I can’t wait until they get up to the Catt. 

[Gill-T]

Thanks. With the 10’s of millions of walleye in the system, nobody should be shy about posting a report. Lots of fish for everyone when they get here. I don’t think they have reached the Catt in any numbers as we noticed there were only 4 boat trailers in the Hanover lot when we stopped in to the fish cleaning station. 

[Pequod1]

Nice catch. I’m wondering what they charged you to just clean fish there and not launch.  I am not a fan of the launch price going up this with no improvements being made to the slabs there

[Gill-T]

I won’t take my boat there either. Those gaps in the concrete are going to pop someone’s tires. My brother has cottage down there so he gets the season pass. Not sure what they charge to use the fish cleaning table. Nice set up for fish cleaning though

[Capt. Wallace Kimmel]

Was out at Port Clinton beginning of June, got lots of fish. 

[Stillwater]

Nice walleye board!

[Gill-T]

3 hours ago, Capt. Wallace Kimmel said:

Was out at Port Clinton beginning of June, got lots of fish. 

The baitfish population thanks you. 

[Gill-T]

Going to take a second stab at gold on Sunday. Saturday’s winds should bring a fresh batch of fish. 

[mr 580]

There are eye’s available- getting wind to cooperate has been an issue lately. Dunkirk offshore buoy has been active.  Go to GLOS.org then Seagull to get info.  Provides avg significant wave height and temp profile.  Wave height being an average means that if it shows 3 foot you probably have some 4’s mixed in.  Accurate weather info more important than fish report IMO.

[Gill-T]

Forecast was wrong. Buoy data says she is still rocking so looks like I am working on house projects……