Post by reelteacher on Jun 13, 2008 10:20:06 GMT -5
Harold Tabert, Ray Tabert and myself went to Lake Erie last week for some great fishing near the Bass Islands Area. We stayed on South Bass Island and camped out at the State Park. We trailered our boat across on Miller's Ferry and launched it in Put-N-Bay.
This was the first time any of us has been to this area and it is absolutely loaded with fish attracting stuctures: Huge rock piles, reefs, sand bars, deep channels, boat docks, islands, jetties, and protected bays. This is a fisherman's paradise!
As you can imagine, with all of the water available, we were scratching our heads as to where to begin. Fortunately, we met a few fishermen who had already fished all the previous week and knew where some fish were. The first day the winds were howling at about 30 mph and the waves were 4-6 ft. It was really dangerous and scary. Dad was able to catch one Walleye on our first drift, and then we started catching lots of channel catfish drifting worms. I caught nothing on fly tackle. The water was too turbid from the wave action.
The next day was calmer and we caught another Walleye, but were unable to locate any numbers. It was catch one, and that was it. However, we did catch a few other fish, including some nice freshwater drum (Sheephead) and channel catfish that were very nice size, perfect for the skillet.
My uncle Harold caught this beautiful walleye which was 27" long the next day, but again, we did not locate anymore.
I found my first smallmouth of the trip. An 18" beauty which ate a chartruese wildcat streamer.
Then, dad hooked a nice drum on a crayfish pattern.
The next day, Uncle Harold had to leave, and we found some great action on one of the many rock piles. Too bad uncle Harold couldn't join us...
Dad started us off with this nice 18" smallmouth.
Then, I caught three drum in a row off the same rock pile. They wanted the craydad pattern!
This Drum was 24" long and probably weighed 9 lbs. It was a tremendous fight on the fly rod. What was even more exciting was the fact that it took the fly as soon as it hit the water, and I had it immediately on my reel. It took my line almost to the backing!
Later that evening, I caught another large fish just at sunset. This fish was the beginning of our night fishing outting! What a night!
All in all we had a great trip. I learned a lot about fishing big water with full sinking fly line and how effective flies can be, even in at night.
Most of the fish we caught were in 8 - 12 feet of water and you had to use sinking flies and full sinking fly lines to reach the fish. But when you were able to get the flies to the fish, they were willing to eat. My most effective fly colors were white, chartruese, olive and tan during the day. At night, I tried dark purple and it worked like magic.
I was primarily throwing streamers that imitated minnows, round gobies, and crayfish. These were the most abundant food sources.
If we had arrived a week later, the mayfly hatch would have started and everyone up there says the fishing just dies once the mayflies start emerging from the bottom because there is so much food available. I did try fishing with a mayfly nymph pattern and caught a few rock bass, but the fish were looking for larger food items, so I quickly changed back to the meat wagon flies.
If you have ever considered going to Lake Erie for Walleye or to fly fish, I would highly recommend it. It was lots of fun! There is just countless square miles of pristine fishing water to enjoy! During the week we were primarily by ourselves, there were a few other boats, but we basically could go anywhere we wanted to fish and have it to ourselves. On the weekends, it can get a little crowded and very crazy! Put-in-Bay on South Bass Island is a major party place for young and old adults that have more money than they know what to do with. Everyone is friendly, but alcohol is definitely involved. ;D
There is a great resturant called "Tippers" on the main square of Put-in-Bay. We ate there several times and they have great food for reasonable prices. When I say great food, I mean, this was a highlight of the trip. It was Outstanding! Try the BBQ Ribs...
See you on the water. Get out there and Fish!
Dustin
This was the first time any of us has been to this area and it is absolutely loaded with fish attracting stuctures: Huge rock piles, reefs, sand bars, deep channels, boat docks, islands, jetties, and protected bays. This is a fisherman's paradise!
As you can imagine, with all of the water available, we were scratching our heads as to where to begin. Fortunately, we met a few fishermen who had already fished all the previous week and knew where some fish were. The first day the winds were howling at about 30 mph and the waves were 4-6 ft. It was really dangerous and scary. Dad was able to catch one Walleye on our first drift, and then we started catching lots of channel catfish drifting worms. I caught nothing on fly tackle. The water was too turbid from the wave action.
The next day was calmer and we caught another Walleye, but were unable to locate any numbers. It was catch one, and that was it. However, we did catch a few other fish, including some nice freshwater drum (Sheephead) and channel catfish that were very nice size, perfect for the skillet.
My uncle Harold caught this beautiful walleye which was 27" long the next day, but again, we did not locate anymore.
I found my first smallmouth of the trip. An 18" beauty which ate a chartruese wildcat streamer.
Then, dad hooked a nice drum on a crayfish pattern.
The next day, Uncle Harold had to leave, and we found some great action on one of the many rock piles. Too bad uncle Harold couldn't join us...
Dad started us off with this nice 18" smallmouth.
Then, I caught three drum in a row off the same rock pile. They wanted the craydad pattern!
This Drum was 24" long and probably weighed 9 lbs. It was a tremendous fight on the fly rod. What was even more exciting was the fact that it took the fly as soon as it hit the water, and I had it immediately on my reel. It took my line almost to the backing!
Later that evening, I caught another large fish just at sunset. This fish was the beginning of our night fishing outting! What a night!
All in all we had a great trip. I learned a lot about fishing big water with full sinking fly line and how effective flies can be, even in at night.
Most of the fish we caught were in 8 - 12 feet of water and you had to use sinking flies and full sinking fly lines to reach the fish. But when you were able to get the flies to the fish, they were willing to eat. My most effective fly colors were white, chartruese, olive and tan during the day. At night, I tried dark purple and it worked like magic.
I was primarily throwing streamers that imitated minnows, round gobies, and crayfish. These were the most abundant food sources.
If we had arrived a week later, the mayfly hatch would have started and everyone up there says the fishing just dies once the mayflies start emerging from the bottom because there is so much food available. I did try fishing with a mayfly nymph pattern and caught a few rock bass, but the fish were looking for larger food items, so I quickly changed back to the meat wagon flies.
If you have ever considered going to Lake Erie for Walleye or to fly fish, I would highly recommend it. It was lots of fun! There is just countless square miles of pristine fishing water to enjoy! During the week we were primarily by ourselves, there were a few other boats, but we basically could go anywhere we wanted to fish and have it to ourselves. On the weekends, it can get a little crowded and very crazy! Put-in-Bay on South Bass Island is a major party place for young and old adults that have more money than they know what to do with. Everyone is friendly, but alcohol is definitely involved. ;D
There is a great resturant called "Tippers" on the main square of Put-in-Bay. We ate there several times and they have great food for reasonable prices. When I say great food, I mean, this was a highlight of the trip. It was Outstanding! Try the BBQ Ribs...
See you on the water. Get out there and Fish!
Dustin