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Lake Erie Charter Captain Dave Adams of D & D Charters answers questions and provides tips and insights into fishing the region.
If you would like to Ask the Captain a question, please click HERE.
April 6, 2003
Mike Asks:
Capt. Dave -
I have fished for walleye from Walnut Creek and have not done very well. I was thinking of trying from North East, but I have never fished this area. I have the maps of this area. Could you advise on best areas to start?
Typically, I use worm harnesses at different depths, are there better spoons to use for walleye and steelhead?
Thanks again,
Mike
Captain Dave's Response:
Hi Mike,
Fishing out of North East can be productive. It's a little different to fish because the water is deep (120 feet) and only structures are the thermocline and the mountain.
During the summer I place the bait in "zone" and entice the walleye and steelhead to find me. This feeding area or zone is generally 20 to 30 feet below the surface for walleye and at 54 to 64 feet for steelhead.
The walleye bite begins around mid-June, steelhead about mid-July. Most fishing is done within the first three or four miles. I would recommend that you start north of the marina in 85 feet of water and troll to 118 feet. Try to fish a little west of the marina (depending on wind direction). Most likely, you will never be farther than six miles from the marina.
When targeting walleye or steelhead, use any method (dipsy, downrigger, etc.) to get the bait to the correct depth. Until you are familiar with fishing the deeper water of the Eastern Basin, avoid adjusting your bait to any other depth.
Because sooner or later, the fish will feed; when they do, you want the bait in the zone.
Say, for example, your presented with the worst possible fishing conditions, such as I and my fishing partner, Tom Love of Pittsburgh faced last year during the Western Pennsylvania Anglers Lake Erie walleye tournament. Thunderstorms, five to seven foot waves, and lightning had twice delayed the tournament, yet when we were able to fish, we targeted the "zone".
"You know," said Love, "this isn't fun. We can`' use anything, dipsies, boards, nothing."
"We'll improvise," I said.
His boat, which we were using that day, had those fancy programmable downriggers, which can be set to move the bait from one depth to another as you troll. I put a purple/black crawler harness on one rigger and a watermelon on the other, both about 50 feet off the ball. We set one downrigger to move from 20 to 30 feet and the other 25 to 35 feet.
The three walleye (total weight of 17.48 pounds) that we caught was best in the field of 21 teams. We won the tournament because the bait stayed in the zone. Everyone else struggled with the waves, which had made depth control nearly impossible.
Staying in the zone won the tournament.
Under normal - and sane - conditions, however, this is my favorite set-up for walleye and steelhead:
30 pound Berkley Fireline on a 9 1/2 foot dipsy pole. Light green, big dipsy set at 3 1/2. A seven-foot leader of 20 pound Seaquar fluorocarbon line. Michigan Stinger "Scorpion" spoon in the color of blueberry muffin, with a "good" quality swivel. Troll this set-up 155 feet back.
Walleye prefer a slow trolling speed (1.2 to 1.8 MPH) and steelhead slightly faster (1.8 to 2.5 MPH). Start slow, though. Because while you are trolling your boat will change speed as you turn, move through currents, and hit or follow waves. This will change the depth of the dipsy and spoon. And with the dipsy set at the above-mentioned settings, it will travel through both the walleye and steelhead strike zones.
On a downrigger, my favorite spoon for steelhead is the "NK 28" Northern King spoon, with a dark green stripe, 25 feet off the ball. Keep it in the steelhead strike zone and watch out. Because during late summer (August), it is not unusual to also catch king salmon off the waters of North East.
Good fishing,
Capt. Dave Adams
Western Pennsylvania Anglers (WPA) gives the angler a chance to experience what most of us only see on television. From the morning start to the final weigh-in, it is a fun day as well as and a chance to win prizes and money.
This year's walleye tournament is Saturday, July 26 at the PF&BC marina at North East. You do not have to be a member of WPA to fish the tournament.
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