Author: Admin 1

Heading out tomorrow morning. I don’t have a lot of hope, but I’m here. With the east wind I’m going to fish the triangle, and use middle bass to block the residual waves. When I came up yesterday there were a lot of boats out between green, and south bass. They had boards out, and the nets were being used. As long as the wind dies like it’s supposed to I’ll probably head out early, to grab some minnows, then try for some eyes as the sun comes up. If that’s no good I’ll perch a bit. Next week it’s on!! Last year I fished 12 days in May, and was off the water every day by 10:00 with a limit.

I have searched and not found any recent discussions on these devices. I have a 1990 22′ Grady White that is currently equipped with a 2005 vintage Garmin GPSMAP 5212 unit with a thru-hull transducer and NMEA 2000 hub. I use the 5212 for finding fish (not so great) and engine/fuel data. The boat is also equipped with a smaller Garmin GPSMAP 546s unit that I typically use for navigation only while I’m looking for fish marks on the 5212. The boat is powered by a 2005 Yamaha 225 4-stroke which I use for trolling, with socks when needed.

I cannot see perch on this unit and based on what I have read online, the technology of my 2005 equipment is not capable of showing enough definition. I am in the market for a new chartplotter and transducer, and possibly a new NMEA 2000 unit as well – not sure I will be able to use the existing one.

I fish for perch and walleye, so I don’t need all the fancy features like side scan and live view, and I don’t want to spend the money on this stuff either. I just want to be able to see marks while underway and then see better definition on the bottom for perch. I would like to keep the 546s connected to the current thru-hull transducer for navigation (and as a backup) if possible, but I am not married to this plan.

I would like advice on which chartplotter/transducer to purchase for just down scan or total scan (I think that is all I need) to find marks at speed and then have better definition while trolling or sitting. I assume a transom mounted transducer will be best, but I am not sure. I will replace the thru-hull transducer if that is the better way to go. Also, do I need to replace the NMEA 2000 hub as well?

Sorry for so many questions, but I am not a techie. Thank you to anyone that can point me in the right direction.

I haven’t seen any fishing post lately. Coming up mon and tues for first time this yr. Bringing my son’s girlfriend who has never fished. Been windy lately it looks like up there. Where can we find some eyes?thaks

Recently I started bleeding the walleye we caught while they were still alive. I cut through the small strip that ties the bottom of the body to the head at the bottom of the gills. I put the fish in the cooler and they bled out very fast. When I filleted the fish, I noticed the flesh was much lighter in color. After we ate some, I can’t say it was a lot better but fresh fish is pretty hard to beat.

I have heard several things about the process and wonder if there’s other options. I have heard putting the fish in water while they bleed out helps the process.

How about some thoughts/feedback from the community on this topic?

Thanks in advance

Apologies in advance for posting my questions in this forum, but I posted this question in the general forum and didn’t get any answers so I’m hoping I can y’all might be kind enough to help here. I’ve been away from the area for a number of years but am excited to be back around Erie and looking forward to fishing her again very soon. We’ll be running up the Portage from a mile or two south of Route 2 bridge.. I hear a lot of horror stories about depth or debris problems, especially early in the season. I’m running with 20” draft if it helps. Would appreciate any insights about getting to the open water- is it navigable? Do I run risk of bottoming out? Also, if anyone has any info on the train drawbridge, thanks for that too. Appreciate any insights, thank you and tight lines!

Took my son and a buddy out for some jigging. We started around 8:45 due north of wild wings marina about a mile out. 13 feet deep. Got our limit in 2 hours and 45 minutes. The wind was pushing us at .7 to.8 mph so we put the drift sock out. Everyone was using a dark color. 3/4 ounce jigs. Every fish was male and some of them are still leaking the fluid of life.

There is a pack of boats spread east to west along the line where the water is cleaning up and that seems to be the spot.

Got the boat all setup and cleaned this weekend and rewarded ourselves with some fishing!

Friday we hit green can by Mouse first with the little pack there and picked up 1 within the first 5 minutes. Was hoping we could keep nabbing em before that big storm rolled in but never got another one before we were chased north. Went to try Rattlesnake real quick before the storm but nothing there. Hid at PIB for an hour or 2 and then went back out in the break in the weather for another 1-2 hours. Hit Rattlesnake again (nothing), the channel north of MBI (nothing) and then tried a couple drifts just north of Stone Lab and picked up the really nice twins! Both 27.5″ and around 6-7lbs (not sure if my de-liar is calibrated right).

Saturday we hid behind PIB fishing with a couple little packs from the Ballast Island channel, to SE side of back side of PIB, to Mouse Island Reef, then to between Starve and PIB. Got nothing but sheep until the last spot above starve. Little pack there and people were KILLIN it! Seemed like every 30 seconds someone around us was hooked up but for whatever reason, we couldnt buy a bite! We picked through some sheephead and ended with 2 walleye that were a double header! Nothing after those 2 though. Really odd watching everyone else crush it while we were doing the same drift lanes, same jigs, same speed, etc. but i guess it just wasnt our day.

Sunday we slept in and rolled out around 11am and joined the pack at American Eagle. Everyone seemed to be picking them not fast and furious but pretty consistent and we did as well. Ended up with 8 nice ones before we had to jam out to get home to the wives and kids. Would have limited if we had gotten at it earlier or could have stayed later.

Overall good weekend start to the season! Hope everyone else out there did well!! (I know the blue center console charter at Starve did well, we watched him CRUSH it, well done if you are on here!! I believe captain name on the side of the boat was captain Eric)

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