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7/14 report

Our guest was an 84 years young navy veteran originally from Michigan who had never caught a Walleye but he loves to eat them. He said he had been on a couple charters but they never caught any. He thought charters were a rip off. Captain Christy charmed him and we told him if he didn’t catch a walleye his trip was free and he could wait and pay after the trip.

He booked a full day but I figured it may be short given his age. My was I wrong, he got a quick limit but kept fishing catch and release all day. I hope I’m that tough at 84! Not to mention that nice and oh the stories he shared.

I decided to stay close not knowing his capabilities and I had been getting consistent reports of shallow fish. Our first stop was off Marblehead lighthouse. There was a small boat Perching and I slowed to idle by and he thanked me. The graph lit up with nice marks. I asked how the Perching was and he said not one but he had a limit of eyes. I ask if he minded if we trolled through the area and we would stay well clear. His answer lol was “Damn. I have never had anyone in a rig like that ever ask or give a damn about me, you fish where ever you want it is fine by me”. Our guest liked that.

We set up with spoons and unassisted Bandits over 30 ft of water. Bandits were run from 100-125. Both started catching but the spoons were short; the Bandits were catching keepers. We got his limit before we could get a full spread out. To make a long story short he was happy and we tried a couple more spots on the other side of Cedar Point. Basicly the same but not quite as many big fish.

We caught allot of eyes, too many to remember for sure. We brought all our limits in and released several. But he wouldn’t release any big ones lol. I don’t know what it is with the 26-27 inch fish this far west this time of year, but NO complaints. We had 3 in that size this trip and have been catching that class almost every trip – not large number but consistently a few every time.

The program ended up being unassisted Bandits 100-125 back over 30 to 35 ft at 2.2 mph on the Fishhawk. We had a good current down at the baits. we had at one time 3.3 on the GPS to maintain 2.2 actual. We had surface temps over 80 for the first time. Temps at the baits was 75ish. We kept a couple spoons out on the riggers but they only caught one keeper all day, many shorts. Bast Bandit colors was Catacomb, Gold Perch, a goldish zombie style color, and Silver Crush.

I have nothing booked for the next few days, but I will report as soon as I get back out. You know us, we fish guests or no guests – I think it is a diseases lol!

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Perch: 7/14/23 NW of Catawba

First time out on Lake Erie for awhile so we decided to try for perch. Set up outside of boats near Green bouy west of Catawba- 12 perch in 2 hours. 24 ft of water. Moved out a few miles NW to 28 ft of water and caught 39 more in next 2 hours. 51 total for 3 fishermen. All fish 8-11 inches. 16 lbs at cleaners. Marked what appeared to be walleye also in the deeper water and did see a couple of boats trolling. Heard main walleye bite is in Canada but people are catching fish around the islands. Beautiful day on the water.

Baha299

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Sunday East of Sandusky Dump

Sunday morning,
My buddy and I fished out of BayPoint on his fabulous Grady. We went out searching and found decent marks east of the DG. Caught 1 keeper about every 20 minutes and ended with 10 in box weighing 22 pounds at cleaners. Speed was 2.4-2.8mph over 27-34 fow mostly. Fish were scattered around. We went upwind, sidewind downwind and just kept triangle around the fish.

Spoons ruled the day but harnesses and bandit caught a couple too. We had a small board with bandit on each side, then spoon and harness in middle with lite bite divers catching from 55-75 back on 6.5 setting. Bottom bouncer and tadpole weight with spoons off each corner. I dropped a couple before the boat that looked like keepers. We sent back another 3 or 4 smalls and same amount of sheep and white perch. Great day to be out with cloud cover most of morning.

Rickerd

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7/12 report

Sorry for the delay in reporting, but if you have been following you know we have had distractions.

We went out of Huron to minimize the boat run for the guests with the uncertain weather.

We ran out to the NW to the 40 ft line and set up. The wind chop was not terrible out of the east, but there where residual cross rollers out of the North. We picked up 2 walleye and to sheep when I heard that familiar sound behind me. Eck, eck, you know the sea sick sound just before the big purge. So glad we have a wash down on the new boat.

Followed by the phrase I have heard a 100 times. “Sorry, I never get sea sick”.

So we pulled the spread and went back in.

The blessing was my finger was really throbbing and I appreciated the day off. Was sorry for the other 3 that did not get to fish.

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Fishing with Bill and Max Claassen… July 12, 2023

I wasn’t going to write a report, because of the late start today, but it wasn’t a usual day, so I wanted to share it.

The bad news is, there is a missing young man in the lake right now. His last known location was at the 36/53 line (near F Can). He went overboard last night around 10:45/11PM, and didn’t surface. I don’t know any details beyond that.


When we arrived at Catawba this morning, there was the Sheriff’s truck, and boat trailer in the lot, along with two other squad cars, that I assume were out there with him…searching.


The USCG had their orange helicopter out looking, and that big C1 airplane (is that what it’s called? I forget). That big plane that flies so slow, that it looks like it could just fall out of the sky…that one. The USCG also had one of their boats out near South Bass, too.


I listened to channel 16 the entire time I was out there, and as of 2pm, when we got off the water, he still had not been found. So, if anyone reading this is going to be near that area, please keep an eye out for him. If you have Side Scan on your unit…use it. It may just find him.


He’s 21 years old and wearing a white t-shirt, and khaki shorts.


I hope they find him soon, so his family and friends can get some closure.


Fishing Report:


It was rougher than expected this morning. It was 1-3s on the west side of islands, so we headed up to the “Triangle”, between the islands, to see if there were any fish up there, and to fish more protected water. I didn’t want Bill to be uncomfortable, again.


We set up at the south end of Middle Bass, and trolled north, over 31′ of water.


Mag 44s ran behind the Off Shore boards on both sides at 50-90 back. Blue Chrome, black/gold, and purple glass perch.


Dipsies were running on both corners again, and ran on the usual zero and three settings. I like those settings, because it is less likely to cause tangles, with that kind of separation. 🙂
Zero settings were at 30 and 40, and the three settings were at 65 and 70. Yeck, Scorpion, Stinger spoons ran on three rods, and the black/gold Ripplin Redfin ran on the 4th.


Speed was 2.2 on the Fish Hawk and 2.3-2.5 GPS/SOG.


We made one long ass pass, from there, to around the north side of Rattlesnake…down the front side of Green, and down to the F Can area.


We caught a fish here and there, but the the most productive areas were east of E Can to F Can, and F Can to Catawba.
The bite got better the shallower we got. The bite picked up over 27 feet and kept going and getting better as we entered into 24 feet. We also had a lot more shorts to deal with there, too. The eaters were nicer, however, so dealing with all the shorts was worth it.


One Mag44 was running on the starboard outside board at 60 back, and the “IB Infected” Bandit (DJ Custom Eye Lures creation) was running at 65 back.


On the Port side, two “Blue Shiner” Bandits (original blue shiner color/stock) at 70 and 80 back.


All of those caught multiple fish.


The dipsies were brought up to:
zero setting: 27 and 30
three setting: 43 and 47


The black/gold RR was replaced with another Yeck spoon.


Copper backs were best today. “Confusion” was a hot one.


We put our three-person limit in the cooler, but did a lot of catching today. We went through tons of shorts, one cat, several sheep, and a few white perch….oh, and two yellow perch, to get the 18 eaters, so it was a lot of work, today.


Water temp is 75.5 at F Can right now.


I’m going to cut this short, because my pup is climbing all over me, while I’m trying to write this, and wants to play….so, I must go play before I go to bed.


Tomorrow is the same crew….not sure what the plan is yet. I’ll decide that in the morning, when I know what the winds and forecast are.


Stay tuned…..


Capt Juls

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7/10 report

Sorry for the delay in reporting but you will see why. We had 2 supper fun couples from Southern Ohio and it was there first time Walleyeing.

We headed NE of Cedar Point to 40 ft of water to where we were catching before and ran the same program of Bandits to the Port and spoons to the Stbd and on the riggers. The Bandits back 100 to 120 started getting hit immediately and it wasn’t long until we were running Bandits Port and Spros Stbd and both were steadily working.
Spoons took a few keepers on the riggers but we had to swap Scorpions for Stingers to minimize shorts.

It was one of those magical days on Erie, weather was wonderful and the fish were biting. We were quickly filling the box trolling at 2.2 to 2.4 on the fish hawk. Then all excitement broke loose, every rod was popping. We had 3 on the floor, one in the net, and 2 more rods back.

Best colors were anything green.

Like they say, it is all fun and games until someone gets a hook in their hand. And it was deep. We had 24 nice eyes with 4 over 25, biggest was 27. not too many shorts, 3 sheep, and 1 white perch before going to the ER for hook removal. They said we were the 3rd that day.

We took today off and are watching the wind close and will decide on tomorrow in the morning. They want to fish again. They think it is always as easy as yesterday, lol.

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Fish cleaner

New fish cleaner located in parking lot of happy hooker. George coutcher who used to own coutcher fish cleaning is cutting fish. (George is a great fish cutter) Patricia is new owner and very nice to deal with. They do a great job cleaning fish. Have taken 2 limits of perch and no complaints.
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Fishing with Bill and Max Claassen… July 11, 2023

Bill and Max Claassen, drove in from Iowa yesterday, to fish three days with me. I picked them up at the Best Western at 5:15, and headed to the gas station on the west side of town. I had already gassed the boat and truck up the afternoon before, at another gas station, that saved me money. I only needed ice for the coolers, so it was a quick stop.

We went to Mazurik’s, to launch. We were in the water, and on our way back to where I fished yesterday, by 5:45. The sun was just peaking over the horizon, as we rode north, showing us what a blazing orange fiery ball it was going to be this morning. It was spectacular…the camera didn’t do it any justice at all.


When we reached the line, the Terrova was deployed and the baby Merc fired up. They steered and pushed us along at a speed of 2.3-2.5mph. Once the Fish Hawk was set down to depth, it showed a speed of 2.2mph. It was time to set the dipsies.
We ran the same program as yesterday, with the dipsies set on the zero and three settings.
The zero settings started at 40 and 50 back, but the 50 was less active, so I raised that one to 36 back, and put a gold/black Ripplin Redfin on, and it did better than the spoon at 50 back. The three settings were running at 65 and 70 back, and both were productive.


We caught a bunch of shorts this morning too, along with some Sheephead, and one White Bass.


It wasn’t rough when we headed out, but it got rougher as the morning progressed. Just 1-3s with some 4s thrown in for good measure, from time to time, so not too bad, but, it was a little too rough for “Papa”, because he started feeling seasick.


When we put their 12th keeper walleye in the cooler, I asked, “Do you want to move down south where it would be a little less rough, and try for those last 6? Or, would you like to go in?” Bill asked Max, “Max, what do you want to do?”, and Max replied with the usual reply of… “It doesn’t matter to me, whatever you want to do”. Without hesitation, Bill turned to me and said, “We can go in”. So, we packed it up and headed in.


It was a short day, today, but they still had a lot of fun, and are looking forward to going out again tomorrow. However, I will not be going back up to the line with the east winds that are forecast, (12-13mph…1-3s again), and will take them to the west side of the islands for a bit of protection, and smaller waves. I was over there three days ago, and managed to catch some keeper walleye, so I know we can put some in the cooler tomorrow, too. We just have to dodge some early morning scattered thunderstorms first, I think. At least, that’s what the TV Weatherman just said on the news, at noon.
It might be a later start in the morning…I won’t know until the morning, though, when I can look at my radar, and see what’s headed this way.


Stay tuned….


Capt Juls

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Need Help locating these Bandits, Please

I have had a ton of luck with the Bandit in the photo. I have been trying to find where to purchase some more. I cannot find them online or in any of the local Bass Pro or Fisherman Central stores. Please let me know if you have any idea on where to purchase. Thanks a ton!

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