CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Fishing reports from charter captains and walleye tournament anglers have spotlighted the outstanding early-season walleye fishing in the deeper waters of the Central Basin of Lake Erie. The Western Basin of Lake Erie is usually a post-spawn hot spot in May, but this year Cleveland area fishermen are finding their home waters off Cleveland and Lorain can’t be beat.
Alex Kisel and his son, Gary, of Macedonia, launched in Huron last Saturday for the Lake Erie Walleye Trail event there, but like so many of the anglers, they ran east to the Avon Lake area to find success. Their tournament limit of five walleye weighed a hefty 41 pounds. Anchored by a 9.44-pound walleye, the second largest of the day, they collected a $17,172 victory.
Joe Gibson and Bryan Beck (40.33 pounds, $5,486) were second, followed by Mike Miller and Bryan Fisher (38.74, $1,887). Danny Alverson and Matt Bonkowski weighed the biggest walleye, a 9.63-pounder worth $1,460. The LEWT’s next stop is Saturday, June 11 on the Black River in Lorain.
While lots of western Lake Erie fishermen are doing well on walleye, it’s been a rather slow bite on many days. That could be due to a larger fleet of fishing charters, sport anglers and recreational boaters. Fishermen say they’re marking lots of walleye out west on their sonar units, but the boat crowds may be causing the walleye to feed early and late in the day.
“It is a little early in the year for the great walleye fishing we’ve been enjoying from Huron to Cleveland,” said Craig Lewis at Erie Outfitters in Sheffield Lake.
Walleye fishermen generally troll in the deeper waters of the Central Basin, and catch reports have been strong in the Lorain Dump area in 39- to 45-feet of water. There’s a bit of a lure transition going on this week, as anglers begin to make the switch from minnow-style diving plugs such as Bandits, Reef Runners and Husky Jerks to tandem spinner rigs and nightcrawlers. Trolling spoons are also coming into play lately.
The harbor piers and break walls are still luring crowds of walleye fishermen who are casting from shore, and sometimes catching limits of six walleye once the sun goes down. The big crank baits rule for night anglers, and a lantern and a long-handled net are needed after hooking a walleye cruising the shallows to feed on gizzard shad.
Southwest winds on Friday will be brisk, and push temperatures to close to 90 degrees, but moderate Northeast winds and a cool front will open the Lake Erie fishing week on Monday and Tuesday.
Kids challenge the veterans: A highlight of last Saturday’s LEWT tournament on Lake Erie in Huron was a tournament limit catch of five walleye weighing 27.91 pounds by Gavin and Jordan Pongracz of Vermilion. The young anglers are only 8 and 10 years old. Their dad, Gary Pongracz, was their supervisor, operating the family boat and netting fish.
Fishing derbies abound: There are a variety of area fishing derbies for young anglers being held right now. The largest event will be the Children’s Fishing Derbies hosted by the Cleveland Metroparks at Wallace Lake in Berea on Saturday, and the Ohio & Erie Canal ponds in Cuyahoga Heights on Sunday.
The free derbies are from 9-11:45 a.m. for kids 4 to 8 years old, and 1-3:45 p.m. for kids 9 to 15. There will be free bait and loaner fishing tackle for kids who need it, as well as casting and fishing tips from the experts.
Rainbow trout and channel catfish have been released for the kids to catch, and prizes for the largest, smallest and most unique fish caught will be awarded promptly at noon and 4 p.m. For more information, call Youth Outdoors at 216-206-1010.
Adults will be allowed to cast for the stocked fish after the derbies are over.
Walleye Festival on tap in Port Clinton: The 41st annual Main Street Port Clinton Walleye Festival will take over Waterworks Park on Thursday, May 26 through Monday, May 30, Memorial Day. The Skipper Bud’s Fishing Derby will be held on Sunday, May 29 at Derby Pond in downtown Port Clinton. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. and the fishing derby’s first cast is at 12:30 p.m.
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