NEW THIS YEAR!
Something Catchy is expanding its horizons! We are taking the show to Olcott New York to fish for salmon in Lake Ontario. As this is our first year (chartering in Olcott) we are only going up for one week. We will fish the last week of May for king and coho salmon, Steelhead, brown trout and lake trout. Want to try for the big ones? Affectionately called screamers, kings often exceed 25 pounds and can tear off 100 yards of line in seconds.. Call now! Very limited availability.
Spring: Mid April through Early June
Our fishing season begins around the first of May depending on weather and water temperature. Something Catchy is normally out of the barn and ready by mid April and we will often go out after the jumbo perch as they come off of spawn. This time of year yields very large perch. The majority of fish average around 12” with numerous 14” and 15” fish coming to the boat. Unfortunately, the numbers of perch are not always consistent this time of the year. Limits of fish are few and far between as the perch are often scattered after the spawning schools break up and begin searching for food. If you are fortunate enough to locate feeding fish the action can prove furious on the biggest perch you have ever seen.
Walleyes begin to show up along the shoreline in shallow water near the mouths of the tributaries to feed on the emerging trout and salmon fingerlings. Many shore anglers try their luck casting trout pattern Rapalas and other shallow divers from the beaches after dark near tributary streams. Some of the fish that are brought in are very large, often in the 8-12 lb range. In early June these fish begin to move out to 25-30 feet of water and are readily taken by trolling and drifting.
Smallmouth bass fishing also begins to heat up in May. The fish hold over rocky structure near their spring spawning sites. Most of our fishing is done in 10-20 feet of water where there is gravel and rocky bottom. Drifting with live bait or bottom bouncing rubber tube jigs is very productive along with casting and trolling crank baits. The fish average 1 ½ to 3 pounds but fish exceeding 5 pounds are very common.
Early Summer: Mid June through Mid July
Perch are still scattered during most of this time of the year. Lake Erie Water temperatures are slow to warm and the fish are only in small schools and are hard to locate. They start to school up in numbers toward the beginning of July as the water temperature climbs into the 70’s. The schools usually begin to form in 35-45 feet of water but gradually move out to the 55’-65’ range as the water continues to warm. Diligent fisherman can fill out their limits this time of year, but it could turn into an all day affair. Moving locations to search for schools is mandatory for any success to be had. Pulling anchor and setting down 10-12 times per day is often required.
The Walleyes have really begun to turn on by mid June. Limit catches of ‘eyes are routinely taken within 1-2 miles of shore. Preferred methods are trolling with planer boards and drifting. Lures include deep diving plugs, worm harnesses and bottom bouncers, and spoon/diver combinations. This time of the year has pleasant weather and is often overlooked by those booking a charter.
Bass have moved into deeper water (15-30’) again still holding near rocky structures and breaks in underwater terrain. The same methods as in the spring still produce well. Often, large smallmouths are caught while perch fishing and trolling for walleyes. We book very few bass charters this time of year as the walleye seem to be our clients’ first priority.
Mid Summer: Mid July Through Mid August
The perch fishing is at its peak right now. Enormous schools can be found from 3-9 miles off shore in 48-70’ of water. At times, these schools can be 20’ thick and so dense that it confuses our sonar into thinking the bottom has risen. When you get anchored on a feeding school, get ready for the fastest biting action of any fishing on the planet! We use rigs with two hooks on them. Often you will have two fish on the line before the line ever makes it to the bottom! Whether you get them to the boat or not depends on you. The action is so busy it is difficult if not impossible to use more than one pole and forget about trying to eat a sandwich or have a beverage unless you pull your line out of the water. Something Catchy is an ideal boat for perch fishing since it can comfortably fish anglers from the bow, sides, stern, and everywhere in between. Don’t forget your cooler to bring the fillets home and get your favorite batter or breading ready for some of the best table fare there is. Lake Erie perch fishing, you’ll love it.
The walleye action remains steady although we are now fishing 7-12 miles off shore in 65-80 feet of water. Standard tactics include deep diving Dipsey Divers, downriggers, and jet planers on the boards. These fish are deep, seeking shelter from warmer surface waters and the deep penetrating rays of the summer sun. Some real lunkers are taken this time of year. Lake Erie walleye fishing at it’s finest!
This is also the time of year and the area when we start to put appreciable numbers of steelhead trout into the boat. The steelhead are in the same vicinity as the walleyes, but generally a little higher in the water column. We run several lines hoping to attract one of these high flying acrobats. When an ambitious steelhead hits, it is often their first instinct to run straight up to the surface (and 6-10’ above it). Hang on to the rod and settle in for a vicious fight. These fish average 5-7 pounds, 8-10 pounders are common, and the state record is over 20lbs! They are excellent smoked, grilled, canned, or baked.
Late Summer: Mid August through Mid September
The perch and walleye bites remain steady. Both will be seen moving in closer to shore to get into position near their spring spawning grounds. The steelheads are beginning to move closer to shore to make their annual spawning runs up tributary streams. When the fish get close to shore they feed very aggressively in anticipation of the hard winter in the streams. Much like a bear before hibernation, they are trying to pack on the pounds and boost their energy reserves. This is a great time to take advantage of Lake Erie steelhead fishing. We troll in 6-20 feet of water using shallow diving plugs, spoons, and dodger/fly combinations. Since the water is shallow, these fish really get acrobatic. Mixed in with the steelies are a sampling of coho salmon, king (Chinook) salmon, and an occasional brown trout.
Fall: Mid September through October
Perch fishing remains steady through October but the later in the year it gets; the less Lake Erie likes to cooperate. Prevailing northeasterly winds keep the lake churned up more often than not. When we can get out on the water, we can make some nice hauls to top of the freezer.
Walleyes are still around in small pods but the big schools of summer have headed west toward the islands of Port Clinton. This is their wintering and spawning grounds. They will begin the return migration after spawning out in March or early April.
The steelhead fishing has slowed considerably in the lake by mid October. Most of the fish have made their entrance to the tributaries. The remaining hold outs are very susceptible to a bait, but they are laying up right on shore and much more accessible to shore fishermen.
We lay up Something Catchy by the end of October and maintenance her systems in preparation for spring. There is a lot to do to keep us from catching cabin fever though. Lines must be replaced. Reels must be serviced. Terminal tackle must be inventoried and stocked. This is enough to keep us on the boat for several more weeks, even if it is in the barn.