As good as it gets ! I didn't think I would be able to say that at any point this year but that's what is going on right now out here. But before I continue, I need to make a bit of a retraction from last weeks fishing report. After reading it back I now realize that perhaps I was a bit harsh in my assessment of last weeks incredible congested boat traffic with everyone competing to stay on the same school of fish. I now realize rather then walk right off the boat after doing battle with so many boats and being so frustrated with all the situations that I was thrust in that I should have not sat right down and done a fishing report. I should have rather taken a short breather, had a glass of wine ( or two, LOL ) and collected my thoughts. I know that everyone has the same rights to whatever is out there. I guess I was totally frustrated at certain boats and I took it out on everyone. If I offended anyone I sincerely apologize ( unless you are one of the individuals that seemingly got pleasure from nearly running me over, LOL )
I don't know what the answer is. I guess we all have to learn to be a bit more courteous out there on the occasions that the congestion gets that bad. I am literally afraid of almost everyone that I see out there because after all these years of being put in bad situations I just automatically assume that they are not going to give me an inch. It should not have to work that way. I've always said that if you give me a little and I give you a little it is never an issue. It really works if everybody would do this. Most boats troll either dead with the wind or dead into the wind. Most problems start with the select few that elect to trough troll in the ditch or sideways to the wind and waves and create havoc with every other boat that they encounter. Nothing frosts me more then to be sliding downwind with the wind and waves like everyone else only to see a boat coming right at me sideways and not doing a thing about it forcing me into a hairpin turn just to avoid a ugly situation. Usually we have a ton of lines out with multiple fish coming in and I look up to see a boat as I described coming at me or in front of me with just a couple guys on it and 4 diver rods only in the water and not doing anything and the guys with their arms folded up watching me and not giving me a bit of a break. I don't know who is right. I guess it's not me. It never is ...
So perhaps I will try to focus more on a real fishing report from now on and keep my opinions to myself. And this past week the Walleye fishing off of Ashtabula was and is exactly how I started this report. As good as it gets. The school of fish is seemingly swelling in proportion with each passing day. In my opinion from what I am seeing and hearing there are a ton of fish now from just east of Geneva to Kingsville and anywhere from 68 foot of water to 73 foot, a good 4-5 mile wide swath of Walleyes and stretching even further east - west ! And the fish finder is showing fish like crazy ! These fish are now appearing in all parts of the water column again. Aboard "The Trophy" we are on a semi-deep trolling program and we have been doing exceptionally well targeting the fish in the 45 foot range. Our program has included trolling silver and gold Jr. Thunder sticks on the wire fishing line off the big planer boards only back 280 to 300 foot and the big Dipseys on a #3 setting back anywhere from 150 to 200 foot max with gold Savant spoons and the inside #2's back 130 to 150 back . I always try to keep at least a 30 foot spread between the outside #3's and the inside #2's . I think that there are even some extremely high fish now as well which no one is targeting because on Saturday while clearing lines we had two different times a popped Dipsey that we were reeling in as fast as we could have a Walleye twice hit the spoon with the diver almost to the boat. Simply amazing ! It's crazy the things you see when the water is saturated with fish.
About another week left in August and we flip the calendar to September already. As I look at my schedule I see we have a handful of dates available for a Walleye charter for one reason or another. These dates all had guys tentatively penciled in from last year and due to communication problems, probably mine because I didn't follow up soon enough are now available. I find it ironic that when the fishing was tough that I had guys standing in line for a spot aboard "The Trophy" and that now that the Walleyes are suicidal I am taking cancellations and the phone has been rather quiet. Anyway the dates that I have open as of right now for a Walleye trip are : Sept. 1st, 8th, 9th and 10th. We also have Sept. the 21st and 22nd as well as the 24th and 25th available for either a Walleye or Perch trip. For more info or a booking as always I can be reached on my mobile/ boat # 216-387-2656 . Feel free to call me for any reason even if it is only to say hi or to tell me what a jerk I am because I think I own the lake ! LOL !! Good luck to everyone out there and above all, stay safe.
Capt. Walt
|