Still catching! Aboard “The Trophy” we squeaked out yet another week of late summer Walleye fishing out of the Ashtabula Harbor area. It was rather lonely out there too all week long way offshore as most are now pretty much strictly into the Perch fishing mode. But as I indicated last week, I am willing to go for whatever my guests would like to fish for as long as the weather allows us to do so and I know in my heart that there are still a few Walleye around out there that we can catch. Even though Perch fishing is so much easier on the captain and really more profitable all things considered. But for 29 years now I’ve been about the last charter to pursue the Walleyes to the very bitter end around here each year and I guess this year will be no different.
After our three day blow last weekend which lasted on into Monday, “The Trophy” finally got to go back to work on a still rather windy Tuesday this past week with surprisingly good results. We needed 24 fish for my 4 man group Tuesday and we managed to capture 22 Walleyes. Wednesday again we needed 24 but ended up with one less Walleye but we did get a nice bonus Steelhead. So 22 fish again. Not bad! Thursday and Friday were much different stories. We really struggled to get just barely into the double digits each day but we did manage to do so with some of the fish being very nice sized as a consolation prize . In fact we may have taken one of the if not THE biggest fish of the year this past week with one of the bruisers that I measured for my guests big fish contest amongst themselves going a easy 32 inches! And fat! Wow, what a fish! I can’t believe that we didn’t even think to weigh it when we got in but looking back I’m guessing now that it went 12, maybe plus pounds? I know I had to look away when they just went ahead and had it cut and filleted! Lol!
But none of the days this past week was it ever easy at any point fishing for the Walleyes. Tuesday and Friday although sunny and pleasant were very windy and very rough days bringing on it’s own share of difficulties along with it. And all 4 days that we did Walleye fish the junk fish were just relentless. From huge mostly snagged spinning grumper Sheephead to nonstop big White Bass constantly plugging up all of our lines. I was really beside myself at times just barely able to keep up with running a couple of board lines on each side because we flat out could not keep the junk fish off. It’s easy to see why most other captains have just thrown in the towel and switched to the Perch. I don’t know. It never used to be like that back in the 80’s and 90’s and early 2000’s. We sometimes even in the late summer and fall season back in the day would troll for days with us rarely even catching a White Bass and just the occasional Sheephead here and there. Now, each year it just seems to be much worst then the year before. The lake is sure changing and not necessarily in a good way if you ask me. Maybe with some good Walleye hatches here the last year or two coming online in a couple of years or so we can get these bigger fish to keep things a little more in check. One can only hope. Or just quit Walleye fishing! Lol!
So with the weekend warriors having it there way and having good weather for a lot of the summer season on the weekends, suddenly we have had back to back crap weekends here as of late. This weekend was very similar to last weekend but with me having only pre scheduled Perch charters, we went ahead and still stuck our noses out there anyway and tried our hand at Perching ourselves. From the moment the anchor grabbed Saturday morning in the still pre dawn darkness till we put number 180 in the box a few hours later, it was game on with non stop action. Doubles ruled the day! Although it wasn’t long till daybreak actually broke, I was amazed how well we did in the dark fishing under the flood lights! Normally Perch unlike the Walleyes really don’t fire up till its good and daylight! With us starting out in the dark and the Perch biting very well, nobody even noticed the pitching and rocking of the boat in the very stiff wind that day! This comings weeks weather looks to be back to quite nice now if you can put any faith at all in the weather guessers, I mean men. I am not very sure at this point what all we are going to be fishing for this coming week ourselves but I’m sure I’ll have something to report back on next weekend. Check back again then!
Capt. Walt
*I would like to remind all of my upcoming charters. As I have been simply asking all along now for the last few years, please try your very hardest to keep your group size to a very comfortable, more personal experience of 4 people for everyone involved. I myself just flat out DO NOT WANT more then that on my boat anymore for these summer trolling trips. This is not a hard rule or policy (yet) but if you folks want to keep me happy and chartering for years to come, you will do this for me and for yourselves. Also, we ABSOLUTELY need to be off the dock now by 6:00am at the VERY LATEST! Our best fishing is ALWAYS at the crack of dawn and WE DO NOT WANT TO MISS OUT ON THAT OPPORTUNITY! Please, DO NOT BE Late! I am at the boat and ready to roll everyday by 6:00am and if you want to catch lots of fish, you will be ready as well!
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