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Post by Fritz on Aug 19, 2023 22:55:29 GMT -5
Thought there might be some previous great lakes guys on here that might like a couple pics. Was able to sneak up to Erie for a quick evening trip. We fish Erie in NE Ohio out of Conneaut harbor. Bite was steady and we put a nice limit (12) of eater size walleyes ( 21" to 24") in the boat in a little under two hours. Most guys that fished Erie remember having a dinner of deep fried walleye, Mac-n cheese and coleslaw. It was a regular offering on our dinner table growing up. The great lakes is where I cut my teeth on big water fishing. Tons of memories fishing Lake Erie for Walleyes, Smallmouth & Yellow Perch & Lake Ontario for King & Coho Salmon , Steelhead, Brown Trout and Lake trout with my old man. He has slowed down a lot the last few years, (83 years young) but still healthy and active. But all day on big water really takes it toll nowadays. He's happy when we visit and load him up with fish and Venison . Just gave him some Walleye, Triggerfish, Dolphin & Blackfin. Anyway ,fun evening with the Mrs. cranking in a few and putting some meat in the freezer!
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Post by hookedup on Aug 20, 2023 15:34:04 GMT -5
Sounds like fun and good eats.
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jerryk
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Post by jerryk on Aug 20, 2023 16:46:32 GMT -5
Fun, and there is none better than walleye on a plate! Nice trip and reminds me of a trip where I trailered to Monroe MI (western Lake Erie) and my dad and I got some nice limits in a couple of days of fishing.
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Post by fishnfool on Aug 21, 2023 9:19:26 GMT -5
I've heard walleye is good eating. I've also heard the great lakes can get nasty like the ocean when the wind is blowing.
What's your lake boat fritz?
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Post by Fritz on Aug 21, 2023 18:26:32 GMT -5
If you have ever eaten Yellow Perch, they are very close to Walleye in texture and taste (they are in same family). They are fantastic eating, just about anyway you cook them. The Great Lakes are no joke. I have as much respect for them as I do the ocean. Here is a pic of Lake Ontario that I have from a few years ago when a storm started cranking from the NW. Those are the pier heads outside of our old marina in Olcott NY. Our Great Lakes boat is a Sea Hunt 220 Triton CC. Picked it up a few years back when we took our old 2660 WAC Sailfish to Hatteras full time. It does well on Erie, has a 8'6" beam and very stable, just like anywhere else you have to pick your days. Had the Sea Hunt to Hatteras a few times for sound and nearshore. But we just couldn't get to the skinny areas we wanted to. That's when we picked up the Carolina Skiff DLV that we leave in NC, as well as our Sailfish 270.
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Post by fishnfool on Aug 21, 2023 20:18:19 GMT -5
Wow, that's nasty.
Haven't eaten yellow perch yet even though we get them in the bay, but have caught my share of white perch.
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Post by jski59 on Aug 23, 2023 8:07:22 GMT -5
I grew up in Port Clinton, fishing for perch and walleye every summer until I moved to FL after college...a good perch sandwich is still hard to beat. So many good times bouncing around between Put In Bay, Kelleys and Cedar Point.
I've actually been in OH most of this year due to my mom having some health issues and it was nice to be there for the summer again vs the FL heat. But I'm done with the winter's forever...the snow isn't even that bad, but I get sick of the low gray clouds.
The western basin of Lake Erie is only 20-30ft, so it gets nasty quick when the wind starts blowing. Short, steep chop. We've also experienced several large rogue waves there, always curious how they started.
I moved away 26 years ago but that area will always be home...like many, once I left I appreciate it a lot more.
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Post by Fritz on Aug 23, 2023 10:50:48 GMT -5
We did a few trips to the western basin over the years. Always a good time! The attached pic will probably give you a flashback and put a smile on your face ( bet you recognize the lure ). We still do a couple casting trips ever year and the old tried and true are still effective. Its a little different in the central basin, but still works like a charm. Its a nice change of pace from trolling all the time. Good luck with your mom, prayer sent your way.
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jerryk
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Post by jerryk on Aug 23, 2023 14:48:57 GMT -5
Erie Dearie...one of my favorite lures for them!
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Post by outtadblue on Aug 24, 2023 8:41:41 GMT -5
Way to go fritz!!! I have a guy that I fish with some that says he enjoys fishing the Great Lakes better than offshore. I thought he was crazy but have heard the same things from others.
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Post by jski59 on Aug 24, 2023 13:03:31 GMT -5
We did a few trips to the western basin over the years. Always a good time! The attached pic will probably give you a flashback and put a smile on your face ( bet you recognize the lure ). We still do a couple casting trips ever year and the old tried and true are still effective. Its a little different in the central basin, but still works like a charm. Its a nice change of pace from trolling all the time. Good luck with your mom, prayer sent your way. View Attachment Oh man, a gold Erie Dearie! I'm sure I still have some buried away in the garage; gold, silver and chartreuse is all I ever used, lol. My first job (late 80's) was working in a bait shop down the road, packing worms and selling shiners. Everybody use to bring their big catches in to be weighed for Fish Ohio, so I saw some monster walleye (and the occasional pike and muskie) I still remember the summer when Erie Dearies went up in price from $1.25 to 1.35...you would've thought the world was ending. First time I was cussed out by a non-family-member adult, ha.
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Post by Fritz on Aug 25, 2023 14:15:35 GMT -5
I knew a few guys would recognize that old favorite. The Great Lakes can be a good time, plus you don't have to wash all your fishing equipment and flush the motor when your done
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jerryk
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When not online I'm likely on Knot Online
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Post by jerryk on Aug 25, 2023 14:27:59 GMT -5
Fritz, I found out that the Erie Dearie also works for Canadian walleyes who live far away from Lake Erie! Or at least used to live far away from Lake Erie on the English River system in far northwestern Ontario, long ago they joined me for some great dinners. I do miss those days of no salt water, and I also miss the Lake Michigan salmon fishery. I used to catch a few coho, kings, brown trout, lakers, and steelies and would smoke them and lay out the smoked fillet out at Christmas...they would always quickly disappear. Fun times and I can count the number of times I was skunked on one hand with fingers left over in more than 20 years of fishing there.
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Post by Fritz on Aug 25, 2023 17:32:57 GMT -5
We still fish Erie all summer when not in NC. Along with the walleye we actually get steelhead pretty regularly as well. We used to keep our old 2660 WAC docked in NY on lake Ontario and competitively fished salmon tournaments for years. You used to do very well and made a ton of money over the years. Haven't been back to Ontario for 6 years or so. Hope to make a trip or two next summer, lord knows I have a garage full of salmon gear. Saltwater is our passion and are lucky enough to spend 90 plus days at our place in Hatteras NC.
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Post by jski59 on Aug 26, 2023 0:09:08 GMT -5
I knew a few guys would recognize that old favorite. The Great Lakes can be a good time, plus you don't have to wash all your fishing equipment and flush the motor when your done …and you can jump overboard for a quick dip without anything biting you in the a$$!
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