2007 Reports
2006 Reports

Fishing Reports

Send Fishing Report to Erie Reports

I just got the first "on the water" report for this season.  Here are the high points of the report, directly from the e-mail:

"Went out of Mazurik saturday 8:00 to 4:00. Two of us managed 5 fish. Water clarity was fishable. Moved probably 10 times with the most marks in 32' near the lighthouse. Could not get any from this area though. Got the fish from a couple of spots in front of Lakeside 25', where there were very few marks and they were belly to the bottom. 2-24" females and 3 males. Been doing this March thing for 25 years and these fish are gone from this area by April 1 no matter what the temp has been. What surprised me the most was the lack of fisherman in this area? Saw 2 other boats all day. The fish all came on chartreuse jigging raps, couldn't get a sniff on anything else. We usually jig aggressively but Saturday a 6 inch lift with long pauses was the only way for us."

It's hard not to be both excited and nervous for the LEWT tourney this weekend.  It will be great to be back out with the real possibility of catching trophy 10+ pound fish, but with the ice so recently out (and still hanging around in some areas) you never quite know what to expect.

Don't forget about the WBSA meeting tomorrow (Tuesday).  See the front page of the WBSA web site for details.  I might have to miss this one, but it will be a good one.

Travis

The conditions are starting to improve, but very slowly.  There is still a fair amount of ice off of Port Clinton, around the Bass Islands, and on a few reefs.  Most of the fishing activity that I've heard of has come from people heading out of Turtle Creek and jigging the reefs.  I decided to spend Saturday working on the boat and equipment.  I didn't end up going out.  Hopefully the warmer rain predicted will get rid of the rest of the ice.  If conditions allow I'll be out at the end of the week pre-fishing for Saturday's LEWT.

Travis

April is almost here, and after not giving up old man winter is finally losing his grip.  The temperatures in the 10 day forecast are improving, granted, only to the mid to upper 40's, but I'll take it.  After the wind yesterday all indications are that the western basin ice is quickly breaking up and melting.  I don't think that I would count on totally open water or all ramps being open in the next few days, but access is quickly improving.

I have most of my spring boat maintenance completed and if the opportunity presents itself I might get the boat out this weekend on a shakedown cruise.  It's none to early, as the first LEWT is next Saturday April 5 out of Fenwick Marina on Turtle Creek.

Don't forget about the WBSA meeting next week (see Marc's post below).  It's looking like I won't be able to make the meeting, but this will be a good one that everyone should attend if you can.

If you get out send us a report.  I'll post if I make it out over the weekend.

Travis

March 21, 2008 (Friday) Marc Fishing politics rant

" At our next meeting on April 1, Fred Snyder and Dave Kelch of Ohio Sea Grant will be here to help clarify the issues I discuss below, including the new border crossing regulations, proposed permits for all recreational boats to discharge bilge and boat cleaning water, the Great Lakes Compact and what it means for water diversions form the Great Lakes, and the current status of Aquatic Invasive Species prevention"
" Please read my message below to understand the importance of these issues which Fred and Dave will discuss"

What in the world are our politicians thinking?

This is going to be long because I really don’t know how to say it all in a couple of sentences but everyone that loves Lake Erie or even fishing and the outdoors in general should know what’s going on in our Halls of Justice!

This all started out for me back with the Commercial fishing buy out proposal which, by the way didn’t happen, although there was an alternative bill passed making it more easily enforceable to nail cheaters. I can accept that but it was a long drawn out fight that in the end I don’t think anyone was really pleased with.

Mostly my angst started last month when I listened to a Customs and Border Patrol Officer explain the new procedures for travelling back and forth over the Canadian line to fish. It is Oh So complicated and confusing and while doing research to try and make sense out of it, other even more glaring and ominous governmental actions just kept slapping me in the face until finally I had to stop and think about what in the world is going on here!

Are we the same country that cheered the coming down of the Berlin Wall, put men on the moon, and saw the end of the Cold War with Russia when that giant crumbled (Will we be the next to crumble). Are we really a country that has enabled 19 Islamic Suicide bombers in one day, to change the structure and freedoms of the greatest country ever in known history? Why are we allowing millions of illegal’s to come in the country and even giving them food stamps, education and free medical care when hard working US citizens struggle to pay taxes, higher education costs, gasoline, electric, health care, milk and anything else you can think of, all at the same time they are taking away the simple pleasures we have known on our lakes and streams in a haphazard and almost vicious way. Did we unwittingly elect PETA to run this country for us or what!

Enough Bitching- Here’s the gist

Invasive Species

Washington lobbyists for the shipping industry have waylaid plans to keep invasive species out of the greatest freshwater system in the world for so long that it is in danger of being ecologically damaged in ways that it may never recover from. The lobbyists have saved their clients millions upon millions of dollars in equipment changes and regulatory changes but at the same time have cost the US citizens billions of dollars in clean up costs and lost revenues due to species lost already. This battle for change has been going on for over 18 years since the zebra mussels showed up and opened everyone’s eyes to the dangers of ballast waters. Some US congress persons have made lip service to getting something done but in reality we are still where we were in 1990 and beyond.

Border crossings without touching land

Pleasure boaters that have been fishing in Canadian waters for the last 200+ years will now be required to jump through hoops and plan there trips way in advance if they wish to do so in the future. If they don’t have their T’s crossed and their i’s dotted then they take the risk of severe penalties for being ignorant American citizens and will be treated like criminals with the possibility of confiscated boats. Even if they do have there paperwork together and follow the laws they are still subject to harassment if they even venture close to the border. (Anyone ever pass between North bass and the Canadian line, that will be like a speed trap in a small town).

Charter Captains have it even worse, way worse! They will be required to do extra paperwork, get extra licensing and possibly have to check ID’s of there customers to make sure they are who they say they are. TWIC cards will cost $135, passports, NEXUS cards and whatever else a boat over 30 feet has to have. I’m sure there’s more but you get the idea. Many will simply quit going over there to fish but that will cut into an already thin bottom line and some will probably just give up and get a real job or try to live on other income if available. This could have a huge economic impact on North Coast cities that will already be strapped.

And to top it off will it really make us safer? I doubt it, any self respecting drug dealer or terrorist will just find a hole in the other thousands of miles of unprotected border to come through, while we give up our rights and freedoms to make Lou Dobbs and Bill O’Reilly feel better!

Discharge permits for watercraft

This one really gets my goat! I don’t know the exact details but because a shipper complained to a US court that Discharge laws weren’t being enforced across the board to recreational boaters the court decided in his favor. Due to this ruling the EPA, and Watercraft enforcement will require discharge permits for every watercraft in the country sometime in 2008. Rumor has those permits costing anywhere from $300-800 a year and each state will require one, which will mean that if you take your boat to Lake Superior or Ontario for Salmon fishing or any lake for that matter you will be required to buy a permit in that state as well. These permits will be required for all watercraft, jet skis, rowboats and sailboats included. Fishing is going to get even more costly!

Everybody wants our water

There’s been in the works a pact between the Great Lakes states for several years (I heard 8). All states have ratified this pact to protect the Great Lakes from water raiding from dry states like Arizona and New Mexico, except Ohio. Ohio wants wording changes in it before enacting it. If this occurs all the other states will have to approve the change but in all likelihood they will want to make changes also which will delay it even further, which opens the door for the Feds to start building a pipeline along with tanker trucks to get rid of it for us.

From my sources it looks like we are at the tail end (global warming excluded) of a high water cycle on the Great Lakes. Selling or giving water to other places will only exaggerate shipping, ecological and fisheries issues.

Lake Erie Commission Walleye and Perch Task Groups

I received today a breakdown of the LEC task force reports for Walleye and Perch. I really haven’t had a chance to study it yet but it looks like this year will be another banner year for Lake Erie Sport fishermen with the exception of perch in the west end of the lake.  TAC’s have been cut again for both species but since the sport fisherman hasn’t meant quotas except for perch in the West Basin which were exceeded in 2007 the effect on us will be minimal this year. It does look like this could change in 2009 though with the poor hatches in 2005 and 2006 and the 2007 hatch of Walleye that was just about average not able to stabilize the population, there will possibly have to be cuts in TAC in 2009. It appears that nature is the biggest culprit in both producing good hatches and also in natural mortality of the fish. Between natural mortality and bad hatches we are almost sure to have more reductions next year. There is no one to yell at about this (but I’m sure some will anyway) and basically we have to hope that our Natural Resource peoples stay on top of it and protect our stocks as well as they can!

Where do we go from here?

What needs to happen is to have a ground swell of activity from all sportsmen and women. Talk to your parents, kids, grandkids, neighbors and just become a pest and nuisance to our congressional representatives. That is all they understand and will do nothing until we raise enough hell!

We are under attack from all fronts

I don’t usually get hysterical over things but I am near hysterical over all that is going on. Gas prices, minnow availability (remember that one from last year), marina prices will probably have to go up because of regulations covering them this year but that is another issue, and now all this. WHAT’S NEXT! We need to join forces and fight these ignoramuses that run our government, once these things become law it will be even harder to overturn them, it’s that simple and starting April 1^st we’ll take that first step.

WBSA has invited David Kelch and Fred Snyder from the OSU Sea Grant Offices in Lorain and Port Clinton to come to our appropriately dated meeting on April 1^st at the Brass Pelican in Sandusky. Both of them have been involved in all these issues from day one and understand them and can explain them better than anyone else I know of. Please attend, this is some very important stuff that will affect everyone that boats or enjoys the Great Lakes. It should be a very lively meeting and worth a couple hours of your time even if you have to drive a ways to get there.

Now on a happier note (if you can afford the gas). The ice west of the islands is mostly gone. Marinas and boat ramps are still locked in but my guess is that by mid week (Mar 25th or 26th) there will be some hardy anglers heading out, me included. Of course that depends on winds, as always, but i really don't see a lot of ice moving back from east of the islands and there is a lot of it from Vermilion to New York. If any of you get out and have some pics you want to share please email them to us along with some advise. If you have questions just ask. Travis loves to help out when he can and is raring to get some good reports up here again.

It seems like we've slowly started to gain some ground on the ice, but this weather isn't helping much.  Although it's supposed to rain tonight and through tomorrow it won't help much without warmer temperatures on the horizon.  More open water is showing up offshore and we need the nearshore/harbor ice to go away so that we can get out to the lake.  More often than not there is open water fishing to be had by mid-March, but we're headed towards April and I won't be putting my fiberglass boat in any of the ramps that I normally use very soon.

The river fishing might be the first to turn on.  A few fish have been caught in the Maumee.  The biggest problem right now is the high water, fast current and muddy water.  The rains on the way won't help.  I would count on the river fishing to pick up as soon as we get this rain through and the level and flow come back down to a reasonable range.

I can't wait to get out and start trolling for the big girls.  Right now it looks like I won't be out too many days before the LEWT on April 5.

Travis

We actually got a good ice fishing report from this past week.  John Hageman, the Stone Lab manager and South Bass Island ice guide sent the following:

"There has been quite a slaughter going on from the Island for the past week. As of Friday, there was still over 10" of ice all the way to Rattlesnake Island, where most of the fishing activity was taking place. I took home a 29 1/4 incher that my spring scale read 10 3/4 lbs on Thursday. We threw back 10 fish Monday, 15-20 on Thursday, and 8-10 on Friday (limit by 0930) by the time we quit at noon.

Lots of 22-26 inchers, with 3 to 6 YOY white perch each in their bellies. Years ago, I would have thought they were clear-cut 6+ year-old fish, but with Travis's recent talks about the aging research DOW has done with otoliths, I am less sure if they are from the '03, '01, '99 or earlier hatches.

This winter has been a real mess, with first too warm of temperatures, then cold weather, but with too much wind to freeze the Lake, then too much snow to travel on the ice, then muddy water that prevented any catching, now a blizzard on the 7-8th of March that will make travel very tough, if not impossible again for a couple of days.

It was good to get to do some "fun fishing" this past couple of days, before I have to work in Columbus and Cleveland all next week.......Maybe there will still be enough ice when I get back to PIB on March 17th??"

Thanks John.

Travis

I've got the  info from the customs and Border Patrol office scanned in now. The links are below:

The first three pdf's are copies of the Customs and border Protection (CBP) Flyer 0000-0639 March 2007

http://westernbasinsportfishingassociation.com/I68/1.pdf

http://westernbasinsportfishingassociation.com/I68/2.pdf

http://westernbasinsportfishingassociation.com/I68/3.pdf

This pdf file is from the CBP publication No. 0000-0644; Revised January 2008

http://westernbasinsportfishingassociation.com/I68/cbp644.pdf

This PDF is info for Charters and boats for hire and is new info not on an official publication yet but received from the CBP officer from Sandusky, Ohio

http://westernbasinsportfishingassociation.com/I68/forhire.pdf

 We had a doozy of a storm yesterday and right in the middle of it I received an email form one of the ice guides about how good the fishing has been recently between S Bass and Rattlesnake.  2 people were pulled off the ice yesterday during blizzard conditions after they lost orientation on their 4 wheeler. They put themselves and the rescuers in harms way and are most likely resenting their decision now. It won't be long now and we are all chomping at the bit but please use some common sense (me too) when going out in the near future. 

Well the weather really kept a lot of people away last night but we did have our meeting with the Border Patrol Officer.  Travis report on Sunday was right on the money except for the part where it stated that you could cut across Canadian water without reporting in. We were advised that no matter what the circumstances are you need to report and this was by the people that actually do the paperwork and checking.

You may hear something different from other agencies but it won't matter if the Border Patrol checks you. They are attempting to get everyone on the same page.

Bottom line is that if you want to fish Canadian waters you will be better off if you just go ahead and get your I 68 for yourself and persons that will be going with you on a regular basis. You probably should go ahead and get a passport as well because in 2009 it will be required as well. Without an I68 form you or your passengers without one will have to report in using a videophone on your return.

Procedures for charters crossing the border are more complicated and if you are a Charter Operator your best bet would be to either go to a Border Patrol office or to at least call to get the info. There will be 35 new officers in 2008 compared to 1 in years past so expect to be checked if you fish over the line and possibly if you spend a lot of time near the border.

Chris (WBSA secretary) is scanning the info we received last night and we'll be posting it on a permanent link in the next few days.

Now, my personal thoughts on this issue. This or something like this is something that probably should have been done long ago. It's hard to swallow because enforcement of our border has been so lax for so long but there are some serious issues with drug running, illegal alien entry and possible terrorist activity. If you can get past your immediate frustration over it I think most people will realize that at least for the sport fisherman it's not going to be that big of a hassle to comply. It will cost some more money however. The I68 is around $16 and a passport is much more. They did tell us last night though that a passport card will be available for around $25 but it will not get you on an airplane. A regular passport will be needed for air travel.

The fishing charter procedures are much more complicated and need to be changed (IMO). The only way that will happen is if enough people call their federal representatives and get the ball rolling.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do this year. I missed fishing up there last year with the crazy stuff that was going on. There was a lot of training going on and a lot of misinformation being passed out last year and a lot of animosity from the boaters. It should be better this year, at least I hope so. Remember this though! The officers that enforce these laws are just like the cops on the street. They had nothing to do with making the laws but are responsible for enforcing them after they are enacted. If you're going to get upset with someone get upset with the persons writing these laws and treat the officers that check you out with courtesy at least. Arguing will get you no where except possibly on a TV wild chases and COPS segment.

Now for good news for the Erie boaters. The ice on Erie, I think is pretty much all busted up and ready to float east. My guess is that I'll have my boat in the water in about a week and no more than 2 weeks from now. It's been months since we had any good fishing reports and I think there's at least a couple of those big girls laying out there waiting for me.

The WBSA will be holding their March meeting tomorrow, Tuesday March 4 at the Brass Pelican in Sandusky (414 W. Perkins Ave.) at 7 pm.  A representative from the border patrol will be there to discuss the requirements for crossing the border and fishing Canadian waters.  It should be a good topic.  We'll see how well my interpretation of the rules matches what is said tomorrow night (see yesterday's post).

Today the middle of he east half of Sandusky Bay (the lower bay) opened up.  All the current from the Sandusky River and warmer temperatures were more than the ice could handle.  After this afternoon we're headed for some more cold weather, but at least things are starting to open up.

Travis

Cabin fever is pretty much at an all time high.  The end is in sight now that we're into March.  The annoying ice that hasn't been much good for ice fishing could be on its way out with the forecast.  I think that we're at least a few weeks away from open water at best, but it's coming.

If you haven't started already it is definitely time to get reels cleaned, harnesses tied, and crankbait hooks checked and replaced if necessary.  If your boat is in a garage it's time to start getting it ready.  The first Lake Erie Walleye Trail tourney at Fenwick is only a little over a month away and the field is full.

I heard some interesting information this weekend.  I listened to Coast Guard and Border Patrol speakers at the Sea Grant charter captains' conference.  It's time to pay attention to the border crossing rules.  The old days of running to Pelee and back without checking in are over, especially if you are a captain running a charter trip.  Please do your own research and arrive at your own conclusions, but here is my take on what was presented yesterday.

If you are a recreational boater/fisherman, and you want to fish, swim, recreate, etc. in Canadian waters this year not much has changed, but you're going to need to follow the rules that have been in place.  The simplest way to be compliant is to carry a driver's license, passport and I-68.  The passport can be substituted with a certified birth certificate, but you're going to need the passport in less than a year, so get it now.  The I-68 is optional, but you better get it.  If you don't have an I-68 you will be required to visit a videophone to complete your check in, and the only three videophones are at Brand's in Port Clinton, Cedar Point, and South Bass.  Save yourself the hassle and get the I-68.  They cost something like $16 and you can get them at a customs office (the Sandusky airport customs office is the most convenient around here).  The I-68 is good for one year and will save you a lot of hassle.  The bottom line is that you need to communicate your border crossing.  When you're headed into Canadian waters in the morning call 1-888-CAN-PASS to report entry into Canada.  Have your OH numbers, passengers names and birth dates handy (along with your own) and let them know the intent of your trip.  In the past they have been very friendly and even if you are reporting that your going to dock in Canada they don't require much other than the call.  At the end of the day when you are returning to the US call 1-888-523-BOAT to report returning to US waters.  Have your passport/driver's license/I-68 numbers for you and any passengers ready.  As long as you have only fished, especially if you haven't landed on Canadian soil or bought anything, you will be fine, but please make the calls.

There are an additional 35 border patrol agents on the water compared to last year and if you get stopped it will be much, much easier if you have your documents and have made calls to report your travels.  The only exception to doing all of this is if you cross the border into Canada and then return into the US without stopping.  If you are on plane going from point A to point B and simply cross and come back as part of your route you don't have to report.  If you stop or throw in a fishing line while in Canada you better report to both the US and Canada at the two numbers above.

If you are running a charter trip for hire it is really going to be more extensive than in the past.  You don't have to have an I-68 as the captain, but you have to go to the customs office one time before the season starts to file a CBP form 3171.  It's free and it takes the place of your I-68 when running charter trips.  That's far from the end, though.  Every single day that you enter Canada you MUST fax (216-267-7274) a list of clients that includes their name, date of birth, citizenship, and passport/driver's license numbers.  You must then call 216-267-3600 to verify that the list showed up.  The list must be faxed the night before or morning of the trip before you leave the dock.  On the way out you should call the 888-CAN-PASS number to report to Canada.  As much as 1 hour before you return you need to call the US at 888-523-BOAT to report your re-entry.  They will then instruct you further.  You might be able to proceed to your dock.  You might have to submit to an inspection.  No matter what, your clients will have to go to a videophone, but that is not the captain's responsibility (until 2009, then you will be responsible).

It all sounds like a mess, and it is certainly different than business as usual in the past.  Here is my suggestion.  Forget the past.  Don't even consider complaining or fighting the system when you're on the water.  You're only going to make it more difficult for yourself.  Play by the new rules, end of story.  If you are unhappy about the new regulations it's time to start contacting your state and federal representatives.  Don't argue with the border patrol or coast guard, they are following orders and won't care.  Changing the system is a political issue.  You won't get any sympathy from the on-the-water agents.

Travis