Just after the Ice Melts is the Best Time to Target and Catch Really Big Lake Erie Walleyes
Early season Lake Erie Walleye anglers have a decision to make: Troll just off the Reef Complex in 30 feet of water, catching post spawn monster females or heading to shallow humps all in front of the Davis Besse power plant including the beach and shoreline and catching quick limits of average size spawners.
Right after ice out even fishing near and under ice bergs some of the best walleye fishing of the spring occurs. Throwing hair jigs in the purple, pink, john deere green, ½ to ¾ ounce with stinger hooks always get the job done. Ocaisionally we use plastic twister tail in chartruese, green and purple. The best method is to cast under the bergs or fan cast areas that hold good spawning fish. I believe the heavier jigs also work some days because on the drop the silt will poof and cause a reaction strike from territorial walleyes wanting some privacy during there rituals. Most always we use powerpro braided line in the 20/6 pound test range and we tie a surgeon's knot with an 18 inch flurocarbon leader in the 20 pound range so that when you pop your jig vertical the bouyancy of the fluro leader lets your jig fall slower. We also cast our jigs downwind, let it hit the bottom' then snap it up around two feet on a retrieve, repeat this process keeping a somewhat tight line till your lure reaches back to the boat. Repeat this sequence, and when walleyes are non aggressive, just light lifts are the key. By the way this stlye of jigging is know as the Lori Cunningham Lift she has perfected this technique and she taught me how to truly kick butt on early spring Lake Erie Walleye Jigging.
Big Walleyes lurk in deeper water near the firing range buoys of A, B, and C cans, these are whats is know as the flats. Target them with a simple pattern of Smithwick Rogues and Reef Runner Deep Divers and RR Ripsticks. Our favorite colors vary on dark days purples, silver/black, golds and bright days cheap sunglasses, pink lemonade, perch and firetiger. We run them off our boards using 65, 75, 85 feet back on one side than 45, 50 and 55 on the other. Look at were the fish are marking and change depths until you find the depth they want, Than “Kallabonga Dude”. Keep in mind that some days after the females have rested and laid on the bottom for a few days, they will go on a feeding frenzy and they will suspend in the top 10 feet of water and you won't be able to mark them with your expensive fishfinder you must get your lure up to about in this feeding column and troll slowly 0.8 mph or less. Look for water temperature,when the temp reaches 45 to 50 degrees these Big Lake Erie Walleyes will feast and this when you will catch that trophy that you have dreamed about, Trust Me!
During the Spawn once the water temperature reaches around 40-42 degrees surface temp we will start casting may-fly rigs or weight forward spinners usually in 15-20 feet of water right off or between the reefs. Sometimes only a few degrees warmer water can be the key to catching post spawn walleye's wanting some meat instead of minnows which they have been forging on all winter. We also will drop a bottom bouncer down with a 1-2 ounce weight with a night crawler harness about 6-10 inches off the bottom.
Big wind, big waves and some big walleyes are three things you can expect from Lake Erie's Western Basin in spring. We're talking 30 mph gusts, 4 footers and 10 pounders. Check the local weather report and take lots of layers of clothes, light tackle, some jigs, minnows and head out for some big fun on this magnificent Great Lake.
