Wave Forecasts???

I have to tell you... I really look forward to fishing Lake Erie. What a phenomenal fishery. I've been going with friends and have been taught the ropes by some of the best, but I've really been trying to get my own boat out on the lake and do it myself. I watch the ever changing wave forecasts on the NOAA site, both open lake and near shore. If I had a dollar for each time they were wrong, I could retire!

Today was no different. Forecast was 1 to 3's with winds SSW 5-10. So, Nick, Walt and I packed up and headed North. We got to the ramp at 6AM just as the sun came up. There was another boat heading towards the sandbar just East of Lorain, and as soon as he cleared the breakwall, there they were. 2 to 4 foot rollers. Definitely not what I wanted to see. Safety is always first, and taking my 18 ft Crestliner Canadian into building seas makes me a little nervous. Winds were out of the NW, but were supposed to change up, so we decided to give it a shot.

We headed NW, but the waves pushed us back. Much easier running, trolling with the waves. After a while, we got set up in 38 ft of water and started trolling NE. we had two crawler harnesses out, mixed veggies and Mi Hi, and two spoons, monkeypuke and double orange crush. Orange has been the HOT color this year for sure.

We trolled out to 50 ft of water, crossing several areas of good marks on the Garmin. We pulled 3 sheephead, a white and yellow perch, and the winds were changing. More West, but they were'n't slowing at all. We decided to turn for the ramp and troll in. After about 15 minutes, the monkeypuke spoon got hit. I handed the rod to Nick, who was trying to balance himself in the back of the boat. The rod was set 80' back, dipsey on #1 setting, and the fish slammed it in 48 ft of water. I thought it was another sheephead, but I was wrong. He got it to the side and I saw the white spot on the tail. It was about a 4 pound walleye, and there I was, without the net! I grabbed the leader and when the wave rolled, I lifted the fish in the boat on the momentum. SWEET! The hook then fell out of the fish's mouth, but he was in the boat. We got a walleye.

Wasn't where I wanted to fish, but we took what we were given and worked with it. That's what fishing is really all about. Without the help from lots and lots of others I've fished with in the past, I'd have never even tried. Now, we have a couple real nice fillets to fry, bake, or grill. That's going to be a tough decision too!

Any comments or questions? Email me at cbachtel@wkyc.com and I'll get back with you.

I'm Carl "Big Daddy" Bachtel and I'll see you on the water.