Here's why I hate fishing in Ohio...after 3 days of reeling in 7 to 12 lb hog walleyes your arms and shoulders start hurting!
Why I hate Fishing in Ohio
- Thread starter Jackalope
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Nice fish. I bet they're a blast to catch. But one lake at the extreme northern border of the state does not make ohio a good fishery.
They're still slaying the monster crappie all over the state back home.
Down on the coast the speckled trout bite has really turned on.
And we shouldn't forget the always available monster bluegill
They're still slaying the monster crappie all over the state back home.
Down on the coast the speckled trout bite has really turned on.
And we shouldn't forget the always available monster bluegill
My buddy has been slaying the crappies at East fork . Not sure how far that is from you Joe . He always does great there and catches alot of 13" plus crappies
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Thanks. Worth looking into. The only place I've really had a good time fishing was AEP ponds for gills. Slayed them on a tip from the Fluteman.
He consistently does good there yr after yr , so I know it's not a fluke or nothing either . Good luck
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This is not to prove any points, or even give an example of why I'd rather fish the cool, clear waters of northern Michigan or Canada than anything I've ever encountered in Ohio... Its just a story that happens to be on par with Ohio fishing as I know it.
My mom loves to fish for perch. To her, there is no other desirable fish in any body of water. Sure, she will put the knife to a walleye, but she'd rather have perch. They are staying up at Lake Erie this week, not just to fish, but more to get away from home for a week. And, today is her 75th birthday. Having just buried my father in law, my priorities are set correctly again, so when she asked if I'd like to run up there and go fishing with her and dad, I said sure.
Mason and I left home at 3am yesterday, and yeah I called him in to school and lied without shame that he was sick. We arrived in Port Clinton about 630, fooled around a bit, met up with Mom and Dad and took off on a "head boat" at 8. We mistakenly sat at the back of the boat, where there was plenty of noise and smoke from the old diesel engine to enjoy all freaking day. We had to yell to communicate, and the fumes were just awesome. The captain explained to me that he likes to leave the engine run as the vibration attracts fish... BTW, during our visit to wonderful Lake Erie, I bagged two perch, Mason and Dad each caught three, and Mom did not catch a single fish. It was the same across the boat, no one caught squat.
Mom asked the first mate if this was an exceptionally bad day. He said it was for this time of year due to the warm temperatures. The water temp was 74, and he said the perch do not school well until the water temps drop to -70. So, apparently, even catching the lowly perch is tricky on the legendary Lake Erie. Ha. Of course, I heard the same garbage about catching perch when Mason and I visited Lake St Clair a couple years ago. But then I was on my boat and set Mason to find perch as he was tired of catching smallmouth. He tore them up as only a boy trained to catch perch on muddy Rocky Fork can. Perhaps if I'd taken my boat and fished habitats I usually find perch in things would have been different, who knows. I can tell you this, fishing in 32' fow or 16'fow or anything in between while relying on the deafening drone and smoke of a diesel engine to bring in perch does not work all that well.
I just got a text from Mom. It appears they are on the ferry en route to Put in Bay, so I'm sure it's still going to be an enjoyable trip even though the water is too warm to catch fish. Ha.
My mom loves to fish for perch. To her, there is no other desirable fish in any body of water. Sure, she will put the knife to a walleye, but she'd rather have perch. They are staying up at Lake Erie this week, not just to fish, but more to get away from home for a week. And, today is her 75th birthday. Having just buried my father in law, my priorities are set correctly again, so when she asked if I'd like to run up there and go fishing with her and dad, I said sure.
Mason and I left home at 3am yesterday, and yeah I called him in to school and lied without shame that he was sick. We arrived in Port Clinton about 630, fooled around a bit, met up with Mom and Dad and took off on a "head boat" at 8. We mistakenly sat at the back of the boat, where there was plenty of noise and smoke from the old diesel engine to enjoy all freaking day. We had to yell to communicate, and the fumes were just awesome. The captain explained to me that he likes to leave the engine run as the vibration attracts fish... BTW, during our visit to wonderful Lake Erie, I bagged two perch, Mason and Dad each caught three, and Mom did not catch a single fish. It was the same across the boat, no one caught squat.
Mom asked the first mate if this was an exceptionally bad day. He said it was for this time of year due to the warm temperatures. The water temp was 74, and he said the perch do not school well until the water temps drop to -70. So, apparently, even catching the lowly perch is tricky on the legendary Lake Erie. Ha. Of course, I heard the same garbage about catching perch when Mason and I visited Lake St Clair a couple years ago. But then I was on my boat and set Mason to find perch as he was tired of catching smallmouth. He tore them up as only a boy trained to catch perch on muddy Rocky Fork can. Perhaps if I'd taken my boat and fished habitats I usually find perch in things would have been different, who knows. I can tell you this, fishing in 32' fow or 16'fow or anything in between while relying on the deafening drone and smoke of a diesel engine to bring in perch does not work all that well.
I just got a text from Mom. It appears they are on the ferry en route to Put in Bay, so I'm sure it's still going to be an enjoyable trip even though the water is too warm to catch fish. Ha.
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Buckmaster
Senior Member
Heck , I know Chad has been having days where they were getting 90 perch in 90 minutes and also 120 in a couple hrs. That's been a month or so ago .
I rarely hear good reports from the head boats although at times they do good. But the islands area has been really good for perch this yr .
I rarely hear good reports from the head boats although at times they do good. But the islands area has been really good for perch this yr .
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I'm not familiar with the islands enough to tell you which ones we were close to. However, we went by Put in Bay and continued north, I think, beyond another island. There were 50+ boats in a swarm... we went right on by them and on to another area where there were NONE. I assumed all those boats meant those folks were on 'em, but maybe not. I know this captain liked being all my himself, we were never close to another boat, and apparently not close to many fish! 
You were most likely between green and rattlesnake West of South bass . Been people doing good in that area and it's historically a good area . But I don't have much faith in head boats . Some days they do good tho. Sorry it didn't go better . Erie is a pretty amazing fishery . But it definitely has off days . The next few yrs are gonna absolutely amazing for walleye there .
Sorry Brock... head boats generally suck. If you or your folks do it again, have them go out of Catawba on a head boat from Tibbels Marina. They're usually pretty in tune with the perch bite this time of year. Perching has been damn good this year... better than the last four years combined... sorry but you guys got on a lemon.
My brother has been catching limits on the lake. You got screwed and that deck hand is full of shit. Sorry you had a bad experience, I'd have your mom call someone that knows their shit. I'm pissed off just reading your post.
This was Monday.
This was Monday.
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Ha, figures! I did some snooping online before heading up. I saw that the boats out of Fishermans Wharf were turning in pretty good fish counts, which I thought was cool. Mom, however, went over and scheduled herself on a boat out of "Shore Nuf", I think out of the Drawbridge Marina. They were really nice folks, and I was surprised that the store was not at all over priced. I suppose if they were better at the fishing part of it they would not be so nice and accordingly priced. ha.
Mason was pretty disappointed, as were we all, but I had mistakenly told him we would likely catch a bunch. I mean, it isn't like we were musky fishing...just wanted to catch some freakin perch for crying out loud.
Mason was pretty disappointed, as were we all, but I had mistakenly told him we would likely catch a bunch. I mean, it isn't like we were musky fishing...just wanted to catch some freakin perch for crying out loud.
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Mom is not one to quit due to a bad experience. She is going out tomorrow with the fellas JB suggested. They told her they did well Monday but it's been slow since. Hopefully they will hit em tomorrow.
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My brother has been catching limits on the lake. You got screwed and that deck hand is full of shit. Sorry you had a bad experience, I'd have your mom call someone that knows their shit. I'm pissed off just reading your post.
This was Monday.
Exactly. Sorry to hear about it all Brock, perch fishing for us has been nothing short of awesome since the first week of August. One more reason it's worth spending a few more dollars and going on a private charter boat versus being at the mercy of a head boat. Alot easier to move around and a captain that is more willing to look for fish.
Me and my wife were up there last weekend and went out on a head boat for the first time. We went with shore nuf . We had a good time caught about 40 perch met some nice people. All in All it was a good experience she wants to do it again next year. But maybe I will try a charter service next year.
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Just got a text from mom. They are enjoying themselves today, catching a few fish too. Thanks for the suggestion, Jim. She likes this gang a little better and apparently they have been shutting down the engines.