Most people who know me on the fishing forum know that I'm a huge Erie fisherman. I go up 10-12 weekends every year (Mainly May-September) and fish both onshore from the beach my cottage is on and my marina as well as offshore on my 22' boat. I'm also a very big "oddball" fisherman as the locals would call it. Most up there fish for walleye, yellow perch, smallmouth, and steelhead. While I occasionally target them or catch them I mainly fish for white bass and white perch, Sheaphead (freshwater drum), and HUGE Sunfish with the occasional trip to the trenches for some walleye or rocky outcroppings for smallies. I also do steelhead for one or two weekends in the fall. Anyway, I'm going to be targeting some new species this year as well. These include early-mid spring inshore walleye, channel cats and/or bullheads, northern pike and/or muskellunge, and large amounts of yellow perch. I've caught almost all of these fish, just not in Erie so I'm not familiar with the best ways to catch them up there. So here is what I already know about these fish and what questions I have.
1) Spring Walleye- fish early April until early May at night. Should I use lures or livebait? Does is matter where i fish on shore? I've heard the walleye come near shore at this time to feed on steelhead fry but where I fish at by my cottage isn't extremely close to any creek mouths, it does have structure though.
2) I've tried night and evening fishing for catfish many times both on my boat and my pier with no luck. When should I fish (morning, afternoon, evening, or night)? What should I use for bait? What kind of setup/rig should I use? Where should I fish?
3) All I know about Erie pike is to fish in spring. When in spring is best? Where in Erie (Erie, PA) should I fish? What setups, bait, and/or lures should I use? Is it possible to catch them with lures in the main lake near shore or is the bay better?
4) I normally catch 20-30 perch a weekend but I always see people limit out with fin an afternoon, I fish where most of the boats are in a cluster. What setup should I use? What bait should I use? Anchor or drift?
Thanks to those who can help answer my questions and hopefully I have even more fish to show for it this year!
1) Spring Walleye- fish early April until early May at night. Should I use lures or livebait? Does is matter where i fish on shore? I've heard the walleye come near shore at this time to feed on steelhead fry but where I fish at by my cottage isn't extremely close to any creek mouths, it does have structure though.
2) I've tried night and evening fishing for catfish many times both on my boat and my pier with no luck. When should I fish (morning, afternoon, evening, or night)? What should I use for bait? What kind of setup/rig should I use? Where should I fish?
3) All I know about Erie pike is to fish in spring. When in spring is best? Where in Erie (Erie, PA) should I fish? What setups, bait, and/or lures should I use? Is it possible to catch them with lures in the main lake near shore or is the bay better?
4) I normally catch 20-30 perch a weekend but I always see people limit out with fin an afternoon, I fish where most of the boats are in a cluster. What setup should I use? What bait should I use? Anchor or drift?
Thanks to those who can help answer my questions and hopefully I have even more fish to show for it this year!