This year’s algal bloom 2025 forecast last week by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Ohio Sea Grant researchers calls for a mild to moderate HAB in Western Lake Erie this summer. NOAA

Crankbaits are starting to become the summertime mainstay while trolling for walleye on Lake Erie. This selection of Dead Eye diving plugs has been popular. (Submitted photo)

BY MARK CAHLIK

The Lake Erie walleye fishing has been torrid under the hot and humid summer weather as we head into July. The consistent catches of walleye have delighted anglers from all around the area, including out of state fishermen making their annual pilgrimage to the Walleye Capital of the World.

Hot summer weather has also provoked harmful algal blooms (HAB) around Western Lake Erie in recent years. This year’s algal bloom 2025 forecast last week by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Ohio Sea Grant researchers calls for a mild to moderate HAB in Western Lake Erie this summer.

The bloom is expected to measure 3, with a potential range of 2-4 on the severity index.

The southerly winds and steamy weather over the past few weeks have produced calmer waters and good fishing conditions, especially in the Huron, Vermilion and Lorain areas. The near shore fishing has been good very early in the day, with most focusing on the 35- to 45-foot depths. The search for trophy walleye has focused on relatively deeper waters and along the Ohio border with Canada.

There has been a slow transition to trolling Dipsy Divers, Tru-Trip Divers and Jet Divers, especially the versatile 40 Jet, with larger spoons and a variety of crankbaits, from the Dead Eye and Bandit diving plugs to Reef Runners and Rapala X-Raps. Small spoons had been a mainstay for weeks, but larger spoons have begun boating more trophy walleye.

Drift fishermen are still casting weight-forward spinners and single blade spinner rigs, both tipped with nightcrawlers. Larger 1- and 1.5-ounce barrel sinkers are best for targeting walleye close to the lake bottom, or in rough waves. Lighter weights are working on schools of fish swimming high in the water column to feed.

While spring and fall have traditionally been the top times of year to go after yellow perch, especially in the Western Basin where there is still a 30 fish per day limit, studies have shown yellow perch have changed their feeding habits, according to Ohio Division of Wildlife fisheries experts.

As the waters warm in in late spring through midsummer, yellow perch feast on mayflies and tiny spiny waters fleas, an invasive species. As the spring hatches of juvenile fish from the Maumee and Sandusky Rivers and the western Lake Erie reefs make the scene, the schools of yellow perch transition from mayflies and fleas to the tiny fish.

As a result, the good midsummer yellow perch fishing off Catawba Island, the Lake Erie Islands and Kelleys Island might be just around the corner. Emerald shiner minnows and golden shiners fished close the rocks will again be the key to taking home plenty of perch dinners.