Fishing guide Randy Raudebaugh shows off a 29-inch walleye caught by his granddaughter Morgan.

By Mark Cahlik

The Lake Erie walleye bite has started to slow down a little, but fishermen are still steadily catching fish. Yellow perch have finally started to bite, but the fishing is not too good yet.

The drift-and-cast walleye anglers have been traveling a little further to find schools of hungry walleye, while the trollers have remained in the same spots where they have been finding success recently.
If you are choosing to cast, a good location is a few miles west of the weather buoy located north of Vermillion, close to the Ohio-Canada line. Single hook “weapon” spinner rigs with 1- to 1½-ounce weights have been the best combination. When you cast the weapons out, make sure to use a 15 to 25 count. One spinner blade that has been working well has been the gold blade.

Bigger blades, such as No. 4 Colorado blades, have been working as well. Don’t be afraid to change your speed of retrieval as well. Sometimes this helps to hook more fish.

Trollers have remained focused on the Cedar Point dumping grounds the last few weeks, working Tru-Trip diving planers with Silver Streak or Stinger spoons. Set these rigs around 60 to 90 feet back for the best results.

The white perch have started to bite and both casters and trollers have noticed. If you are casting and notice that you are getting “hits,” don’t be quick to set the hook right away. Keep reeling your line in because most of the time, it is a white perch. As long as you keep reeling, a walleye might still bite on your bait. Bigger spoons will keep the white perch off your bait.

This has been the best week so far for yellow perch. The catches weren’t sensational, but given a little time the limit catches should start appearing. All four corners of Kelly’s Island have had hits on yellow perch. If emerald shiners aren’t available, golden shiners have been working. Bring your bait off the bottom a little and don’t be afraid to leave your motor running while you fish.

A special bonus for you all this week is that the rock piles in Canadian waters have been producing fish, especially the Wagon Wheel structure. The walleye have been in the 18- to 20-inch range. If you want to get your Canadian license and venture north, stop into the Bay’s Edge bait store and Shannon can help you out.