BY MARK CAHLIK

Walleye fishing around Lake Erie continued to be good all week in spite of the extreme weather conditions. At the beginning of the week we had 95-degree weather with no winds and Saturday we had winds out of the north at more than 35 miles per hour that kept fishermen on shore.

The hot walleye bite continues to be at the weather buoy on the Ohio-Ontario line off Vermilion whether you are trolling or casting. Fish are also starting to show up at the dumping grounds off Cedar Point. Casters are still using 1-ounce to 1 1/2-ounce barrel sinkers with single-hook Weapon-style spinner rigs tipped with a piece of nightcrawler.

The retrieval for the small spinner rigs is slow and deep.

Trollers have been using many different techniques. The most popular is a Tru-Trip diving planer and small trolling spoon. These are set back at 80 to a 100 feet. The second technique has been using crankbaits. Over this past week the third technique has been using worm harnesses behind the Tru-Trips.

When using worm harnesses, remember that trolling speeds should be slower. Anglers have also been getting walleye on the rock piles off the islands. The rock piles have been very rewarding if you are only out for a two-man limit. The average depths have been 20 to 22 feet on and around the rock piles.

Another great species that has made an appearance in the last few weeks is the largemouth bass. FLW Toyota Series tournament anglers were unable to get out on Lake Erie on Saturday, but they were able to fish around Sandusky Bay. The top areas for largemouth are weed beds and small rock piles. Drop shot rigs were the best way to fish for bass right now. The largemouth bass weighed in were as hefty as four-plus pounds.

As it has been for the last few weeks, catfish has still remained strong. Using chicken livers or raw shrimp while fishing in the Sandusky Bay area has been producing great catches. The sizes of the catfish being caught have been above average.

We have had some reports of yellow perch being caught, but not many. The coal docks in Sandusky Bay have given up some perch. Emerald shiner minnows have been in short supply at bait shops in recent weeks, but are in stock again at Bays Edge Bait and Tackle. With the shiners finally appearing, perhaps the yellow perch will start biting.

Until next week, keep cool, keep a tight line and be safe everyone.