Yellow perch fishing has been the highlight of the recent Lake Erie fishing scene.

BY MARK CAHLIK

Well, we had to fight some severe storms this week on and off, which only slowed things a bit after the storms. It did not take it long, however, and the bite was on again.

Yellow perch fishing is still on fire right now. Plenty of places are producing limits. I have seen limits coming from north and south of G Can at the firing range, B Can and Green Island are producing limits as well.

I did hear a report that the perch are starting to bite off the Marblehead Lighthouse close to the shipping lane. It has been a fast and early morning bite for perch, so the fishing cleaning operation has had lines out the door as soon as it opens.

Gear does not seem to matter right now. Both traditional spreaders and vertical rigs baited with emerald shiner minnows are doing well.

Catfishing has been a bit slow during the daytime hours of late. The night time bite is still going good, though. Bait of choice seems to be cut bait or shrimp. If you have never tried the catfish charters, I would highly recommend checking into them. The charters are still producing nice boxes of catfish.

Walleye schools have been moving east into the deeper water due to the water temperatures. There is still a strong bite on at the weather buoy northeast of Kelleys Island on the Ohio-Ontario border.

Trollers are still running Tru-Trip diving planers and trolling nightcrawler harnesses about 80 to 90 back, with the best trolling speeds of 2 to 2.2 miles per hour. I have received a report a little bit closer to home this week as well. North of American Eagle Shoal and straight up the middle between Kelleys Island and South Bass Island. They have been running Tru-Trips and spoons 30 to 40 back at 2 miles per hour. A few charters have been going there and doing well.

The casters are still running the same program of using a single hook harness and nightcrawler behind a short leader and a 1- to 1-1/2 ounce weight. Reports are coming that walleyes are being caught around Niagara Reef, just west of the Lake Erie Islands.

Have a good week.