Perch Slow In The Bay

Just a quick report. Been walking around and scouting the last few days. Have not fished this week due to very poor reports. All fishermen I talked to targeting perch along the bay front are doing very poorly. Several guys had no bite at all. I saw a small number of keepers. Two per angler was the average. Very slow at this time. Some small perch have been more aggressive, but they have been dinks. Not really worth fighting the weather yet. We have had strong East winds and rain, making it difficult pier fishing weather. The water temp is still 36 degrees at this time. We need more daytime sun to warm that water and turn them on. Forecast is not good with snow expected tomorrow and low temps to start off the week. It looks like it will be another week before they get started. Will continue to scout the area and will post when the perch arrive.

Get Educated On Fishing

One way to greatly improve the prospects of a good day fishing is to do your homework. Learn from others and seek out news and reports from quality writers and fishermen. In the Erie, PA area, there are some good contacts you could reference. Mike Bleech, a local outdoors man and writer, knows his stuff. You can find his articles in the local newspaper The Erie Daily Times News. Has some great tips, and quality writing. Additionally, you can refer to fisherie.com. Lots of posts, lots of reports on Erie area fishing. Only problem is it is primarily for those after Steelhead. Not much else. If you are into the "Steel", check this site out. Also, I want to suggest a blog by local resident Jeff Tombaugh. You can find it at fishlakeerie.blogspot.com. He gives some excellent reports. Nice current photos and updates on stream conditions. He has a mix of Steelhead and other species as well. I know him personally, a long time friend. He is a local guy, been fishing this area his whole life. Definitely worth checking out. I also hope you continue to read this blog. I will continue to give reports and update often. I also enjoy writing about the history of the region, especially the Lake Erie fishermen. I will continue to seek out local lore and provide historical accounts of Great Lakes angling. Also, there are some great journals and magazines out there. I tend to read those specializing in our region. Read about new techniques and the latest tackle. Another thing you can do is go to an Outdoor Show. We have many in our region. Most of them are in the month of March, so give them a try. Talk to guides and charters at the show. Call your local bait shops. They get firsthand information about whats going on. I regularly call them to get updates. Importantly, go scouting. Talk a walk down the pier or visit a busy stream parking lot. Talk to the guys just finishing up and see how the bite was. So, researching can greatly enhance your chances of success. Find out where the fish are, what they are hitting on, and listen to experts. Do your homework and you will find more fish in your bucket.

Tips For The Pier Fisherman

As I have fished many countless hours on the piers off Lake Erie, I have learned many tips from my "Old Timer" buddies. Hopefully this helps those interested in pier fishing.

1 Get Up Early- As far as perch are concerned, the bite is usually in the early morning hours. Many days I will catch one after another and then they simply shut off. Sometimes as early as 9:00 in the morning. You have to get out there at first light. I usually set up in the dark. I see many times fisherman getting there late morning and catching nothing as the old timers walk off the pier with full buckets.

2 Keep Those Shiners Lively- Keeping your bait cool and fresh is a must. I bring an extra bucket and rope to splash fresh water on them. Also a trick to keep those shiners alive is to use a cap full of hydrogen peroxide and add it to your bucket. Minnows last longer. Also the technique of putting that shiner on the hook is important. Barely hook them through the lip or the back so they stay alive and swim freely underwater. Many more strikes will come from a good presentation. Trust me.

3 Use a Good Cart- many times the perch are only biting at the ends of the pier and that can be a walk. Don't try breaking your back by hand carrying all that gear. Use a cart. You can make one, or buy one at a local grocery store. This way you can have your gear and importantly you are more apt to move around.

4 Dress In Layers- I see this all the time. Guys head out in the early morning and they last 15 minutes in early spring. Dress warm. Dress comfortably. Use layers so you can adjust as the air temperature increases as the day goes on. It may be 60 degrees inland in April, but off the pier it feels like 30 with the wind. Also, pack rain gear because fronts happen quickly in Erie.

5 Pack A Lunch- Bring food along, especially when there is a lull. Helps with motivation and the added calories keep you warm. Nothing like starving on the pier and heading for home instead of waiting for the next school to pass by. I always carry healthy snacks to keep me alert. Jerky, nuts, stuff that is light to carry but packed with protein.

6 Electric Is Easier- For cleaning those perch at the end of the day, try an electric fillet knife. For years I used a traditional fillet knife and I hated cleaning a full bucket of fish. When I tried electric, I was hooked. So much easier, cleaning a limit of perch is done within minutes. There are many brands to try out there. Find one that feels good for you and you will never use that old dull knife again.

7 Store Those Fish Properly- After the cleaning, storage is important. Many guys throw the fillets in little plastic bags as is, and they will get freezer burn. A simple method is block freezing them. Submerge the fillets in a container of block ice and they are good as new many months later. I use the bottoms of milk jugs and 2 liter pop containers. Cut out the bottoms, submerge the portion size of fillets you wish for eating, and cover with water. I use at least 2 inches of water to cover them.

8 Have A Fish Fry- Lastly, enjoy your catch. An avid perch fisherman can really rack up the fillets. The last thing you want do is waste those fish. What I often do in the off months during the year is have a bunch of people over for a fish fry. I will take out several pounds of fillets and fry them up with company. Also, share with that neighbor. Everyone knows someone that might not be able to get out as much anymore. Do the right thing and offer some Lake Erie Perch. That's an important part of being a good angler. Share your catch!

Blue Pike Fact Or Fiction

The mysterious Blue Pike. I have never seen one. I have never heard of someone in my generation catching one. Many people say they never existed. All one has to do is ask the experts, one of the Last Fishermen. I clearly recall one spring morning as I sat down to fish with one of my Old Timer buddies. Cold, crisp morning. Early April in Erie. On the wall of Liberty Pier. I was caught up in a very interesting conversation. The topic- Blue Pike. My "buddy" gave me a real life account of the species. He told me that Lake Erie was littered with them. How he, and countless other Erie anglers would head out in the lake to chase them. Similar to those after the now plentiful Yellow Perch. He recalled that catching them was simple, and they were quite plentiful. And mighty tasty too. Basically would anker down and jig for them. A jig tipped with a shiner bouncing off the bottom. One after another would be reeled in. Also one could bottom bounce by drifting to cover more area. They were all over the lake, and aggressive biters. Not huge like the Walleye, but toothy critters with a nice fillet for the skillet. He told me they had a nice chunk of meat that was battered and thrown in hot oil in a cast iron skillet. The famous Griswold types made in Erie were used. But something very bad happened. Party boats loaded with anglers chased them. He said many large head boats were common. Similar to the two operations now used in Erie to catch yellow perch. The Edward John and The Victory. He remembers people lining up to jump on board even at night to catch these Blue Pike. The true demise of the population came from the commercial fishermen. They used large and numerous nets to fill boats full. In those days, regulations and limits were not set as they are now and the fish became over harvested. Because the fish would stay in tight schools, netting was very lucrative and many people chased them up and down the shoreline. Eventually the fish became harder to locate until the population became extensively depleted. "A, sad, sad, day" he recalls when no more fish were to be found. But he insists they were real. And fishing for them was a true treasure. What a wonder it would be to have a population once again in our Great Lakes. What are the chances that somehow the species could be alive in the depths of our lake? Maybe someday, with the help of science and conservation, that the Blue Pike gene could be regenerated and reintroduced in the waters of Lake Erie. I hope others share this wish and would put forth time and energy to find a solution in getting the wonderful, mysterious species back on the list. I believe in them. I believe that we could have a population for our future. Maybe someday, I will be able to chase the mighty Blue Pike as my Old Timer buddies once did.

The Magic Of The Old Timer

Magic. That's what I call it. The magical sight of an old timer on the pier "reeling" them in one after another. As I sit beside one of these fishing machines, I am almost always dumbfounded. My pole lays still on the pier as his has never ending action. I try to look at this phenomena scientifically. We are fishing the same body of water. My line is merely feet away from theirs in the water. We are using the same bait(Lake Erie Emerald Shiners). We both have two rods in use. Same time of day fishing, same desire to catch fish, same eyes affixed to the tip of the rod. Of course mine are 20/20, who knows what the Old Timers vision could be. So why does my pole not move, and his bounce uncontrollably around from frantic fish bites? I can not scientifically prove any of this. The perch move up and down the channel and have equal opportunity to bite on any hook. Mine always cursed, theirs always needs re baited. My gear, fresh from Dick's Sporting Goods topping $100.00 a set up, and the old timer hasn't invested a cent in over a decade. Why?Why? I ask myself bouncing my head on the concrete. Magic. There is no other simple answer. There is a certain magic to their way. No matter the wind direction, the current, the barometer, strikes are always abundant around them. Its an earned reward to them, The Last Fishermen, whom have braved those piers forever and ever. A pleasant reward for their goodwill and hard earned labor. Someone is shining down on them as they continue to practice the sport they love to do. Though I am jealous, especially when I get skunked and they fill a bucket right next to me. But I must view it as a lesson learned. That someday, as I age with time, that the powers that be will send upon me, some of that special magic.

Say No to Steel

What I mean by "Say No To Steel" is there are other great opportunities in Erie than just catching steelhead. When I read FishErie all there are is reports on steelhead. For me, I would rather target perch or walleye. Steelhead are great fun to catch, but taste like mud. No comparison to perch fillets. I used to be an avid steelhead angler. Grew up catching them and the coho salmon. I would practically have the East Side creeks to myself. Unfortunately for the local angler, FishErie and the Internet attracted many slob fishermen from out of town. I have met many great guys in the streams and they are not all bad, but there are too many of them that come up to Erie for no good. They are the ones dragging stringers of fish, littering the banks, urinating behind houses. We never had those problems 15 years ago. Landowners loved us. We respected property and became close friends of the landowners. Now streams are too crowded, guys pushing in right in front of you. Guys snagging. You know who they are. Just turns me off. I do go a couple of times a year for the sport. I wait for the very worst weather and walk forever to get away from the guys. I know every hole and riffle in our local tribs, but I refuse to fight to fish. Fishing is supposed to be relaxing. Steelheading once was, but now is simply a zoo. I am happy of the revenue it brings to Erie. We really need it. I just let them have there fun. So you won't be seeing many posts here about the steel. This blog is intended for a little variety. I know other local anglers share this opinion and would like to hear from you.

Slow Day On The Bay

Checked out many places in the Bay today. Water temp still on the chilly side. Bite was real slow. Many anglers about today. Finally a bit of warmth in Erie with temps in the 40's. People everywhere off the piers and docks. Talked to alot of guys, either no bite or a few small perch. From my experience, about a week too early. I never usually get into them until after St.Patrick's Day. The only "hot spot" this week was a report coming from the Stinkhole. Crappies were caught, some decent size, from the guys in boats just offshore. Crappies will soon head closer to shore to find that warm water in the natural coves that hold good cover. I would advise hanging on another week to do any serious angling. It will start to get good very soon.

The Profile Of The Last Fishermen

The Last Fishermen. The Old Timers. What group of anglers do these phrases actually describe? I suggest the following profile. First of all, they are a group of men of age 70 years or older. They dress in clothing, or should I say rags, of worn glory. You can certainly tell by the rips and tears from the raging storms and the coats missing buttons. Never color coordinated, never clean, neat, nor trendy. Mere stained and weathered layers of clothes purchased from a different era. In addition to the mess of clothes one needs to challenge the elements, there are other tools they adorn. Importantly, there is the pier cart. They come in all shapes and sizes, mostly homemade masterpieces used to drag all the necessary tackle to the ends of the piers. Pretty much two beat up wheels surrounded by a cage like frame. Next is the wooden board used to lay the rods on. These, also, are hand crafted and well finished. You won't see old timers bending down to pick up their rods. Use a couple of buckets for balance and simply lay the board across for a nice platform. You need a good minnow bucket. Not the plastic junk of today's world. These are galvanized steel. The well built ones that last a life time. Names like Old Pal and Falls City adorn these beauties. Don't forget the rope. You need a long line to drop for water at the edge of the pier. Every time I see these ropes, all splintered and re knotted, I wonder when it will break loose. When I mention this to one of my buddy old timers, they shout "been good for 60 years, why should I change it now?" Then there are the prized rods. This I can not understand. I fish beside them fully equipped with latest gear and technology and they merely laugh. They bring two rods. Made of steel. The ones with glass eyes. With two vintage bait casting reels like a Shakespeare or a Phlueger. The ones that grind as they are reeled and hiss as fish are played. I awe at them and want to add them to my reel collection and put them under glass and they are scraping them every day on the cement. And importantly, there is the black line. The stuff thick as yarn and can be seen a mile away. I sit alongside with my mono filament ultralight tackle and can't believe my eyes. Is there anything I left out? Oh, I almost forgot, the black coffee.

The Last Fishermen

In addition to fishing reports for the Lake Erie area, I would like to include historical accounts of the last true fishermen of the Lake Erie region. What I mean by this are what are known as The Bucket Fisherman or The Old Timers. These are the true great ones. As I head out to the piers for spring perch season I am fascinated by these people. They are an aging population. Loosing numbers steadily. What I have come to notice is as I sit on the piers that I am in a small minority of younger anglers. The overwhelming majority of fisherman lining up to chase the perch schools are well over 70 years of age. I am in my mid 30's and am basically alone in my age group. These "Old Timers", I give the utmost respect for. They are a distinct population. Hearty, able to bear subfreezing Lake Erie temperatures, they have a certain unmatched passion for fishing. At first it was hard to be "accepted" by the group I call the Last Fisherman. They would crowd their buckets, avoid confrontation, and keep to themselves. But after my "proving" my self worth as an avid angler, willing to bear the same elements of weather and hardships on the pier, I gradually became a part of the local gang. I look up to them and respect them as my elders and mentors in the fishing arena. I cherish every moment as I sit beside them on the piers and share in conversation. I now realize they are the most dedicated fisherman one could ever encounter. Hearts of gold and stories endlessly to share, I feel they, too, also like my companionship. When I leave my driveway in the morning, still dark from early morning, I wonder who I will share my morning with. Who will delight me with real and vibrant stories of Erie's past. I only hope other young anglers will take to the sport of bucket fishing. I can honestly see myself alone on the pier in just a few short years. In upcoming blogs, I hope to reveal some of their stories and the passion they have for the sport of fishing. I sincerely hope others do share an interest in this amazing historical piece of Lake Erie fishing.

Bay Turning To Open Water

Drove down to Presque Isle Bay today to scout the perch fishing. Heavy rain and winds kept fisherman off the piers. Bay had a hard chop, but mostly open water. Perch action will get hot as the water warms. Perch now in spawn mode and will eventually feed heavy after depositing eggs. They will follow the large shiner schools in the Bay on the way out to Lake Erie. Soon you will be able to limit out from shore as the water temp climbs. I will be keeping an eye on the fishing in the Bay and will post as I get more news.

Ice Fishing In Erie About Over

Well, Ice fishing in Erie has finally just about come to an end. We had several weeks of good ice. I was able to venture out about a couple dozen times. Overall, a slow year. Fish did not seem to turn on this year. Looking forward to ice out and hot fishing action. Will post when I venture out next.