A Fishing Recap of Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay With Photos

It's been awhile since I posted. Time has gone by. This post is just a few photos of the fish I caught and enjoyed eating from Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay. We have some great opportunities here in North Western Pennsylvania. Wish I had more time to fish, as my life often grows busy. One must remember to slow down, and enjoy the great outdoors. That is one lesson I often fail to observe. Hope you enjoy some of the successful days fishing.

Tioga Boar Ranch Hunting In Pennsylvania Boar Hunt

Decided to try out a new place to hunt. Made the trip to Tioga Ranch to hunt Trophy Boar in North Central Pennsylvania. Had a fantastic time on this hunt. Wanted to share with you some details and reviews. Spent two nights in the main lodge. Lodge was clean, comfortable, and cozy. Was given 3 hot meals a day. I must say this was the best part of the trip. Fed you like a king. A private cook made all the meals homemade. As much as you can eat and excellent quality. Guides were great. They were very accommodating and let you pick the type of hunt you wanted. Easy to get along with and very friendly. I shot a 250 pound boar, and was pleased. Boars were healthy looking and plenty big. Nice set of woods to hunt. I must say this is a high fence hunt, and does not compare to the open wilderness, but still had a good feel to it. Top notch service, they did everything for you. Just show up with your gun and some ammo. I will be back next year and I encourage you to do the same.

A Guide To Duck Hunting Presque Isle Blinds Erie PA

We are well into the 2016 Duck Hunting season in Erie Pennsylvania. I just wanted to share with new people about the excellent duck hunting you can have off Presque Isle Bay. Here is how it works. The whole process is overseen by the local Duck Club NPDHA. You have to fill out an application after Labor Day to get in the blind drawing. Then winners meet and go in order drawn to pick their blind locations. Winners have a few weeks to construct a blind on Presque Isle. Blind owners have priority hunting in their own blind. If an owner does not show up that day, the blind can be used by a licensed hunter on a first come first served basis. There are generally open blinds available. Come to Erie and enjoy some fast wing shooting!

Son Gets First Buck In Pennsylvania Rifle Deer Season 2016

Took my son on the first day of deer season 2016 in Pennsylvania. He is 14, and just in his second season of deer hunting. Last year was discouraging, as he missed his first chance at a deer. Luckily, this season proved to be better. I was fortunate enough to have him come along with me as he lost interest after missing deer last season. He surprised me on opening day by waking up early and heading out in the woods. We sat quietly on a nice ridge before dark and waited for first light. I could see he was eager to hunt. Good fortune came when a beautiful 6 point walked through the pines below us. I prayed that deer would stop and give him a shot. The deer stopped broadside in an opening in the pines. My son pulled the trigger of his .243 and I knew it was a good shot. The deer buckled and jumped behind some brush. My son's excitement was unbelievable. The hardest part was to keep my son from running down the hillside after the deer. I told him we were to wait sometime to make sure the deer had time to die. I was not sure where he hit the deer yet, and did not want to push an injured deer further in the brush. We waited a painful hour before I let him go down to where the deer stood in the pines. When he arrived, there was no blood. Just fur. His heart sank, and was in anguish. I told him I could see it was a good hit, and for him to slowly look for the deer. He picked up fresh tracks in the mud and about 30 yards in the thick stuff I heard him yell with joy. He screamed "I see a deer" and was looking at this beautiful buck laying dead under a tree. I gave him a high five as he began to light up with excitement. He dragged it to a creek a few yards away. I showed him how to gut the animal and get it ready for dragging. This was a blessed day. He immediately became excited to hunt again and has been hunting with me this last part of the season. It took just a little success and luck to put the hunting passion back into him. I only hope he continues the tradition as he grows older. It was a very special day for him and me both as we both enjoyed Pennsylvania's great outdoors. I am very thankful.

PA Pheasant Banding Fall 2015

Went on an enjoyable pheasant hunt on opening day in North Western PA. Three of us hunted a Gameland in Crawford County. Had great success limiting out with a good bird dog. The exciting thing was I shot a beautiful ringneck at first light that was unusual. When my dog brought it back to me it had a leg band. This year PA is participating in a pheasant study. Approximately 5000 birds were banded. Over 200,000 will be stocked without leg bands. The study will help determine hunter harvest rates. I am very fortunate to harvest a bird with a band. I promptly called the Game Commission number on the tag to report it. Several questions were asked to help retrieve data for their very important study. They need this information to improve pheasant hunting in PA and have accurate data on hunter harvests. I also learned that there are different colored bands. I am very fortunate to get this bird, especially when you think about predators and the small numbers of birds banded. I strongly encourage all hunters harvesting a banded bird to call.

Late Winter Pheasant Hunt Northwest PA Game Preserve

Decided to take my son and my nephews out for a late season pheasant hunt in northwest PA. This is a great time to find a local Pheasant preserve in your area. We found a good one in Albion PA. Most of the small game is gone on PA gamelands this time of year. With tough winters game becomes scarce. It's worth a few dollars to keep the kids interested.Research game farms and read reviews. Meet the owners and survey the land. We worked heavy cover in rough snow conditions. Birds held very tight and stuck to larger brush piles rather than open fields. Make sure you hit it hard, as birds will not move at times. Also, tracking was very effective. We found many sets of tracks leading to piles of structure. Kids had a blast and it was a great day spending time with family hunting.

Spring Boating Out Of presque Isle Yields Limit Of Yellow Perch

Took the boat out for the first time of the year. Ice has just left the bay, and we anchored in deep water targeting perch. 3 of us ticketed out by 8:30am. 90 perch I the cooler. Wide range of sizes from 7inch to 15. Shiners on the bottom with spreaders.

Spring Crappie Fishing Presque Isle Bay Erie

Took my boat out on Presque Isle Bay for some early crappie fishing. Fished just outside a weedbed in shallow water. Found a hot spot, started catching fish immediately. Look for warmer water areas just after ice. Target structure and weed beds. Used a white jig head tipped with emerald shiners. Single split about 1 foot and half down from small bobber. Crappie were stacked and plentiful. Were excellent tasting in very cold water.

Take A Kid Squirrel Hunting In Pennsylvania

Took my son out for his first squirrel hunt of the year. Decided to go with a 16 Ga single shot. Loaded up with high base 4s. Was able to get close to a beauty. Son made out with a nice squirrel. Some pointers. Squirrels are tough. They have thick hides and I feel it is better to use a lower shot size and more powder with these animals. My son hit a few last year with a 410 and low base but the squirrel escaped. This year we upgraded and he had his first squirrel kill. Look for sign and sit quietly. If no action, move. We did three moves before locating this guy. Beechnut was the key. Found a large mast and posted up. It didn't take long. Was very enjoyable and he has a trophy tail to forever remember this special outing.

Ringneck Pheasant Hunting On PA State Gamelands

Went out for a late season pheasant hunt on a Northwestern PA state gameland. Birds were scarce and tough to find. Took my young bird dog for a long days hunt. She did well and flushed two cock pheasants. If you put some time and determination on gamelands, they will produce. I found these birds in heavy cover. Not in open fields or by parking lots. Work the edges and find birds on the inside curtain of woodlots. I pushed thickets and and went through heavy cover. Birds this time of year are pressured and become quite educated. You must go after them, and search good hiding places. Allow your dog to work the cover thoroughly. I often hit spots of thick cover several times at different wind angles. Most importantly, watch your dog. Your dog will lead you to birds if you take them to good habitat and thickets. Go where most hunters stay away from. Take that long walk and fight the thorns and briars. It will pay off.

Channel Catfish And Smallmouth Bass On Lake Erie

Took my son out for an evening trip fishing Lake Erie. Anchored in 49 foot of water off the Point of Presque Isle. The perch pack was much deeper. Found a nice pocket of fish on the fish finder and decided to stay several miles from the pack. Caught many jumbo perch, a nice channel catfish, and a nice smallmouth. I rarely ever head towards a pack of boats. Scan the area and find your own fish. Many times these fish will cooperate more and you will do good. Look for structure, baitfish, and marks on the finder. If you spend some time scanning the Lake, you will be rewarded.

2 Man Limit Of Lake Erie Yellow Perch Off Point Of Presque Isle

Took my son for an evening of perch fishing on the boat. Went out to 57 foot of water off the point in Lake Erie. Fished with emerald shiners and landed a 2 man limit of 60 yellow perch. Calm lake and a beautiful evening. Fish were turned on right before a front. Jigged off the bottom with spreaders. Lots of fillets for the deep fryer!

.17 Cal Savage Deadly On Woodchucks

Took my son for an evening woodchuck hunt in North East, PA. Son saw two chucks, and dispatched them both with his Savage .17. Two great head shots at 150 yds. Very accurate firearm. Would recommend it for varmits anywhere. Was a fun and exciting evening teaching him ballistics and stealth shooting.

Shallow Water Lake Erie Fishing Reels In Action

Tried to venture out to the perch schools today in deep water. Strong West winds kept me away. Instead of giving up, I fished shallow water with safer waves. I caught a limit of Perch and several nice bluegill. All you have to do is focus on structure. I scan the shallow water with my finder and find areas of dense structure. Drifting over them, with light tackle, produced amazing results. These areas held a nice variety of panfish. I worked jigs tipped with minnows and covered many small areas of structure.

Presque Isle Bay Erie PA Spring Crappie Bull Bluegill Action

Went for an evening trip on Presque Isle Bay in Erie PA. Found a sweet spot loaded with nice size panfish. Flipped a minnow over the wall and landed Crappie, Perch, Big Gills, Rock bass, and Smallies. Nice action and kept some for the freezer. Fished a cold front, NW winds howling. Water temp 65.

Yellow Perch Still Thick In Erie Channel

Took an evening trip fishing the channel in Erie PA. Found nice numbers of yellow perch. Sizes were various up to 12 inches. Caught many fish, keeping 22. Strong west wind right before a front and the fish were very turned on. Surprised how many perch were still around with water temp at 51 degrees. Many perch left and still have a week or more to catch them. Nice to see some large numbers of fish.

Mudpuppy Off South Pier In Erie PA

On a recent fishing trip I caught a strange creature. A nice mudpuppy, which is actually an aquatic salamander. They live entirely underwater and forage on the bottom. They are nicknamed Waterdogs, as they can produce a bark like sound. Interesting catch. It is common in the cold waters of Erie PA to catch these creatures while targeting cold water fish.

Nice Size Perch And A Good Perch Season So Far In Presque Isle Bay

Caught a nice batch of fish in the Bay of Erie today. Fished evening and caught some nice sized perch. Wind was due East and very strong. Water temp 42 degrees. A few dinks but mostly large yellow perch. Must tale advantage of this time of year.

Nice Size Perch In Erie Bay On Windy Night

Caught a nice small batch of large yellow perch and a couple of crappie in the Bay of Lake Erie. Cold 37 degrees and windy. East North East winds. Water temp 42. Couple of dinks but kept some nice Lakers. Fish seem to bite with lots of chop. Should be a great week.

Slow Day For Perch on Presque Isle Bay

Fished entire day for perch. Landed one fish on a shiner. Perch was a 2 lb Fat female. 14 inches long. Felt like a Walleye. That was it for the day with one bite. Strong Direct East wind shut off all fish today with no action. Water temp still cold at 40 deg. Hopefully wind direction will change and have a better day tomorrow. Was a nice time landing a State Citation fish.