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If you are looking for incredible walleye fishing, look no further than Lake Erie!
It’s in part to the sheer size and volume of walleye caught here that Lake Erie topped our list of the best fishing lakes in Ohio. And if a recent study from the Ohio Division of Wildlife is to be believed, it’s only going to get better!
Ohio’s Best Walleye Fishing Gets Even Better
According to Travis Hartman, administrator of the Lake Erie Fisheries, the 1980’s were the first “golden era” for walleye fishing on the lake.
However, that may be changing…
“Nowhere in the world will you find better walleye fishing than on Lake Erie right now,” Hartman told Cleveland.com. He attributes an excellent spring hatch to the forthcoming surge in walleye population.
Hartman then stated that the current harvest rate of .08 fish per hour was “blowing the 1980’s catch rates out of the water.”
The 2019 catch rate is also sitting unofficially around one fish per hour, which is double that of the 1980’s.
Catch Them While You Can!
Over a seven year period, the number of walleye caught on Lake Erie has grown tremendously and no one can figure out why…
That said, the numbers don’t lie. As reported by D’arcy Egan at Cleveland.com, approximately 417,000 walleye were caught on the lake in 2011. In 2018, that number jumped to nearly two million!
So what does that mean for avid anglers?
For one, it may be a good time to sign up for Lake Erie’s Walleye Fall Brawl, one of the premier fishing tournaments of its kind in the world. 2019’s winner will leave with Warrior V208 fishing boat (and 300 HP Evinrude engine), valued at nearly $100,000.
With an entry fee of only $30, why not give it a shot?
Even if you are not interested in tournament fishing, hitting the water this Fall may still be worthwhile. Numerous anglers have been posting photos on Instagram showcasing their PBs this year.
Get it while the fishing’s good!
Have any great photos or stories from you experiences catching walleye on Lake Erie? Let us know in the comments below.
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