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Lake Erie Charter Captain Dave Adams of D & D Charters answers questions and provides tips and insights into fishing the region.
If you would like to Ask the Captain a question, please click HERE.
March 9, 2003
Sully Asks:
Capt. Dave -
With the long cold winter and Lake Erie being frozen over, what effect do you think it will have on the Pa. walleye fishing this summer?
Sully
Captain Dave's Response:
Hello Sully,
I don't know the scientific reasons, but each time the lake freezes we have good walleye fishing that following summer.
Some anglers - other Captains, also - say it's because of the baitfish kill when Lake Erie freezes. Or maybe it's because of the summer weather patterns that follow an El Niņo
winter. Either way, I excited about this summer.
And the Ohio Department of Natural Resources agrees. This is from Roger Knight, Lake Erie fisheries program manager for the ODNR Division of Wildlife.
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
ANOTHER YEAR OF GREAT LAKE ERIE FISHING EXPECTED FOR 2003
An abundant 2001 walleye hatch will enter the Lake Erie fishery this year. As a result, state fish biologists expect this season's anglers to reel in plenty of good walleye catches.
The plentiful two-year-old fish from the 2001 hatch will measure 13 to 15 inches.
Anglers can also expect to catch a good number of fish from the 1999 hatch that will measure 16 to 18 inches. Anglers should anticipate 20 to 26 inch catches from the 1996 and 1998 hatches, as well as some fish from earlier hatches now in the Fish Ohio category at more than 28 inches.
"Long cold winters normally benefit young walleye by helping reduce the numbers of other fish species - such as gizzard shad, alewife and white perch - who compete for the same food sources as the walleye," said Knight. More important to a successful walleye spawn, he added, is warm and mild spring weather.
Knight said it is worth noting that it was the combination of cold winters and mild springs during the 1980s that helped produce that decade's now world-renowned Lake Erie walleye fishery.
"We actually have just as many spawning walleyes in Lake Erie today as we did in the early 80s," said Knight.
Let's hope this predication holds true. Because after this winter, we all could use a break.
Good Fishing,
Capt. Dave Adams
Dave Adams is an author and professional charter captain who operates D & D Charters on the Pennsylvania waters of Lake Erie.
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