IceShanty.com's Ice Fishing Community
Indiana => Ice Fishing Indiana => Topic started by: Eastbay on Mar 03, 2014, 08:31 PM
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Why is everyone keeping these big females when they are clearly full if eggs. Anything over 5 pounds doesn't taste good (arguably anything over 3 from Erie). Replicas look better and last longer.
These people bragging about the fishing this year will be the first to complain in a couple years when the 2003 class is fished out and the only person they have to blame is themselves and everyone else who thinks like them (if its legal ill keep it!) sow what you reap "sportsmen"
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Why is everyone keeping these big females when they are clearly full if eggs. Anything over 5 pounds doesn't taste good (arguably anything over 3 from Erie). Replicas look better and last longer.
These people bragging about the fishing this year will be the first to complain in a couple years when the 2003 class is fished out and the only person they have to blame is themselves and everyone else who thinks like them (if its legal ill keep it!) sow what you reap "sportsmen"
I don't blame these guys for keeping these hogs, they're working hard and paying a lot of money to catch these fish. The state of Ohio will gladly pay to restock with the economic boom these walleye have created this year. Indiana should take note and develop a fishery like Lake Erie and help the small business owner. I personally believe the last two seasons that lacked good ice is the reason these pigs are plentiful, and personally I agree with your harvesting practices (anything over 4 goes back in the drink). However, I've made my piece with others keeping hogs in these premier fishing destinations. Best thing to do is take as many young people as you can out to enjoy this great sport and mold them into good sportsman! As in anything in life, usually those who get to reap what they sow, good or bad, will be a lesson they'll never forget and impacts the rest of their lives.
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We agree in some points but Indiana should make a fishery like Erie? What do you mean by that ? Erie is one if the Great Lakes. It is a freak of nature cut by glaciers that is a perfect walleye habitat. Man can't replicate that. Man can only destroy it or help nourish it.
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We agree in some points but Indiana should make a fishery like Erie? What do you mean by that ? Erie is one if the Great Lakes. It is a freak of nature cut by glaciers that is a perfect walleye habitat. Man can't replicate that. Man can only destroy it or help nourish it.
In my opinion, if it a perfect walleye habitat then it will have no problems sustaining the population. It's a giant lake and there's no way anyone could catch them all with a hook and line.
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We agree in some points but Indiana should make a fishery like Erie? What do you mean by that ? Erie is one if the Great Lakes. It is a freak of nature cut by glaciers that is a perfect walleye habitat. Man can't replicate that. Man can only destroy it or help nourish it.
I didn't say "walleye" fishery... Just fishery... Could be crappie, gills, musky or pike... Indiana has waters for that IMO.
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I`m just wondering if in 20 or 30 years I'll see pics of the Erie trips and the likes from this year on the Cabelas or Bass Pro walls and hear people saying "boy, remember when you could catch fish like that?" Basically saying the reason you don't see catches like you do in those black and white photos is because they kept all the big fish and selective harvest wasn't even a though. I wonder what the Erie fishery will be like in 5 years when all these breeders are no longer in the lake. Kids should be taught responsibility not just going fishing and keeping everything you catch. Actually, they should be taught to put the trophies back so their kids have a fishery to enjoy. Being a glutton doesn't apply to just eating.
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Webster, barber, tippy are already world class musky waters. I have a friend who catches a couple of 50"+ fish out of there every year. But by nature those are catch and release fish for 99.9% of the people who fish them.
But will that give a boost to small businesses? And what does that have to do with anything? We were talking about catch and release and you bring up small businesses. The fact is keeping these big females hurts more than it helps and there is NO reason to keep them.
I think it is a healthy debate to have but keep it on point and logical. This isn't "thank you for smoking"
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There are so many walleye in that lake, we as hook and line, regulated by limit, fishermen could never possibly deplete this stock. Yes, the '03 class is a great one, and there have been equally good ones in prior years and there will be in future years. Fish like these are taken from that lake day after day , month after month and year after year......and they're still there....
If a group of guys want to go through what it takes to do this trip, everything that it takes......and it takes a lot...and harvest these fish, so be it! They are within the law. If there was any fear of the loss of these fish and reproduction ramifications by their harvest, the Ohio DNR would implement a slot or trophy limit.
From all the latest research I have seen, your 18 to 22" "eaters" are the most prolific and successful reproducers in the walleye population, anyhow. The very reason many vulnerable fisheries have an 18 to 24" slot limit...So eat 'em up boys!!!
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I`m just wondering if in 20 or 30 years I'll see pics of the Erie trips and the likes from this year on the Cabelas or Bass Pro walls and hear people saying "boy, remember when you could catch fish like that?" Basically saying the reason you don't see catches like you do in those black and white photos is because they kept all the big fish and selective harvest wasn't even a though. I wonder what the Erie fishery will be like in 5 years when all these breeders are no longer in the lake. Kids should be taught responsibility not just going fishing and keeping everything you catch. Actually, they should be taught to put the trophies back so their kids have a fishery to enjoy. Being a glutton doesn't apply to just eating.
You need to go to Erie and see what that lake is really all about.....
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The laws and regulations are set for a reason. If people catching these big fish are in the bounds of the regs, who is anyone to say they cant keep them? If biologists see a change in numbers, that may impact thr walleye, im sure changes would be made. So ill let biologists do there job, and ill stay within the regs, weather i wanna keep a 10 pound walleye or not, but its my decision at this point
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Webster, barber, tippy are already world class musky waters. I have a friend who catches a couple of 50"+ fish out of there every year. But by nature those are catch and release fish for 99.9% of the people who fish them.
But will that give a boost to small businesses? And what does that have to do with anything? We were talking about catch and release and you bring up small businesses. The fact is keeping these big females hurts more than it helps and there is NO reason to keep them.
I think it is a healthy debate to have but keep it on point and logical. This isn't "thank you for smoking"
I would expect that reply from most people. However, it's narrow minded IMO... The government will diligently protect the things that impact their bottom line and special interests first. Why do you think there are some many CO's at the Maumee? Come to Indiana, and let me know how many you run into. The state of Ohio will build another hatchery before they let their bread and butter decline because to many residents depend on it. Just like the government will bail out a huge automaker. Without going into economics and government policy to much, I think you will see that the ebb and flow is decided by the pain and prosper of state government and it's the biggest decider... Just look at a warm water discharge?! Is it killing more fish then it creates jobs?! Only the government gets to decide not the sportsman unfortunately.
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Webster, barber, tippy are already world class musky waters. I have a friend who catches a couple of 50"+ fish out of there every year. But by nature those are catch and release fish for 99.9% of the people who fish them.
But will that give a boost to small businesses? And what does that have to do with anything? We were talking about catch and release and you bring up small businesses. The fact is keeping these big females hurts more than it helps and there is NO reason to keep them.
I think it is a healthy debate to have but keep it on point and logical. This isn't "thank you for smoking"
Between me and you, I don't know anyone that catches a couple 50"+ muskies out of those waters "every year". And I know a LOT of guys that fish for them out there. Sorry to get off topic, but that is a bold statement if you're anyone that knows anything about muskie and those waters in general. Not saying they're not in there, because I've seen them. I'm just sayin.
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Between me and you, I don't know anyone that catches a couple 50"+ muskies out of those waters "every year". And I know a LOT of guys that fish for them out there. Sorry to get off topic, but that is a bold statement if you're anyone that knows anything about muskie and those waters in general. Not saying they're not in there, because I've seen them. I'm just sayin.
Not to go off topic but yes multiple 50"+ fish every year. He is an excellent musky fisherman and I have the pictures to prove it. That's not the point if the thread but pm me and I'll send you the proof if you want it.
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I have personally been to Erie many times walleye fishing, so i know what it is about. My best out there is an 8.5 pounder, which i released. This discussion, or should i say the statements that "we can never over fish lake x" are so ignorant and short minded that they fail to remember all of the great fishefies around the world which no longer exist because "they couldn't be overfished." Just because you can "legally" do something is not a justification for doing something that is morally or ethically wrong or unwise. I fail to see why taking a great picture of a trophy fish is less manly than keeping the fish (not to mention the smaller ones taste better).
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"It's within the law" is the lamest excuse. There are bad laws.
And you want to rely on the government to regulate it properly but you are the same person who probably complains the government is "too involved in our lives" or "screws everything up it touches".
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Agree on the big eyes. BS on the multiple 50's.
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Agree on the big eyes. BS on the multiple 50's.
I knew there would come a time that we would agree on something ;D
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this lake has been spitting out fish at 10 lbs and larger for well over a decade. its everything a walleye needs to survive and the dnr are constantly doing test and surveys and they have dropped the daily limit twice in last decade. they are on the game over there. its not just a great fishery for walleye. has awsome catfish, perch, smallmouth too boot. slobs have been gettin pounded and chopped long before this internet came about to show the rest of the country. with that being said, what has changed on this lake in the last 10 years?? even during the mid summer months when these fish migrate to the next state to the east and get hammered and dont have eggs in them but still kept, what is the difference eggs or not? 45 million fish in the lake, im going to keep on keeping on! oh, and i forgot to mention what canadians and other tourists have kept out of this lake also. its not just the 03' hatch. there are multiple hatchs that have soared for this lake. u think the ice fishing is bad this winter?? go check out the jig bite. EVERY boat launch has hundreds of boats and even more trailers from guys hauling over. the guys that net perch during the summer, they fill quotas within a month, yet rhe lake continues to produce. i give kuddos to the dnr agencies involved on this lake all around! go get em boys! ;)
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Lake Erie walleye poplulation is nothing like it used to be. There are still millions, but at last estimates it is below 15 million vs 41 million in the late 80's early 90's. That is 1/3 the number of fish of Erie's hayday. Add to that the spawns since 2003 have been bad to average with no excellent years due to heavy winds, muddy rivers and other factors and the population is not getting any better. Soon those 2003 fish will all be dead. They really need a good spawn this year to push the population back up above the 20 millon fish mark. With the power plants killing off so many fry and YOY fish, I don't know why ohio does not increase the license fee 10 bucks per year and build a hatchery and dump 10-20 million walleye in there every year away from the power plants. The place is an eye factory and has proven it can support 40 million+ walleye. Ohio is gambling on nature being able to rebuild the population and it has not happened since 2003. Another 10 years of bad spawns and the fishery will decline to a point the towns along the lake that thrive from it will crumble. Those 10lb fish have spawned for at least 5 years. They have tried to contribute to the fishery even if nature has decimated the spawning grounds almost yearly for the past 10 years. I would not eat one that size, but would certainly keep one to mount. I have no issue with those that want to keep the fish they catch, as I don't think returning a few 10lb fish are going to make one bit of difference in the overall spawn success out there. Angler harvest is not the issue on Erie. It is bad sring weather and the power plants that are the issue. Like HT said...if Ohio has to, it will start a stocking program to sustain the fishery. If they do, expect a big jump in the license cost to fund it.
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Lake Erie walleye poplulation is nothing like it used to be. There are still millions, but at last estimates it is below 15 million vs 41 million in the late 80's early 90's. That is 1/3 the number of fish of Erie's hayday. Add to that the spawns since 2003 have been bad to average with no excellent years due to heavy winds, muddy rivers and other factors and the population is not getting any better. Soon those 2003 fish will all be dead. They really need a good spawn this year to push the population back up above the 20 millon fish mark. With the power plants killing off so many fry and YOY fish, I don't know why ohio does not increase the license fee 10 bucks per year and build a hatchery and dump 10-20 million walleye in there every year away from the power plants. The place is an eye factory and has proven it can support 40 million+ walleye. Ohio is gambling on nature being able to rebuild the population and it has not happened since 2003. Another 10 years of bad spawns and the fishery will decline to a point the towns along the lake that thrive from it will crumble. Those 10lb fish have spawned for at least 5 years. They have tried to contribute to the fishery even if nature has decimated the spawning grounds almost yearly for the past 10 years. I would not eat one that size, but would certainly keep one to mount. I have no issue with those that want to keep the fish they catch, as I don't think returning a few 10lb fish are going to make one bit of difference in the overall spawn success out there. Angler harvest is not the issue on Erie. It is bad sring weather and the power plants that are the issue. Like HT said...if Ohio has to, it will start a stocking program to sustain the fishery. If they do, expect a big jump in the license cost to fund it.
since 2003 there has been some great spawns, actually. yes none like the hatch of 03' and yes they have had some bad spawns, its nature, but no way u can sit there and say they have had a decade of bad spawns.
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since 2003 there has been some great spawns, actually. yes none like the hatch of 03' and yes they have had some bad spawns, its nature, but no way u can sit there and say they have had a decade of bad spawns.
All you have to do is look at the stats to see it. If you want to discard all the effort and work that goes into creating these stats, that is up to you. See the link http://www.glfc.org/lakecom/lec/WTG_docs/annual_reports/WTG_report_2013.pdf (http://www.glfc.org/lakecom/lec/WTG_docs/annual_reports/WTG_report_2013.pdf) and look at table 9 and figure 8 in the document. Table 9 clearly shows the 2003 year class had an index rating of 183+. Since then the best years 2007 and 2010 have an index of 25 and 26 which are 1/7th of what was considered an excellent spawn. 1/7th of excellent is average at best. Add in the other 6 years between 2003 and 2012 all had indexes in the single digits and you have 6 horrific year classes. Figure 8 shows the 2003 class contributed 65 million walleye to the 2yr old class in 2005. Since then only 1 year class (2007) has exceeded 10 million 2yr old fish. 2010 came close to 10 million 2 yr olds, but the rest of the years are below 5 milion with the avg around 3 millon. Tough to maintain a fishery when you are removing 1.5-2.75 million (anglers and commercial) fish a year and only getting and average of 3 million fish or less per year class making it to year 2 for 7 of the past 9 years. You can add the 9 years of walleye making it to year 2 since 2003 and you are ~41 million. That is 23 million less than the 2003 year class contributed by itself. If you can't see Erie is in for a walleye crash when the 2003 year class is no more (barring a couple above avg or excellent spawns), then you are ingnoring the obvious.
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Here is about the best facts I have seen posted anywhere. Quote credited to Wakina on Walleye.com.
"Astronomical numbers"
"Once the 2003 hatch became mature adults there were roughly 35,000,000 adult breeders in lake Erie! Now assuming that only half of those adults were females of breeding age that would be roughly 17,500,000 mature females. The average number of eggs laid by a mature female is roughly 250,000. Please read the last post in this thread in the provided link as it is my source for the average number of eggs laid per mature female."
http://ohioseagrant.osu.edu/discuss/...ic,1075.0.html
"So with 17,500,000 females laying an average of 250,000 eggs each that would be a total of 4,375,000,000,000. That is (four trillion three hundred seventy five billion) eggs laid. If only 1% hatched, that would be 43,750,000,000 fry and if only 1% of those fry lived to maturity that would be 437,500,000 (four hundred thirty seven million five hundred thousand) walleyes that would have survived into adulthood. So since those numbers have not or were not ever realized there has to be more involved than the few thousand females taken just before and during the spawn as you can see those few thousand fish would have a very minor roll in the total overall egg production.
Some more good reading based on 2003!"
http://ohioseagrant.osu.edu/discuss/...n.html#msg1644
"One more link!"
http://www.epa.gov/med/grosseile_sit...s/walleye.html
Furthermore, yes I agree with most about the females. I spend quite a bit of time while being out there trying to catch 16 inch males. I have been very proud of the guys I have taken out and that have fished with me because the females have been CPR only. Does keeping these females have a dramatic impact on the fishery? I don't know. I do know that I won't be part of any decline due to keeping females.
Call me crazy, but I think I would rather get into a hot perch bite out there right now over catching walleye!!!
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The next Indiana State Record Walleye will come from Lake Michigan in Indiana Waters....
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Lets throw a light-hearted wrench into the mess..
Steuben,
I don't know many guys on the site, us included, that have enough fingers and toes to count that high... Just sayin
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My point is that the larger females (8# and larger) are not the fish that are supporting this population. It is the fish that are 18 to 24 inches. Those fish that people call "eaters" and are harvested just a bit more than the 10 pounders........
If there is fear of a walleye crash on Erie, then we need to rethink what is considered the proper fish to harvest, gentlemen.
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personally, i wouldnt keep anything near 10#. thats not because im worried about the population. it would be because of whats in the fish. with all the stuff allowed to be dumped into the great lakes, how cold they not be contaminated. i would choose to er on the side of caution. especially where my children are concerned!
also i dont think hook n line fishermen could even put a dent in that population. you could send a beginner out there with a rod and a rapala and he would catch fish. there are millions, no wait, billions of fish in there.
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If youve ever seen a decline in in a species population in a lake of a significant size, it is always due to ecological reasons ( bad spring spawns most often) and not changing bag limits to go along with the changing populations. There is no possible way that hook and line fisherman would decimate the population of walleye in a lake the size of Erie if the regs are followed and the DNR keep up on the changing dynamics of the populations. With thatbeing said, I feel Ohio DNR have a grasp on what is needed to keep the walleye healthy and plentiful. And with any lakes that have great fisheries, there is ALWAYS ups and downs in populations....its cyclical. Quit trying to shame everyone and make them go by "your rules". I think its bad manners to insinuate that someone who keeps trophy class fish is not a real sportsman.
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Why is everyone keeping these big females when they are clearly full if eggs. Anything over 5 pounds doesn't taste good (arguably anything over 3 from Erie). Replicas look better and last longer.
These people bragging about the fishing this year will be the first to complain in a couple years when the 2003 class is fished out and the only person they have to blame is themselves and everyone else who thinks like them (if its legal ill keep it!) sow what you reap "sportsmen"
BTW...I think they taste great !
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personally, i wouldnt keep anything near 10#. thats not because im worried about the population. it would be because of whats in the fish. with all the stuff allowed to be dumped into the great lakes, how cold they not be contaminated. i would choose to er on the side of caution. especially where my children are concerned!
also i dont think hook n line fishermen could even put a dent in that population. you could send a beginner out there with a rod and a rapala and he would catch fish. there are millions, no wait, billions of fish in there.
X2...I always want the smaller fish to consume...big to catch and release ;) .. those big ones have many a year to store up all the contaminants. .. most fish that size shouldn't be consumed by children or pregnant women and by adults only once a month for a reason. .. hell I'm leery of bigger fish in local waters as well.
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personally, i wouldnt keep anything near 10#. thats not because im worried about the population. it would be because of whats in the fish. with all the stuff allowed to be dumped into the great lakes, how cold they not be contaminated. i would choose to er on the side of caution. especially where my children are concerned!
also i dont think hook n line fishermen could even put a dent in that population. you could send a beginner out there with a rod and a rapala and he would catch fish. there are millions, no wait, billions of fish in there.
the smaller class fish (males) stay in and near higher contaminated areas far longer than the females. they are staged in there far longer and even the females migrate to the east in deeper and 'cleaner' waters, while a good population of the males never migrate back west. so what is the difference between eating a 2-5 pound male, and a 7-11 pound female. the pcb's are there regardless. better just leave them for me, ill eat them!
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Fried up one of my 11 pounders last night and boy was it delicious. The 14.4 I got will not be eaten it's goin on the wall.
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the smaller class fish (males) stay in and near higher contaminated areas far longer than the females. they are staged in there far longer and even the females migrate to the east in deeper and 'cleaner' waters, while a good population of the males never migrate back west. so what is the difference between eating a 2-5 pound male, and a 7-11 pound female. the pcb's are there regardless. better just leave them for me, ill eat them!
With all the freezers full of fish you have you must eat fish 4-5 times a week. For those people who say that the bigger fish taste great I am guessing that they don't get to eat the smaller eyes from different waters all that often. As far as the bigger fish go I would keep 1 to put on the wall and let the bigger ones go. Can't be as good eating. For the fishermen who doesn't have the opportunity to get other fish to fill the freezer, than chow down, and keep them all.
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Its more about what those big fish are eating with the volume they consume and the multiple years they are doing along with the waters they live instead of where they are located in the lake...
Taste and long term health concerns do not add up.... or at least not to me. ..
Erie is a hell of a fishery. ..I don't go as much as I use too and for those that do that's awesome and I love the photos but I do hope folks take the advisory serious especially with bigger fish and especially when feeding it to your children. ...
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You guys who think a hook and line fisherman cannot depleat a trophy yr class of fish are completely wrong. I will prove why. look at how many anglers fish lake Eries all states and countries on both shore, Ice, and boat. Shore anglers put a beating on them at times too especially when they make spawning runs. Now look at how long its takes a walleye to reach the age class of trophy potential. factor in those fish now have to avoid canadas nets for years which take huge numbers of fish and you really only have a smaller percentage of fish that make it to that trophy size. The ONLY reason there are a lot of 28"+ fish around is because that year class was one of the better ones they have had in a long time so more were around to make it to that yr class. I don't personally know anyone who keeps more than 1 over 28" a yr and thats only to mount. One of my friends actually released the Indiana record Walleye 2 yrs ago it was just shy of 37" long and really fat, he does not keep big fish for any reason and doesn't care about records. Personally I thought my friend was nutz and I would of hung that one on my wall and claimed the record but thats just me. The even better part is watching anglers who think they have a 10# fish but its really a 8#. People really over estimate walleyes for some reason. If you want to continue to see good numbers of bigger females stop keeping everyone you get becasue over time that yr class is just getting smaller and smaller in numbers.
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Here is about the best facts I have seen posted anywhere. Quote credited to Wakina on Walleye.com.
"Astronomical numbers"
"Once the 2003 hatch became mature adults there were roughly 35,000,000 adult breeders in lake Erie! Now assuming that only half of those adults were females of breeding age that would be roughly 17,500,000 mature females. The average number of eggs laid by a mature female is roughly 250,000. Please read the last post in this thread in the provided link as it is my source for the average number of eggs laid per mature female."
http://ohioseagrant.osu.edu/discuss/...ic,1075.0.html
"So with 17,500,000 females laying an average of 250,000 eggs each that would be a total of 4,375,000,000,000. That is (four trillion three hundred seventy five billion) eggs laid. If only 1% hatched, that would be 43,750,000,000 fry and if only 1% of those fry lived to maturity that would be 437,500,000 (four hundred thirty seven million five hundred thousand) walleyes that would have survived into adulthood. So since those numbers have not or were not ever realized there has to be more involved than the few thousand females taken just before and during the spawn as you can see those few thousand fish would have a very minor roll in the total overall egg production.
Some more good reading based on 2003!"
http://ohioseagrant.osu.edu/discuss/...n.html#msg1644
"One more link!"
http://www.epa.gov/med/grosseile_sit...s/walleye.html
Furthermore, yes I agree with most about the females. I spend quite a bit of time while being out there trying to catch 16 inch males. I have been very proud of the guys I have taken out and that have fished with me because the females have been CPR only. Does keeping these females have a dramatic impact on the fishery? I don't know. I do know that I won't be part of any decline due to keeping females.
Call me crazy, but I think I would rather get into a hot perch bite out there right now over catching walleye!!!
Stueben1,
I would like to read the content of the links you provided but am getting "404 page not found" errrors when trying them. I tried to paste the link into a new window and same issue. Are they working for anyone else?
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when i first fished erie over 25 yrs ago, the limit was 10. way more boats fishing for them then than now. also rare to see eye pushing 10 back then. ohio dnr reduced the limit to 6, then 3 during the spawn. so you have to give ohio dnr credit for staying on top of the fishery. but there are other factors to consider. if you have fished open water you've seen the cormerants. they eat more fish than the fisherman catch. in the U.S. they are protected, but they do oil an shake the eggs like they do for problem geese. canada wacks them. mainly because canada commercial fishes walleye still. then you have the invasive species. if you have fished erie for awhile you've noticed the water gets clearer every yr. not very many people thought the perch fishing would collapse on lake michigan like it did, but it did. I don't have a problem keeping trophy fish, I just don't keep everyone I catch
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I fish L.Erie in Pa,Ohio and NY. in the late 70's till 92 and it was and is the GREATEST EYE FISHERY IN THE WORLD. All 3 states stock millions of fry and fingerlings,there will always be 10 lb fish and bigger.Natural reproduce is a small portion of the fish that grow up maybe as low as 1 or 2%. I agree the big fish are just nasty to me,after filleting them,theres the red nasty meat you must cut off them,thin then down to the right thickness or you have burnt fish on the outside and sushi in the middle. I caught 1000's of ERIE eye,most fish are really over 5 lbs and not really eaters but I keep tons of them,really way to many and supplied friends and family with most. I fished 3 days a week and limits where quite easy from June till late Sept.There's no way anybody can eat that many of them,once the started to talk about toxic in the fish I hardly ate any,got rid of the big boat in 93 and really gave up deep water fishing.I went back one time with a friend and fished shallow 25-40 fow and caught a two day ticket of eaters 18-22. To all the guys that put in the hard work,keep your 10 lbers,your not hurting,if you want to see hurting go to the snag fest Mumee River in Ohio in the spring. Canada nets walleyes and sells them.
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anybody who believes the hook and line fisherman killed the perch in lake Michigan is sadly mistaken....
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One of my friends actually released the Indiana record Walleye 2 yrs ago it was just shy of 37" long and really fat,
wow that big in Indiana? that's impressive, that would probably be a 20+lb fish, other than those lies from Tennessee many years ago no walleye over 20lbs has ever been verified, Washington's state record at 19.3lb was 35" long
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I remember a very dear old buddy of mines father was a commercial perch fisherman. He would catch his quota for the season (tons) of perch the first day out, setting miles and miles of nets. He would continue to go out every day and gladly pay the fine each day which wasn't but a few pennies compared to what the profit that was made daily. I remember buying live fresh jumbos for 1 dollar a pound, back in the 70's. This is what decimated the perch population in lake Michigan. If has taken decades to produce jumbos again quite often. Just my 2 cents. Hook and line fishermen had nothing to do with the perch demise, it was the commercial fishermen.
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wow that big in Indiana? that's impressive, that would probably be a 20+lb fish, other than those lies from Tennessee many years ago no walleye over 20lbs has ever been verified, Washington's state record at 19.3lb was 35" long
a 20 lb eye was just caught in WA state. its going through the process of being verified and such. at least thats the latest info, im sure here shortly all details will come about, rumor has it. ill see if i can dig up a link.
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the perch fishing on lake Mich. collapsed because of missing yr classes of fry. not sure were you got the idea i said hook an liners kill the perch. if your interested there is going to be a perch summit in ILL. on the 22 of march. all great lakes dnr fisheries,ball state perch researchers an all the top fisheries biologist will be there. can be veiwed on the web. there may be changes in our perch fishing in the future.
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Stueben1,
I would like to read the content of the links you provided but am getting "404 page not found" errrors when trying them. I tried to paste the link into a new window and same issue. Are they working for anyone else?
Not working for me either, Wax..!
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wow that big in Indiana? that's impressive, that would probably be a 20+lb fish, other than those lies from Tennessee many years ago no walleye over 20lbs has ever been verified, Washington's state record at 19.3lb was 35" long
Heres Missouris record.
Walleye
Pole and line 21 lbs. 1 oz. Bull Shoals Lake 03/26/1988 Gerry H. Partlow Linneus, Mo.
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wow that big in Indiana? that's impressive, that would probably be a 20+lb fish, other than those lies from Tennessee many years ago no walleye over 20lbs has ever been verified, Washington's state record at 19.3lb was 35" long
http://www.landbigfish.com/staterecords/fishrecords.cfm?ID=2 All of these states are lies that have fish over 20# as the record ?
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Stueben1,
I would like to read the content of the links you provided but am getting "404 page not found" errrors when trying them. I tried to paste the link into a new window and same issue. Are they working for anyone else?
Here are two of the links, I couldn't figure out the topic for the second link Steuben posted.
http://ohioseagrant.osu.edu/discuss/index.php/topic,1075.0.html (http://ohioseagrant.osu.edu/discuss/index.php/topic,1075.0.html)
http://www.epa.gov/med/grosseile_site/indicators/walleye.html (http://www.epa.gov/med/grosseile_site/indicators/walleye.html)
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With all the freezers full of fish you have you must eat fish 4-5 times a week. For those people who say that the bigger fish taste great I am guessing that they don't get to eat the smaller eyes from different waters all that often. As far as the bigger fish go I would keep 1 to put on the wall and let the bigger ones go. Can't be as good eating. For the fishermen who doesn't have the opportunity to get other fish to fill the freezer, than chow down, and keep them all.
if ya want some fish to eat just holler at me, more than willing to drop some off AL. lol
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wow that big in Indiana? that's impressive, that would probably be a 20+lb fish, other than those lies from Tennessee many years ago no walleye over 20lbs has ever been verified, Washington's state record at 19.3lb was 35" long
It was retarded big and would have crushed the record. He caught it on accident fishing for smallies with a tube jig. Its exact length was 36 3/4" we all thought he had a carp when we saw the giant bronze flashes until my friend saw the head. He just looked back and said it was a walleye and by the look in his face we knew it was a monster. My friends and I asked him 3 times are you sure you want to release it and to my suprise he did even after I told him it was several inches bigger then the current record. He just shrugged his shoulders and said I cant bring myself to kill a big fish like that. He's really big on catch and release and doesn't mount fish. Of course he was the only one on the boat that would of released it and of course thats who caught it. I have fished for walleyes in that same spot and have seen a good amount of 6-10s come from that area but nothing really over 10 until his now knowing that thing is in there I've been trying to get it myself ;D. The sad part about the whole thing was that it was his first cast literally 3 cranks into it and it wasnt even his rod that should just be a crime.
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http://www.landbigfish.com/staterecords/fishrecords.cfm?ID=2 All of these states are lies that have fish over 20# as the record ?
Yes
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I also don't think you can completly wipe out a yr class of erie eyes by keeping bigger ones just make them more rare compared to what it currently is. I really don't like the fact the US stocks the crap out of that lake so Canada nets them and sells them back to the US ???. Yes the maumee is a big female slaughter zone probably more then I want to know I've been there 1 time and don't even want to think about how many illegal caught fish are kept. Commercial fishing has the biggest impact and it would be interesting to see what would happen if it was eliminated but then again it worked great for the LM perch so who knows. I really have nothing against someone keeping a fish or 2 for the wall in trophy class and actually encourage them to do it they make great mounts and a 28"+ fish is an achievment. Its guys who keep 2 or 3 8+ lbs fish every trip for no other purpose then to eat them which I don't understand.
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I also don't think you can completly wipe out a yr class of erie eyes by keeping bigger ones just make them more rare compared to what it currently is. I really don't like the fact the US stocks the crap out of that lake so Canada nets them and sells them back to the US ???. Yes the maumee is a big female slaughter zone probably more then I want to know I've been there 1 time and don't even want to think about how many illegal caught fish are kept. Commercial fishing has the biggest impact and it would be interesting to see what would happen if it was eliminated but then again it worked great for the LM perch so who knows. I really have nothing against someone keeping a fish or 2 for the wall in trophy class and actually encourage them to do it they make great mounts and a 28"+ fish is an achievment. Its guys who keep 2 or 3 8+ lbs fish every trip for no other purpose then to eat them which I don't understand.
The commercial netters on walleye in lake Erie are regulated and allowed a certain take out of the total allowable catch (TAC). It is about equal to or slightly more than the estimated angler harvest each year. See the link I posted above for the numbers of fish taken by commercial netters. There is a chart in there that shows the annual breakdown. They certainly don't have free reign to take whatever they want.
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tenn. world record of 25# even. out of old hickory lake by mabry harper [ theres a southern name for y'all] was reinstated as the record walleye, plus a couple of 20# + have been taken out of greers ferry lake in ark.
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It was retarded big and would have crushed the record. He caught it on accident fishing for smallies with a tube jig. Its exact length was 36 3/4" we all thought he had a carp when we saw the giant bronze flashes until my friend saw the head. He just looked back and said it was a walleye and by the look in his face we knew it was a monster. My friends and I asked him 3 times are you sure you want to release it and to my suprise he did even after I told him it was several inches bigger then the current record. He just shrugged his shoulders and said I cant bring myself to kill a big fish like that. He's really big on catch and release and doesn't mount fish. Of course he was the only one on the boat that would of released it and of course thats who caught it. I have fished for walleyes in that same spot and have seen a good amount of 6-10s come from that area but nothing really over 10 until his now knowing that thing is in there I've been trying to get it myself ;D. The sad part about the whole thing was that it was his first cast literally 3 cranks into it and it wasnt even his rod that should just be a crime.
Don't take this the wrong way, but with multiple witnesses, there has to be a picture to go along with the story.....
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Don't take this the wrong way, but with multiple witnesses, there has to be a picture to go along with the story.....
true statement, with technology and phones now days everyone has a camera, but we still carry a camera in the boat till this day, we actually forget about it alot cause of the cell phone pictures are taken so much
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We took 1 pic of it it was a quick land, measure, pic, and release. My friend who netted it took the pic I will see if he can send it to me but I will have to be sneaky about it because if he knows its for internet purposes he will not give it to me. The area it was caught is not a known walleye location and only about 8 tight lipped guys fish it and the pic has all sorts of noticable landmarks in the background to those who live near it. I will have to chop out the background if it is posted to protect the spot. We have had other spots almost overrun with people after showing pics of other areas and word gets out so you can understand that we want to keep this spot to the anglers willing to try things on there own. Its not a spot with a lot of fish but the fish you do get are all toads. Ive never got one there under 7# but I chuck bigger baits than most usually very large cranks and swimbaits. The samllest i've seen has been around 3# caught on a normal walleye size jig so its a special walleye spot for an opportunity at big fish if you put time in fishing it. You will most likely be alone 98% of the time. The night I got that 7# was the last time I was there and that night a old timer that has fished it since before I was born landed 3 fish that night all 8-10#s, lucky bugger. He was the only other guy there too besides my friend. That old timer has been close to breaking the record several times according to my friends who fish there more but I've only seen fish landed up to 10# on days I'm there. No doubt the next record will probably come from this spot.
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This is a very touchy subject on all the forums I frequent ,especially during the Maumee River run. I think subject gets locked more than any other I've seen. Living in Ohio and fishing Lake Erie and the Maumee river my whole life, I have my own opinion on this subject, and they are only my opinions. there's no shortage of armchair biologists out there. At the end of the day, you have to do what you think is best in your eyes, and your wasting your time if you think you can change others views. Some people think just because its within the laws, its the right thing to do. All the numbers of how many walleyes are in the lake are just "estimates" based on formulas plugged into charts. I would personally never look down on anyone keeping a few trophy walleyes........... i personally prefer to eat perch, but if im forced eat a walleye its gonna be a 17 or 18" jack ;D
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the IGFA world record is 25 lbs and state record for Arkansa is 22lbs 11 oz and Missouri is 21lb1 oz then comes the 19-3
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Why is everyone keeping these big females when they are clearly full if eggs. Anything over 5 pounds doesn't taste good (arguably anything over 3 from Erie). Replicas look better and last longer.
These people bragging about the fishing this year will be the first to complain in a couple years when the 2003 class is fished out and the only person they have to blame is themselves and everyone else who thinks like them (if its legal ill keep it!) sow what you reap "sportsmen"
I want to apologize for keeping your fish a few weeks ago. I looked all over the big sow and must have missed the name tag you must have had hanging from her.
With that smart aleck comment out of the way, I do understand the stance that you take on this matter, but there are so many variables that you can never understand when you go onto a public forum and blast away at all people that keep fish from Erie or any public body of water.
First, Was the fish caught legally? If so, back off! Your morals and those of the guy sitting next to you will always differ. (This I guarantee)
Next, Was there a special story that goes along with this fishing trip? And will this fish
always bring back them memories? If so, back off! Special times on the water sharing dreams and stories with those you care about should not be legislated by you or any other one person. My fish is special to me, as it was on a trip with my son. (I could have done the 'fake mount thing', but didn't have a scale or accurate way of measuring her.)
I do understand your concern for the fishery. And as a 'sportsman', I applaud your effort to share your knowledge and concern for the fishery that you speak up for.
This was my first trip to Erie in the last 3 years, and I don't think this one fish is going to make or break a great fish factory.
I sure hope that we keep our eyes on this great resource, and if change is needed that the Ohio DNR will step in and act accordingly if we begin to tip the scales in the wrong direction.
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We took 1 pic of it it was a quick land, measure, pic, and release. My friend who netted it took the pic I will see if he can send it to me but I will have to be sneaky about it because if he knows its for internet purposes he will not give it to me. The area it was caught is not a known walleye location and only about 8 tight lipped guys fish it and the pic has all sorts of noticable landmarks in the background to those who live near it. I will have to chop out the background if it is posted to protect the spot. We have had other spots almost overrun with people after showing pics of other areas and word gets out so you can understand that we want to keep this spot to the anglers willing to try things on there own. Its not a spot with a lot of fish but the fish you do get are all toads. Ive never got one there under 7# but I chuck bigger baits than most usually very large cranks and swimbaits. The samllest i've seen has been around 3# caught on a normal walleye size jig so its a special walleye spot for an opportunity at big fish if you put time in fishing it. You will most likely be alone 98% of the time. The night I got that 7# was the last time I was there and that night a old timer that has fished it since before I was born landed 3 fish that night all 8-10#s, lucky bugger. He was the only other guy there too besides my friend. That old timer has been close to breaking the record several times according to my friends who fish there more but I've only seen fish landed up to 10# on days I'm there. No doubt the next record will probably come from this spot.
I would love to see this pic! I would also edit out the backround to protect it. No doubt, you found it, you keep it.
I have seen a 33 1/4" from up around the nets N of Kelleys in June three years ago. THAT was the most incredible walleye I have ever seen from the great lakes. That fish was estimated by the guys who caught it to be 14#, and I would give it to him. It was released as well. One just shy of 37", and not John Gillespie hold it out, internet sensation, new Erie record 37"......wow!.....
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Just my 2cents worth!!!!!
The main breeders for walleye are the 2-6 pounders.
The 8-10 lb plus fish may have lots of eggs but their fertility rate is much lower than the smaller fish.... So taking a big fish out isnt going to hurt as much as taking the smaller ones.
At least thats what the biologist say!!!!!!
Same with bass!!!!!
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Just my 2cents worth!!!!!
The main breeders for walleye are the 2-6 pounders.
The 8-10 lb plus fish may have lots of eggs but their fertility rate is much lower than the smaller fish.... So taking a big fish out isnt going to hurt as much as taking the smaller ones.
At least thats what the biologist say!!!!!!
Same with bass!!!!!
Definitely true, as with every species on the planet.
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I would take a picture and throw them back since I don't care to eat them. Would be a blast to pull one in though I'm sure!
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I hope that if any of you guys are deer hunters that you will pass all the 3 1/2-6 1/2 year old bucks you see. They are the most proficient breeders in the herd. Take a couple fawns or young bucks they taste better anyway ;)
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I hope that if any of you guys are deer hunters that you will pass all the 3 1/2-6 1/2 year old bucks you see. They are the most proficient breeders in the herd. Take a couple fawns or young bucks they taste better anyway ;)
LOL!
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I hope that if any of you guys are deer hunters that you will pass all the 3 1/2-6 1/2 year old bucks you see. They are the most proficient breeders in the herd. Take a couple fawns or young bucks they taste better anyway ;)
there is an entirely new topic for deer. ever think of what you or your neighbors are feeding the deer, that you are feeding to your kids? say the neighbor feeds them mass amounts of growth hormones, from some store bought(unregulated) " super nuclear horn grow" junk. what is that doing to the people that eat that deer? talk about a topic to get the fur on end in a deer hunting forum! lol some get all bent out of shape. other people never thought about it that way. kinda scary to ponder too deep though.
and im with you on the tender vittles, slabber. nothing like a third of a back strap, from an 80#er, seared in bacon grease, with eggs, in the morning. :P :P :P great now im hungry. lol
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This is a very touchy subject on all the forums I frequent ,especially during the Maumee River run. I think subject gets locked more than any other I've seen. Living in Ohio and fishing Lake Erie and the Maumee river my whole life, I have my own opinion on this subject, and they are only my opinions. there's no shortage of armchair biologists out there. At the end of the day, you have to do what you think is best in your eyes, and your wasting your time if you think you can change others views. Some people think just because its within the laws, its the right thing to do. All the numbers of how many walleyes are in the lake are just "estimates" based on formulas plugged into charts. I would personally never look down on anyone keeping a few trophy walleyes........... i personally prefer to eat perch, but if im forced eat a walleye its gonna be a 17 or 18" jack ;D
X2......one of the better responses to this thread.
After my first trip to Erie and bringing home a few 5-6 pounders....I realized they're not that tastey (the smaller fish are much better). But my mindset was catch a lot of fish and "keep" a limit. I thought that "keeping the fish" no matter the size, justified the money, time and effort I invested in these trips.
That's not the case for me anymore. I really enjoy catching fish ....I love the challenge and the preparation as long as the preparation doesn't turn into work! LOL! I only "keep" when I want to eat fish.
Now I do have a goal to catch a big Lake Erie walleye. My goal is 30" or greater. If I achieve that goal I'm torn if I should keep the fish or do a replica. Whatever I decide I will be very happy.
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there is an entirely new topic for deer. ever think of what you or your neighbors are feeding the deer, that you are feeding to your kids? say the neighbor feeds them mass amounts of growth hormones, from some store bought(unregulated) " super nuclear horn grow" junk. what is that doing to the people that eat that deer? talk about a topic to get the fur on end in a deer hunting forum! lol some get all bent out of shape. other people never thought about it that way. kinda scary to ponder too deep though.
and im with you on the tender vittles, slabber. nothing like a third of a back strap, from an 80#er, seared in bacon grease, with eggs, in the morning. :P :P :P great now im hungry. lol
I hear what your saying, but will take my chances on venison over store bought superfarm beef and pork!
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I hope that if any of you guys are deer hunters that you will pass all the 3 1/2-6 1/2 year old bucks you see. They are the most proficient breeders in the herd. Take a couple fawns or young bucks they taste better anyway ;)
Are you sure about that? Multiple free range studies have shown that 1 1/2- 2 1/2 yr old bucks in most areas do 80% of the breeding. Multiple reasons why with the main one being there are just more of them and they do not lay as low as the bigger bucks. In other words the big ones usually don't get big and stay that way by chasing tail all over during the rut. They do breed but only a small percentage and mostly at night. You do more damage taking a great genetic 1 1/2 or 2 1/2 out of a herd then a 4 1/2 because that younger deer will usually breed more does and you don't need a old deer to pass good genetics.
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Are you sure about that? Multiple free range studies have shown that 1 1/2- 2 1/2 yr old bucks in most areas do 80% of the breeding. Multiple reasons why with the main one being there are just more of them and they do not lay as low as the bigger bucks. In other words the big ones usually don't get big and stay that way by chasing tail all over during the rut. They do breed but only a small percentage and mostly at night. You do more damage taking a great genetic 1 1/2 or 2 1/2 out of a herd then a 4 1/2 because that younger deer will usually breed more does and you don't need a old deer to pass good genetics.
I believe I said most proficient. Having the opportunity to know some very highly looked upon hunters in the industry I believe I have a little knowledge when it comes to whitetails. I won't get into hunting as this is a fishing forum but you are more than welcome to pm me and I will elaborate more on why I posted that statement.
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Its not a topic thats really debatable you sometimes don't know who is on the other end so it may come as a suprise I do know a great deal about whitetails beyond just hunting them. Proficient is defined as skilled and experienced and I agree with you on that because that is no doubt a mature buck. They do not however do the majority of the breeding despite having multiple breeding seasons behind them. Infact the older they get the more concerned they become about saving there own hide vs actual breeding. Studies done on captive deer or on large expanses of private ground may differ but they are not the deer 98% of hunters pursue. I personally study deer all year round and know habits inside and out and I observe much higher breeding with young bucks in comparison to older. The young deer cover more ground and breed a higher percentage of does so harvesting a young deer will impact the % of bred does more so then a mature buck. You also don't need a old deer to pass great genetics either so for older deer to be considered the prime breeders for a herd is arguable especially in areas with heavy hunting pressure where my personal studies and yearly oberservations take place. Passing young bucks not only allows the smaller bucks to grow but you get a high % of bred does from season to season especially in areas with very low buck to doe ratios.
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Having hunted multiple state's on big tracks of land I have to disagree. My farm in west central Indiana is roughly 6000 acres and from what I have observed in the 28 years I have hunted it is that a 1 1/2 old buck just doesn't have a chance at breeding. Now go up one year to a 2 1/2 his odds go up dramatically. 2 1/2 & 3 1/2 do far more breeding than any 1 1/2 old imo. You won't see as many 4-5 yr old bucks running around at high noon in a wide open field as you will 1-2&3 yr olds because they are more efficient at breeding. They move at dark on a mission to find the most receptive doe at the time. The debate could go on and on so regardless of the I know better than you crap be it a 160 inch buck or a limit of 10 pound walleye if it's done right and within the laws and has a special meaning to the person do it.
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So your saying 6K acres of personal farm is the avg joe hunter? Your observations on your farm are not statewide stats. You could be right about what happens on your farm but it most likely varies from statewide avg. Look at where the majority of hunters hunt were talking the 80% of the hunters hunting public or less then 300 acres. That is what compromises most of the states herd. 3.5 yr+ bucks take up less then 20% of the total buck population in these areas, harvest stats alone reflect this. I also hunt in many other areas and in Iowa 3.5yr+ old bucks are much more common and take up the majority of the breeding but that is not Indiana. Your farm is your farm but it is not to be confused with a state wide herd. Micro managed tracts have higher buck age and higher buck to doe ratios giving the 3.5yr bucks the higher breeding %. For those interested in this topic google buck breeding success and age. In areas where yearlings take up at least 60% of the herd which is most of indiana, yearlings and 2.5yr bucks will do up to 70% of the breeding. Now areas that have 50% of bucks 3.5yr or older the 3.5yr bucks can do up to 70% of the breeding. Which could be what you are seeing if you have a high % of 3.5yr bucks. Now I don't know about you but statewide 50% of our bucks are not 3.5yr class animals. Deer are not Elk with herems even the 1.5yr olds get in on breeding on the best of ranches.
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I love to deer hunt and I'm impressed with the knowledge you both seem to have on the topic.........BUT
This thread was HI-JACKED...!!!!
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Exactly. This is why I hate to post anything to make a little humor because it always turns into a pissing match of I know more than you. I'm gonna keep doing what I do best. Catch 10 pound plus walleye and kill big deer. I'll let my walls and cooler do the talkin for me. Peace out I'm Erie bound.
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No worries guys! Start a thread if you want.....was very good info!
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.......BUT
This thread was HI-JACKED...!!!!
I agree. Lets get back to harvesting 10lb hawg eyes ;D
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I apoligize for hijacking the wall hanger walleye thread was not my original intent. If someone legally catches big walleyes its there right to eat them if they wish. Walleyes in Erie are migratory fish similar to salmon in lake michigan so it would be hard to determine if releasing these fish would have any significant impact on future wallhanger fishing beyond educated guessing. In lake Michigan we have had king stockings cut back as most would know but the size is making up for it. I wonder if lake Erie would be the same way with fewer walleye but gigantic fish. I could only imagine more feed for fewer fish on Erie.
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I apoligize for hijacking the wall hanger walleye thread was not my original intent. If someone legally catches big walleyes its there right to eat them if they wish. Walleyes in Erie are migratory fish similar to salmon in lake michigan so it would be hard to determine if releasing these fish would have any significant impact on future wallhanger fishing beyond educated guessing. In lake Michigan we have had king stockings cut back as most would know but the size is making up for it. I wonder if lake Erie would be the same way with fewer walleye but gigantic fish. I could only imagine more feed for fewer fish on Erie.
these 10 lb+ fish have been coming out of erie year after year for the last 20 years, that im aware of as long as i have been on them waters... ALL tourny's on erie are kill tourny's, tourny fisherman are going for the biggest fish possible, if they were worried about the size of fish and reproduction im sure they would stop the kill tourny's to begin with. erie produces big fish and will continue to do so. this year ice fishing has very little impact on the population of the fish. come on out to erie from april till october once, you will begin to understand what all is going on.
this thread is better off posted on an ohio thread somewhere so the locals can give you the better facts with more truth rather than harp on guys that are going out spending hard earned money amd countless hours getting gear and such together. alot goes into an erie trip soft or hardwatet, a guy catching some trophy fish for long lasting memories is no big deal. cry to the charter boats and head boats in regard to this matter and sit back and watch the info and point of veiws that come soaring through the thread. i fished a tourny last october. 101 boats, me and the rest of the team placed 27th. we were ONLY 1 LB 8 OZ from cashing a check, with just over 40 lbs for our best 5 fish, which was top 10 places cashed out. so, look at the consistency just in that tourny alone
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Mike are you goin with or what? I'm ready to go.
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Mike are you goin with or what? I'm ready to go.
if there is room on that trailer for another quad im just sitting here doing nothing. lol
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OK. I'll be that guy! Why would anyone mount a 10 lb walleye from Erie ?? They seem to be too common?. Not really a trophy out of that water?
Paul
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OK. I'll be that guy! Why would anyone mount a 10 lb walleye from Erie ?? They seem to be too common?. Not really a trophy out of that water?
Paul
i always told myself my first double digit fish was going on the wall, well that didnt happen caught numerous fish that size, finally one day took a 12 and hung it up. now i want a 13-14 lb fish. its all in ur goal. if u want a double digit fish for the wall, go to erie and get one. its all in what makes you happy and the experience doing it. the 12 i put on the wall came during a tourny fishing with my father and was on my birthday, was the big fish of the day for us, and was on a lure i picked after a few hours of trolling and not catching anything.
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I put my first 10 from Erie on the wall. Now I am after a "teenager". Being that I only have the time to go in the beginning of June anymore, this goal has been that much harder to realize. Hope we get good ice there again next year, I'm in!!
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I told myself that the first pound and a half Bluegill that I caught was going on the wall. But when I finally held that fish, I just couldn't do it. And since that time I have released several more of equal or slightly greater size. Everytime I think "this is the one", I'm reminded of something I was taught as a boy, growing up in an outdoor orientated family.
Nearly everyone in my extended family hunted and fished, as a means of putting food on the table. And most of those guys were pretty slick at it too. But no one, not one single person, had a trophy anything on the wall. The way it was explained to me was perhaps overly simplistic, but it's stuck with me for all these years....that being that there are three reasons to kill any animal (including fish)....the three "P's"
Profit.....usually by selling fur.
Provisions.....to keep your family fed.
Protection....self explanatory, if somewhat unlikely in these parts.
There's a fourth "P" that was regarded as unacceptable in my family....Pride. To kill something just because it was the biggest of its kind, simply wasn't condoned.
That was a long time ago, and a lot has changed since then. And while I respect and acknowledge the deeply personal reasons involved in deciding whether or not to hang a trophy on the wall, I still struggle with it where my own catches are concerned. For me, I've just seen too many trophy "walls"....I still think I would like a trophy Bluegill of two pounds or greater. ONE fish.....not just the biggest one to date.
There are big fish, and then there are trophy fish....for me, the trophy bar needs to be raised well beyond the reach of big fish, to include only a once-in-a-lifetime fish. I don't begrudge anyone their right to hang a fish on the wall. If it's legal, and the fishery can support it, and it makes you happy, then I say go for it.
Just my opinion, offered as one guy's viewpoint. Not meant to pass judgement on anyone's harvest practices at all.
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Not to go off topic but yes multiple 50"+ fish every year. He is an excellent musky fisherman and I have the pictures to prove it. That's not the point if the thread but pm me and I'll send you the proof if you want it.
You said multiple every year so you should have at least 4-5-6 or more photos of different 50+ skiis not just one.
So Lets see the PICS then, so you can prove it.
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i always told myself my first double digit fish was going on the wall, well that didnt happen caught numerous fish that size, finally one day took a 12 and hung it up. now i want a 13-14 lb fish. its all in ur goal. if u want a double digit fish for the wall, go to erie and get one. its all in what makes you happy and the experience doing it. the 12 i put on the wall came during a tourny fishing with my father and was on my birthday, was the big fish of the day for us, and was on a lure i picked after a few hours of trolling and not catching anything.
That would be a great fish/memory to have on the wall! I don't have any problem with anyone mounting any fish they want. Just kind of tongue and cheek with my comment...lol..seen so many big walleye pics from Erie this year...always a great fish!
Paul
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I told myself that the first pound and a half Bluegill that I caught was going on the wall. But when I finally held that fish, I just couldn't do it. And since that time I have released several more of equal or slightly greater size. Everytime I think "this is the one", I'm reminded of something I was taught as a boy, growing up in an outdoor orientated family.
Nearly everyone in my extended family hunted and fished, as a means of putting food on the table. And most of those guys were pretty slick at it too. But no one, not one single person, had a trophy anything on the wall. The way it was explained to me was perhaps overly simplistic, but it's stuck with me for all these years....that being that there are three reasons to kill any animal (including fish)....the three "P's"
Profit.....usually by selling fur.
Provisions.....to keep your family fed.
Protection....self explanatory, if somewhat unlikely in these parts.
There's a fourth "P" that was regarded as unacceptable in my family....Pride. To kill something just because it was the biggest of its kind, simply wasn't condoned.
That was a long time ago, and a lot has changed since then. And while I respect and acknowledge the deeply personal reasons involved in deciding whether or not to hang a trophy on the wall, I still struggle with it where my own catches are concerned. For me, I've just seen too many trophy "walls"....I still think I would like a trophy Bluegill of two pounds or greater. ONE fish.....not just the biggest one to date.
There are big fish, and then there are trophy fish....for me, the trophy bar needs to be raised well beyond the reach of big fish, to include only a once-in-a-lifetime fish. I don't begrudge anyone their right to hang a fish on the wall. If it's legal, and the fishery can support it, and it makes you happy, then I say go for it.
Just my opinion, offered as one guy's viewpoint. Not meant to pass judgement on anyone's harvest practices at all.
I like your 3 P's...lol
Reminds me of a story..back when I still lived at my parents in a small town. Couple of young boys had chased a squirrel into a tree in our yard. They ask me if I cared if they shot it. I said sure as long as you clean and eat it...long pause and they decided to let it be. I ask why they would kill a squirrel and waste it?. They agreed and grew up to be serial killers!, I think?
Paul
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Here is about the best facts I have seen posted anywhere. Quote credited to Wakina on Walleye.com.
"Astronomical numbers"
"Once the 2003 hatch became mature adults there were roughly 35,000,000 adult breeders in lake Erie! Now assuming that only half of those adults were females of breeding age that would be roughly 17,500,000 mature females. The average number of eggs laid by a mature female is roughly 250,000. Please read the last post in this thread in the provided link as it is my source for the average number of eggs laid per mature female."
http://ohioseagrant.osu.edu/discuss/...ic,1075.0.html
"So with 17,500,000 females laying an average of 250,000 eggs each that would be a total of 4,375,000,000,000. ...................... .......
http://ohioseagrant.osu.edu/discuss/...n.html#msg1644
"One more link!"
http://www.epa.gov/med/grosseile_sit...s/walleye.html
UR links don't work
Now for your figures. If the 2003 hatch was 35,000,000 then you can't use 35 mill as the adult number. A vary small % will make it to adults. Found the following on this link http://www.walleyecentral.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-5162.html (http://www.walleyecentral.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-5162.html)
Typically, 10 percent of the walleye fry (which are newly hatched walleye) released in walleye rearing ponds survive to become 4" fingerlings. The survival rate of fry dumped straight into a system in far less, maybe 5 percent.[/b]
So 5% of 35 mill is 1,750,000. That many will make it to fingerlings. Out of those 1.75mill how many make it to breeding age. Found no data on that so I will take a wild guess and say 25% will make it from fingerlings to adults. 25% of 1.75 mill = 437,500 adults. So now only half of those are females, that figures out to 218,750 females. U say each will lay 250,000 eggs. Then 54,687,500,000 eggs laid, thats allot of eggs.
If I'm wrong feel free to jump in and correct.
BTW, I have no opinion on the topic. But I caught a 4 LBers a few yrs back at Maxy. I ate it but it was not near as good as the 14-18" eyes. Any fish in the large size to me is flat, whether its gills, perch, eyes, crappy, etc. Its the same with anything.
THink about it, would you rather eat a steak from a 1.5 to 2 yr old cow, or a steak from a 10 yr old cow.
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UR links don't work
Now for your figures. If the 2003 hatch was 35,000,000 then you can't use 35 mill as the adult number. A vary small % will make it to adults. Found the following on this link http://www.walleyecentral.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-5162.html (http://www.walleyecentral.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-5162.html)
Typically, 10 percent of the walleye fry (which are newly hatched walleye) released in walleye rearing ponds survive to become 4" fingerlings. The survival rate of fry dumped straight into a system in far less, maybe 5 percent.[/b]
So 5% of 35 mill is 1,750,000. That many will make it to fingerlings. Out of those 1.75mill how many make it to breeding age. Found no data on that so I will take a wild guess and say 25% will make it from fingerlings to adults. 25% of 1.75 mill = 437,500 adults. So now only half of those are females, that figures out to 218,750 females. U say each will lay 250,000 eggs. Then 54,687,500,000 eggs laid, thats allot of eggs.
If I'm wrong feel free to jump in and correct.
BTW, I have no opinion on the topic. But I caught a 4 LBers a few yrs back at Maxy. I ate it but it was not near as good as the 14-18" eyes. Any fish in the large size to me is flat, whether its gills, perch, eyes, crappy, etc. Its the same with anything.
THink about it, would you rather eat a steak from a 1.5 to 2 yr old cow, or a steak from a 10 yr old cow.
You misread a part of what he wrote. He said once the hatch from 2003 joined the 'adult breeder' stage there were 35 million breeding adults in lake Erie. If you look at link posted on page 2 of the thread they estimated there were 68 million 2yr old fish in 2005 from the 2003 hatch. Not sure how old they have to be to start breeding, but out of 68 million 2 yr olds, they certainly gave a huge boost to the breeding population once they matured. If you redo the math using half of the 35 million adults from 2003 x 250,000 eggs you will get the same numbers as he posted.
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OK. I'll be that guy! Why would anyone mount a 10 lb walleye from Erie ?? They seem to be too common?. Not really a trophy out of that water?
Paul
x2, no offense. Fishing in a barrel. To each their own,imo
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You misread a part of what he wrote. He said once the hatch from 2003 joined the 'adult breeder' stage there were 35 million breeding adults in lake Erie. If you look at link posted on page 2 of the thread they estimated there were 68 million 2yr old fish in 2005 from the 2003 hatch. Not sure how old they have to be to start breeding, but out of 68 million 2 yr olds, they certainly gave a huge boost to the breeding population once they matured. If you redo the math using half of the 35 million adults from 2003 x 250,000 eggs you will get the same numbers as he posted.
As I said none of the links worked, said page not found. Any other info pertaining to what he said I could not read. So I was only taking to account exactly what he said, "Once the 2003 hatch became mature adults there were roughly 35,000,000 adult breeders in lake Erie". With that said, I read it as in 2003 there was 35-mill hatchlings and that when they become adults would be 35 mill. breeders. With this other info you added I now see what he was talking about.
When links get posted the poster should test them to make sure they work so we can get the whole story. If you notice the problem is there's dots in the link which means part of the URL is missing. EX; discuss/...ic & discuss/...n.
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Neutral on the issue but, people over fished Erie for years and years before any limit on size or amount was enforced. How many more big fish are being taken this year as compared to the last 50, or the last 100. More research is needed before you can decide. Seems like people are seeing more big fish because of easy sharing on the web and thinking that this is something new. How old are the big fish? Were they stocking fish then? More research lake Erie supported numerous tribes of folks back in the day into the tens of thousands who wold most likely target spawning fish in the stream for survival. Lol, what you are seeing isn't even putting a dent into this huge lake.
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OK. I'll be that guy! Why would anyone mount a 10 lb walleye from Erie ?? They seem to be too common?. Not really a trophy out of that water?
Paul
I think regardless of which water the fish comes from it still would be considered to be a trophy to the individual who caught it. Might only be a 7 pounder which would be a big fish to me. Just because Erie has many larger fish a wall hanger may not be as easy for someone who only fishes Erie say every 5-7 years. This size fish may not be as present where this guy who goes and wants 1 to put on his wall. And then there is the walleye factor. There are many people who just don't fish walleye waters all that often. I have been to Erie only three times in the early spring and my biggest fish was only 5 pounds. The largest fish in 6 days of fishing only 7 pounds, caught be someone else on my charter. Yes, the larger ones are caught during the ice fishing season IMO... To me that was the biggest fish caught on the trip. Is it on my wall NO, but, it may be on someone elses. So I just don't understand, if a guy goes to northern Canada and catches a 40 pound Laker not wall worthy, or the person who goes to Alaska and gets a 45 pound salmon. Just because there are much bigger fish in those waters I think it is up to the fisherman who caught it if he is truly proud of his fish he should do whatever he wants with it. IT IS HIS FISH... Stick a fork in me, I am done.
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I think regardless of which water the fish comes from it still would be considered to be a trophy to the individual who caught it. Might only be a 7 pounder which would be a big fish to me. Just because Erie has many larger fish a wall hanger may not be as easy for someone who only fishes Erie say every 5-7 years. This size fish may not be as present where this guy who goes and wants 1 to put on his wall. And then there is the walleye factor. There are many people who just don't fish walleye waters all that often. I have been to Erie only three times in the early spring and my biggest fish was only 5 pounds. The largest fish in 6 days of fishing only 7 pounds, caught be someone else on my charter. Yes, the larger ones are caught during the ice fishing season IMO... To me that was the biggest fish caught on the trip. Is it on my wall NO, but, it may be on someone elses. So I just don't understand, if a guy goes to northern Canada and catches a 40 pound Laker not wall worthy, or the person who goes to Alaska and gets a 45 pound salmon. Just because there are much bigger fish in those waters I think it is up to the fisherman who caught it if he is truly proud of his fish he should do whatever he wants with it. IT IS HIS FISH... Stick a fork in me, I am done.
Well Put Al
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I agree a trophy is in the eye of the beholder. Also guys who only make it to Erie 1 or 2 times a year will not get as many 10# fish as guys who make many more trips. If I had the chance to go there and put a lot of time in there I would hold out for a 11#+ to hang but if I didn't a 10# fish is not going to be caught everyday and is a nice fish no matter where you go. Nothing says you cant mount a 10# and then another one after that if you get one bigger in the future. My personal goal to mount is 31" and I had the thing 10ft away on the st joe last year but it was barely hooked and popped off, talk about a dream crusher I would rather of not seen it.
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I think regardless of which water the fish comes from it still would be considered to be a trophy to the individual who caught it. Might only be a 7 pounder which would be a big fish to me. Just because Erie has many larger fish a wall hanger may not be as easy for someone who only fishes Erie say every 5-7 years. This size fish may not be as present where this guy who goes and wants 1 to put on his wall. And then there is the walleye factor. There are many people who just don't fish walleye waters all that often. I have been to Erie only three times in the early spring and my biggest fish was only 5 pounds. The largest fish in 6 days of fishing only 7 pounds, caught be someone else on my charter. Yes, the larger ones are caught during the ice fishing season IMO... To me that was the biggest fish caught on the trip. Is it on my wall NO, but, it may be on someone elses. So I just don't understand, if a guy goes to northern Canada and catches a 40 pound Laker not wall worthy, or the person who goes to Alaska and gets a 45 pound salmon. Just because there are much bigger fish in those waters I think it is up to the fisherman who caught it if he is truly proud of his fish he should do whatever he wants with it. IT IS HIS FISH... Stick a fork in me, I am done.
this ice season is a small dent compared to the 10lb+ fish caught in the boats...usually march but april,sept,oct,nov.
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The charters beat on them things in open water, only a small percentage of the yearly harvest is fish taken on Ice. Just look at there full cooler pics with a boat of 8 ppl. Some of those charters make it out 5 times a week or more weather permitting and with paying clients I doubt they care about keeping multiple 30" fish a trip it just looks better at the dock. As stated earlier tounrys also harvest a large amount of fish. I fish pro salmon tounrys and one year on the first day of one of the tournys they had 2,000# of salmon donated the FIRST DAY of a 2 day tournament. 80% of those were kings too. Tournys especially ones who attract a lot of boats can really pull a load of fish in a 2 day period.
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"Some of those charters make it out 5 times a week or more weather permitting and with paying clients I doubt they care about keeping multiple 30" fish a trip it just looks better at the dock."
That's a very inaccurate statement.
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Here we go again lol.
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Thats actually true I know guys who live there and spend 100+ days a year on the water. I guess my friends who live on Erie and troll out there all through open water season and personally know several charters are sending me pics from those charters that are not correct? I took one of those guys out this summer out here for salmon and he was on the phone with one of the charters he knows sharing info. I found out that charter was out 8 of past 10 days and that was mid summer and limited almost every day running out 15 miles, the fish were loaded on the thermal break. I'm not sure where these full coolers of fish are coming from then? Must be another Walleye lake in Ohio that produces that many. Not every charter makes it out 5 days a week but some do during parts of the year. To think a charter will not book 5 days a week if possible and will tell his paying clients you can't keep that 10# fish is a false reality when his clients are shelling out hundreds to get those fish. They also fish in some rough stuff if they can get out they will fish.
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Thats actually true I know guys who live there. I guess my friends who live on Erie and troll out there all through open water season and personally know several charters are sending me pics from those charters that are not correct? I took one of those guys out this summer out here for salmon and he was on the phone with one of the charters he knows sharing info. I found out that charter was out 8 of past 10 days and that was mid summer and limited almost every day. I'm not sure where these full coolers of fish are coming from then? Must be another Walleye lake in Ohio that produces that many. Not every charter makes it out 5 days a week but some do during parts of the year. To think a charter will not book 5 days a week if possible and will tell his paying clients you can't keep that 10# fish is a false reality when his clients are shelling out hundreds to get those fish. They also fish in some rough stuff if they can get out they will fish.
Yep you are right and I am wrong. I guess you know more about Erie than I do.
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I know charters and guys who wack and stack on Erie. One of them who doens't charter landed and released just over 100 walleye over 28" this past season but only a small percentage of the walleyes taken on the charters where released. On a charter its really up to the clientel to decide on whether to keep a fish. These charters are making a living off fishing so they are booking as much as possible some will fish 7 days a week if they can book it. I really don't know any charter anywhere in the great lakes for any species thats totally against keeping big fish and will tell paying clients no. Big fish pics also promote the charter itself especially boards full of them. Not to mention a good number of big ones come trolling and can come from depths over 30ft mid summer so releasing them is sometimes not even an option.
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I told myself that the first pound and a half Bluegill that I caught was going on the wall. But when I finally held that fish, I just couldn't do it. And since that time I have released several more of equal or slightly greater size. Everytime I think "this is the one", I'm reminded of something I was taught as a boy, growing up in an outdoor orientated family.
Nearly everyone in my extended family hunted and fished, as a means of putting food on the table. And most of those guys were pretty slick at it too. But no one, not one single person, had a trophy anything on the wall. The way it was explained to me was perhaps overly simplistic, but it's stuck with me for all these years....that being that there are three reasons to kill any animal (including fish)....the three "P's"
Profit.....usually by selling fur.
Provisions.....to keep your family fed.
Protection....self explanatory, if somewhat unlikely in these parts.
There's a fourth "P" that was regarded as unacceptable in my family....Pride. To kill something just because it was the biggest of its kind, simply wasn't condoned.
That was a long time ago, and a lot has changed since then. And while I respect and acknowledge the deeply personal reasons involved in deciding whether or not to hang a trophy on the wall, I still struggle with it where my own catches are concerned. For me, I've just seen too many trophy "walls"....I still think I would like a trophy Bluegill of two pounds or greater. ONE fish.....not just the biggest one to date.
There are big fish, and then there are trophy fish....for me, the trophy bar needs to be raised well beyond the reach of big fish, to include only a once-in-a-lifetime fish. I don't begrudge anyone their right to hang a fish on the wall. If it's legal, and the fishery can support it, and it makes you happy, then I say go for it.
Just my opinion, offered as one guy's viewpoint. Not meant to pass judgement on anyone's harvest practices at all.
Great post, and "P"erspective!
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Thats actually true I know guys who live there and spend 100+ days a year on the water. I guess my friends who live on Erie and troll out there all through open water season and personally know several charters are sending me pics from those charters that are not correct? I took one of those guys out this summer out here for salmon and he was on the phone with one of the charters he knows sharing info. I found out that charter was out 8 of past 10 days and that was mid summer and limited almost every day running out 15 miles, the fish were loaded on the thermal break. I'm not sure where these full coolers of fish are coming from then? Must be another Walleye lake in Ohio that produces that many. Not every charter makes it out 5 days a week but some do during parts of the year. To think a charter will not book 5 days a week if possible and will tell his paying clients you can't keep that 10# fish is a false reality when his clients are shelling out hundreds to get those fish. They also fish in some rough stuff if they can get out they will fish.
most of ur charters (on the western basin) that are running 5-15 miles out are catching fish. but its not coolers full of 30" fish. they will have coolers full of 15-25" fish and a couple kicker fish in the 27-32" range. the 10# fish, migrate, eastward, now the charters out by geneva and bula, yes they may be getting coolers full of 25-32" fish, not sure there are the same quanity of charters to the wast as there are to the west end. 90% (rough guess) of the charters on the west end in the spawning monhs, arent trolling. they are going to take u out jigging and spend the least amount of gas possible. when the fish jump onto the crawler bite, they are still trying to mostly cast due to the cost of gas, eventually yes they will start pulling crawlers and spoons to get the fish going but they are going to do the most they can to get fish and save gas. the smaller charter boats will be out trolling, hey have 3 ppl tops in the boat with them as they are running 20' rangers and starcrafts. ur larger boats that run 6-packs, they arent fuel freindly. summer months a LARGE percentage of ur fish are well under the 10 lb mark (western end). are there some charters contradicting this info i have given, yes but a very small percentage. most of the large fish are pounded on from ice out till end of spawn and then again in the fall. why do you think the tournaments on erie start at turtle creek and as the months go by the tourny's launch keep moving eastward down the shoreline??! if most of the charter captains were pounding large fish all year long the tourny's wouldnt move their launch locations.
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Seems Mr. Ice rat is a biologist in not only white tails but lake erie walleye.
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Northn Duck hit it right on the head. The ones I know are not coming back with coolers of 30" fish mostly 24-26s with about 10% in the 28"+ class exept during the prime big fish months or when things are just dialed in for them. The ones I know run small boats under 25ft so gas is not near the issue of the bigger guys. They do a mix of trolling and jigging. Although by summer they are doing nothing but trolling spoons on lead, copper, and dipseys. Now they are only bringing 3 clients at a time though but some of them big boats take upwards of 8 at a time. And yes I have to agree that the big boats are very conservative on gas but then again they eat it up thats why summer rates are around 700 bones for the big ones. Several of the guys who fun fish have found very good big fish action fishing full moons at night in the summer with spoons especially when the day bite starts getting tough.
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Seems Mr. Ice rat is a biologist in not only white tails but lake erie walleye.
I just know a few guys that run charters and fun fish out there and are aware at what they bring back. I doubt I'm near the Erie fisherman that you are since I probably have far less actual fishing experience on that water.
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I think Lake Erie is starting to get fished out already . I fished all day Saturday and form 7 to 2:30 Sunday and never cought a walleye this past weekend . Seen a few cought by others but they must of been the last ones in that lake .
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I think Lake Erie is starting to get fished out already . I fished all day Saturday and form 7 to 2:30 Sunday and never cought a walleye this past weekend . Seen a few cought by others but they must of been the last ones in that lake .
Im laughing my butt offffffffff :)
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I caught one decent fish this past sat. but by all means Do Not use blake calvert! Not a good guide whats so ever
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I caught one decent fish this past sat. but by all means Do Not use blake calvert! Not a good guide whats so ever
you may have just had a bad experience, guides themself run into problems, things go wrong and bad days. another guide was mentioned last week to absolutely not go with and just a few days later someone posted same guide and had a fanastic trip. i would research the guide and others and chat with ppl that have done the same guides and different, compare experiences before bashing a person on the internet that clearly makes a living doing such business. i dont do guides on anything and i garauntee ive had the same experience at one time on my own as you did with mentioned guide. better luck next time!
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I think Lake Erie is starting to get fished out already . I fished all day Saturday and form 7 to 2:30 Sunday and never cought a walleye this past weekend . Seen a few cought by others but they must of been the last ones in that lake .
Can be frustrating at times...but they are always biting somewhere out there. ..Put 30 miles on the sled bouncing around sunday.. and finally found em and caught hogs..best catch of the day was a 28 " er on 3# test..epic battle.
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They keep them to fill a quota...if not commercial fishing begins...
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I`m just wondering if in 20 or 30 years I'll see pics of the Erie trips and the likes from this year on the Cabelas or Bass Pro walls and hear people saying "boy, remember when you could catch fish like that?" Basically saying the reason you don't see catches like you do in those black and white photos is because they kept all the big fish and selective harvest wasn't even a though. I wonder what the Erie fishery will be like in 5 years when all these breeders are no longer in the lake. Kids should be taught responsibility not just going fishing and keeping everything you catch. Actually, they should be taught to put the trophies back so their kids have a fishery to enjoy. Being a glutton doesn't apply to just eating.
I'll eat any and all larger fish I've legally taken. First because I can and secondly, big eyes over 6 lbs lets say are not the breeders contrary to popular belief. Its these treasured 14-15 inch males and 17-20 inch females who do the best. Look at it this way. Whos more likely to reproduce strong healthy young, your grandma or your 22 year old daughter? its been proven most of the giants dont even dump their eggs, they merely absorb them. I've caught big females a month after the spawn who are loaded up with dingy orange looking eggs. Do your homework before you make such an ill informed statement sir.
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I'll eat any and all larger fish I've legally taken. First because I can and secondly, big eyes over 6 lbs lets say are not the breeders contrary to popular belief. Its these treasured 14-15 inch males and 17-20 inch females who do the best. Look at it this way. Whos more likely to reproduce strong healthy young, your grandma or your 22 year old daughter? Hell its been proven most of the giants dont even dump their eggs, they merely absorb them. I've caught big females a month after the spawn who are loaded up with dingy orange looking eggs. Do your homework before you make such an ill informed statement sir.
many of the guys against keeping the big fish, should maybe cruise along the south shores of erie during a spawn and check out how many 27"+ fish are floating belly up gettin pecked away by seagulls. why do u see these big girls floating belly up and side up, but you dont see any 20-26" females floating after a spawn, cause they are healthy and capable. there is alot of info from numerous ppl given on this topic, seems as if the original poster has quickly kept quiet after reveiwing this but id say anyone else with this concern may want to call the local biologist and have a chat once, would be suprised the information given! ;D
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I love big water fishing and chase salmon all over lake michigan. With that said its hard to justify one bad experience with a bad guide or the lake sucks. Its big water just like LM not all water is fishy and fish do migrate in big water more then most people know. Not only do you need to locate fish but you also need to get them to bite, location is where most people struggle. I don't know how many times I've come back to the dock on LM with a cooler full of chrome and lots of other boats struggled to put just a few in. Now you have to consider your not covering near the water you can in open water. Yes experienced guys are putting some good numbers up but its not easy they put years into learing it. One of my friends charters on the southern end of LM and had a group of clients complain the fish were not the size they were in the 70s even though they got a 4 man limit in 3 hrs ::). Some guys are just not happy no matter what you do guiding or set there expectations too high. Good fisherman have bad days too even the guys who fish out there all the time. My suggestion would be research your outfitter ask for references. Any good guide should be able to provide a list. Call the people that went the previous year and ask how the experience went for them. You will get an idea of what to expect and if that guide is what you are looking for. Once you have done that you know you have done all you can to book a good guide and mother nature will have to cooperate for the rest. The guide can only do so much and generally good ones will find you fish far more days then not.
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just a fun fact..... lake erie TAC (total allowable catch) has been raised by nearly 20% for 2014. 4.027 million walleye compared to the previous 3.356 million walleye. with ohio's waters being set at 2.058 million fish. thats over half the total TAC. this is all based just for the western basin for regulating limits, the eastern end doesnt have near the industry and pressure as the western end so therefore has a different system of regulating. just thought a few of us would enjoy this info given. now if the lake/marinas would just blow open!!!! >:(