Cleveland Metroparks

Lake Erie is luring walleye anglers from all over the state and around the country with friendly fishing weather this week. It has given boaters and shore fishermen the opportunity for some outstanding late-season catches.
The Northeast Ohio rivers are low and the current is slow, but some steelhead trout are being caught from the rivers and around the mouths of the tributaries. The Cleveland Metroparks has begun its winter stockings of rainbow trout.

Portage Lake in Cass County

Balm, Big Bass, South Twin and Deer lakes in Beltrami County; Portage Lake in Cass County; and Flour, Hungry Jack and Two Island lakes in Cook County: These eight lakes with restrictive size regulations (either a 12-20 inch protected slot or catch-and-release only regulation) on bass will be modified to a less restrictive, 14-20 inch protected slot with one over 20 inches to allow additional harvest of small bass while still protecting quality sized fish. Although the existing regulations were shown to be effective, the new protected slot is expected to provide a similar protection to quality fish and with the added benefit of allowing additional harvest of abundant smaller bass.

NW Angle is frozen

NW Angle is frozen over with good ice in most spots but some weak areas in some known locations. ATV and snowmobile travel on designated marked trails. Resorts are checking ice conditions, marking trails, and placing houses. 10-15" of ice where resorts fish and fishing is electric. 

Lake Erie ice

Lake Erie ice cover at bay and giving fishermen a chance to fill their freezers with
some of the biggest walleye of the year.
Easily old enough to remember when the fishing boats were put in dry dock in October, where
they would sit until April or May back in the 1970s, this year’s weather has given the trailer boat
crowd plenty of reasons to stay up late. Layered in waterproof thermal wear, the anglers are
trolling diving plugs and spoons to catch limits of walleye.
The local breakwalls and piers are still just as busy after the sun goes down. A small box of
crankbaits, a long-handled fishing net and a lantern are the main ingredients for some superb
after-dark walleye angling. With a full moon rising this week, and the daytime air temperatures
forecast to be in the mid-40s all week, the walleye season certainly isn’t over.
This weather, however, does not bode well for the winter ice fishing for walleye. Unless there is
an Arctic blast in the next couple of weeks, this will be the third winter in a row of poor to
mediocre ice fishing for walleye.

river walleyes:

river walleyes: curly tail grubs, tubes, ringworms and minnow-imitations. The addition of salt, flavor and scent enhancement to these offerings has increased their effectiveness on tight-lipped walleyes. Go with a 4-inch ringworm and 3- to 4-inch versions of the other baits.

In addition to soft-bodied jigs, the timeless bucktail jig is also effective. The breathing action of a hair jig as water flushes through it provides a unique look, one that walleyes prefer some days.

Generally, walleyes remain inactive and relatively lethargic throughout the day, moving shallow to feed during the evening twilight. During cloudy days, especially during a warming trend, the shallow bite can happen throughout the day. This aside, some of the time you’ll be fishing for walleyes that are holding in deeper water, off the current edges. They can be caught, but you’ll have to make it easy for them.

Just like the minnow-tipped classic, soft-bodied jigs and hair jigs can be used to vertically jig over inactive walleyes as the boat slowly slides along a slackwater pool.

Presque Isle Bay

Perch fishing in Presque Isle Bay has been good. Some particularly nice perch have been caught by the Intermodal Transportation Center, the Amphitheater, the South Pier and the North Pier. A few walleye still are being caught from the South Pier and the North Pier. Walleye and steelhead have been caught by the East Street Boat Launch by casting spoons and stick baits. Try a lighted bobber and a minnow for walleye at night. Some crappie have been caught at the Marina, butmost have been small.

Lake Erie water temperatures

Lake Erie water temperatures are hovering dangerously in the high 40s. Be sure to have all of the needed safety gear aboard when launching the boat, and be able to communicate with the Coast Guard if there is an emergency.
Daytime walleye fishermen are flocking to the Huron and Lorain areas and trolling with diving plugs in bright colors, reports Craig Lewis at Erie Outfitters in Sheffield Lake. Gizzard shad have moved to shallow-water areas of late, seeking slightly warmer water, and the walleye have moved in to feed heavily on the shad.
The typical medium-running crankbaits scoring are the Reef Runner, Perfect 10, Bayrat and Bandit lures. There are exceptions. Capt. Frank Kittrick of Y Knot Charters in Lorain is finding lots of success using Dipsy Diver diving planers and Stinger spoons. The Neon NASCAR Stinger Spoon has been a favorite, with lots of bright chartreuse coloring to attract strikes.

UPPER PENINSULA

Lake Gogebic: Was producing some walleye, pike and smallmouth bass.
Menominee River: Anglers caught the odd Chinook salmon along with the occasional brown trout or walleye. The better fishing was between the Hattie Street Dam and the US-41 Bridge with small spoons and minnows.
Little Bay De Noc: Had snow and the shoreline was beginning to freeze. Only the diehard walleye anglers are out now and the reports were good. Most are fishing at night and taking fair to good catches. The better action was off the Kipling area reefs when trolling stick baits or crank baits in 8 to 17 feet. Those fishing during the day had fair catches at best off the Kipling Flats in 30 feet or south toward Gladstone off the Terrace Bay Inn in 25 to 35 feet when trolling.