Growing up in Northeast Ohio on the shores of Lake Erie, I have spent most of my life chasing Lake Erie’s legendary monster walleye. In 2007 I started tournament walleye fishing and have had tremendous success with many top five finishes both regionally and nationally, as well as two team of the year titles including the 2010 Masters Walleye Circuit Team of the Year. I continue to aggressively fish tournaments, but in my time away from the tournaments, I enjoy showing others the great sport of walleye fishing that I love so much with Buddie Charters.
I will trailer my 2021 state of the art 22′ Ranger 622FS PRO to the hottest bite on Lake Erie, launching the boat at the closest ramp to the hot bite so you will spend most of your time fishing. Once I launch the boat, 400hp of Mercury Verado engine will get you to the bite in a hurry. My boat is decked out with the latest and greatest from Lowrance, FishHawk, and AquaVu electronics including active imaging sidescan, active target live sonar and high tech Navionics and C-Map genesis mapping. I WILL fish you a full day or the full hours if you please. I’m not just a quick limit and to the ramp captain. Once we get a walleye limit, we may continue catch and releasing or switch to a more favorable catch and release tactic that supports mortality of the released fish. I’m also not opposed to targeting harbor bass or open water smallmouth after walleye fishing. Lake Erie walleye are migratory fish, so being able to trailer to the hottest bite is a key to success. We will target the biggest fish on the lake. I generally have a good idea of where we will be launching about a week in advance.
8 hour Charter Rates (or limit):
- 1-4 person – $600
Spring and Fall 5 Hour Night Fishing Specials:
- 1-4 person – $400
Wheatley and Erieau Steelhead trips (Ontario Fishing License Required) July and August
- 1-4 person – $700
What’s provided: Bait, Tackle, Fuel, Rods, Reels, and as much or little instruction and explanation as desired
What to bring: food, snacks, beverages, fishing license, sunglasses, sunscreen, waterproof bibs and rain jacket, a smile, a cooler to take home your fish, and a camera. Dramamine is recommended to prevent sea sickness. Ginger Pills and Ginger Ale are also good for settling uneasy stomachs. Please take all precautions against getting sea sick, it is no fun if you get sea sick!
Seasons, Techniques and Typical fishing locations:
Spring (March-May): Western Basin fishing from Turtle Creek to Huron with varying techniques such as jigging, trolling crank baits behind in-line planner boards and trolling spinners at slow speeds off inline weights and bottom bouncers. March and April are your best bet if you want to catch walleye on light tackle spinning gear jigging the reefs. Later April and May are great for keying in on structure bite for big walleyes around the islands.
Early Summer (June-July): As the walleye migrate east as the lake warms, we will follow them and typically fish between Vermillion and Fairport Harbor, with Lorain and Cleveland being personal favorites. We use open water trolling tactics such as trolling spinners and crank baits with dipsies, inline weights, snap weights, and downriggers. Now through the end of the summer offers a great chance at a bonus steelhead.
Last week of June to 1st week of July Steelhead Specials: Open water Lake Erie Steelhead Trout are especially migratory, and very predictable. Over the years, I have recorded consistent locations in the Lorain – Avon area we we can target these open water silver bullets for some acrobatic, reel screaming, action. 20+ hook ups during these weeks are not uncommon. If you want a change up from the walleye action, ask about a combo trip or straight up Steelhead Hunt.
July and August Wheatley and Erieau Steelhead Trips: This time of year, huge schools of steelhead congregate on the other side of the lake where a thermocline sets up and big schools of smelt pile up. Its a long boat ride, ~35miles, from Avon or Lorain, so good weather and a fairly calm lake is required. 25+ plus hookups days are the norm on these trips for the acrobatic silver bullets.
Late Summer (August-September): By now most of the walleye have migrated East and there are large open water schools of fish between Geneva and Conneaut. Never rule out the chance we’ll head back West, targeting the Lorain resident sandbar fish that seem to never leave that area.
Fall (October-December): I typically spend most of my daytime fishing doing river mouth steelhead trips out of the Starcaft or heading upstream in Ohio Steelhead Drifters Sotar raft and floating the rivers. This is perhaps your best chance to catch a trophy walleye in the 12-13lb class as we troll shallow diving crankbaits along the Lake Erie shoreline from Cleveland to Huron. Dress warm and be prepared to see a marble-eyed beast come up from darkness of Erie waters.
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