Heading to Lake Erie in the morning

[mybentrod]

Well fellas I go to the biggest lake I've been on in my life targeting smallies. I'm hoping I at least get a few. Everything I have read says walleye, perch, or trolling. None of which I am familiar with. Thanks to Magicsmallie I have at least a game plan. I can't imagine the excitement the pros have when traveling to new waters. I am going to use a lot of techniques I use at Dale I've picked up along the way. Wish me luck. Hell at least For a safe trip up and back.

[Tyme2fish]

Don't know what type of boat you'll be in, but be careful. A little wind can kick up the water in a heartbeat. Be safe and wear your PFD

[mybentrod]

Thnx, I have heard that. I will be in a 20ft nitro fish n ski with a 200hp. I know storms can surprise u and will pay attention to the radar.

[Carter1]

If you have a way to keep them alive I would buy some soft craws here to bring with you. They would be cheaper most likely than up there.
Seems like no matter what you fish for up there those dand drum always want to bite. If you get a big one on it is a fun fight. We always catch a few of those when walleye fishing at Erie. We go out of Port Clinton. Tyme2fish is right about the wind. When it blows hard enough you can get some pretty big waves. I have had to turn around and come back home twice in the 20 or so years I have been fishing up there due to high seas. Have fun and good luck!

[MagikSmallie]

This time of year barring a storm you should be okay with the winds. Spring and Oct-Nov are the worst for the winds up there. but a 15-25 MPH can bring some mighty waves that make KY Lake look a mud puddle, a marine radio is a great thing to have, you get in trouble up there with no friends close by to help you out that radio can save your life!

[mybentrod]

Where do you get some soft craws around here?

[MagikSmallie]

I'm not sure around here. But in Port Clinton, OH there is a tackle shop called Rickard's Bait and Tackle (419) 734-2496. They have soft craws and other tackle.

[Carter1]

I don't know where to get them around here either. I haven't fished for smallies up there yet just walleye. I was just telling you what my charter captain suggested to me if we should come up there for smallmouth.

[stripernut]

i havent been able to get "soft" craws this year but i am getting plenty of "blue" craws which always seemed to catch fish as well as the soft ones, just my opinion....i have had people in the same boat with me argue this point while i was catching fish for fish with them so....????

already home with a limit of nice kys this morning on SMALL blue craws and the sun has only been up awhile and its not smokin hot yet

[Carter1]

Cool, I'll be glad when I get my van back so I can get my boat out again. My front wheel bearings are shot.