GaraldT

On 6/19/2020 at 2:08 PM, Old Ironmaker said:

Best of luck to you GeraldT. 4th Saturday in June can never get here too early. I won't be fishing from the boat, but will toss some hardware from the shore. My fishing partners wife is flipping out about this coved thing as they have 3 little grand babies and is afraid my buddy is going to get the virus from me I guess if we fish together. It seems all my old fishin' pals are too old to go out fishing in the boat, so they say. Maybe they just don't want to go in the boat with me!!!! I know my wife won't fish with me anymore. We got caught in a storm here on Erie and it was touchy to say the least and promised The Lord if we didn't drown she will never go out on this lake again.

Look at your wind and weather reports 1st thing that Saturday AM. Things can change rapidly on this lake. I use sailflow.com and windfinder.com plus our official Canadian Marine weather site. 

This might help all. Heed weather forecasts, closely, please. It seems when ever winds are up on the day of Bass opener we get search aircraft from Trenton here, we don't want that. 

https://weather.gc.ca/marine/forecast_e.html?mapID=11&siteID=07503

Awesome 

appreciate the help

15 hours ago, Old Ironmaker said:

Believe it or not neither. I have fished Long Point Bay for Largemouth a few times over the years but have never fished Tecumseh. There are so many Smallie locations post spawn no need to fish that reef this time of year. It is usually fished hard in the late summer and Fall. I tell everyone that asks is to launch at Hoovers Marina heading  east and work the shoreline of Peacock. It is ALL good fishable waters. I can tell you where it's up to you to do the how. 

Awesome. Appreciate all the help!

1 hour ago, Old Ironmaker said:

 

Haha thanks as usual Old Ironmaker.

if you had to chose long point vs tecumseh reef around this time, what would you chose?

1 hour ago, grimsbylander said:

The entire shoreline from Tecumseh to the Niagara River has both quantity and quality of fish. Pick a launch and go. Use basic knowledge of structure fishing to locate fish. Start shallow and work deep...you'll find them. Once you find fish, it's rinse and repeat; work that depth and follow the contour. You don't need to ask for specific spots. Good luck!

 

Awesome appreciate the help.

Would Tecumseh reef itself be good this time of year?

thanks again

49 minutes ago, OhioFisherman said:

A lot of people from this side of the lake make the run over to PeLee island, any rocky protected from pounding waves.

 

thanks for the advice.

Anything closer to the Burlington hamilton area?

2 hours ago, BillM said:

Shallow.   Long bomber casts with spybaits would be the first thing I toss for Erie bass come opener.

Thank you!

Hey everyone, hope you guys are staying safe!

Bass season opener is around the corner and I was wondering where some good spots would be this time of year for bass.

Any help will do! I’m still very new to Erie.

Ive fished Tecumseh reed in late August into September last year and had some solid ones from there but wondering where they hang out during the bass opener time?

thanks in advance guys!

Ahh I did not know that.

thanks guys!

Looking for live crayfish but I’m having a very hard time finding some.

Any ideas or suggestions ?

On 4/27/2020 at 4:30 PM, AKRISONER said:

Was announced today that opening parks is part of the first “phase” of covid restriction reduction. So that’s about as good of news as we can get. I think May 2-4 might be the target but I’m just speculating.

All parks to remain closed until May 31st was just announced last week.

Brutal!

https://www.ontarioparks.com/covid19

Wow that’s crazy. So when you launch, you obviously have someone in the boat while you park the truck? And when you come back to get in the boat you just walk on the dock that’s under the water and hop in the boat which is about ankle deep?

Ya I had my dad with me, probably wouldn’t of been a good idea. Wish they had something better than that.

1 hour ago, Old Ironmaker said:

Sorry I didn't mention the trailer park earlier, no way like I said to launch. I am so glad you got a nice one. 4 lbs is nothing to poo hoo at. It must have been a blast. What were you using with what set up? I will troll a Rappala and watch the screen for drop offs. If we find a school I will drift through it with a Carolina rig and floating jig head tipped with a black twister or plastic or leather leech soaked in juice. Live leeches will get them every time but they don't sell them here as far as I know. Bill's Bait in Hamilton, yes. But I'm told that's cheating, so call me a cheater with fish on my line. 

Yep the wind here usually picks up at 11AM, like clockwork. Never had luck with worms here in the 40 years of fishing here. Good for panfish for the kids at the cottage. 

Wow good to know about leeches, I’ll make sure my dad uses those instead of worms next time.

I was mostly drop shotting and had a few bites when we were the reef along with the one fish but mind you we probably only stayed in that area for about a half hour due to some new stronger wind and also my buddy that was with us was getting kind of sick, I told him to pull his skirt up but it didn’t work lol.

Wish we would have just went straight there when we launched instead of stopping at different spots on the way.

@Steve Piggott awesome work man. Thanks for the tip on launching using waders. How deep would you have to be to launch there, is the water waste deep before you get in the boat seeing that there’s no dock to access anymore?

Also, what were you guys using when you caught those smallies?

Thanks!

@Old Ironmaker yes actually we did.

So we tried launching at Austin’s trailer park in order to be closer to the reef but it’s a disaster like you said, the dock is under water and there’s big rocks everywhere so we passed. We ended up launching at the Dunnville light house area and it was around 930-10 and the water was amazing. No chop at all. 

On our way towards the reef we stopped a few times but had no luck at all.

Then when we got near the reef in about 10 feet to a 20 foot drop off, I nailed a 4 pounder. The water was decent around 11-1:30 then wind started to pick up so we made our way back. There was a bunch of boats out there but most were further in deeper water looking for walleye.

The water was actually really good then decent enough until we left, so I was happy with the outcome. My dad was using live bait worms and had zero bites all day. Strange I guess.

As for Nanticoke shoal, can you show me where it is and where to launch to get there even in a direct message if you want to? This is my first year owning a boat and fish finders and I’m still in the learning process. Any help would be awesome. I was so stoked catching that 4 lber and want to catch more like them more consistently.

thanks again!

Do you guys know the best launch that’s closest to that area?

55 minutes ago, dave524 said:

The deeper water adjacent to the actually reef

Ah I see.

6 minutes ago, dave524 said:

 

 It's Sept. deeper would be better so I would lean Tecumseh if it is doable.

Wait, I’m confused, isn’t the tecumseh reef very shallow? Are you talking about fishing around it in the drop offs?

36 minutes ago, Old Ironmaker said:

Wind directions change here on the lake continually. You might have an onshore wind in one bay and out on the lake it's different. Right now there is zero wind and overcast. The lake is like glass where we are.  The wind turbines aren't moving. At least they are good for something. They can be facing west in Nanticoke and in Dunnville east. 

If I am up early tomorrow AM I can give you a lake condition here at Selkirk, if I remember. A few years ago I used to post lake and wind condition updates daily on a local fishing website before I hit the lake or went golfing. Then guys got upset when I didn't. I resigned. 

Ah I see. Always learning from you buddy thanks. 

Also, we might be heading out around 730am so whenever you do wake up, if you can post  the condition here that would be awesome.

As far as locating smallies, what would be the better option now, tecumseh reef area or turkey point?

thanks again!

10 minutes ago, Old Ironmaker said:

With the NE wind I would go golfing. The lake is very calm today. 

Windfinder is showing NW winds in the am then West winds in the afternoon

12 minutes ago, dave524 said:

Wait and see how the wind is, often the deciding factor on Erie,  Turkey Pt. and the Inner Bay at Long Pt. being more sheltered on a SW wind. It's Sept. deeper would be better so I would lean Tecumseh if it is doable.

Windfinder is showing calm winds tmw.Thats the first thing I look for before going to Erie on my bass boat. If it stays calm would you recommend inner Bay Area or tecumseh reef area?

thanks for your help!

Hey guys, taking my dad out tmw on Erie and was wondering if Tecumseh Reef is still good this time of year for smallies?

Either I go there or go to the turkey point area.

what do you guys suggest?

Thanks!!

I’ll definitely check it out, thanks.

Noticed the last time I was out that my motor wasn’t shooting out water through the little hole so the engine wasn’t cooling.

I did some tests but looks like it might be my impeller. I have to call a few shops tmw to see if they can fix it. I hope it’s not anything serious.

1 hour ago, Squid said:

bellwood lake in Guelph.

Gas motors allowed on there?

20 hours ago, Old Ironmaker said:

Fantastic you got out with your Dad. It wasn't even windy yesterday/ Windy is when there are white caps on the river, going upstream. You were on the wrong side of the dam for Bass GT. The section downriver of Cayuga to the dam is loaded with Smallies. I've never seen a Largemouth taken from the river. I'm not saying they aren't there I just haven't caught 1. The lake was boatable yesterday. Smooth as glass in the AM. About a 2 foot chop right now, perfect Walleye chop. I take it you only are able to get out on weekends. I haven't fished on a weekend for a few years. The launches around here is sheer entertainment, like going to the Zoo. 

So I launched off Main Street on the right side of the dam this time like you suggested and you were right, much better there. There’s a 30-35 foot drop right there.

My wife used worms and caught a bunch of sheep head, one was about 7lbs, she was loving it, her first time fishing on a boat.

Couldnt find any bass though but had a great day.

thanks again 

3 hours ago, spincast said:

Port Colborne Buoy.

Add it to the info from Windfinder. Gives you now versus forecast,  Add that to your personal experiences  from the lake. Understand how topography will affect the winds where you want to launch, and how far out you want to head.. Overtime you can predict pretty close what it is gonna be. 

Saved it, thanks for the help!