Quick summary: Central basin walleye fishing out of Lorain is on fire — a massive volume of fish in 50–60 ft of water, full limits day after day, and most trips wrapping in just 2 to 3 hours.
The bite this week
The fishing out of Lorain, Ohio has been nothing short of phenomenal this week. There is a massive volume of walleye holding in the 50 to 60 foot range right now, and every boat in our charter fleet has been putting full limits in the box day after day. Most of these trips are wrapping up in just 2 to 3 hours, and honestly, on a lot of days we can't even keep up with the catch rate. We've had plenty of mornings where we never get all of our rods set at one time because fish keep hitting before we can finish deploying the spread. That's not a complaint — that's just July walleye fishing on Lake Erie.
Where the fish are holding
These fish are locked into their typical summer pattern, shifting around daily as they follow the big schools of bait. One day they'll be stacked in one area, and the next morning they've slid a few miles with the bait. Depending on the day, we're marking them anywhere from 25 to 45 feet down in the water column over that 50 to 60 foot water. That daily movement is exactly why quality electronics matter so much this time of year. Being able to find and stay on active pods of fish, instead of dragging lures through dead water, has been the difference between a 2 hour limit and a long day.
What's working: spoons behind Tru-Trips and dipsy divers
Our best program all week has been spoon presentations pulled behind Tru-Trips and dipsy divers. Getting those spoons down into that 25 to 45 foot strike zone and keeping them there is what's producing. When the fleet is marking fish at a certain depth, matching your gear to put baits right in their face has been putting fish in the boat fast.
One thing I can't stress enough right now: the current out there has been extremely strong lately. If you're fishing without a Fish Hawk, you really have no idea what speed your lures are actually pulling at the ball. Your GPS might say 2.2, but with the current running the way it has been, your true speed down at the lure could be way off from that. Dialing in speed at depth with the Fish Hawk has been absolutely critical to keeping the spoons swimming right and triggering bites.
What an incredible fishery
Talk about an amazing fishery we have here in Lorain, Ohio. Between the sheer number of fish, the fast limits, and the quality of walleye coming over the rail, it's hard to beat Lake Erie's central basin right now. If you've been thinking about getting out on the water, this is the kind of fishing you don't want to miss.
Book a trip with Huckeye Charters
If you're interested in joining us and experiencing this incredible walleye fishing for yourself, please reach out. We have AM and PM trips available to fit anyone's schedule, and with the way the fishing has been, the hardest part of your day will be deciding what to do with all that walleye in the cooler.
See you out there,
Captain Matt
Huckeye Charters — Lorain, Ohio