1 hour ago, S Hovanec said:

In the spring it doesn't matter.  In the summer, I have spots that I will not fish when there are other boats around. When there are boats around, I never see them on my spots.  I'm not saying that nobody else fishes them, but when I'm around, I've never seen anyone on them.

 

I also don't give people a reason to fish the bent rod pattern. I have actually not set the hook on bites when other boats are cruising by so people don't see that I'm catching fish.  I don't like people well enough to play bumper boats with them.

Well so much for sneaking up on you. I had better switch to plan B. 

33 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Bent rod pattern is strong on Erie.

The other thing I find funny about your end of Erie vs. ours,  you guys can use straight braid out there and still catch fish. Sometimes a 6 pound fluoro leader is too heavy at our end of the lake.  My buddy, Capt. Matt runs straight braid on all of his bass rods and slays the smallies out of Buffalo.

I use straight 6# Tatsu or Invisx.

I agree summer is whole different story but the pressure is no where near the same.

On ‎4‎/‎20‎/‎2016 at 6:12 PM, Zippyduck Krimm said:

The first reports of a few smallies in the bay. The perch have moved out to the lake and that is usually a couple weeks before the masses come into the bay.

That's what I heard too from my Dad's friend. I don't have any experience fishing such a large body of water. It's almost like a small ocean- pretty cool.

I wouldn't have Jamie give his spots up. Just a little 411 on what the gentleman should use for baits is all. Then again when I was up there 2 years ago; I did have his boat for the day and all his sweet spots on the spot from his lowrance saved. A SD card does wonders. We've been friends and fishing partners going on 24 years! S Hovanec, I have a lot of fishing stories when it comes Jamie and his Ugly old man!! Lol

Anybody getting them on the main lake or the bay yet? Was thinking about a trip this weekend or the week after.

Was up there April 21-24.  Caught 152 Smallies that weekend and 35 of those were in the bay when the wind whipped up.  Jerkbaits, Jerkbaits, Jerkbaits.  :-)    2 over 5 pounds and 10 over 4 pounds.  This is the earliest I have been up and due to the mild winter, water temps are up early.  Main lake was 46-49 f and the bay was in the mid 50's!!!

On ‎5‎/‎2‎/‎2016 at 0:15 PM, stfreed said:

Was up there April 21-24.  Caught 152 Smallies that weekend and 35 of those were in the bay when the wind whipped up.  Jerkbaits, Jerkbaits, Jerkbaits.  :-)    2 over 5 pounds and 10 over 4 pounds.  This is the earliest I have been up and due to the mild winter, water temps are up early.  Main lake was 46-49 f and the bay was in the mid 50's!!!

Awesome! I was supposed to head up this week but my friend cancelled. I probably will head up late May early June. Hopefully the smallmouth bite will still be hot.

I cancelled my trip last weekend due to the forecast.  Didn't want to un-winterize camp with the risk of a freeze!  Won't be able to go til Memorial day weekend now.

32 minutes ago, S Hovanec said:

I cancelled my trip last weekend due to the forecast.  Didn't want to un-winterize camp with the risk of a freeze!  Won't be able to go til Memorial day weekend now.

I'm going to be heading up one day that week as well. 

3 hours ago, S Hovanec said:

I cancelled my trip last weekend due to the forecast.  Didn't want to un-winterize camp with the risk of a freeze!  Won't be able to go til Memorial day weekend now.

You missed nothing. Could not fish the bay it was so windy. I caught lots of lgmouth in the lagoon, they are on beds.

https://www.dvidshub.net/video/463953/coast-guard-rescues-3-capsized-yacht-lake-erie#.VzpmkY-cHaO

Coast Guard rescues 3 from capsized yacht in Lake Erie 16 May.

Be careful out there.

A-Jay

1 hour ago, Zippyduck Krimm said:

You missed nothing. Could not fish the bay it was so windy. I caught lots of lgmouth in the lagoon, they are on beds.

I can't stand the bay.  If I can't fish the main lake, I go back to camp and do maintenance or drink beer......or both!