FISHING REPORT  May 25, 2004

 

The walleyes are biting.  Decent numbers of fish are being caught by drifters and trollers everywhere from Toledo to Marblehead.  Best locations are A-can to West Sister, shooting range markers of B-Can, D-can, G-Can, west of Rattlesnake Island, including waters north of Kelleys Island.  Preferred methods are dark grren, gold abd orange and white weight-forward spinners and weapon-style lures with gold blades.  Bottom bouncers are working when the there's enough wind.  Drifters are taking their fish deep, just off the bottom.

 

Trollers are catching individual limits using jet divers and Michigan Stinger Scorpion spoons primarily of copper blades.  Shrimp, Raspberry Dolphins and Confusion are just some of hot spoons.  Crankbait favorites are the deep Reef Runners and deep Little Reef Runners.   Hot patterns are anything with blue or silver, perch, shrimp and shiner.  # 20 jet divers out 100-120 feet has produced well, while #40 jet divers out 30-65 feet are compatible.  Best speeds with the warming lake water is 1.8-2.2 m.p.h.  Best locations are the perimeter locations related to the drift boats in all the above locations, but more larger fish are being taking just south of West Sister.

 

Yellow Perch are being taken with shiner minnows around the NW corner and east side of Kelleys Island and West Sister.  Locate the bait and the perch will be close.  Just like fall, anglers are using perch spreaders and crappie rigs.  Expect some nice perch and limits are still common, but the average will be 8-10 inches.