OBSERVER Photo by Gene Pauszek Captain Jeff Phillips of Knot Right Charters offers exciting night time walleye charters during the summer for a change of pace.

This year is gearing up to be one of the best years ever for walleye and yellow perch fishing on Lake Erie. The Department of Environmental Conservation scientific community for Lake Erie’s fishery have been monitoring the progress of the natural reproduction of these two warm water species. They along with other Fish & Wildlife agencies along the entire lake all agree that 2019 should be record breaking for walleye and perch fishing. At certain times of the year, both species can be found near shore — that’s great news for the land bound angler.

In the month of April, anglers were catching large yellow perch off the city of Dunkirk Pier. Occasionally walleye can be caught too. Wading off the beaches of Van Buren and the First Ward beach, or off the mouth of Canadaway Creek will put you into walleye action early in the year, but summer time will see the walleye fishing moving off shore. The walleye population in Lake Erie is estimated to be in the millions, so that can be a strong enticement to take up walleye fishing, which I might add, is considered to be one of the best tasting fresh water fish. You will need a boat to get access to these fish during the summertime. A properly outfitted boat to safely go walleye fishing will cost you over one-thousand dollars, when you consider boat, motor, trailer, rods, reels, lures, bait, cooler, ice and safety equipment. Then if you have never gone fishing before, you will need instruction on how to utilize this equipment. Fishing with a friend is a good option, but not the only one. The charter industry offers a variety of fishing talent that is well equipped with all the tools and equipment necessary to get fish, and show you how it’s done, safely. Rates vary, but split three or four ways, can become very economical, especially with a cooler full of walleye that can cost about $13 per pound. Note that Lake Erie walleye are a gamefish and legally cannot be sold.

Every year, friends get together and plan a charter on Lake Erie or Lake Ontario, so they can sit back, let someone else do all the work, and catch fish. Most charter boats even clean your catch for you. Be sure to ask if this is included in your charter service.

But are you looking for something new? How about a night time charter on Lake Erie? Every Spring time, anglers head to the traditional spawning areas to long line troll stick baits for walleye. After dark is usually most productive and the walleye tend to be shallow, in water less than 10 feet deep. As the water temperature heats up, the walleye action heads out to deep water. By mid summer the fish will be out in 50 feet depths and deeper.

Spring time night fishing can be frustrating. A lot of fishermen moving around trolling in a smaller sized area, in the dark. Did you ever wonder, what it would be like to fish offshore in the summer at night? Captain Jeff Phillips of Knot Right Fishing Charters can show you. Captain Jeff had a video on display at the 2019 Fishing and Outdoor show at the Clarion this year. Part of it showed his night time fishing adventures. When asked how good is the fishing he smiled.

“It’s great! No wind usually, no bugs, no other boats around, the temperature is pleasant, not hot, and the fish are everywhere,” said Phillips.

Jeff continued offering that you can fish the same area during the daytime and your electronics will show little evidence of the fish being there. But head out to the 100 foot mark off Barcelona during the night time and you can observe on your electronics as the fish come up off the bottom. The fish are chasing the bait which are feeding on insects that are on the surface. Captain Jeff uses in-line planner boards which have reflective tape or glow sticks attached for night time visibility. Fishing lines with stick baits are set in back of the boards. A generator on board his boat supplies power for the illumination of the boat, the boards and lines. You can even go with lighter lines, fishing the surface to get more fighting action from the fish. It’s a blast and there is no on else around. Jeff does daytime charters also, but commented that it’s funny, you can fish the same area during the daytime and not mark fish, and come back at night and they are everywhere! For some thing new this year, try a night time charter. To contact Captain Jeff Phillips call (716) 753-0499 or go to www.knotrightfishingcharters.com.