Morning, daytime and nighttime fishing have been epic for more than three weeks now.

Spinner-worm rigs, stickbaits, spoons and jigging lures have all been productive for local anglers, and many anglers who have heard about the hot walleye fishing and have traveled here from distances afar. A drive through any of the marina or boat launch parking lots will reveal visitors from multiple nearby states. All good for the local economy.

Acoustic tracking shows millions of walleyes spawn in the western basin of Lake Erie and migrate east in summer, with the typical male traveling the full 200-mile length of the lake. Dunkirk, as one of the premier ports of entry for anglers, albeit with a limited immediate area for boat trailer parking, sits right in the path of these migrating walleye schools. The transitional walleyes gorge on schooling baitfish like emerald shiners, especially over the summer months. Additionally, a massive midge hatch has occurred, so intense that it is visible on sonar. The midges become primetime walleye food, creating a double buffet of insects and baitfish. There are big fish in the mix with the recent summer catches that include walleye in the 26- to 30-inch range, all thanks to the 2003-15 strong year classes of walleye. Other species that can be caught in Lake Erie include smallmouth bass, yellow perch, steelhead and lake trout.

Spinner and worm rigs have been the easiest to use for walleye fishing newcomers. On some days, colors can matter, but it seems with the rapid transition from water that was 10 degrees cooler than in 2024 during the first part of June, to now when the water temperature is approaching the high 70s, the bottom dwelling insect hatches have turned the west-to-east migrating schools of Lake Erie walleye into food-feeding machines. Add that with more than 100 million walleyes here for the summer, there is competition for the early bird (fish) who gets the worm. The next result? Fun for anglers of all ages, especially the younger generations. Remember, safety first. Always wear a life jacket, especially when fishing in open waters like Lake Erie.

Photo courtesy of @WillsWorldOutdoors Lure colors and sizes can affect fishing; sometimes the colors appeal to the fish, other times they catch fishermen looking for a change when shopping at the tackle shop.

William Schwartz of “WillsWorldOutdoors” (the YouTube show) sends a thank you to Bryan at Creative Woods and Waters LLC for his advice on a windy day last week.

“Try to slow the boat down as much as possible and run the usual 3-D blade program,” Schwartz said, fishing near Sturgeon Point toward the Canada line.

With the first 2-mile pass, they caught just three fish. Heeding the advice and retracing their steps, his crew caught 11 walleyes in just 19 minutes. Having knowledgeable friends willing to share advice is helpful.

“The lake is teeming with walleyes, estimated at over 100 million fish,” said Joe Fischer, the fish committee chairman for the Erie County Federation of Sportsmen. “The good old days are right now, and the fishing pressure is low. It’s a thrilling time to be a Lake Erie walleye fisherman.”

Captain Daryl Glasner of CEO Guide Service had a family from Virginia visiting to fish with him this week.

“Saturday was hot, and the lake was flat. The fish didn’t seem to mind,” Glasner said, fishing from Sunset Bay in Lake Erie. “This family took home 24 walleyes and two lake trout. These guys left with coolers and memories filled to the max.”

Coming up this weekend, the highly anticipated “Walleye Duel in Dunkirk” will take place on July 12-13. Tournament Director Mark Mohr announces, “This year’s first-place finishing team of three will win a trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Blue Water Marine is a major sponsor, presenting the Suzuki Slam, which features three 9.9-horsepower outboard motors. A substantial amount of money is up for grabs. This year, there will be no shotgun start; instead, lines will be in the water at 6 a.m., and there are some other changes as well. It’s an event not to be missed.

Anyone interested in fishing in this tournament, please contact me at 716-998-9871. The captains’ meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Friday, in the pavilion at the Clarion Hotel.

CALENDAR

July 12-13: Walleye Duel in Dunkirk, Dunkirk Pavilion — Clarion Hotel Pavilion, $500 entry; three-fish bag/two days; captains’ meeting on July 11; contact Mark Mohr: 716-998-9871.

July 17-20: Sunset Bay Walleye Shoot-Out 2025, $500 entry, $750K prizes; six-fish bag/per day — one-day major contest; Don Ruppert; 716-435-4137, visit: www.walleyeshootout.com/.

July 20: Chautauqua Lake Bassmasters 2025 Summer Open, Bass for Cash, 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., Prendergast Boat Launch, $200 Entry includes Big Bass Payout. Info: 716-708-0330.

July 26-27: NYS Archery Shooters Association Federation Championship, Bear Lake Rod & Gun. Info: Rudy Abersold, 716-397-9717.