| Lake Erie's central basin has proven has proven to | | | | with Michigan stinger spoons in various colors." |
| be a gold mine for catching trophy steelhead | | | | Some of the hot colors are perch, watermelon |
| trout. If you plan to visit in search of Lake Erie | | | | and chartreuse. During Spring fishing, trolling |
| steelhead, many fishermen suggest fishing from | | | | speeds are typically 1.0 to 1.5 miles per hour. As |
| May through the end of October. | | | | waters warm, speeds increase to 1.5 to 2.2 miles |
| A local fishing guide from Wall Hanger Charters | | | | per hour. As the water warms even more in the |
| explained steelhead trolling techniques, saying, " | | | | summer, fishermen troll deeper waters with |
| We can run planer boards out the side of the | | | | downriggers and dipsy divers fished down deep. |
| boat and run ten lines off these boards. The jet | | | | During this time of year, speeds are increased to |
| drives can go down 10 to 50 plus feet depending | | | | 3 miles per hour, catching trout and walleye. |
| on the length of the line. In the spring, we are | | | | Trolling an S pattern really also helps to trigger |
| typically running 10 jets back 30 to 40 foot leads | | | | these fish during the spring. The bait fish in the |
| in 20 foot of water with worm harnesses and | | | | deeper waters are larger alewives, smelt, and |
| flutter type spoons, the baits of choice. We also | | | | emeralds. This is the time to use larger spoons in |
| run crank baits at this time of year, typically back | | | | the 4-6 inch range. Up to 16 rods at one time are |
| 100 feet." | | | | used in deeper waters. 8 rods are run on planer |
| He went on to explain mid-season fishing, | | | | boats, 6 dipsy divers and 2 down riggers. The |
| explaining, "As the water warms, and summer is | | | | dipsy divers are set on different settings of 1, 2, |
| upon us, we move to deeper waters running 40 | | | | and 3. The downriggers use 10 pound balls with |
| and 50 jets with leads of 60 to 125 feet back. | | | | leads of 25 feet. |
| This is also the time we start to use dipsy divers | | | | In addtion to fishing for trophy steelhead and |
| back the same amount of lengths. When using | | | | walleye, the region is known for excellent catches |
| dipsy divers we run a 6 foot lead behind them | | | | of yellow perch. |