Lake Erie Lake Trout grow to huge sizes. Jeff Frischkorn shares a photo of his lifelong dream to catch a big Lake Erie laker with this 26-pound fish that he carefully released after this photo.
Submitted Photo
This Columbus Day weekend is a triumph for our youth and their mentors in Western New York; it’s Youth Hunting Weekend.
The three-day early season big game firearm season for youth 12-15 years old is on today through Monday, when youth can harvest a deer or bear with a firearm. Similarly, the two-day early youth pheasant occurs concurrently for the first two days of the youth big game firearm weekend.
All the rules, regulations, and the usual New York state firearm bells and whistles regulations apply. The kids need to be schooled, tested and pass the test (50 questions), certified, licensed, and hunt with a mentor who is also licensed and over 21 years of age. The mentor is not allowed to carry a firearm, but must be immediately nearby.
This weekend is for the kids; it’s a great opportunity for them. When conservation clubs say, “Hey, take a kid fishing or take a kid hunting — this weekend is encouraging us adults to grab this opportunity.” Let’s celebrate the success of our youth and their mentors this weekend.
Amidst the youth hunting weekend, the archery deer hunting bug also invades the adult angler mindset right now — but the warm, fish-filled waters of Lake Erie also beckon. Despite the agreeable confusion, the fishing remains hot in October. There is proof, as outdoor writers from other states have recently visited Western New York in Chautauqua County to fish Lake Erie. It seems the local charter captains, masters of their craft, may have sent a secret message to the fish from Sunset Bay to Dunkirk and Barcelona, asking them to cooperate. They certainly have been, with the walleye, steelhead, and lake trout outdoing themselves on Lake Erie in the last 10 days.
It’s October, but Lake Erie fishing from Dunkirk and Barcelona is hotter than ever. Outdoor media friends showcase their efforts with walleye, yellow perch and steelhead. Pictured, from left, are: James Proffitt from Ohio, Dave Figura from central New York and Jeff Frischkorn from Ohio.
Submitted Photo
Trips to Dunkirk Harbor with Captain Rob Ebersole, known for his “Scary Good Sportfishing” tagline, were a resounding success. The legendary Mike Schoonveld and renowned turkey hunting book author Mike Joyner hammered the walleye on several midweek trips, consistently taking home limits daily. On one particularly memorable day, they launched from Dunkirk harbor at 6:30 a.m. and dropped lines near the Canadian border boundary, using 8-, 9- and 10-color lead-core lines with stickbaits and diving planes with spinner/worm harness baits.
This dynamic duo hooked more than 25 walleyes daily, bringing their limit home on all days, sometimes in as little as three hours of fishing time. After just two hours of fishing, a jovial Mike Joyner (nickname “Mooky”) texted me, “Geez, we’re slammin’ the walleyes. We have 11 in the boat and two more on the lines right now. What a day!” Mike Schoonveld added, “It was a great workout for us not-so-young-whippersnappers. One more fun part of the trip was hooking and landing two steelhead that were 19 and 24 inches.”
Despite one day of stiff north wind, Ebersole’s autopilot and trolling motor guided the way with the dynamic duo reeling in more than 25 walleyes daily. They brought their limit home on all their fishing days, sometimes in as little as three hours of fishing time. The biggest walleye, just shy of 29 inches, was a whopper. White and watermelon colors worked well with the sticks; purple/silver spoons worked, too. The happy outdoor media leaving town is good news for the local economy — good for the future business of stores, gas stations, and hotels — and it is also a testament to the thriving fishing scene in Western New York.
Local Con Club Tournament Director Zen Olow highlighted the expertise of Captain Rob Ebersole, who consistently ranks in the top tier of walleye contestants across the continuous summer walleye tournament competitions conducted from the Lake Erie shores of Chautauqua County. His reputation as a skilled fisherman precedes him, making him a reliable guide for any angler. Call 716-713-9696 to fish with Captain Ebersole, who provides highly cost-effective client trips. With guides like Captain Ebersole, you can be confident in your fishing experience.
At Barcelona Harbor, retired Syracuse News outdoor columnist and book author David Figura (“Figgy”) and Ohio Outdoor News feature writer Jeff Frischkorn met up with Captain Hans Mann of Buffalo Harbor Outfitters Sportfishing; Mann is also known as “Han’s the Carver” for his fish-carving woodworking skills. The 7 a.m. start went well, with the winds subsiding on Friday morning. Frischkorn achieved his lifetime goal of hooking and landing a giant Lake Erie Lake Trout with a 26-pound monster caught in 147 feet of water near the bottom. It took about 20 minutes to get to the boat. Figgy was outdone, landing only a 12-pound laker, good for pictures and grins. The trout were released unharmed to live another day, as they swam away without any issues. They also caught unintended walleye while fishing for the lake trout. Call 716-982-4935 to fish with gentleman Captain Hans Mann.
We took the walleye to the fish cleaning table at Dunkirk Harbor. While waiting for the office to open, boat launchers and those waiting to clean fish grumbled, unable to pay for the launch or gain entry to the fish-cleaning station. I counted only two marina workers, and it appeared they split duties manning the office and removing boats with the crane across the street. The group of us watched two workers working their tails off. The end-of-the-year activities for the marina employees are hectic for just two workers. Impatient anglers waiting their turn to pay their launch bill while tying up the boat launch and recovery area — trying to be honest, are challenging considerations suitable for return business.
Another successful trip was with Captain Dennis Young of “For Your Eyes Only Sportfishing.” James Proffitt from Ohio and Mike Joyner scored big on steelhead and walleye. Fishing east of Dunkirk Harbor, about 20 minutes running time in 85 feet of water, diving planes, and lead core line turned the trick for a walleye limit and big steelhead. The added convenience of this charter captain and first mate cleaning the catch at the Dunkirk cleaning station, bone free, made for a hassle-free and enjoyable trip. One of the steelhead was nearly 30 inches long. Call 716-316-4974 to fish with Captain Dennis Young, who works from the west end of Dunkirk Harbor at Bart’s Cove Marina. With services like these, you can relax and enjoy your fishing trip.
The day before, Proffitt, who writes for Great Lakes Fisherman and several other publications, fishing with Figgy and Frischkorn, joined up with my old friend, Rob Oram. Oram is a master specialist at catching big walleye during tournament competitions and he did not disappoint. Searching the waters for a thermal break, Oram found it 5 miles offshore from Van Buren Point after just 30 minutes of driving around. He turned with a grin and said to the guys, “Check my screen, boys. Look at the bait and hooks. Know what that means? It’s not time to fish; it’s time to catch!” Everyone laughed. You must love the confidence of an angler who knows what he sees on the sonar screen, which means fish on the line. Using four diving planes and one 10-color long line down the middle, his media crew limited out in less than two hours. After the trip, an energetic Frischkorn added, “Thundersticks and Yaleye’s were the best lures on the long line, worked on the diving plans too, but so did spinner/worm rigs. Green perch color lures did the trick.”
This three-man team caught some walleye that measured just under 30 inches. Oram shared, “If we were tournament fishing, this would be a first-place bag. It would be hard to catch us.” The media guys felt special about Oram saying that. Later the next day, Frischkorn had to go purchase some of those particular color Yaleye lures and found them at Bill’s Hooks, where Geri Begier had them in stock.
Other trips for this media crew included musky fishing on Chautauqua Lake, where the guys were casting giant 14-inch-long lures for hungry big musky, the only Chautauqua Lake fish big enough to devour such large lures. Fishing with Mark Richardson (Mark’s Musky Adventures), the fish were stubborn on Thursday last week, but James Proffitt and Figgy returned to camp with stories to tell. They also brought back sore arms and shoulders from a day of casting. “Great workout,” said Figgy, “I’m going up to take a nap.” The day before, a two-man customer crew from New Jersey had hooked and caught four musky fishing with Richardson in the south end of the lake near Celoron. Call 814-602-5651 to fish with New York state-certified guide Captain Richardson.
After the week ended, one of the guys took home 24 bags of vacuum-packed walleye and steelhead, each bag weighing two to three pounds — big, tasty fish. Everyone else took home their share as well. It was a busy week. The best part for the rest of us? The fish are still biting! Captain Rob Ebersole and Captain Hans Mann will be taking reservations through the end of October, as will musky guide Mark Richardson. They are all listed online and on Facebook.
To catch up on the latest Lake Erie fishing and outdoors activity, bed and breakfast rentals, and the fun of the grapes and grain season at the wineries and local brew pubs near the best areas, visit https://www.tourchautauqua.com and check the NYSDEC Fishing Hotline online.
Take a kid fishing or hunting today.
CALENDAR
Oct. 12-13: Western New York Youth Pheasant Hunt weekend for junior hunters 12-15. Must be accompanied with a licensed mentor.
Oct. 12-14: NYS Youth Big Game Hunt Weekend for junior hunters 12-15. Must be accompanied with a licensed mentor.
Oct. 14: Fly Tying Class, Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club, 630 p.m. start; Info: 716-366-8836.
Oct. 15: Erie County Fish Advisory Board meeting, 7 p.m., open to public, Bison City Rod & Gun, 511 Ohio St.
Oct. 15: Fly Fishing and Fly-Tying Class, free, 7-8:30 p.m., with Alberto Rey, Costello Room, Rockefeller Arts Center, SUNY Fredonia. Info: email reya@fredonia.edu.
Oct. 19: Regular WNY Pheasant Season opens.
Oct. 19-Nov. 1: NYS Southern Zone fall turkey season.