Tony Denslow posted on September 18, 2007 22:58 :: 4219 Views
Every year there are two walleye migrations in Lake Erie. In late spring millions of walleyes flee the warming waters of the Western Basin to vacation in the cool, depths of the Central Basin. Then in the fall, the walleyes decided that those warm waters in the west weren’t so bad after all. It’s difficult to pinpoint the exact time that these migrants will return but experience tells me that it won’t be long. In the past few days we’ve experienced a considerable cool down. Last week the water temperature on the surface was around 75 degrees. It’s down to 72 now. When the surface temperature falls below the temperature just above the thermocline, the lake will “turn over.” This is because cold water is heavier than warm water. So in this case there will be an exchange.
Water that was near the bottom will rise to the top as the colder water falls. (I love explaining this. It makes it look like I paid attention in chemistry class.) A turn over usually disrupts the fishing for a short period of time. After that, the walleye fishing can range from great to spectacular, depending on weather and water clarity. Luckily for me, Vermilion, OH (my home port) overlooks the paths of both migrations so we get the walleyes coming and going. For as long as I can remember, the area of Lake Erie from Vermilion to Huron to Cedar Point and Kelley's Island and east along the Canadian line has been the fall staging area for these returning fish. The area is always loaded with forage. It’s here that the walleyes will fatten up before moving back into the Western Basin over the winter in preparation for the spring spawn.
For the angler in pursuit of a trophy, there will be no shortage of big eyes. If I have to make a guess as to when the walleyes will start to move in, I'd say around Oct. 1, give or take a few days. That leaves plenty of time to get in on the action. Stay tuned for more information on the walleye migration. Scientists in the U.S. and Canada are keeping a close eye on Lake Erie as they monitor an increase in nutrient loading this year. Anyone who has been on the lake this summer and even now can see that there is considerable algae in the water, particularly in the Central Basin. Algae grows naturally but when it’s obvious that there’s an overabundance of it the lake water is being enriched. The sources of the enrichment are fertilizer runoff from farmland, on-going chemical pollution, loss of wetlands, and sewage entering the waterway. Such enrichment can cause fish stocks to decline and there’s evidence of that all over the place.
When nutrient loadings are optimal, the scientists say, Lake Erie supports a rich food chain with lots of game fish at the top. Add too much of the nutrient phosphorous and you get more algae. Eventually those massive algal blooms die and drift to the bottom where they are decomposed by a very active bottom-dwelling community of micro-organisms. The process can strip the water of oxygen making the lake very inhospitable. On the other hand, push nutrient levels too low and productivity drops. Again, the food chain collapses because there is not enough algae. This situation deserves the attention of all sport fishermen.
Captain Tony Denslow
Mega Bites Charters at http://www.eriecaptain.com. Send questions and comments to captlad@yahoo.com. Mega Bites Charters: Reel fishing since 1983. Capt. Tony Denslow - Mega Bites Charters
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