 |
| We're back home in Ashtabula and WE ARE CATCHING FISH ! We finished up our two month stay up at Port Clinton on Memorial Day weekend in grand style with easy limits the last few trips out and then moved "The Trophy" back to her home port for the summer season. It sure feels good to be back on the home turf and to take on the Walleyes where I feel I have the home field advantage. I just about had my fill of fighting the western basin boat traffic and all of the other things that I had to deal with in the early spring. Bring on the wide open vastness of our off shore summer fishing and fishing in shorts and tee shirt weather! |
 |
| The Walleye fishing is not starting out crazy fast like it did the past two Junes here when I first came back but it's not bad either. As in past years, the early Walleyes that we're catching right now are very close to shore and are very high in the water column. We had several good days this past week along the shore lines both east and west of Ashtabula Harbor in water as shallow as 30 ft. The problem we are still having is lots of wind. It is very difficult to work the pods of fish when we run across them when fighting a heavy chop. If we ever get the chance to circle around in tighter loops when we run across these pockets, I think catch rates will soar. |
 |
| There is a incredible amount of work being performed in the harbor area right now. The final leg of the Ashtabula River dredging project is being finished. Some of you will remember how shallow it was when I backed my boat into my dock at River Marine. Well those days are over. We now have 20 ft. of water under us ! Also the famous draw bridge right next to River Marine is getting a complete make over. Presently it is being sand blasted and will be completely re-painted over the whole summer. All this means that the drawbridge is stuck open and is closed to vehicular traffic for the entire year. Please note that you MUST come in by way of Rt. 11 exactly how my directions tell you to. If you come in the back way like some of you do when staying in town, you will run into a big detour and you will be very late. PLEASE NOTE THIS ! |
 |
| Also like I preach every year when I come back to Ashtabula, we need to be off the dock at day break which means by 5:00 a.m. and at the very latest by 5:30. That is if you want to catch fish. This early summer season fishing when the fish are high in the water is very weird. We almost always catch the bulk of our fish in the first couple 2-3 hours of daylight. After that we just barely pick at them till again late afternoon when the morning trips are wrapping up. I urge everyone that has a day trip booked with me to be at the dock at 5:00 in the morning so we can capitalize on this extremely good morning bite that takes place on most days. I am quite heavily booked this month but I do have Friday June 27th available for a full day charter. This will be an excellent choice for someone. If interested I can be contacted on the boat/mobile number 216-387-2656. Capt. Walt |
(76.2.246.31)