First Trip To Erie 8/11/13

[MSURoss]

Made a three hour trip down to Catawba Island Sunday with my girlfriend who was visiting a friend. Decided to haul my aluminum boat down and give Erie a shot weather permitting. I've always heard about Erie pigs, but didn't expect I was actually going to get into them   .

I launched out of the state park on Catawba Island at 9am with waves around two feet and heavy overcast skies. Water temp was 73 degrees with visibility around 3 feet. Thunderstorms were in the afternoon forecast, so I didn't want to venture to offshore by myself.

Lakemaster chip showed Mouse Island reef being the closest at about halfway to South Bass Island. Once on the reef, I set up and threw a tube in 12-18 fow with no luck. Switched to a dropshot and bang 3.4 smallie!

Purple smoke Erie Darter was the ticket! I made 8 more passes across the reef duel wielding drop shots and managed to catch a 4.8, 4.9, 3.5, 3.7 and 3.4!! I lost several more 4+ giants that would've helped the cause too!

I was really surprised to catch a couple nice green fish as well. At this point I am basically foaming at the mouth because my live well has only seen 12-13lbs Despite pumping in fresh water the whole day one of my big ones bellied up in 30min.

Couldn't figure out that one because all my other fish were happy campers when released (fish was not bloated). The fish were picky though, not willing to commit to cranks, tubes or Carolina rigs.

As soon as I drifted into 20 fow + the goby bites stopped as well as the bass.  Drum were very active as well on Mouse reef, caught at least 7 around 4lbs. I wanted to find a few more spots so I ran close by to Strave Island Reef about a mile or so by. I marked many fish, but only got one 3lber to commit to a Gulp leech in about 17 fow.

Then I boated to a southern point off south bass Island only to get goby taps. I had to pick up my girlfriend at put-in-bay at 5 so I gave Green Island a try. Fished the eastern point and caught a few just under 3lbs on drop shot. Again drop shot was the only successful technique.

Once I picked up my gf she took a couple pics of my two biggest smallies I've ever caught, she said they looked like carp lol. To go to Erie for my first time with only my lakemaster and sack 20.3 was the best experience I've ever had. Caught 12 or so keepers and many drum. Can't wait to go back to one of the best fisheries in the world!!!

[Team houston]

Nice fish. Why didn't you release the big one when it started showing signs of distress?

[MSURoss]

I should've...wanted a picture being my pb. Thought it would recover. Maybe it needed to be fizzed? Didn't catch it that deep though.

[Grinny]

Sounds like an awesome day on a new body of water! Too bad about the dead lunker though...

[gmetime24]

Great job on those pigs!! Sounds like an awesome time. Congrats on your new pb hog smallmouth!!

[Firefighter Jeff]

  Congratulations Ross !!!  You're a Lake Erie Rookie Sensation !!!!!    Catch any Dogfish ?  lololol   

[MSURoss]

No dogs or pike this time lol I bring a net for that reason