DUNKIRK, New York — Ask my kids what their favorite fish to eat is and they won’t even hesitate – it’s walleye, of course! That’s why I couldn’t resist an open invitation to attend a VIP Fishing Experience hosted by the Eastern Lake Erie Charter Boat Association this summer, during which a prized Lake Erie fishing charter launched from Dunkirk, New York, served as the main event.
Not only are their delicate white fillets delectable, but walleyes are a boatload of fun to bring in by the boatload. These days, the big lake is serving up historic walleye catch rates — especially in the eastern basin — best accessed from western New York. With my schedule clear for a few days, I reached out to the Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau for suggestions on convenient lakeside accommodations and made the nearly six-hour drive north to walleye wonderland.
Arriving a day early with a few hours to spare, I pulled into Valley Outdoors in Cassadaga and purchased a non-resident fishing license. After picking the brain of the young man behind the counter, I detoured over to Cassadaga Lake to cast from shore for an hour or so and was able to hook up with a young largemouth bass and a nice-sized crappie on jerk baits.
Then, I drove over to the Chadwick Bay Marina and checked in at the Clarion Hotel before mingling with local guides at the evening’s welcome reception. While the charter captains unanimously reported all-time great walleye hauls this summer, sad news was delivered with the weather report. Projected high winds, six-foot breakers and a small-craft advisory had forced an unfortunate cancellation of Wednesday morning’s planned fishing outing.
“That’s how it goes around here,” 16-year Infinity Charters LLC captain Frank Schoenacker explained. “The Great Lakes tell us when we get to fish, and they don’t always operate by our intended schedules. Some days we just need to be patient and wait on the weather for a chance to get out there.”
I was disappointed to not be able to fish, especially after traveling so far, but Schoenacker graciously offered an opening, if I could just extend my stay by another day, to try and get me out on Thursday morning if the weather cooperated. After a phone call home to rearrange schedules, I decided to stick it out.
On Wednesday morning, I woke early and walked to the pier. Instantly, the wind whipped me, and choppy whitecaps blanketed the lake. No boats were on the water, not even the huge barge repairing riprap on the break wall. Wisdom clearly prevailed in the cancellation of the day’s fishing event, though an onshore luncheon would still be held.
In fact, I learned just how productive Lake Erie is from a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation fisheries biologist over lunch.
“The walleye catch has been absolutely phenomenal,” NYSDEC biologist Pascal Wilkins said. “Our latest angler survey is showing it’s the best it has ever been, doubling the catch rate over the past five years – and it was even considered very good back then. Just a few days ago, I caught my limit of six fish in just eight casts while fishing near shore. It’s that hot right now.”
Most anglers troll for walleye, fishing near the lake’s deeper, colder thermocline layer, landing average fish in the three- to nine-year age class measuring anywhere from 18- to 22-inches.
“But it’s not just the walleyes that deserve attention,” Wilkins added. “Anglers can catch a mixed bag here. We have an amazing lake trout fishery, huge yellow perch, a steelhead run in our tributaries, and excellent smallmouth bass fishing from here up to Buffalo.”
Speaking of the Buffalo area, that’s where I conveniently passed an extra evening in New York when I couldn’t get out on the lake. I drove an hour north to fish the Niagara River with my old friend Scott Gauld who was planning to bass fish that afternoon anyway. We caught 17 smallmouths in just a few hours — some real dandies, too. Well worth the side trip!
Thursday morning, I met Schoenacker early at his dock slip. While motoring out to deep water we experienced heavy rollers that caused the experienced captain to turn around his boat three times, seriously considering calling it, however, I assured him the bumpy ride wasn’t bothering me one bit. If his sturdy 25-foot ProLine could safely handle it, I’d love to try.
Once we hit 85 feet of water, Frank turned on his autopilot, which held course and stabilized things greatly as he masterfully went to work dropping downrigger lines and slide divers with Silver Streak spoons. As soon as the depth and speed were set properly, we immediately landed a nice 22-incher, giving us confidence we could find success even in these difficult conditions.
The lake was telling us we could fish! As the morning progressed, the chop died down, and we easily boated a limit in less than 90 minutes — getting us back to port early, the fish cleaned, and me on my way home with fresh fillets on ice.
While it may have cost an extra day (and excellent inland fishing to pass the time), Dad came home with the walleyes he promised, which made for a happy, quiet dinner table as the kids devoured the morsels. The weather can be unpredictable at times, but Lake Erie once again proved to be a premier destination for a limit of walleye —sometimes with delayed gratification.