Conditions prime for big bite on Erie

FLW Walleye Tour anglers kick off second day of competition with top-10 cut looming

PORT CLINTON, Ohio – If there is a common theme among the 131 National Guard FLW Walleye Tour pros on the second day of the Lake Erie tournament, hosted by the City of Port Clinton and Lake Erie Shores and Islands, it’s optimism. After a day that produced just 20 limits, there’s no other attitude to have. A handful of anglers, including day-one leader Danny Steffens, found pods of big fish, but most anglers struggled, weighing just a few walleye from a lake that should be producing lots of heavy limits.

Much of the Midwest has been plagued by constant rain and wind for the past month, and the water around Port Clinton has been abnormally dirty, with the mud line stretching far into Erie. Anglers who found cleaner water yesterday were rewarded with solid limits. Iowa pro Gary Speicher wasn’t one of them. He boated two walleye yesterday, but is much more optimistic today.

That’s because things are changing for the better. The morning launch wasn’t interrupted by a thunderstorm, the wind has calmed down and the water is trending clearer and warmer. All of those should help the bite, especially the cleaner water.

“I think we’ll see more limits and possibly more 40-pound limits,” said Speicher.

Thanks largely to the improving conditions, most of the anglers plan on doing the same thing, including those who may have struggled a bit yesterday. Finding schools of fish in the open water isn’t a problem. The water around Port Clinton is well-known not just for numbers of walleye, but for surrendering big fish, as well. Anglers are marking lots of fish. The biggest hurdle during practice and on the first day of the event was simply coaxing the fish to bite, said Minnesota pro Paul Meleen. He only brought two fish to the scales yesterday, but he’s sticking to his plan and doing the exact same thing he did on the first day.

“I’m fishing the same area as several guys in the top 10, so I know there are quality fish there. It’s just a matter of getting bit by those bigger fish,” he said. “I’m just going to go out and hope I put my lure in front of a few more bigger fish today.”

Jeff Vereeke, who sits in 15th place with 28 pounds, 13 ounces, also plans to do the same thing that worked so well yesterday. He pulled spinner rigs in an area he had completely to himself for most of the day. He said the walleye are migrating eastward, but he expects plenty more fish to be in the area he’s working today.

After today’s competition, both the Pro and Co-angler Divisions will be whittled down to the top 10. Tournament titles will be awarded after Saturday’s weigh-in.

Anglers will take off from the Nor’ Easter Club at 2801 Nor’ Easter Cove Rd. in Port Clinton at 7 a.m. on Saturday, the final day of competition. Today’s weigh-in will take place at WaterWorks Park in downtown Port Clinton beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday’s weigh-in will begin at 4:30 p.m. and will be held at the Walmart located at 2826 East Harbor Road in Port Clinton, Ohio. There will be a free family fishing clinic where children can win free rods and reels and other great giveaways prior to the final weigh-in. Fans will also have the opportunity to interact with professional anglers, ride in a Ranger boat simulator, enjoy interactive games, activities and giveaways provided by sponsors, and learn more about the sport of fishing during the FLW Outdoors Expo. All activities are free and open to the public.