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Casting for shoreline 'eyes

159K views 766 replies 89 participants last post by  Weekender#1 
#1 ·
Well it is officially fall, but air temps in the upper 70's for the next week does not make it feel that way. Have my shoreline night gear all ready in the corner of the shed to grab it after dinner. Stocked up on a few new cranks and plenty of jigs and plastics................... but these warm temps have kept me at home so far. Tried getting out on some evenings right at dusk at different times this summer and had no success except for a few largemouth. Did not even spot any glowing eyes on those trips. I know ErieEye posted some success through the summer, but i couldn't seem to find them. Spose i need to just get out there and put in more time (and walking more of the shore) to figure out the when/where the walleye are feeding. Has me wondering if they return to the specific feeding zones because of the water temps or if it is the amount of sun/dark time in the spring and fall. Either way, let the fall fishing begin!
 
#94 ·
Thanks for the inspiration Attica. Had no intention to go out tonight since the saugeye fishing this fall has so poor for me. Actually haven't caught a saugeye since the end of august. They turned on in a big way tonight, literally. Caught 4 saugeyes tonight, 3 of which were fish ohios. Caught a 23" and a 21" on consecutive casts. Actually watched a 21 1/2 "er hit my bait at my feet. Literally had 12" of line out. Hot bait was a clown colored hj 12. Did have a few bites on a 5" swim bait but wasn't able to get the hook into the fish. Fish bit for about an hour after it got dark and they were right on shore. Awesome evening.
Fish Fish Trout Sardine Coregonus lavaretus
Fish Fish Bass Barramundi Forage fish
Fish Bass Fish Trout Fishing
 
#98 ·
Got out again on Wednesday night. Didn't see anywhere near as many fish but did see 2 on a stringer another guy caught. I only landed 2 rockbass and had a few followers decide not to bite right at my feet. Moon was very bright and clear sky, could even see the shadows and white tip tail from the couple followers with out even turning on my headlamp. Thinking i might get out again Saturday or Sunday night.
 
#106 ·
Got a 25" fish last night on my 3rd cast. Spotted her holding tight to shore just a few feet away and flipped a grub past and she did not let it get by. Bet i didn't have more than 10 feet of line out. Should have just left after that, no other walleye to the net for the next 2 hours. Could see a few other active fish and had one (something) hooked briefly but never got to see it. Did get a big 19" bass though. The walleye had a 4" bluegill in its stomach.

Fish Fish Bass Perch Bony-fish


Organism Mamba Tree Adaptation Reptile


Fish Fish Bass Trout Perch
 
#107 ·
If I'm wearing a headlamp or have some other sort of light source with me, should I be able to see the glimmer of the eyes if they're cruising close to shore? I never gave it a lot of thought, but it's something I should be considering. I'm going to try to get out to Wauseon at some point this weekend.
 
#108 ·
You can absolutely spot their eyes glowing and from quite a distance! But, you have to be careful not to keep it pointing at them too long or they will get spooked and take off. One of the reservoirs right now is dropped down so low, when you are walking around the top edge you are easily up 30 feet away from the waters edge. I have been walking up top to spot them and mentally mark the spot. Then slowly and quietly make my way down to the water 20 feet or so away and cast to where they were.

The one from last night, i caught a quick glimpse of the glowing eyes only a few feet from me, so quickly pointed my light away and turned it off. I actually got down to that point so i could cast to a different pair of eyes i could see in another spot. Even if they do get spooked from the light sometimes, it has taught me there are specific rock piles that they like to hang out around.
 
#110 ·
Hey TopCat: Let us know how you do at Wauseon. I fished there a couple weeks ago (afternoon only) and no bites. Hoping to hear some better reports about night fishing there. Thanks!!
 
#113 ·
I fished Wauseon for a short time Friday night. I didn't get to spend the time there I wanted, but I still had one good hit. The fish hit a pearl swimbait. I dragged it a few feet, but it got off. I talked with a guy who was walking his dog there. He says he catches a lot of saugeye out of there on cranks or jigs, and does equally well with either.

As for the rest of my weekend, instead of steelheading on Saturday, a friend invited me to go out with he and his dad out of Huron, OH on his boat. We got our limit trolling for walleye. No steelhead this morning though in Michigan.
 
#116 ·
Nice one fishfinder!!! Was that caught last night from the pier? My buddy was out there Sunday night and got skunked. What seemed to be working for you bait-wise, body baits or something else? Lot's of reports with Husky Jerks and P's getting the nod out there lately. Was trying to decide where to fish this Friday since I have the day off work and was hoping to narrow it down based on some recent intel. Thanks!!!
 
#117 ·
Ended up with a pair of 22" fish last night, both females very fat with eggs. Had several good bites and had another fish hooked up briefly that i never got to see. Both the walleye i landed were hooked deep but only light taps when they bit. Did get a bass too....... my bucket measures 17" so guessing the bass was around 18" or 19" and it sure pulled harder than the walleye. There was absolutely no wind at all and mist was falling the whole time, very quiet night. I didn't get to the reservoir until 9:30 and did not get a bite until almost 11:00. All the bites came on a 4" Kietech swimbait in blue/silver just underhand pitching them out. The 2nd walleye hit up very high in the water right when i closed my bail, it had to only be a foot under the surface. The other fish and bites came while bumping bottom. One of the walleye had a 4.5" bass minnow in its gut along with 2 other smaller panfish.

Fish Green Fish Eye Bass


Vertebrate Fish Bass Fish Hand


Fish Bass Pike Fish Barramundi


Fish Fish Bass Coregonus lavaretus Bony-fish


Fish Fish Osmeriformes Fish products Sardine
 
#118 ·
Went to Fostoria #5 Sunday night. Got Nada. One bump. Did alot of shining and didnt see a fish. Did meet a guy who had one of the biggest Saugeyes ive ever seen. When he pulled it out of his bucket, I first thought it was a cat at first, the head was so big. 26 inches with the body of a Lake Erie female. 6 lbs easy.He caught it out deep about an hour before sunset on a quarter oz head and 3 in. white tail. Go figure. Way more pronounced belly than those 2 Attica just posted. A real Pig.
 
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