[iceman]

There's a gentleman posting on Facebook that he has been catching walleye at Mosquito wading. I do not have a Facebook account but my wife does and there's a couple sites I will check for fishing and golfing. I probably should get an account but that's another story.
Anyways, if by chance that same person also is a member of Ohio game fishing. My question to him would not be where he is fishing... but is he able to get them wading without being in the water, let's say after 9:00 p.m.
If I'm wading this time of the year I would probably look at getting in the water at 6:00 at the earliest. Probably more like 7:00 and fish seven till about 9:00.
As we get into the later spring, it wouldn't be uncommon to be in the water till 10:00 p.m. but one thing that I've never really been interested in doing is getting up at the lake and let's say 9:00 p.m. and fishing till like 1:00 p.m.
It seems like over the years the bite at mosquito has changed as far as the time of the day.
It used to be if you were in the water half hour before dark till about half hour after dark was the prime time. But over the years it seem like if there was a bite which wasn't very often that bite didn't happen until well after dark.
Again, I'm not looking for information on where people are fishing but just curious if anyone has an opinion on what would be considered the best time to be in the water? That being said, I'm sure some may take that as well. Anytime is a good time to be in the water.
Happy St Patrick's Day Tomorrow To All

 

[IceFitter]

I can't speak for mosquito, but when I fish lake Erie from shore I fish from about a half hour before sunset till about midnight. I've done all nighters and caught fish haven't had much luck after midnight. It seemed the most action was 9-11pm.

 

[Bigfillet]

I usually fish the last hour of daylight until at least 11pm. Sometimes the fishing is good before dark but it’s usually better after. Some nights they are biting early and some nights they turn on late. When they turn on I usually catch a few then they turn back off. Before dark I usually use swimbaits or jigs with a curly tail. After dark I like to use husky jerks or f11 rapalas. Swimbaits can be good after dark as well. I also like to use Rapala rippin raps.

 

[iceman]

That's probably another factor working against me in the fact I have fished Mosquito with a jig and minnow since mid 80's and rarely move away from that. I have swimbaits, rapalas, and vibes but never had much success or confidence.
I actually have lost so much confidence in Mosquito don't think I got into water one time there last year or better. Going to try and get back into a routine getting over there starting next week.
Thanks for replies so far

 

[Bass knuckles]

I like right at dark till 11-12, have good luck on cranks and rattle traps. Water temp 45-50 best imo

 

[Bigfillet]

I like right at dark till 11-12, have good luck on cranks and rattle traps. Water temp 45-50 best imo

I agree on water temp. Right around 50 is prime time. Probably a few weeks away.

 

[ezbite]

I work afternoons, and have been know to pull a few after work on stick baits 😉

 

[One guy and a boat]

There's a gentleman posting on Facebook that he has been catching walleye at Mosquito wading. I do not have a Facebook account but my wife does and there's a couple sites I will check for fishing and golfing. I probably should get an account but that's another story.
Anyways, if by chance that same person also is a number of Ohio game fishing. My question to him would not be where he is fishing... but is he able to get them wading without being in the water, let's say after 9:00 p.m.
If I'm wading this time of the year I would probably look at getting in the water at 6:00 at the earliest. Probably more like 7:00 and fish seven till about 9:00.
As we get into the later spring, it wouldn't be uncommon to be in the water till 10:00 p.m. but one thing that I've never really been interested in doing is getting up at the lake and let's say 9:00 p.m. and fishing till like 1:00 p.m.
It seems like over the years the bite at mosquito has changed as far as the time of the day.
It used to be if you were in the water half hour before dark till about half hour after dark was the prime time. But over the years it seem like if there was a bite which wasn't very often that bite didn't happen until well after dark.
Again, I'm not looking for information on where people are fishing but just curious if anyone has an opinion on what would be considered the best time to be in the water? That being said, I'm sure some may take that as well. Anytime is a good time to be in the water.
Happy St Patrick's Day Tomorrow To All

Agree on the bite being a little later. Figured it was a by product of zebra mussels keeping the water cleaner.

 

[bountyhunter]

your,ll right on, mos is not the same lake as thirty years ago. remember when you could catch a doz short,ys now no more .lake has way to much fishing pressure.and weeds and zebra,s.

 

[Outasync]

I tend to walk a long way away from the crowd. Last year I usually did best after 11pm when there was next to no one else out. Seen alot of big females rolling and boiling but would only catch males. One problem I'd have is guys trying to troll right through where I'm casting over and over. Outboard motor running in 3 ft of water doesn't exactly draw fish in

 

[stormfront]

That's probably another factor working against me in the fact I have fished Mosquito with a jig and minnow since mid 80's and rarely move away from that. I have swimbaits, rapalas, and vibes but never had much success or confidence.
I actually have lost so much confidence in Mosquito don't think I got into water one time there last year or better. Going to try and get back into a routine getting over there starting next week.
Thanks for replies so far

Though I've fished Mosquito over the decades, I usually pass it and head on up to Pymatuning. I've been doing this since the 70s. Historically, I would start at the New Moon in March and hit the lake as hard as possible until about a week or two after the Full Moon in April. I've done less wading over the last ten years or so but plan to pick up the pace this year. I carry two lures (plugs) and only two. The first would be a size 11 Original Floating Rapala and the backup is a size 5 Shallow Running Shad Rap. I use the silver, chartreuse, chrome and hot steel finishes. I like to start fishing about an hour to an hour and a half before sunset and have fished well past midnight but the best action was always until about 9:30 for me. I've actually limited out (less one fish) multiple times hours before sunset but this has been when the run was at its peak. I have had trouble finding fish though when we experience winters with no ice. As you've noted, the game has changed though. This year will be interesting. Btw, I'm from the 'burb to the West of you.

 

[Snookhunter52]

I fished for walleye up at Erie and also fished for saugeye. You can pretty much use the same strategy for both. Your best resource is the rainy night saugeye thread in the central Ohio forum. Bring some 3-5" swimbaits and 5" jerkbaits. Fish the wind blown shorelines. Focus your efforts in the current seams and eddys created by the wind.

 

[B Ron 11]

I can't speak for mosquito, but when I fish lake Erie from shore I fish from about a half hour before sunset till about midnight. I've done all nighters and caught fish haven't had much luck after midnight. It seemed the most action was 9-11pm.

There was a time, when I worked second shift, that I didn’t start fishing until 12:30. I would see guys leave with stringers full. They would usually make a late night run and I would get mine too.

 

[IceFitter]

I fished for walleye up at Erie and also fished for saugeye. You can pretty much use the same strategy for both. Your best resource is the rainy night saugeye thread in the central Ohio forum. Bring some 3-5" swimbaits and 5" jerkbaits. Fish the wind blown shorelines. Focus your efforts in the current seams and eddys created by the wind.

That thread is absolute gold

There was a time, when I worked second shift, that I didn’t start fishing until 12:30. I would see guys leave with stringers full. They would usually make a late night run and I would get mine too.

No doubt. I've caught fish too at those times, but in my experience it's hotter and heavier before rather than later.

 

[funkyfisher]

I’ve been wading Skeeter for years and I agree with all the comments on here. I bought a boat 3 years ago so I definitely don’t wade as much as before I had the boat. I will say my friend and I had some stellar nights the last 2 years. With the water clarity so high, we mostly fished at night. We would literally get out right at dark and usually wrap it up between 12-3am depending on the action. We would focus on weed flats and were always fishing 3 to 5 ft of water. We fished mostly husky jerks, floating rapalas, or any other floating jerkbaits. The one thing we always ran into was we could never find a consistency with the time. Sometimes the bite would be awesome immediately when we got out, other nights it would fire up at 1am and be solid action for a straight hour. They are going to feed throughout the night and I really believe a lot of it is being in the right place when they decide to do it. Our first trip last year was March 26 and we limited out in the first 2 hours on husky jerks. We went again the next night and only caught 3 And I remember they started late that night. I ended up marking multiple areas on my GPS and we would always focus on the wind swept side of the lake and it seemed to work well. There are plenty of nice flats on that lake if you do some searching. Another plus side is it seemed we never got anything but nice quality fish after dark. Hopefully we get the same results this year. Best of luck to everyone and let’s hope we start getting some consistent weather soon. Be safe out there, especially at night!

 

[iceman]

For a period of time probably about 7or 8 years ago the size of the walleye we caught was really impressive but also concerning because we were not catching the 13's. It seems like we had a few great years on fish ranging 18-22 and then it just really got difficult to catch them. Probably have waded literally 25 or more different spots on that lake over the last 30 years and can't say that I have adapted well to the zebra muscle /water clarity/ weed growth when it comes to casting jig and minnows from 1 or 2 before dark to hour or two after dark... Often fish solo and being out in that water after 10 /11 pm is something probably not motivated to do any more. The other change that I have noticed as well as a couple friends who I really feel are truly good fisherman better than me is the lack of any extended bite with multiple hits. I would say from 2009-2015 or so you would get multiple multiple hits often over a 45 minute spree... When things started to change it seemed like you would get 2 or 3 hits or less over literally a 5 minute period and it was over. Missing hits or losing a fish or having to retie in the dark is tough but if you know bites are out there it keeps u motivated especially when u are out there and fighting conditions cold and wind. If you know that hit you just missed that came after an hour of no hits maybe your only hit of the night doesn't make for great motivation to get back out in the water.

As I'm writing this I'm thinking about how this sounds more like whining and that is not my intention. I feel more confident at Milton anymore but would love to to return to getting good back to Mosquito more often.
Lots of nice responses and info on this thread and much appreciated.

 

[[email protected]]

Confidence confidence confidence.
Its hard when your used to things and then they change. I think that has happened to a lot of the older style mosquito fisherman, myself included. It's hard to change tactics and times and locations of trying to catch the same.species of fish in the same body of water. That being said, if nothing is working desperation kicks in and then you can lose all confidence after that. The lake is much more inconsistent as far as times and locations. I guess you have to be out there enough to be at the right place and time. If you are lucky you may figure out a pattern. The only pattern I have found is that my best nights have been when there is hardly anyone fishing because it's so cold and windy. Even then it seems the feeding windows are small. Good luck

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[Doboy]

Weeds,weeds,weeds,,, that's what changed everything at Mosquito,,,, Pymi too. Gotta get rid of some of those weeds, then things might get back to the way they were. Now,, those draw-down lakes,, not so bad. You can still drag the shallows, right?
Way back, our whole gang would fight for BANK position at the cemetery. No problem catching fish, or even a limit, from dark to say 12. All you needed was a small slip egg, 12" leader & 1/2 a worm. Slow drag it in. Get hits 10' from shore.
Try that now.
Now, you just got to play those weeds. They are in there, along with the baitfish.
Funkyfisher has it right on. Just like the 'Central' guys. Ya just gotta do it the way they do.

My best times were in a boat, about 5' ow,,, sitting about & a long cast from shore. 2 anchors down, quietly waiting in the dark. Weed tops about 1'-2' from the surface, & warm enough for the bugs to be flying & hitting the surface. FULL MOON really helps. The female hogs are rolling 2-3' from shore.
If you can't, or don't catch them jerking floaters,,,, pull out the vibes. That's where your wading may work best,,,, especially if your at Berlin, & or Milton.
Just ask Bertin, or Slipsinker. I was with them,,, we anchored 20' from shore in a boat. ;>)
& I 'seen' some hogs pulled one night. Thats when the Waders, with long steelhead rods in 3-4' ow, were short snap'n Vibes,,,, they ruled. We were slightly out farther,, & we only caught keeper jacks.
I say,,,, You just gotta break down & change your 'system', or LAKE.

It's warming up this week,,, when is the next full moon?
lol,, I won't be able to get my OLD, FEEBLE, fishing buddies out of the house,,, so I'll be reading the central forum. ;>)

( I'd love to see some pics of the netting & milking?)

 

[buckeyebowman]

For a period of time probably about 7or 8 years ago the size of the walleye we caught was really impressive but also concerning because we were not catching the 13's. It seems like we had a few great years on fish ranging 18-22 and then it just really got difficult to catch them. Probably have waded literally 25 or more different spots on that lake over the last 30 years and can't say that I have adapted well to the zebra muscle /water clarity/ weed growth when it comes to casting jig and minnows from 1 or 2 before dark to hour or two after dark... Often fish solo and being out in that water after 10 /11 pm is something probably not motivated to do any more. The other change that I have noticed as well as a couple friends who I really feel are truly good fisherman better than me is the lack of any extended bite with multiple hits. I would say from 2009-2015 or so you would get multiple multiple hits often over a 45 minute spree... When things started to change it seemed like you would get 2 or 3 hits or less over literally a 5 minute period and it was over. Missing hits or losing a fish or having to retie in the dark is tough but if you know bites are out there it keeps u motivated especially when u are out there and fighting conditions cold and wind. If you know that hit you just missed that came after an hour of no hits maybe your only hit of the night doesn't make for great motivation to get back out in the water.

As I'm writing this I'm thinking about how this sounds more like whining and that is not my intention. I feel more confident at Milton anymore but would love to to return to getting good back to Mosquito more often.
Lots of nice responses and info on this thread and much appreciated.

When a buddy of mine had a boat, a long time ago, we fished Milton a lot. It took us quite a while, but we finally started to figure out the walleye there. We once stopped at a bait shop to get minnows. The guy gave us these tiny little things. We told him we wanted bigger ones for the walleye, and he tried to tell us that there weren't hardly any walleye in there! I began to protest that we were catching lots of 'eyes, and big ones too! That's when an older guy started clearing his throat behind me. I turned and he wagged his head toward the back corner of the place. When we got there he told me that it was obvious we were figuring some stuff out, but he wanted us to keep it under our hats. He told me that Berlin and Mosquito had the reputations as walleye lakes, so let the walleye hunters go there!

Now, at Mosquito, you're just going to have to learn to fish the weeds. Just like I finally figure out to use a slip floar to fish some of those stump fields! My BIL and I got into one on the west side of the lake not very far south of the causeway. One of the snaggiest places I've ever fished! We lost ideas in there! Opening my box yet again to re-rig, my eyes lit upon a slip float and the light bulb went on! No more snags, and multiple walleye. Just have to figure things out. Even before the zebra mussles and the weeds, we'd often find the walleye in what weeds there were. If the baitfish are there the walleye will be too.

 

[westbranchbob]

I wade a lot in spring for eyes...look for harder bottom areas that meet mud, on my home lake I target sand or gravel that runs into a mud flat....stand in 2 feet of water casting into 5 to 7 and slow roll stickbaits/ swimbaits in to you...I've had eyes hit right at my feet...now till may...or the weeds get too thick.

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