A three-man walleye limit in the cooler (18 walleyes) while fishing from Barcelona Harbor on Lake Erie near Westfield is becoming a regular event for anglers who are prepared to fish in the dark. Photo courtesy of Captain Jason Kenyon

Mid-May brings ideal conditions for anglers to focus on and catch walleyes in the near-shore waters of Lake Erie between Dunkirk and Barcelona. Moderate water temps, plenty of prey, post-spawn hunger, and the lack of a thermocline help to concentrate the walleye near shore. These factors are among the reasons why stealthy trolling or casting stickbaits in 6 to 15 feet of water after sunset is so productive. You need the right gear, lures, and the proper knowledge of where the fish are likely to find bottom structure that they like to catch them, but that’s where hiring an affordable charter captain can help.

Captain Jason Kenyon of Fish-Aholic Sport Fishing has been consistently filling bag limits several times a week, a testament to his skill and knowledge of the waters. On a recent Monday night, while fishing from Barcelona Harbor with Steve Kota and Brian Hilliker, the trio reeled in a bag limit of 18 walleyes. Fishing from 8:30-10:30 p.m. in his Alumacraft Trophy, fully rigged for night-fishing, Kenyon used stickbaits to outsmart the wily walleyes.

“The lake was perfectly flat that night,” says Kenyon, “So the good bite didn’t start until about an hour after sunset, but then it was one fish after the other.

“The folks enjoy holding the fishing rod in their hands, so I support that fishing method during the early season,” he added. “I use 7-foot Ugly Sticks with Okuma Coldwater line-counter reels holding 30-pound Power-Pro braid tied directly to the lure to catch the fish.

“When the lake is so calm, it is really necessary to keep the boat quiet, so we troll with my MinnKota electric for forward motion, fast and slow — the speed can vary, but I look for the right balance between the forward boat motion and lure action/wobble to be just right,” Kenyon continued. “I like to use the Rapala Scatter Rap minnow during the early Lake Erie walleye season, but I have many other lures that work too. If the fish are spooky, we add planer boards and lighted arrow knocks to see the boards. It’s a lot of fun catching these fish. When a fish is hooked, I have a special lighting system that illuminates the area right beneath the boat, making it easy to bring the fish to the net.”

Kenyon is a vetted member of the Eastern Lake Erie Charter Boat Association, and I was pleasantly surprised at his most affordable charter fees. His four-hour charter fishing services are $200 for one person, $300 for two, and $400 for three. You can reach him at 716-258-0653 to book directly, or visit his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/share/1EkyEx7jae/. Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to catch walleyes with a seasoned angler like Kenyon. Book your trip now and experience the thrill of the “Walleye Nite Bite.”

Gotta love the outdoors.

CALENDAR

May 10-16: Wilson Harbor Salmon Slam Fishing Contest, $1k/day prizes, Info: Kevin Jerge, 716-863-1001.

May 13: Junior Olympic Archery Program for youth 5-16 yrs of age, 6 p.m. start, West Falls Conservation, 55 Bridge St., West Falls.

May 17: Ribbons and Bows Charity 3-D Archery Shoot, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., $20, Hawkeye Bowmen, 13300 Clinton St., Alden; Info: Deb Frederiksen, defrederiksen85@gmail.com.