Walleye, steelhead and charter boats
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In Western New York, Labor Day has always felt like the dividing line between summer and fall. Small game hunting seasons begin, bowhunters start preparing for Oct. 1 and the first cool evenings remind us that the seasons are changing. So are the leaf colors.
If you like to fish Lake Erie, don’t put the rods away yet.
September and October can be among the most memorable fishing months of the year. Lake Erie walleye remain an outstanding attraction while the first steelhead begin moving toward tributary streams. Before long, anglers in chest waders wearing Merino wool socks will be lining the banks of Chautauqua County streams, flipping flies for that fussy flash of a steelhead.
Meanwhile, the Lake Erie charter fleet is still hard at work.
For anglers who want to experience the lake without owning a boat, the Eastern Lake Erie Charter Boat Association is an excellent place to start. Its member captains operate from ports including Dunkirk, Barcelona and Cattaraugus Creek/Sunset Bay, offering a range of boats and fishing styles. The association’s website, www.ComeFishLakeErie.com, allows anglers to compare captains, boats, ports and target species. Association members are U.S. Coast Guard-licensed charter captains, and the organization maintains a random drug-testing program for participating captains and mates.
That variety is important. A 17- or 20-foot boat can be an economical and exciting way to fish, particularly for a smaller group and favorable weather. But if you have six people aboard -- or simply want more room and comfort -- a larger offshore boat deserves serious consideration.
Lake Erie is a big lake. Conditions can change quickly. A larger boat generally provides more interior space, greater stability and protection from wind and waves, along with amenities such as enclosed cabins, seating, toilets and additional storage on some vessels. Several ELECBA captains operate boats in the 25- to 35-foot range, including vessels equipped with cabins and heads.
I searched out some of them. With Captain John Forbes with Times Two Charters, the description and gear list is impressive. He pilots a 29-foot Tiara with a restroom aboard,
and check out this gear list: OKUMA rods and reels fully loaded with high quality GAMMA fluorocarbon line and braided line, DREAMWEAVER spoons, Fish Hawk XD-4 Down-Temperature and Speed Unit, Traxstech Electric Downriggers and rod holders, Cisco electric planner reels, Garmin 7608 fishfinder/GPS including Panoptix, Raymarine Autopilot, Radar, VHF Marine Radio, Cannon rod holders and, last but not least, AM/FM stereo.
"We supply all tackle/bait on your trip, and will gladly clean and bag your catch if you desire," Forbes said. "We’ll even give you a couple of tips on how we like to cook it. Our most popular charter, by far, is the six-hour trip. However, we can customize any trip to best meet your needs. For larger groups, we can also assist with securing additional captains and boats." They are docked at Chadwick Bay Marina where there is free parking and restrooms. Call Captain Forbes at 716-785-3088 to check his calendar.
Other similar larger boats include "End of the Line Sportfishing & Cruises" with Captain David Levan (716-907-1929), "Hooked-Up Sportfishing" with Captain Daniel Korzenski (716-673-5709), "Bait Master Charters" with Captain Joel Ruggiero (716-868-3418), "Dream Catcher Sportfishing" with Captain Jim Steel (716-983-7867), "Infinity Charters LLC" with Captain Frank Shoenacker (585-406-5764), "Going On Drive" with Captain William Sam (716-341-6244), and "KONGO Sportfishing Carters" with Captain Gary Katta (716-785-5580). From the website, my criteria for the list here was to check the block "toilet on boat" and fishing from "Dunkirk."
The right boat isn’t necessarily the biggest boat. It’s the boat that fits your group, expectations and budget.
When calling a captain, ask a few simple questions: How many anglers can you comfortably accommodate? Is there an enclosed bathroom? What happens if the weather deteriorates? Is fishing equipment and bait included? What species will you target? Will the captain clean and package your catch? What should you bring? And, perhaps most importantly, what is the captain’s cancellation or weather policy?
Then consider the fishing itself.
New York’s Lake Erie walleye season runs through March 15, with a six-fish daily limit and a 15-inch minimum size. New York’s eastern Lake Erie walleye fishery is truly exceptional. Most walleye are 18 to 28 inches and four to seven pounds, while trophy fish are also boated with some regularity.
September can be a particularly exciting time because walleye are feeding heavily as they prepare for the coming winter. That doesn’t mean every boat will automatically fill its six-fish-per-person limit -- but when conditions, location and presentation come together, the fishing can be spectacular and limits are common.
That’s the beauty of hiring a professional captain. You aren’t simply renting a boat. You’re paying for local knowledge, equipment, experience and someone who spends countless hours figuring out where the fish are. Overall, fishing with a charter captain and splitting the cost with five friends will save you tens of thousands of dollars. If you own a boat, you know what I mean.
So as the leaves begin to change and hunting season takes center stage, leave a little room on the calendar -- and in the freezer -- for Lake Erie.
Fall may be arriving in Chautauqua County, but the fishing season isn’t finished yet. In fact, for walleye anglers, some of the best action may still be ahead.
Gotta love the outdoors.
CALENDARr
Sept. 3: 3-D Archery & Spaghetti Dinner, 4-7 p.m., members $5, nonmembers $8, dinner $8; West Falls Conservation, 55 Bridge St., West Falls; Info: 716-652-4650.
Sept. 3: 3-D Archery, 20 targets Bear Lake Rod & Gun Club, 4 p.m. start, $10 fee, open to public, 4391 Stockton-Cassadaga Road, Stockton; 716-397-9717.
Sept. 5: NYSDEC Hunter Ed, Harmony Conservation Club, Panama, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., taught by Charles W. Dole, register: https://decals.events.east.licensing.app/em/events/389/registrations/new, or call 585-226-5463.
Sept. 6: Annual Club Picnic, Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., members $30, nonmembers $45, Info: 716-366-8836.
Sept. 6: Allied Sportsmen Labor Day Trap Shoot, 8:30 a.m. to noon registration, shooting starts at 9 a.m.; 12846 Clinton St., Alden. 716-937-3615.
Sept. 7: Hawkeye Bowmen Labor Day Shoot, 7 a.m. to noon, 13300 Clinton St., Alden. $15. Info: https://www.ecfsc.org/ecfscevent/hawkeye-bowmen-labor-day-shoot/.