Storm Warning 2
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Joined: 9/23/2005
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Not taking anything personally guys.
Lake of the Woods? Rainy? Go fish them. Rainy is full of 'eyes, no doubt, but I know you won't find the quality in those numbers that you will on Erie. Ask the FLW Walleye Pros that do both virtually every year and they will tell you the same. Lake of the Woods is nice too, but once again, numbers are good, but quality no real comparison. I don't think you can really even say that Rainy or Lake of the Woods holds a candle to Erie on the perch either. They have great populations, but the average size is a little smaller. The only fishery that I think can even make an arguement agains Erie when it comes to 'eyes MIGHT be Saginaw Bay in recent years. The crash of its Alewife population has created an amazing walleye fishery and there have always been some big ones in that watershed, just ask Mark Martin. If you want waters for pure size, then I think you are hard pressed to find a water more prolific for numbers of AMAZING quality for its size than the Bay of Quinte off Lake Ontario. I have ice fished it many times and between me and a buddy caught 14 'eyes in a day that EASILY averaged 8#+ with the largest going high 12#s and there are 15 to 18# specimens caught there every year.
Rainy has an arguement for muskies as does Lake of the Woods, both are excellent musky fisheries. That being said, there are truly some GIANT muskies in Erie, predominantly in the extreme western and eastern ends and not in big numbers, but they are there. Lake of the Woods has a better smallie fishery than Rainy, but again, where on earth can you go smallie fishing and literally on a good day catch 20+ smallies over 4# every year? Don't take my word for it, ask the FLW and B.A.S.S. guys about it. I think it is universally accepted that Erie is as good as it gets for the smallies in terms of NUMBERS of QUALITY. Where else does a bass tournament require you to hold a mid to high 4, if not 5# average to get in the money on STRICTLY smallies?
While on the Bass; I used to live in Virginia. I have fished the Shenandoah, the Maury, and the New for smallies. I don't know that I could say that the New would compare to Erie. There are great fish there and good to great numbers, but if there is a world record to come out of a fishery, my $$ is still on Erie. Very few records come out of river systems like the New. A lot of current costs fish energy that could be going to becoming a big, fat, slobs which is what records are. While still on Virginia, I have fished the James, but never for smallies, only for cats, and it has some IMPRESSIVE specimens, especially Blues. The truth is, there are some very impressive Channel Cats in Erie too. I would venture to say that if Blues were introduced into Erie, like they were in the James, there might be a pretty good competition.
Rainy vs. Lake of the Woods vs. Erie Smallies:
Rainy
"Based on the fisheries assessment work done at the Canadian Bass Championship here the past three years, MNR area biologist Darryl McLeod said data indicates Rainy Lake is producing bigger and older fish every year since the tournament’s inception in 1995.
“All indicators show that the quality of fish on the lake is improving,” said McLeod, noting the average weight of fish caught during last year’s tournament was 2.5 pounds.
Last year’s “big fish” was a record 5.44-pounder. And more fish were caught that measured in the memorable range of 43-51 cm in length.
“It all points to a good, quality bass fishery,”
Lake of the Woods:
http://www.ccconet.com/cgi-bin/start.cgi/bassinfo/results/2007-database.htm
Erie:
http://proxy.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/media/tournament?tournamentId=1224
I don't have to say anything, just read 'em and you'll figure it out.
The Columbia River system is a fantastic fishery. It produces hordes of 10#+ 'eyes each year, but the numbers of 'eyes day in, day out are not like Erie. Please keep in mind that its King Salmon fishery has been basically shut down due to lack of returns now too. I would consider that a sign of an ailing fishery or a least a challenged one. As for Lake O, well, I'm a big fan! Honestly though, you could add up all the stocked Browns, Kings, Cohos, and add Lakers (little natural repro for any of these species with the possible exception of the Greasers and a few Kings in the Salmon River and a few Canadian systems) to that as well and you aren't going to add up to Erie's population of walleyes alone.
Erie is prolific, because as I have stated before it is FACT it has the largest biomass of ALL the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes alone are home to some of the biggest numbers and moreover, the biggest numbers of quality fish found virtually anywhere in the world. Look at Ontario, the week of Labor Day they thought they broke the Coho world record twice in 3 days! They already held that record and broke it again. They would have broken it twice in that week, however, the 1st specimen's DNA tests revealed it was a King/Coho hybrid. The 2nd specimen, larger than the first by 2 ounces, was deemed a true Coho and is expected to replace the old record soon. Lake Michigan produced several Brown Trout last year over 30#! The only other fishery I can think of that can hold a candle to that MIGHT be the White River in Arkansas.
As for steelies, there is a reason that they call from central Ohio to the shores of NY on Ontario "Steelhead Alley". The numbers of steelies in Erie is absurd. I think the lack of numbers of high quality steelhead is low because TOO many inhabit the lake. Numbers alone DO NOT establish a fishery as world class, but where else are you going to go and stare at literally hundreds of rainbows over 6#? There are very few places, if any in the world that you can go and hook up 20 to 50 or more steelies or just plain rainbows a day whether it be in the tribs, trolling the mouths, or trolling open waters. Yes, I know several guys that have hooked up more than 50 times trolling trib mouths. Our best is 40+ trolling, and I am certain that there are guys that have done that if not more in the tribs. Take a walk in the 'Nut parking lot in late fall/early winter; I don't think guys would be driving from the places that they are if it wasn't a world class fishery.
I'm sorry you don't find fishing the Erie tribs fun KJH, but why is that? I would assume you don't like the crowded conditions. That being said, its crowded because it is SO good. I don't fish the tribs, because I don't like the crowds, but many times I have dropped the boat in even after the docks are pulled and enjoyed some FANTASTIC fishing at the mouths with very little, if any competition.
You just can't argue with the facts folks.
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RE: "the most prolific fishery in the world in our... - 
The beauty is unmatched from the Rockies west for sure. I just love being on the water. Weather it's the Ocean, Great Lakes, a small pond or stream.
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