The Ultimate Guide to Deep Water Walleye Fishing on Lake Erie

While Lake Erie is the shallowest of all the great lakes its depths can vary wildly. While we normally look for walleye in the Western basin where the depth averages 20-30 ft. I took a trip with B Team Bob and Flat Head Pat to Lake Erie's East-Central basin near the Ohio-Pennsylvania line to do some deepwater walleye fishing.
Capt. Ross Robertson has made his complete living chasing walleye as a full time professional angler for more than 20 years. Through the years he has worn many hats including time as a fishing guide, boat salesman, TV host, outdoor writer, product designer, tournament fisherman, speaker, radio host and podcaster to name a few.
Ross fishes ice-out to ice-up on the Great Lakes. He spends the majority of the year walleye fishing on Lake Erie’s Western and Central basins.
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[@jimlem2075]

I think that would qualify as Senior Abuse giving Bob the 7-color side of the boat. He never complained even at the Campfire Roast. Good Job Bob.

[@Bigwaterfishing]

Lol....he needed a 400 wire to finish it off😅

[@JeremyReger]

Really great episode! This is awesome

[@cambeck2152]

I appreciate your mention of deep water fish and the high mortality rate of letting fish go that are caught from deep water . This is something I feel should be gone into a little more detail.A lot of people don’t realize that catching fish from below 40 ft or so of water that fish will most likely not survive when let go . I really like your content and have learned a lot from watching keep up the good work

[@Bigwaterfishing]

Thank you

[@odochartaighofodonegal2351]

More so for salmon and bigger walleye- I've released buckets of smaller walleye in the last week and a half, pulled from 42' to 55' depth, and not one didn't return to those depths.

[@Bigwaterfishing]

You can release them and they may swim down...but the numbers show the death rate is super high

[@odochartaighofodonegal2351]

@@Bigwaterfishing I'll defer to your knowledge and experience; after all, you are the Pro and I'm 6 years new to Lake Erie walleye and learning something every outing. I will say, the little guys get 5-10 minutes in the live well before release and 'appear' to keep their vibrancy, unlike the bigger one's which go belly up instantly. Therein lies the conundrum- we should be keeping all fish from those depths (which could make for long runs but short days); however, there is a slot size regulation in Ontario, and I'm pretty certain Erie's bordering states have a similar rule. Is this scenario fishing's 'rock and a hard place' ? That being said, I follow your adventures and say 'keep up the good work'

[@randymiller5008]

Small profile thin baits... Shut up Ross. You don't need to tell everything. Do ya 😂❣️✌️

[@Bigwaterfishing]

Just skimming the surface

[@frankrobson5483]

Ross I noticed when you grab a rod before you hand it off you hit it with the pom of your hand . Why???? PS love your publications and pod casts.

[@Bigwaterfishing]

if you saw the parts where we were talking about "releasing" the boards front clip...doing that motion releases it without putting a lot of snapping, slack or extra pressure on the line

[@philwright5013]

Why run multiple 5 colors on 1 side and release....salmon fishing we may run 3 color 5 7 10 and a 200 copper on 1 side and the lines always clear without releasing...guessing because of the diving bait compared to a spoon

[@Bigwaterfishing]

Speeds , current and fish not pulling out of the spread as much can make a mess quick. Like if u got a shaker on a outside board

[@jeffreysather1442]

Say Ross would you have a clue when those new colors would be available? Good job Bob. Lol

[@Bigwaterfishing]

As early as this fall I'm told

[@jeffreysather1442]

Looks like early Xmas gift for me. Lol bad for bank accounts.

[@Bigwaterfishing]

I hear ya 4 of the new ones were really good this season

[@gtcih]

Are downriggers used successfully for this type of fishing.

[@Bigwaterfishing]

Can be....we don't use them for much other than to deploy our fish hawk

[@dutchtouch8227]

Assuming your in 80 FOW using 7 color..what's your high dipesie set at..new sub...I mostly fish Brown trout

[@Bigwaterfishing]

Just like any set...not a good answer. We moved them around alot all day. I'll go higher when shorter board stuff starts to go. I move dipsy leads ALOT

[@shanehyde6243]

What front clips were you using

[@Bigwaterfishing]

You must not have watched the video😊 dubro red downrigger clip

[@originallosthunter1]

What knot do you use for the suffix leadcore to leader and braid, Willis knot is virtually impossible.

[@Bigwaterfishing]

Back 2 back uni....or #10 vmc rolling swivel

[@dotman1334]

Capt. What's your recommendation for mono on inline board rods? Is there any particular brand and / or weight you find to work the best?

[@Bigwaterfishing]

I'm currently trying a bunch of different lines for different conditions...look for something around .014 diameter

[@dotman1334]

@Bigwaterfishing thank-you. Wasnt sure if you used all floro, or mono.

[@Bigwaterfishing]

I use shimamo compre 8'3 MD model for cranks rods

[@dotman1334]

Thank you for the recommendations. Made the switch on the takotas this year. Very happy with them. Have braid on them for the dipsy season and considering switching them out to a mono for the fall/spring season.

[@darcipopp5138]

Where do you get a net like that?

[@Bigwaterfishing]

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