Ohio Insider: Lake Erie walleyes at a level ‘unlike anything we’ve ever seen before’

The value of walleye sportfishing on Lake Erie is described monetarily in the billions.

“Walleye isn’t just popular on Lake Erie,” says Travis Hartman, the Ohio DNR Division of Wildlife’s Lake Erie program administrator. “It’s of cultural significance.”

Hartman recently spoke to a group from the Outdoor Writers of Ohio (OWO) at its annual conference, held this year on the shores of Lake Erie at Camp Perry.

Hartman’s talk touched hard on Lake Erie walleye fishing and the importance of the pursuit across the lake.

“Walleyes have tails,” Hartman quipped. “They don’t recognize jurisdictions.”

All of which makes the Lake Erie Committee of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, which annually sets the lake’s Total Allowable Catch (TAC) all that much more important.

“It’s the most unique freshwater fishery management system in the world,” Hartman said.

Anyone who has been paying attention knows that walleye fishing on Lake Erie is at an all-time high point right now. I would even go so far as to say that Lake Erie might just offer the best walleye fishing in the world.

“Right now, in the current era, we’re harvesting more (walleyes) than ever,” Hartman said. “Walleyes are long-lived (fish).

If we conserve walleye, they have the ability to (offer) good fishing for a long time.”

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It wasn’t that long ago when the mega-walleye hatch of 2002 was thought to be unmatched in potential.

“Back in 2003, we thought ‘we’ll probably never see the (good fishing) of the 1980s again,’” Hartman said. “Well, we are seeing (a repeat) of the 1980s. We’re harvesting a lot of fish. This fishery is performing at a level unlike anything we’ve ever seen before.”

The benchmark for good fishing on Lake Erie, Hartman said, is when the lake has more than 60 million walleyes swimming in its waters. That would be today. This follows on the heels of a nine-year run of high walleye populations and incredible sportfishing for the species.

“These are the good old days,” Hartman said. “I would suggest enjoying it every chance you get.”

Judging by the fishing reports that I see and publish in every edition of Ohio Outdoor News, walleye fishing couldn’t get much better. The norm is quick limits of nice size fish, whether the report is coming from the Western or Central basin.

And, times could get better, Hartman opined.

“We’re approaching one of the best times for trophy (walleye) fishings, but we’re not just there yet,” he said. “We’re right on the doorstep.”

The interesting thing is that while walleye catch rates have increased on an annual basis, the hours of effort for the species has not. Anglers today are just much better at catching walleyes, whether it be by trolling or casting, Hartman said.

In short, there are a bunch of Lake Erie walleye anglers who have a program for walleyes that is dialed in to catch them consistently.

“We’re very fortunate,” Hartman summed. “We have an incredible walleye fishery.”

Here, here!