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Big rains mean big walleye on Lake Erie

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Posted at 9:48 AM, Jun 14, 2019
and last updated 2019-06-14 18:29:09-04

GENEVA, Ohio — Fishermen all over northern Ohio are calling this fishing season one of the best ever. And a major assist from Mother Nature is one of the main reasons why.

Stephen Scott operates “Privateer Sports Fishing” in Geneva. He says all the weather people have been complaining about the last couple of months has been great for fishing on Lake Erie.

“It just happens to do with the lake conditions,” Scott said. “Cold winters produce good hatches.”

Cold winters to the rainy spring mixed with high water levels make a perfect environment for plankton, walleye’s food source, to live. And with an abundance of food to eat, Lake Erie’s walleye are thriving.

"That gives them a good start in life, the baby fish have a lot to eat,” Scott said. “Lake Erie is the Walleye capital of the world.”

A good start to life has fishermen all over the area limiting out each day and reeling in some true Lake Erie monsters. And to this point in the season, walleye are pretty much jumping into area boats.

“The last few years we’ve had days where we come out and in a short period of time, you will get 36 to 42 fish on a boat, Scott said. “Those fish are monsters, 30 plus inches, 10-pounders.”