April 8, 2025 – Lake Erie Walleye Beatdown

After battling a couple of days of rough weather, we finally struck gold on Lake Erie with an epic early-season walleye bite. The day started with a late morning drive to check out the lake conditions, and what we saw had us fired up—a clear mud line stretching across the water. With stabilized weather and water temps holding, everything lined up for a banner afternoon on the water.

Launch & Location

We launched out of Sterling State Park and headed straight to brest bay where we had spotted the mud line. Once out there, we fired up the fish finder and started scan ning for marks. It didn’t take long to find an active school of fish stacked from top to bottom in 13 to 16 feet of water. We set up a north-south trolling pattern and got to work.

Trolling Setup & Spread

Our trolling spread was dialed in: deep leads on the outside planer boards, and shallower ones closer to the boat to prevent tangles. Church TX-12 inline planer boards helped spread our lines and cover more water. We ran Bandit crankbaits with leads ranging from 20 to 50 feet, adjusting based on where we marked the most fish. Though we got a few hits on the shallow leads, the deeper ones proved to be far more productive.

The bite turned on fast. The port side got slammed first, with a nice walleye hitting a white Bandit on a deeper lead. From there, it was chaos in the best way—we had multiple triples and quads throughout the afternoon and even ended the day with five fish on at once. It was non-stop action, and the largest fish of the day tipped the scale at a healthy 8 pounds.

Water Clarity & Color Strategy

We focused on the dirtiest water we could find—what many would call "chocolate milk." This stained water is ideal in early spring, as it holds more food, warms up quicker, and gives spawning walleye a sense of cover. If you were fishing the clean water, chances are you were fishing alone.

Key colors that got it done were Red Head, Black Wonder Bread, and Black Gator. Trolling speeds varied from 1.4 to 2.2 mph depending on water clarity and fish response.

Overall, it was an unforgettable day on Lake Erie—one that sets the bar high for the rest of the season.

Book Your Lake Erie Walleye Adventure Now!

Ready to experience chaos like this? Net Dreams Fishing Charters is your ticket to Lake Erie’s legendary walleye action. With proven tactics, top-tier gear, and insider knowledge of prime spots, we’ll put you on the fish of a lifetime. Don’t just read about it—live it. Book your Lake Erie Fishing Charter today and let’s make your 2025 season unforgettable! 🎣

Let’s Go Fishing!