5.0(1 Reviews)Private 6 Hour Morning Fishing Trip In Lake Erie
5.0(1 reviews)
Private Trip
Lakes/Reservoirs/Ponds Fishing
Sixhour morning fishing adventure on Lake Erie watersTarget walleye and perch with experienced Captain Rich StrunkenbergPrivate charter accommodates up to four guests comfortably
Picture this: the sun's just breaking over Lake Erie's horizon, the water's calm, and you're about to spend the next six hours chasing some of the Great Lakes' most sought-after fish. Captain Rich Strunkenburg and The Dirty Hooker Fishing Charters have been putting anglers on fish for years, and this private morning charter is your ticket to walleye and perch paradise. With room for up to four anglers, this trip gives you the freedom to fish at your own pace without sharing space with strangers. Whether you're bringing the family, a group of buddies, or celebrating a special occasion, you'll have the entire boat to yourselves and Captain Rich's undivided attention to put you on the best bite of the day.
Your day starts early – and trust me, it's worth every minute of that alarm clock. Lake Erie's morning bite is legendary among Great Lakes anglers, and there's a reason seasoned fishermen swear by getting out before the crowds hit the water. Captain Rich knows these waters like the back of his hand, and he'll have you positioned over productive structure before most folks have finished their morning coffee. The boat comes fully rigged with quality tackle, downriggers, and fish finders that'll show you exactly what's swimming beneath your feet. You'll be trolling the prime depths where walleye school up, and when the perch are biting, get ready for some fast-paced action that'll keep your rod bent and your adrenaline pumping. The beauty of a private charter means we can adjust our game plan based on what you want to target – if the walleye are being finicky but the perch are going crazy, we can shift gears and load the cooler with those tasty panfish.
Lake Erie fishing is all about covering water efficiently, and that's where our trolling setup really shines. We'll be running a spread of diving plugs, spoons, and crawler harnesses at different depths to find where the fish are holding. The downriggers let us get your baits down to the thermocline where the water temperature is just right, and the fish are most active. Captain Rich runs quality Shimano and Penn reels paired with sensitive rods that'll telegraph every bump and bite. When we're targeting walleye, expect to see classic Lake Erie presentations like Reef Runner deep divers in hot colors, or maybe some body baits behind Off Shore boards to cover more water. For perch fishing, we'll often switch to a different approach – anchoring over proven spots and dropping spreader rigs loaded with minnows or worms. The key to success out here is staying mobile and adapting to what the fish want on any given day. Captain Rich monitors water temperature, current breaks, and bait schools constantly, making micro-adjustments that separate good days from great days on the water.
"Our family day was a great success! This charter trip was a first for our boys (their friends came along) and they loved it. Our limit was easily made! Captain Rich and crew go above and beyond! Book your charter trip today!" - Tammi
American Yellow Perch are the bread and butter of Lake Erie fishing, and once you get into a school, the action can be absolutely electric. These scrappy panfish typically run 8-12 inches in these waters, with the occasional jumbo pushing 14 inches that'll make your day. Perch are most active during the cooler months and early morning hours when they're feeding aggressively on small baitfish and invertebrates. What makes perch fishing so addictive is the numbers game – when you find them, you'll often catch them two at a time on spreader rigs, and filling a cooler becomes a real possibility. The meat is sweet, flaky, and considered some of the best eating in freshwater. Kids especially love perch fishing because the action is fast and they can see immediate results. These fish school tightly around structure like rocky reefs and drop-offs, making fish finders essential for locating the mother lode.
Walleye are the crown jewel of Lake Erie, and landing a marble-eyed beauty is what dreams are made of. These fish average 2-4 pounds in the western basin, but don't be surprised if you hook into a true giant pushing 8-10 pounds that'll test your drag and get your heart racing. Walleye are most active during low-light conditions, which is exactly why this morning trip is timed perfectly. They're ambush predators that relate to structure and temperature breaks, often suspending in the water column following schools of emerald shiners and gizzard shad. The fight is steady and determined rather than flashy – walleye make powerful runs toward the bottom and shake their heads trying to throw the hooks. What really gets anglers fired up about walleye is the combination of great sport and exceptional table fare. The white, flaky fillets are considered the gold standard for fish fries across the Midwest. Prime walleye season runs from late spring through fall, with the pre-spawn and post-spawn periods offering some of the most consistent action of the year.
Lake Erie's morning bite waits for no one, and Captain Rich's calendar fills up fast during prime fishing season. This private charter gives you the personalized experience that makes all the difference between a good day and a legendary one on the water. With all tackle provided and expert guidance from someone who's been putting clients on fish for years, you're setting yourself up for success from the moment you step aboard. The memories you'll make pulling in walleye and perch with your crew are the kind that get talked about for years to come. Don't let another season slip by watching other anglers post their catches on social media – get out there and make your own fish stories. Contact The Dirty Hooker Fishing Charters today and secure your
Perca FlavescensYellow perch are Lake Erie favorites that run 7-10 inches and travel in big schools - sometimes 200 fish or more. You'll find them around structure like weed beds, docks, and drop-offs in 10-25 feet of water. Spring through fall are prime times, especially when water temps hit that sweet spot above 50 degrees. These golden beauties with dark vertical stripes are scrappy fighters on light tackle and absolutely delicious - some of the best eating fish in the lake. The meat is sweet, flaky, and perfect for a fish fry. Pro tip: once you catch one perch, stick around that spot and work it thoroughly. Where there's one, there's usually a whole bunch more waiting below.
Sander VitreusWalleye are Lake Erie's premier game fish, typically running 2-5 pounds with some pushing 8+ pounds. These golden-olive fish have distinctive glassy eyes that help them hunt in low light. During the day, they hang deep around rock piles, break lines, and weed edges in 15-35 feet of water. Dawn and dusk are magic hours when they move shallow to feed. Walleye put up a solid fight with head shakes and runs, but the real prize is on the dinner plate - firm, white, flaky meat with zero fishy taste. It's hands-down the best eating fish in the Great Lakes. My go-to tip: slow-troll live nightcrawlers on bottom bouncers along those rocky drop-offs. Keep it simple and let the bait do the work.
5.0 out of 5.0Our family day was a great success! This charter trip was a first for our boys (their friends came along) and they loved it. Our l...
Lake Erie