Today's Lake Erie Fishing Report From Port Clinton, Ohio

April 21, 2026

Lake Erie Walleye Jig Fishing Bite Is On!

A walleye in the net caught on Lake Erie while jig fishing with Sir Walleye Charters

4/21/26


Today’s Lake Erie fishing report for Port Clinton, Ohio the wind and weather had finally given us a break. Winds have backed off and the water has cleaned up, allowing us to start jig fishing!  Jig fishing is heating up and the walleye are all over the southern shoreline and reef complex. 


I came out of the Wild Wings Marina Harbor and set an easterly course down along the shore line in search of cleaner water. Even though fish are being caught right out front of Wild Wings Marina I decided to look for a less populated area with less boat traffic. The air temperature in the low 70’s with a south breeze, barometer steady, winds 15 mps, and 1 ft seas.  On the boat ride to the east I noticed that the water was not cleaning up as much as expected with the south wind so I kept the course set. Right after the Camp Perry firing range the water started to clean with what I would call a good stain. I put the Sir Walleye boat in 7 ft of water and started the drift. Boy the sheephead was thick in that skinny water. We didn’t take our first walleye until 9 feet of water. Telling me the walleye would only get thicker the further offshore we drifted. Black Captain Hook’s 1 oz hair jigs did the damage on these Lake Erie walleye’s with purple coming in a close second.   The desired depth of water was 10 to 11 feet of water. Vertical jigging seemed to be a little slow so we started casting on the down wind side and working the jig back to the boat. As I was busy netting walleye after walleye, bleeding them, and getting them on ice I soon noticed that I should probably count to see how many more we needed for our legal limit. As I counted the last 3 fish were brought to the boat and that was a wrap for the day. It’s not too often that we get to do a one drift wonder in April on Lake Erie. Man these fish have been on fire all week! As Lake Erie fishing charters season kicks into gear the fishing will only get better! Anglers this week have been catching their daily limits day after day. 


Pro Tips: 

  1. If vertical jigging isn't producing bites. Cast down wind and hop the jig back to the boat while drifting. I know this can sound crazy to some people. It really works. You can cover so much more water this way. When you pop the rod make sure to have just a little slack in your line to allow that jig to slide across the bottom. 
  2. Bottom, Bottom, Bottom remember that these males are right down in the mud on the bottom in April on Lake Erie. Always fish a heavy enough jig to always have bottom contact between every hop.  I personally always fish a one oz hair jig on Erie even on a calm day. 


Until Next Time, 

Gotta Go, Fish ON 🎣 Get The Net‼️,

Captain Kris


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