Section: outfitter-profiles
www.chantecharters.com |
P.O. Box # 53 Kingsville, ON N9Y 2E8 519-733-3231 / 519-733-3493 519-563-3344 (pager) |
| Casting traditional weight-forward spinners, twistertail jigs, minnow-imitating crankbaits, even tube jigs, just out from Pelee Island, we were consistently catching walleyes on Lake Erie's Western Basin - arguably the world's best walleye fishery. So why the fuss ? Well, consider that everywhere else on Lake Erie, walleye fishing translates to open-lake "bluewater" tactics - downrigging, planerboarding and/or flatline trolling with rods pincushioned into rod holders. | |
 | Aboard large charterboats fitted with sophisticated equipment, miles from shore (often in rough water), charter clients seldom get to hold a fishing rod, except to reel in a fish. But that's not how it's done at Lake Erie's Western Basin. Instead, here, Lake Erie walleye fishing reverts back to casting and jigging - the kind of one-on-one, on-going test of angling skills that most fishermen prefer. |
| Fishing with Chante Charters, skipper John Sim was demonstrating the techniques and effectiveness of weight-forward spinners up front. Off the back, we were doing the same with twistertail and tube jigs. This was Lake Erie walleye fishing at its best - everyone using their preferred tactics and baits and catching fish. |  |
 | At midday, we took this approach one step further, fishing for big Lake Erie smallmouths, again in shallow water close to shore, using live bait rigs and jigs. Success came quickly and often in the form of scrappy, aerial 2 to 4-pound bronzebacks. Surprisingly - for Lake Erie at least - fully 90 per cent of Chante Charter's fish are caught using casting and drift-fishing tactics. This is definitely "hands-on, full-contact fishing" - some of the big lake's very best, including great perch fishing in April, trophy-class walleyes May to July, multi-species summer fishing, trophy smallmouth bass from mid-September well into October, and more perch in November. Weekend / 2-day charters and overnight cottage accommodations on historic Pelee Island are also available for groups of 2 to 6 anglers. |