NORTHWEST REGION
The Northwest Region is the top walleye-fishing region in Pennsylvania. It is the native walleye range from which the species was spread to other regions via stocking.

Lake Erie is the state's best walleye fishery. It has had its ups and downs, but even in recent down years it is still the best. It suffers only in comparison with itself.

The walleye population appears to have hit the bottom of a cycle in 2002 and is now on the upswing. According to Lake Erie Fisheries Status and Trends 2004, a report from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission's Lake Erie Unit to the Lake Erie Committee of the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission, the decline in walleye numbers since the late 1980s appears to be turning around.

Catch rates for walleyes began dropping in 1998 with the biggest decline the following year. The catch rate started slowly improving in 2002, but fishing effort was still dropping. Total 2004 walleye fishing effort in the Pennsylvania portion of Lake Erie was a 44 percent decrease from 2003 and 66 percent below the long-term average, while the harvest was a 54 percent decrease. But the catch rate, 0.24 walleyes per line-hour, was actually close to the average over the past 18 years of 0.25 walleyes per line-hour, still far below the peak in 1988 of about 0.40 walleyes per line-hour.

Good spawns in 2001 and 2003 should mean that the walleye fishery should continue to improve. That was apparent last summer when walleye fishing was the best in several years. This year should be even better. The abundant undersized walleyes that were caught last year should increase the catch numbers this year. (Cont'd)

The regulations that went into effect on Jan. 1, 2004, requiring a minimum length of 18 inches and a daily creel limit of four walleyes at Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters has been changed effective Jan. 1, 2006, to a minimum size of 15 inches and a daily creel limit of six walleyes. The conservative outgoing rules were in response to the declining walleye population. The changing fortunes of the walleye stock allowed the return to former limits.

Launch ramps for Lake Erie are along Bayfront Parkway in Erie, at Presque Isle State Park, at North East and at Walnut Creek.

Early-season walleye fishing at Lake Erie starts relatively close to shore in depths of about 15 feet and is best after sunset. The action steadily moves toward deeper water. The best fishing occurs during summer, taking place in depths of 45 feet and greater.

A big question at Pymatuning Lake is how much ill effect a walleye die-off last summer will affect fishing this year. The unusually hot summer raised the water temperature, which apparently caused the die-off.

"It's hard to say for sure," said fisheries technician Freeman Johns. "We lost some fish, and we lost some big fish. It will be interesting to see. However, I don't think it'll be real bad."