Winke Guide Service

Meet The Captain

Captain Pat Winke is a fisherman himself, and he will treat you as he would like to be treated - fairly and honestly ! When you select Winke Guide Service, you will fish with professional guides who know how, when and where to fish this great lake. From the seasoned fisherman to families with children, all levels of levels of experience are welcome. With multiple boats, experience and team work you will fish with professional guides who know how and where to put you on fish faster. When you select Winke Guide Service, you will fish with professional guides who know how, when and where to fish this great lake.

Captain Pat Winke is a life long resident of Port Clinton, Ohio, fishing the waters of Lake Erie as a child and turned his passion into a full time career. Fishing Lake Erie since 1963, Pat has been a profession guide since 1979. Years of experience give Pat the knowledge and expertise to provide an exciting experience for both new comers and the veteran fisherman who want to fish Lake Erie. We are a true full time guide service that offers both sport fishing charters and Lake Erie Ice Fishing Adventures. With years of experience, we will work to provide you with the best Walleye, Perch and Smallmouth bass charter fishing on Lake Erie. Simply put, we want you to CATCH FISH, HAVE FUN and share in your personal enjoyment on Lake Erie!

The seasonal movements and migration behavior of Walleye, along with weather and lake conditions presents a challenge to every angler. Knowing when and where to be, presenting the right technique for the season and the weather conditions are the keys to success. We follow the many schools of Walleye from the Michigan and Canadian borders as they migrate across the western and central basins of Lake Erie.

With our centrally located dock, we are within 2 miles of Lake Erie's shoals and reefs and 3 miles form the wind-sheltered Bass Islands.

Fishing Canadian Waters

If the "Bite" is in Canadian waters, we are just 8 miles from the Canada/US Border. When fishing Canadian waters, an Ontario fishing license is required. See Canadian License Link on our Fishing Licenses page. Note: You do not need a passport to fish Canadian waters.

The Boats

We have two 27' Sportcraft Fisherman Boats!

Our modern fishing machines are equipped with the following:

Lowrance - HDS-10 Fish Finder Lowrance - HDS-7 Fish Finder Lowrance - 350 A Fish Finder

Lowrance Global Map 2000 GPS Standard Spectrum Marine Radio Standard Intrepid Marine Radio Safe, Fast and Comfortable

Fully licensed and insured Private restroom Large, open fishing area

Charters Include:

Top Quality Rods & Reels Bait and Terminal Tackle Lures, Casting harnesses, and Bottom Bouncers Ice

On Board Coolers For Your Fish First Aid Equipment Advice on Lure Presentation and Fishing Techniques Experience and Knowledge to Make Your Fishing Trip Exciting and Memorable!

Multiple boats available to accommodate clients!

Walleye Fishing On Lake Erie

The Season starts early on the Lake's Western Basin. Walleyes are typically found in small, tight schools at this time, so the action can be fast. From late March throughout April the beaches and shallow reefs become action points as large schools of male and post-spawn female Walleye cruise the shallow, sandy bottoms looking for bait fish. Casting or jigging bright-colored minnow-tipped jigs is a favorite method to catch a limit of some of the year's nicest fish. Late April to early May sends Walleye into deeper water where the feed actively to replenish energy used in spawning.

Smallmouth Bass Fishing on Lake Erie

Western Lake Erie - with it's Islands, many reefs and limestone structures - make it a bronzeback HOT SPOT. By late April, as water temperatures climb into the high 40 F. range, Smallmouth are caught on hair jigs, where the deeper water approaches the rocky shoreline and points. Lake wide, Bass tend to spawn in Mid-May as water temperatures near 52 - 53 degrees. June offers superb Bass fishing as they move back out to deeper reefs and humps, where crank baits and live biat tactics take over. Soft craws, emerald shiners and leeches work best.

Anchoring on drop-offs with irregular bottom sturture will usually bring god action. Drifting over structure, fishing a few feet up from bottom is also good. With July and August being good Bass fishing in the summer months. September and October is the peak for those larger Wall Hanger Bass. A 2-4 pound average of fighting Bass is common. Fishing for Smallmouth Bass has quadrupled over the past ten years. Ohio fishery biologists report that Erie experienced perhaps it's largest ever Smallmouth hatch in 1992. Clearing water, caused in part by the zebra mussels, semms to be benefiting sight - feeding species like Smallmouth. With increased survival rates of young Bass and a growing catch and release ethic among anglers, Smallmouth populations have skyrocketed, promising super Bass fishing for future years.

Ice Fishing Adventures

Lake Erie Ice Fishing is a popular winter sport that's more comfortable than you may think. If you haven't tried it, this is a winter adventure you should experience.

We will spend time with our clients instructing them on the best techniques for catching fish. If catching is difficult or if large schools of fish are not evident, I will set off to try to locate fish. In locating a more productive area, we will move and set up in an new target area. Our clients safety and finding active fish are our top priority.

We communicate daily with other guides, local fishermen and area bait shops to keep you on the hottest bite and in the best providing areas for Walleye and Perch!

Ice Fishing Charters include:

2 and 3 Man Heated Shanties Rods, Reels and Gaffs Bait and Terminal Tackle

Fish Finder, Electronics, GPS and Marine Radio Transportation ON and OFF the ice

DEPARTURE POINTS:

Catawba Island

Marblehead

Port Clinton

Camp Perry

Crane Creek

Departure locations will vary with weather conditions. Contact us the day before your Ice Fishing Trip for your departure location.

* Rates subject to change without notice.