Where are the gobies just after ice out??

[milepost43]

2010 will be our 6th trip for SM out of North East, PA. We try to get there about 2ish weeks after ice out and fish for 2-3weeks. The SM are always waiting on us but no gobies. In fact we have fished one rather large structure in 20-30' and gobies, and on this structure the SM, seem to "appear" when WT reaches 50ish. Are gobies really there just won't hit a spoon/blade or in deeper water or ??....

ps: we fished St Clair for several years but it only took 1 trip to North East to change our destination!!!!!!!

[TimJ]

we occasionally vertical jig up a goby or 10 when fishing walleye in the Detroit River in March/April. usually, this is not in the shallowest water we fish (about 6-8 ft) but in the 12-16 ft range, if I recall.

Erie seems to have some darn big fish, as evidenced by Mr. Hottle and his pair of beauties in this forum. the early Michigan C&R season has allowed us to catch many SM and some toads to boot, but you are out earlier than that! my active baits don't grab any gobies on StClair in the early season. we can't fish our side of the lake until late June and by then, the little #@*% are everywhere!

TJ

[bassnleo]

Good question......I'd say that the gobies are there but with a blade they definately would be tough to feel. I've seen steelhead guys catch gobies at the creek mouths when the water was below 50 so if gobies are that shallow then they should be in the 20-30 foot range also.

2 ish weeks after ice out, no way will the water be 50, but since you've been here 6 years I'm sure you know that, I just may be reading your post incorrectly.

Just a hint also if you have not tried this Try much, much, shallower than 20-30 ft just after ice out, more like 10-15 feet

[J Francho]

Gobies move in shallow after ice out to spawn.  They get bigger and bigger every year.  Brown trout and smallies key onto them.

[Dwight Hottle]

ps: we fished St Clair for several years but it only took 1 trip to North East to change our destination!!!!!!!

Shhh!  ;D ;D

[bassnleo]

Dwight, c'mon.......Shh ;D ;D???

That kind of a comment with a GIANT smallmouth in your avatar and Erie PA as your location?

LOL

You need to camo things more effectively

[bassnleo]

Gobies move in shallow after ice out to spawn. They get bigger and bigger every year. Brown trout and smallies key onto them.

Interesting that Brownies key on them, never heard that.  With that being said, do you think that walleyes or maybe even steelhead use gobies as forage?

I would think walleyes would, maybe even larger perch. How about the catfish, sheephead, white bass?

[TimJ]

hey leo...don't forget the yellow highlight over the bold letters!

[Dwight Hottle]

Leo & John,

Yes the gobies are prey to the brownies & steelhead. The walleye as well, confirmed by stomach contents. Leo do you find the smallies are moving in & out of the shallows or are they more stationary in 10-15 fow? I'm talking surface temps in the low 40's to 50 degrees.

[bassnleo]

Leo & John,

Yes the gobies are prey to the brownies & steelhead. The walleye as well, confirmed by stomach contents. Leo do you find the smallies are moving in & out of the shallows or are they more stationary in 10-15 fow? I'm talking surface temps in the low 40's to 50 degrees.

That's a good question, not sure I know the correct answer but I'll give you my experience.

I really like to catch those smallies on a jerkbait in the Spring. Last few years I've had great success at 10 feet or less on a jerkbait in the month May and early June. I cannot remember what the exact temps were but if I had to make an educated guess, 50 degrees would be a ballpark. The fish were always there when I targeted them that way in those times and conditions. I figure they are pre-spwan fish staging at that depth. Now, I have also caught them out deeper at these times also but I spend less time deeper because I get such a kick out of the jerkbait action.

I guess that some of the fish may be stationary, maybe some are in and out? That's the part I'm not totally sure of. Just like any other pre-spawn situation, I'd guess that fish are all over depth wise.

The bay for example. I know that smallmouth move in there when the water is in the 40's or within weeks of ice out. A friend with a Aqua View camera has seen smallmouth in great numbers in the bay within 1 week of ice out. Those fish are there to feed and spawn. If fish are in there at that time then most assuredly they are staging out in the lake prior to that in preparation for their move into the bay. The water would definately be in the 40 range out in the main lake, maybe even high 30's.

Hope that makes sense?

[reo]

Nearest I can tell is that the gobies just are not active or feeding in cold water. In the western end of the lake there is a great jig bite for walleye in the early spring (ice out). Jigs tipped with minnows, gulp, worms and plain are used and gobies are not a problem. If one were to use the same baits in May or June (warm water) I am sure that the gobies would drive you nuts.

[J Francho]

Leo & John,

Yes the gobies are prey to the brownies & steelhead. The walleye as well, confirmed by stomach contents. Leo do you find the smallies are moving in & out of the shallows or are they more stationary in 10-15 fow? I'm talking surface temps in the low 40's to 50 degrees.

I've read that walleye and chromes target them as well.  I've never caught a walleye this time of year, though it seems like a no brainer for them to be eating these guys.

Post spawn steelhead in spring that I've caught have almost always been gorging on alewife.  I'm not sure how effective a bottom feeder they are, again if the prey is there and abundant, it makes sense too.  Its just been my experience that every fish I've filleted had alwewife in their gut.

[Eternal Angler]

Gobies are probably hiding for winter, the fish probably act strange.

[Dwight Hottle]

Just a little info on the gobies. Gobies do not  have air bladders like most fish so they are forced to stay on the bottom. They cannot suspend, they only move horizontally. So they always on the bottom  between shallow & deep. I read somewhere that they can not tolerate depths of more than 50 feet because of pressure buildup. Find the gobies & find the smallies!