Last Four Years Results On Lake Erie 2024
Dwight Hottle reply :
I started keeping track of all 5lbers & 6lbers caught out of my boat for spring pre spawn which is April & May and a limited few fall days from Oct & Nov. There would a category for 7lbers but nobody wants to contribute to that statistic the last four years. Maybe I need to get LuckyCraftMan to fish out my boat instead of his. Anyhow here is the breakdown for 2010 through 2013. That's 145 smallies over 5lbs and 26 smallies over 6lbs for the last 4 years. That means on a four year average you need to catch 5.5 five pounders before you are going to get a six. I have no idea why 2012 was such a good year for five pounders caught. Average fishing days for each year probably totaled 45-50 days per year for pre spawn & a few fall days. All fish complied were caught on jerkbaits.
2010 Results
33 smallies over 5lbs
4 smallies over 6lbs
Biggest was 6-12
2011 Results
30 smallies over 5lbs
7 smallies over 6lbs
Biggest was 6-9
2012 Results
60 smallies over 5lbs
8 smallies over 6lbs
Biggest fish was 6-15
2013 Results
22 smallies over 5lbs
7 smallies over 6lbs
Biggest fish was 6-8
A-Jay reply :
Those Numbers are just outrageous.
The only thing that might be more impressive is the sheer size & frame of the bass themselves - just Massive.
And btw - was 2012 the first year you and I fished together ?
I'm not saying, I'm just saying . . . .
Here's to popping a 7 plus next season my friend.
A-Jay
roadwarrior reply :
Nice numbers!
I did not know all you smalljaws were caught on jerkbaits. Want to share what you prefer?
Siebert Outdoors reply :
Very nice numbers!!!!!!
tomustang reply :
That's a lot of smallies over 5lbs, no small feat for sure. Excellent numbers 
MarkH024 reply :
So when can I come fishing with you? I have gas money, and a cooler for snacks. I promise I'll only bring like 8 set ups and 9 3700 boxes. 
SPEEDBEAD. reply :
On 11/23/2013 at 4:04 AM, MarkH024 said:So when can I come fishing with you? I have gas money, and a cooler for snacks. I promise I'll only bring like 8 set ups and 9 3700 boxes.
You only need two, max. Right Dwight? LOL
I've had the pleasure of fishing with Dwight on his rig. "Dialed In" is not quite the most accuate way to describe his efforts up there. I thought I heard a couple smallmouth yelling "DWIGHT!" as we rolled up to the spots. 
Lucky Craft Man reply :
Dwight has a system with jerkbaits that is very intune with Lake Erie (and I am sure would work in any body of water that is as expanse as Erie). His approach is really ingenious and I have been picking his brains for at least the last few years learning what he does (and he has been kind enough to share with me. I think of Dwight as my mentor). It is just a very methodical and systematic approach that is truly a masterpiece. I had to slightly modify his approach to fit my boat and style of fishing, but I put more 5 pound+ Smallmouth in my boat (including my 7 pound PB SM) this year than I have in all the past years (and I fished half as much this year). Truly a well thought out system by a truly great fisherman (not to mention a really nice guy).
PS Dwight, that 7 pound smallmouth I caught wasn't far from you guys, so you can count it in your totals (and since you pretty much showed we the way, it was almost like you caught it.)
AK-Jax86 reply :
Very nice numbers I have yet to catch me a smallie period lol
shimmy reply :
Yes!!!! Love these types of stats!!! We need Catt and WRB to name a few to play along.
flyfisher reply :
Those are mind numbing stats.....a managed one smallie over 5lbs on the susky and that is about it.
I am seriously jealous.
Mainebass1984 reply :
Those smallmouth numbers are incredible. I also keep track of bass I catch, largemouth though. I have weighed every single largemouth I have caught 3 lbs or better since 2004. I am in Maine right now. When I get back to VT and my fishing journal I will post my totals. Those smallmouth numbers just blow my mind....
Frog Turds reply :
would love me a smallie over 6, thats some dandy work there Mr Hottle!!
mnbassman23 reply :
Those are some impressive numbers, well done!
Big-O reply :
Wow, that's some FINE numbers and stats... Pig Stalking at it's best! Wtg Dwight 
Goose52 reply :
Dwight is "da man"...................... 
Dwight Hottle reply :
On 11/23/2013 at 3:56 AM, roadwarrior said:Nice numbers!
I did not know all you smalljaws were caught on jerkbaits. Want to share what you prefer?
Lots of lucky craft baits, rapalas. smithwick, duo realis, megabass, matzuo and a some misc stuff.
On 11/23/2013 at 4:16 AM, Lucky Craft Man said:Dwight has a system with jerkbaits that is very intune with Lake Erie (and I am sure would work in any body of water that is as expanse as Erie). His approach is really ingenious and I have been picking his brains for at least the last few years learning what he does (and he has been kind enough to share with me. I think of Dwight as my mentor). It is just a very methodical and systematic approach that is truly a masterpiece. I had to slightly modify his approach to fit my boat and style of fishing, but I put more 5 pound+ Smallmouth in my boat (including my 7 pound PB SM) this year than I have in all the past years (and I fished half as much this year). Truly a well thought out system by a truly great fisherman (not to mention a really nice guy).
PS Dwight, that 7 pound smallmouth I caught wasn't far from you guys, so you can count it in your totals (and since you pretty much showed we the way, it was almost like you caught it.)
The best piece of advice I gave you was to get out of the bay & fish the main lake. You listened & your results were pretty fantastic. Well done Steve. I'm still debating about which new PB you got this year is most impressive the musky or the smallie. There are both pretty rare. You and A-Jay both PBed twice this year. Congrats to both of you.
On 11/23/2013 at 4:04 AM, MarkH024 said:So when can I come fishing with you? I have gas money, and a cooler for snacks. I promise I'll only bring like 8 set ups and 9 3700 boxes.
All you have to bring is lunch for two, two rods & reels & a few favorite jerkbaits. Bring along your favorite hat for your new PB photo!
On 11/23/2013 at 3:55 AM, A-Jay said:Those Numbers are just outrageous.
The only thing that might be more impressive is the sheer size & frame of the bass themselves - just Massive.
And btw - was 2012 the first year you and I fished together ?
I'm not saying, I'm just saying . . . .
Here's to popping a 7 plus next season my friend.
A-Jay
Now I know why there were so many five lbers caught in 2012.
On 11/23/2013 at 10:52 AM, Mainebass1984 said:Those smallmouth numbers are incredible. I also keep track of bass I catch, largemouth though. I have weighed every single largemouth I have caught 3 lbs or better since 2004. I am in Maine right now. When I get back to VT and my fishing journal I will post my totals. Those smallmouth numbers just blow my mind....
Those smallie numbers aren't as incredible as the number of New England slobasaurauses you have posted up this year. I am always amazed by the number of giant New England bass posted up on this forum. You NE bassers are outstanding.
CWB reply :
On 11/23/2013 at 3:05 AM, Dwight Hottle said:I started keeping track of all 5lbers & 6lbers caught out of my boat for spring pre spawn which is April & May and a limited few fall days from Oct & Nov. There would a category for 7lbers but nobody wants to contribute to that statistic the last four years. Maybe I need to get LuckyCraftMan to fish out my boat instead of his. Anyhow here is the breakdown for 2010 through 2013. That's 145 smallies over 5lbs and 26 smallies over 6lbs for the last 4 years. That means on a four year average you need to catch 5.5 five pounders before you are going to get a six. I have no idea why 2012 was such a good year for five pounders caught. Average fishing days for each year probably totaled 45-50 days per year for pre spawn & a few fall days. All fish complied were caught on jerkbaits.
2010 Results
33 smallies over 5lbs
4 smallies over 6lbs
Biggest was 6-12
2011 Results
30 smallies over 5lbs
7 smallies over 6lbs
Biggest was 6-9
2012 Results
60 smallies over 5lbs
8 smallies over 6lbs
Biggest fish was 6-15
2013 Results
22 smallies over 5lbs
7 smallies over 6lbs
Biggest fish was 6-8
Nice report Dwight. I don't remember if it was 2011 or 2012 (tough getting old), but I do remember in 4 days getting a 6-0 and a 6-4 and several 5's. We had an awesome 4 days despite the weather. My PB came on my birthday- 10/28. Could have been a disaster when I slipped and fell on the ice on the dock the first day. Luckily I only dislocated my shoulder and was able to keep fishing. I remember seeing a few guys out in standard bassboats bobbing around fighting the wind and waves and we were drifting by in relative comfort. Definitely the way to go. Maybe now that things have settled down here, we can get together again (if you'll have me).
I think the biggest asset Dwight has is a wonderful wife that lets him get out and fish as much as he does. You're a lucky man my friend.
senile1 reply :
Dwight, those are some extemely impressive numbers of huge smallmouth. I didn't realize they were all on jerkbaits. Whatever your system is, it sounds like you could write a book about it. My hat is off to you. Incredible!
NEjitterbugger reply :
You wanna know how many smallies I have caught over 5lbs pounds in the last 4 years....... None
You wanna know how many smallies I have caught over 5lbs in my life....... None
LOL
retiredbosn reply :
Again Dwight congrats, the numbers of Smallies over 5 lbs blows my mind. As I've said before I grew up fishing for smallies in the New and Greenbrier rivers, I know how special a 5lb bronze lady is, and 6 pounders are as rare as hen teeth. Way to go!
retiredbosn reply :
On 11/24/2013 at 4:59 AM, NEjitterbugger said:You wanna know how many smallies I have caught over 5lbs pounds in the last 4 years....... None
You wanna know how many smallies I have caught over 5lbs in my life....... None
LOL
That's ok, I'm 44 know how many small jaws over 4lbs I've caught? Exactly 1.
Dwight Hottle reply :
On 11/24/2013 at 4:59 AM, NEjitterbugger said:You wanna know how many smallies I have caught over 5lbs pounds in the last 4 years....... None
You wanna know how many smallies I have caught over 5lbs in my life....... None
LOL
Yea but you are really young. It will happen. Just need to fish a big system that has plenty of big girls.
On 11/24/2013 at 8:25 AM, retiredbosn said:Again Dwight congrats, the numbers of Smallies over 5 lbs blows my mind. As I've said before I grew up fishing for smallies in the New and Greenbrier rivers, I know how special a 5lb bronze lady is, and 6 pounders are as rare as hen teeth. Way to go!
Thanks. On Erie the 7 lbers are as rare as hen teeth.
pbrussell reply :
Guys like you Dwight, keep the young guys like me in check. Talk about inspiration.
Shane J reply :
Serious digits there, man! Smallie machine for sure!
Will Wetline reply :
Stunning.
NEjitterbugger reply :
On 11/24/2013 at 8:27 AM, retiredbosn said:That's ok, I'm 44 know how many small jaws over 4lbs I've caught? Exactly 1.
On 11/24/2013 at 8:30 AM, Dwight Hottle said:Yea but you are really young. It will happen. Just need to fish a big system that has plenty of big girls.
Thanks. On Erie the 7 lbers are as rare as hen teeth.
I did catch my PB this year 3.64lbs... During a tourney too... I don't have to many good smallie spots close by...
NorcalBassin reply :
That is incredible... awesome job. You giving discounted guided trips to BR members? 
Bankbeater reply :
Those are some numbers you have! Great job!
Lucky Craft Man reply :
This post had me curious over how my Lake Erie Spring numbers looked for this year (Post Dwight System Implementation) and all the years before (Pre Dwight System Implementation).
This Spring, I was only able to get up to Lake Erie 4 times (I know, very dismal, but with three little girls all under the age of 3 and a half, I had to sacrifice some fishing time). In those 4 days, I fished a total of 28.5 hours. Here was the breakdown for my boat.
2013 Spring Results (Implementing Dwight's System)
Total Number of Smallmouth Caught = 63
Number of 5 Pounders = 7
Number of 6 Pounders = 1
Number of 7 Pounders = 1
Pre 2013 Spring Results (Before I really implemented Dwight's System)
Total Suckiness
I seemed to have been able to fine tune Dwight's system for my needs each time out (e.g., changing line diameter, drift patterns, lure choices, etc.). I can't wait until this Spring. I have a few more things I want to try and dial in.
Someone mentioned Dwight being able to write a book on this system. I tend to agree. There is a lot that goes into it that I am sure many people don't think about. I know there were details that I would have never considered until after talking with Dwight. It really was a game changer for me.
A-Jay reply :
The following is a post made by Dwight Hottle a while back. In it he shares what is essentially "The System" Lucky Craft Man describes above.
A-Jay
Alright Shimmy I'll share a little bit about jerkbaits. First of all my jerkbait fishing evolved around pike fishing. Big predators. My favorite jerkbaits were made out of wood or plastic & weighed about an ounce to 2.5 oz. . I would practice jerk bait strokes along side the boat to see what kind of action I could delvelop with each bait. Some baits would dart 90 degrees to either side like a walk the dog motion but under water. Other baits would glide forward or sideways & some rare baits would almost turn around like in your face mr pike. Hard violent jerks or strokes would elevate the motions. Then you have to incorporate a pause period or let the bait rest. Usually the baits will get eaten while your pausing or just as you start your next movement. Remember jerk baits work on all species.
Now to jerkbaits for smallies. Typically when you first start fishing you use a search bait until you find fish unless you know exactly where they are. Then once you find fish you switch to your favorite presentation. I fish big water with lots of suspended fish spread over lots of rock structure. I seldom find lots of big fish in a small area. So my approach is to cover water with a jerkbait as my search bait until I find some big girls. Once we find them we work over the area. We put in waypoints when we get bit so we can revist each spot. When drifting on lake erie the waves cause the boat to surge & pause just like a jerked bait does when you are working it. Boat motion adds motion to your baits. I always prefer to drift downwind with the wind hitting my stern. I work one rod while i dead stick a second rod in a rod holder. When my forward progress is between .3 to 1.0 mile an hour drifting with the wind at my back it all works. Most of the time my worked rod out fishes the dead stick 3 to 1. But sometimes the dead stick rod is extremely effective all by its self because the boat is working the bait. This tells me to slow down the worked rod. This approach also allows you to run a deep diver suspending jerkbait while you are running a shallow suspending bait. Then you can decide to use all deep or all shallow baits depending upon the conditions. My prespawn smallie fishing is between upper 30 degrees to 65 degrrees surface temps. The colder the water the more subtle the action. As the water warms I use more erratic movements. I also select baits with more subtle action for cold water & more erratic action for warming water. You have to learn the action of each style bait you use and develop an understanding of what works best for the conditions you are facing. Colder water with poor visibility finds me using loud colors with subtle action & loud rattles. Warmer water with good visibility finds me using subtle natural colors with more erratic action and softer rattles. Smallmouth bass are extremely curious about noise & erratic action. Remember that statement. Your jerkbait represents a dying bait fish to a smallie if properly worked. Smallies will come up thru the water column to hit a jerkbait. How far they will travel depends upon water visibility & sound. When I can see the bottom in 15 feet of water I will not hesitate to work jerkbaits out to 30 feet. I try to use a bait that will get down to the depth I want to fish based on overall water depth & visibility. If your marking fish or marking bait you can key into that depth. My jerkbait inventory covers baits that run from 2 feet down to baits that run 20-22 feet down. Now I can fish jerkbaits effectively in forty feet of water with good visibility. Since i'm fishing relatively open waters I use ten pound braid with a leader on spinning tackle. And I use ten or twenty pound braid with a leader on casting tackle. The thin braid adds up to five feet of extra depth on the baits. Now when casting jerkbaits your depth is based on the bait, line diameter & the length of your cast. Maximum depth on most baits is increased by letting out more line up to around 200 some feet with diving bills. So I run my baits back from the boat about two to three cast lengths to achieve more depth when needed. This also allows you a more stealthy approach. I find that smallies move during the day between deeper water to shallower water based upon changing conditions. So I try to target different depths until I can observe a pattern of where they will be.
I do not limit myself to just one manufacture of jerkbaits. I find that on some days a particular bait from one manufcture will out preform all others. Especially on a tough bite day. So I carry about four different manufactures jerkbaits. Now within just one manufactures line of jerkbaits there can be five or six completely different baits by action, size, depth, sound, suspending, floating or slow sink & tilt. They can all shine based on changing conditions. Generally I prefer suspending jerkbaits with rattles. Then I look for level suspenders, nose down or tail down attitudes. Lucky craft probably covers the most diverse offerings of all jerkbaits manufactures in my experience.
Just remember when fishing a jerkbait that you are trying to excite a neutral fish into striking it because it mimics a dying baitfish. The more action you can impart to the bait the more fired up that big smallie gets. It is very similar to teasing a cat with a mouse on a string. Some times they want it barely moving and other times they want it fast and erratic.
Lucky Craft Man reply :
A-Jay, I have studied that post by Dwight many times. There is so much "gold" in just that middle paragraph. The day I caught my PB, the fish weren't aggressive at all. I slowed my drift down and got my jerkbaits just grinding on the bottom. That fish must have lightly mouthed the lure, because I caught her with the rear hook just on the tip of her mouth. All those variables mentioned in Dwight's post need deliberate consideration and an effective means with which to cover them (this is part of the system I still need work on). I have found that these big fish are big for a reason and the attention to these details seem to be the difference between netting those bigger fish or ending another day wishing for a 5 pounder.
RoLo reply :
Dwight, your batting-average with trophy smallies has been nothing short of phenomenonal!
Then again, knowing the perfectionist that you are, I'm not at all shocked but nonetheless impressed.
Going back a few years, I'm on record as dubbing you the "Al Lindner of the Northeast",
and some things never change (eat your heart out Joe Balog ;-))
Roger
Brian Needham reply :
I have nothing to add but a hearty WTG!!!
just wanted to subscribe to this thread.
00 mod reply :
RoLo,
Where have you been? Welcome back!
Jeff
RoLo reply :
RoLo,
Where have you been? Welcome back!
Jeff
Thank you Jeff (all is well)
Roger
MIbassin reply :
Are jerk baits only winter time lures?
Dwight Hottle reply :
On 12/2/2013 at 12:28 AM, MIbassin said:Are jerk baits only winter time lures?
All year long.
Dwight Hottle reply :
On 12/1/2013 at 10:07 AM, RoLo said:Dwight, your batting-average with trophy smallies has been nothing short of phenomenonal!
Then again, knowing the perfectionist that you are, I'm not at all shocked but nonetheless impressed.
Going back a few years, I'm on record as dubbing you the "Al Lindner of the Northeast",
and some things never change (eat your heart out Joe Balog ;-))
Roger
Thanks for all the kind words Roger. Glad to see your back & all is well. Miss your informative posts.
roadwarrior reply :
Well looky-here...Woke the cat up, too!
Great thread and good to hear from RoLo again.
Brian Needham reply :
Dwight, My wish for you is to catch one like this one day.
Got her on the TN River, Jeff skillfully guided me to this once in a lifetime hawg. I might have reeled her in, but Jeff truly did all the heavy lifting.
8 3/4# Baby!!!
A-Jay reply :
On 12/4/2013 at 11:30 AM, Brian Needham said:Dwight, I wish for you is to catch one like this one day.
Got her on the TN River, Jeff skillfully guided me to this once in a lifetime hawg. I might have reeled her in, but Jeff truly did all the heavy lifting.
8 3/4# Baby!!!
smallie1.jpg
smallie1.jpg
Congrats to you Brian -
A Real Mutant if ever I saw one.
A-Jay
Brian Needham reply :
really didn't hit me what I caught until I got home and downloaded the pictures to the computer!!!
Thanks, A Jay!
Dwight Hottle reply :
On 12/4/2013 at 11:42 AM, Brian Needham said:really didn't hit me what I caught until I got home and downloaded the pictures to the computer!!!
Thanks, A Jay!
Brian you beat me to it. I heard it was coming.
00 mod reply :
On 12/4/2013 at 11:30 AM, Brian Needham said:Dwight, My wish for you is to catch one like this one day.
Got her on the TN River, Jeff skillfully guided me to this once in a lifetime hawg. I might have reeled her in, but Jeff truly did all the heavy lifting.
8 3/4# Baby!!!
All I did was put you on the spot and get her on the Boga! You sir, get credit for all of the rest!
Jeff
Dwight Hottle reply :
Brian they are supposed to look like this. You got the head right just missing the body coloration.
Shane J reply :
BAM!!!
A-Jay reply :
And the painfully insane truth about this man's skills is . . . . ..
There is a very high probability that he dink-dropped several fish the same size or perhaps a little smaller than the two he's holding a few moments before that shot.
A-Jay
Brian Needham reply :
Thanks for the kind words Ajay, but I am not one to brag...
Hahahahahahahahaha.
Seriously, those are two lifetime fish for us mere mortals, well at for me it is....It is amazing to watch guys like Dwight and see how they absolutely have a lake clocked.
Dwight Hottle reply :
On 12/5/2013 at 1:02 AM, Brian Needham said:Thanks for the kind words Ajay, but I am not one to brag...
Hahahahahahahahaha.
Seriously, those are two lifetime fish for us mere mortals, well at for me it is....It is amazing to watch guys like Dwight and see how they absolutely have a lake clocked.
Brian I only get lucky when it is easy. Rest of the time I struggle like everyone else.
Siebert Outdoors reply :
Did the lake level drop when you pulled those two out?
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