Pier Pressure

At times, Fofrich dabbed a small amount of light-colored glow paint on his artificial baits -- a tip learned from his good friend and fellow night-fishing expert Mark Martin. "Not too much," he cautioned. "Just a touch on each eye of the bait, and then I paint a thin ring around the tail. I believe this gives walleyes an easier target in the dark."

Occasionally, if the fishing was slow, Fofrich switched from lures to livebait. "Again, keep your bait size large," he said. "I prefer a 5- to 6-inch gizzard shad or emerald shiner. I fish them on either a Lindy sliprig or a Thill Nite Brite float."

In the end, it's best not to overcomplicate pier fishing at night. The best time to go is anytime you can, although it's always easiest when the fish are in, the weather's moderate and you don't have to cast into the teeth of a fierce onshore wind. Easier doesn't always equate to better, however. And while no one enjoys fishing shoulder-to-shoulder with other anglers, their obvious presence at the ends of piers or lining breakwalls strongly suggests that the fish are inshore and biting. Dealing with pier pressure -- it's all part of the game when it comes to fishing for Great Lakes walleyes at night.

Editor's Note: If you are thinking of making the trip to fish Lake Erie, be sure to check out our destination guide below.

*W. H. (Chip) Gross is a walleye enthusiast from Fredericktown, Ohio.