The sun beat down on fishers out at Walnut Creek access point in the last full week of October. While the weather was nice for people, mumbles could be heard along the water.

"It's usually cold. Windy. This is warm. This is not normal for this time of the year," said Terry Bichler, a fisher at walnut creek.

Temperature and depth plays a big role in fishing. Certain species, like Steel head who are in season now, prefer chilly, deep water. Fish aren't afraid to chase the climate they like.

"The warmer species fish like walleye will start in the western part of the lake and they migrate to look for cooler temperatures," said Jerry Skrypzak, president of S.O.N.S. of Lake Erie Fishing Club. "Where as lake trout prefer colder temperatures year round so they stay very deep in the central, deeper part of the lake."

Water temperatures in Lake Erie have risen, disrupting migration habits. More walleye now stay in Erie year round over migrating.

"As the temperatures in the lake warm, the fish that do not like that temperature will disappear and the more warmer fish like blue gills, and crappies and catfish will predominate the lake."

Trends in how often Lake Erie freezes over have also impacted fish populations.

"The longer the ice cover lasts, the better hatch of fish we will get. And in the last 3 years we have not had the lake completely covered in ice and consequently we have had smaller hatches of fish," said Skrypzak. "So it seems like the warmer temperatures have inhibited the freezing of the bay. and it looks like that's what we are going to have again this year."

Moving inland, one fisherman said drought is lowering rivers and creeks.

"You just have to drive into the country, and you can see where the water level used to be compared to where it is now," said Daniel Millard. "we need steady rain for a long period of time to saturate the ground and feed the creeks, and we just don't get that anymore."

Those droughts lead to those warm, shallow waters... that change which fish show up... and in turn-- the fishing experience.

Temperature is not the only impact on fish populations in the lake. Government regulations, fish stocking, man made changes to lake environment, and trends in commercial vs recreational fishing have also lead to change. 

Where and when certain species show up does have ties to those seasonal changes though.