The "Walleye Capital of the World" birthed fewer walleye this year. The 2024 walleye hatch was below average, according to annual Lake Erie fish surveys by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Lucky, too. On Nov. 24, Hatten and his long-time friend and fishing partner, Len Heffron, of Clay, were trolling for Lake Erie walleye about 40 miles west of Cleveland. They’d been planning this ...