Gale winds and sub-zero temperatures this Christmas weekend are not exactly putting us in the mood to go fishing, but Lake Erie has done her best to gift wrap a present Ohio anglers are sure to love.

Ohio Division of Wildlife and Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry surveys confirmed another successful walleye hatch in 2022 in the western basin of Lake Erie.

As a matter of fact, it’s possible walleye aficionados may be getting spoiled as Lake Erie has gifted us with great hatch news for several years. This year’s western basin walleye hatch produced 83 fish per hectare, the ninth largest in the 35 years since such surveying began.

An average year’s production is 55 walleyes per hectare. A hectare is an area 2.47 times larger than an acre.

“Lake Erie walleye anglers will continue to benefit from terrific walleye populations. This year’s hatch will grow to catchable sizes in two or three years, when it will contribute to decades of excellent fishing in the Walleye Capital of the World,” Division of Wildlife chief Kendra Wecker said.

Erie’s central basin also is producing above-average hatches, this year’s being the seventh highest in surveying history.

The 2022 hatch in waters from Huron to Conneaut resulted in 14 young-of-the-year walleye per hectare, well above the average of six per hectare.

Yellow perch hatches in the western basin also were excellent this year, with 572 young-of-the-year per hectare, continuing a trend of vigorous perch populations.

Western basin perch fishing was reported as showing some of the best harvest rates in years.

Erie’s central basin yellow perch populations are not on par with the western waters. The central basin is divided in two zones — Huron to Fairport Harbor and Fairport Harbor to Conneaut. Both produced young-of-the-year numbers well below the average of 38 to 39.

Division of Wildlife officials say conditions did not favor yellow perch hatchlings’ survival in 2022. Weather plays a major role.

“Hatch success is largely determined by the timing and availability of favorable conditions for spawning and survival of newly hatched yellow perch in the spring and summer,” the Division of Wildlife said in a news release.

“Strong lake-wide yellow perch hatches are rare. It is common to observe poor hatches in the central and east zones when those in the west are good, which is what has been observed for several consecutive years.”

Perch are popular, but walleye are Erie’s greatest gift, so with another successful hatch to boost the population, walleye will be providing many additional years of fun and fish fries.

Jack Wollitz’s book, “The Common Angler,” seeks to answer the “why” behind our passion for fishing. He appreciates emails from readers. Send a note to jackbbaass@gmail.com.