shu9265
04-18-2007, 10:36 AM
Article published Friday, April 6, 2007
FOLLOW THE FISH
Walleye fishing looks promising; not only for Easter but all of April, part of May
High, fast moving and muddy water keeps the majority of walleye fishermen close to the bank of the Maumee River at Orleans Park. The annual run of walleye is approaching its peak.
( THE BLADE/ANDY MORRISON )
http://toimg.sv.publicus.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=TO&Date=20070406&Category=SPORTS08&ArtNo=304060011&Ref=AR&MaxW=240
The annual spring walleye spawning runs on the Maumee and Sandusky rivers are ratcheting up toward their peak, just in time for the expected Easter holiday rush, but good fishing opportunities are expected all month long and into May.
http://toimg.sv.publicus.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=TO&Date=20070406&Category=SPORTS08&ArtNo=304060011&Ref=H5&MaxW=240
The "season" got under way about two weeks ago in a rush of its own as as ice-out was late in coming. Early fishing was concentrated in high-water sites, such as around either side of the Maumee-Perrysburg Bridge on the Maumee and the Miles Newton Bridge on the Sandusky in downtown Fremont.
http://toimg.sv.publicus.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=TO&Date=20070406&Category=SPORTS08&ArtNo=304060011&Ref=V7&MaxW=240
WALLEYE RIVER INFO
MAUMEE RIVER
• MaumeeTackle, Maumee, www.maumeetackle.net, or 419-893-FISH.
• River Lures, Grand Rapids, 419-832-0989.
• Side Cut Metropark fishing report, 419-407-9731, option 1.
SANDUSKY RIVER
• Anglers Supply, Fremont, 419-332-6071.
All rivers and Lake Erie Ohio Division of Wildlife,
toll-free, 1-888-HOOKFISH, and 1-800-WILDLIFE, or
www.ohiodnr.com/wildlife. Ohio Wildlife District 2, Findlay, 419-424-5000.
Now anglers are spreading upstream to such familiar sites as Buttonwood Access on the Wood County side and Side Cut Metropark on the Lucas County side. A tremendous run of fish has been seen this spring, bolstered no doubt by the presence of the 19 to 22-inch 2003 megaclass. The '03 females are running for the first time this spring, adding to the fish-crowd in the streams.
High water early on brought in a big run of walleye, then a northeaster about 10 days ago backed up the flows. As the backed-up water dropped back toward Maumee and Sandusky bays, it triggered runs of new fish.
As for the fishing, if you want to improve your catch-rate, think small, according to Gary Lowry, proprietor of Maumee Tackle in Maumee. He preaches use of small baits and working them slowly.
That means a 1/8 to 3/8-ounce leadhead jig dressed with a two to three-inch plastic grubtail, or a floating jighead and tail, if you are among the dwindling number of fishermen who still hang onto traditional terminal tackle.
The hands of Phil LaBraash, of Oxford, Mich., tie on another lure after falling victim to a snagged fish. Fish that are snagged (hooked outside the mouth) must be returned to the water immediately.
( THE BLADE/ANDY MORRISON )
http://toimg.sv.publicus.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=TO&Date=20070406&Category=SPORTS08&ArtNo=304060011&Ref=H5&MaxW=240
Lowry said that 9 of 10 anglers have switched to floating jigheads, Carolina-rigged, using an egg sinker. Use just enough weight so that you can occasionally feel it "tick" the bottom. Reliable colors include white, chartreuse, bright pink, and black, two-color combinations.
A true Carolina rig employs an egg sinker ahead of a barrel swivel, then 18 to 30 inches or more of leader to the floating jighead. "The idea with the slip-sinker is that the fish don't feel the weight," explained Lowry. Some anglings, however, are Carolina-rigging with a trolling sinker, which is narrow and has a swivel on either end.
An increasingly popular dressing for the floating jighead is the Berkley Power Grub, which is becoming as prevalent as the also-popular Twister Tail. Favored Grubs come in such colorful patterns as Christmas Lights, Sunkist, and fire tiger.
View the Maumee-Sandusky rivers PDF
Zoom | Photo Reprints
For a full discussion of the Carolina rig and other river tackle, visit on-line at Lowry's Web site, www.maumeetackle.net.
When using traditional leadheads and you need more weight because of heavier current or you are fishing a deeper run, pinch on a split-shot or two about 15 inches above the jig, rather than switching to a heavier jig. Saves rigging time.
In the case of either leadhead jig or Carolina floater rig, if you are snagging bottom too often, go lighter. If you never feel bottom, add weight.
A six-foot medium to medium-heavy spinning rod and 8 to 10-pound line is a standard, though some successful anglers use ultralights, 4-pound-test line, and teeny jigs. Others prefer baitcasting gear.
Direct your casts slightly upstream, so that the bait will drift to the bottom directly in front of you. Then just let it drift downstream, reeling up any slack and following it with your rod-tip. When in doubt set the hook.
Remember, too, that walleye can run as far up the Maumee as the Grand Rapids Dam. So some upstream sites may produce fish, minus the crowds of eager anglers. Among places to try upstream are around the State Rt. 64 bridge at Waterville, and the Miltonville and Van Tassel public access sites on State Rt. 65, and Otsego Park on Route 65 at State Rt. 235.
Remember to have a current 2007 fishing license; also, that the daily creel limit is four walleye for March and April; that only a single hook is allowed in the special river zones and in Maumee and Sandusky bays until May 1; and that the minimum keeper length for walleye is 15 inches.
http://toimg.sv.publicus.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=TO&Date=20070406&Category=SPORTS08&ArtNo=304060011&Ref=H8&MaxW=240
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
ODNR: Make reservations, buy licenses, renew watercraft registration
Ohio's current fishing reports, prospects
ODNR lake/river maps
USGS Real-Time Water Data for Ohio
Lake Erie information resources
Find Lake Erie navigational charts
Ohio outdoors info
Read more Blade outdoors coverage
Steve Pollick columns
E-mail Blade Outdoors Editor Steve Pollick
Fishing in the special river zones is allowed only sunrise to sunset until May 1. All snagged fish, that is, any fish not hooked inside the mouth, must be released immediately. A full rundown on the fishing regulations is available at the state Web site, www.ohiodnr.com, or in the free pamphlet, digest of 2007-2008 Ohio Fishing Regulations, available wherever licenses are sold.
Last and certainly not least: litter - don't.
Take along a plastic bag and pick up trash and spent fishing line on the way back to your vehicle. Few things leave such a negative public impression about anglers as riverside trash.
FOLLOW THE FISH
Walleye fishing looks promising; not only for Easter but all of April, part of May
High, fast moving and muddy water keeps the majority of walleye fishermen close to the bank of the Maumee River at Orleans Park. The annual run of walleye is approaching its peak.
( THE BLADE/ANDY MORRISON )
http://toimg.sv.publicus.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=TO&Date=20070406&Category=SPORTS08&ArtNo=304060011&Ref=AR&MaxW=240
The annual spring walleye spawning runs on the Maumee and Sandusky rivers are ratcheting up toward their peak, just in time for the expected Easter holiday rush, but good fishing opportunities are expected all month long and into May.
http://toimg.sv.publicus.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=TO&Date=20070406&Category=SPORTS08&ArtNo=304060011&Ref=H5&MaxW=240
The "season" got under way about two weeks ago in a rush of its own as as ice-out was late in coming. Early fishing was concentrated in high-water sites, such as around either side of the Maumee-Perrysburg Bridge on the Maumee and the Miles Newton Bridge on the Sandusky in downtown Fremont.
http://toimg.sv.publicus.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=TO&Date=20070406&Category=SPORTS08&ArtNo=304060011&Ref=V7&MaxW=240
WALLEYE RIVER INFO
MAUMEE RIVER
• MaumeeTackle, Maumee, www.maumeetackle.net, or 419-893-FISH.
• River Lures, Grand Rapids, 419-832-0989.
• Side Cut Metropark fishing report, 419-407-9731, option 1.
SANDUSKY RIVER
• Anglers Supply, Fremont, 419-332-6071.
All rivers and Lake Erie Ohio Division of Wildlife,
toll-free, 1-888-HOOKFISH, and 1-800-WILDLIFE, or
www.ohiodnr.com/wildlife. Ohio Wildlife District 2, Findlay, 419-424-5000.
Now anglers are spreading upstream to such familiar sites as Buttonwood Access on the Wood County side and Side Cut Metropark on the Lucas County side. A tremendous run of fish has been seen this spring, bolstered no doubt by the presence of the 19 to 22-inch 2003 megaclass. The '03 females are running for the first time this spring, adding to the fish-crowd in the streams.
High water early on brought in a big run of walleye, then a northeaster about 10 days ago backed up the flows. As the backed-up water dropped back toward Maumee and Sandusky bays, it triggered runs of new fish.
As for the fishing, if you want to improve your catch-rate, think small, according to Gary Lowry, proprietor of Maumee Tackle in Maumee. He preaches use of small baits and working them slowly.
That means a 1/8 to 3/8-ounce leadhead jig dressed with a two to three-inch plastic grubtail, or a floating jighead and tail, if you are among the dwindling number of fishermen who still hang onto traditional terminal tackle.
The hands of Phil LaBraash, of Oxford, Mich., tie on another lure after falling victim to a snagged fish. Fish that are snagged (hooked outside the mouth) must be returned to the water immediately.
( THE BLADE/ANDY MORRISON )
http://toimg.sv.publicus.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=TO&Date=20070406&Category=SPORTS08&ArtNo=304060011&Ref=H5&MaxW=240
Lowry said that 9 of 10 anglers have switched to floating jigheads, Carolina-rigged, using an egg sinker. Use just enough weight so that you can occasionally feel it "tick" the bottom. Reliable colors include white, chartreuse, bright pink, and black, two-color combinations.
A true Carolina rig employs an egg sinker ahead of a barrel swivel, then 18 to 30 inches or more of leader to the floating jighead. "The idea with the slip-sinker is that the fish don't feel the weight," explained Lowry. Some anglings, however, are Carolina-rigging with a trolling sinker, which is narrow and has a swivel on either end.
An increasingly popular dressing for the floating jighead is the Berkley Power Grub, which is becoming as prevalent as the also-popular Twister Tail. Favored Grubs come in such colorful patterns as Christmas Lights, Sunkist, and fire tiger.
View the Maumee-Sandusky rivers PDF
Zoom | Photo Reprints
For a full discussion of the Carolina rig and other river tackle, visit on-line at Lowry's Web site, www.maumeetackle.net.
When using traditional leadheads and you need more weight because of heavier current or you are fishing a deeper run, pinch on a split-shot or two about 15 inches above the jig, rather than switching to a heavier jig. Saves rigging time.
In the case of either leadhead jig or Carolina floater rig, if you are snagging bottom too often, go lighter. If you never feel bottom, add weight.
A six-foot medium to medium-heavy spinning rod and 8 to 10-pound line is a standard, though some successful anglers use ultralights, 4-pound-test line, and teeny jigs. Others prefer baitcasting gear.
Direct your casts slightly upstream, so that the bait will drift to the bottom directly in front of you. Then just let it drift downstream, reeling up any slack and following it with your rod-tip. When in doubt set the hook.
Remember, too, that walleye can run as far up the Maumee as the Grand Rapids Dam. So some upstream sites may produce fish, minus the crowds of eager anglers. Among places to try upstream are around the State Rt. 64 bridge at Waterville, and the Miltonville and Van Tassel public access sites on State Rt. 65, and Otsego Park on Route 65 at State Rt. 235.
Remember to have a current 2007 fishing license; also, that the daily creel limit is four walleye for March and April; that only a single hook is allowed in the special river zones and in Maumee and Sandusky bays until May 1; and that the minimum keeper length for walleye is 15 inches.
http://toimg.sv.publicus.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=TO&Date=20070406&Category=SPORTS08&ArtNo=304060011&Ref=H8&MaxW=240
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
ODNR: Make reservations, buy licenses, renew watercraft registration
Ohio's current fishing reports, prospects
ODNR lake/river maps
USGS Real-Time Water Data for Ohio
Lake Erie information resources
Find Lake Erie navigational charts
Ohio outdoors info
Read more Blade outdoors coverage
Steve Pollick columns
E-mail Blade Outdoors Editor Steve Pollick
Fishing in the special river zones is allowed only sunrise to sunset until May 1. All snagged fish, that is, any fish not hooked inside the mouth, must be released immediately. A full rundown on the fishing regulations is available at the state Web site, www.ohiodnr.com, or in the free pamphlet, digest of 2007-2008 Ohio Fishing Regulations, available wherever licenses are sold.
Last and certainly not least: litter - don't.
Take along a plastic bag and pick up trash and spent fishing line on the way back to your vehicle. Few things leave such a negative public impression about anglers as riverside trash.