Walleye run is underway

If you ask folks when they believe spring arrives, some would look at the calendar and point out that March 19 is the day. Others, knowing Ohio's fickle weather history, rely on what they see to predict nature's fresh start. They may point out the crocuses popping along a walkway or daffodils emerging from their winter nap. Some look to the sky for skeins of geese and ducks heading northward or warblers and bluebirds returning to their breeding grounds. Hunters may be listening for that first boss gobbler to yodel his dominance in the back forty — but if you're an angler, especially one that lives in the Great Black Swamp region of Ohio, the answer could be summed up in one word, "WALLEYE!" The walleye run is underway at the Sandusky and Maumee Rivers providing opportunity to catch Ohio's most popular game fish. The walleye; also known as the pickerel, yellow pike, or walleyed pike, is actually a member of the perch family. Its most common cousins are the yellow perch, sauger, and the now extinct (as far as we know) blue pike. The walleye is a native of Lake Erie and the Ohio River but has also been stocked in many other bodies of water, especially larger reservoirs. It is easily the most sought-after fish found in any part of Lake Erie or its tributaries. The name "walleye" is derived from the fish's large eyes that appear to be clouded. They sit right above a mouth full of very sharp teeth that have given many careless anglers a reason to remember those chompers! The tail fin has a white tip or spot at the bottom that is easily seen while coaxing the fish into a landing net. Typically, the length of a walleye is between fourteen and twenty-two inches but, as with any average, you can find them on either side. If you're lucky, the side you find your fish on will be closer to the Ohio walleye record of 16-pound, 3-ounce taken from Lake Erie in 1999 or the world record 25-pound, 4-ounce fish taken in 1960 from Old Hickory Lake in Tennessee. It wouldn't surprise me at all if larger fish aren't cruising under Lake Erie's surface just waiting for a lucky angler. Walleye are free spawners, which means that they don't build a nest or guard the young. They deposit their eggs in the riffle areas of tributary streams or over gravel or even larger rocks on reef areas of Lake Erie. Ohio's two largest and most well-known walleye spawning runs are the Maumee River in Lucas and Wood counties and in the Sandusky River in Fremont. The migration up these two rivers begins in mid-March and can last into the first week of May. These runs turn Perrysburg, Maumee and Fremont into a fisherman's fantasy! As mentioned, weather during this time of year is a real hit-or-miss proposition, but if you've lived in Ohio any length of time, this is old news. The run has seen seventy-degree fishing days in mid-March and snow covering the river's banks in April. Weather changes can play havoc with some fishermen's will to fight the elements but the fish; well, they're already wet! They just respond to changing water temperatures and levels. The trick is not to judge the fishing so much by the rain, snow or the chill in the air but by keeping a close eye on the water's temperature. Ideally the rivers need to come up high enough so that the fish can feel the flow (which translates into a "pull") and its temperature should hit the mid forty-degree mark, but anything from forty to fifty degrees serves both fish and fishermen well. The most popular angling method on either the Maumee or Sandusky Rivers is by wading, using a good spin-fishing rod and reel. For years the preferred lure was the lead-head jig. It did its job well but every fisherman is looking for the "silver bullet," or is that the "golden hook?" Today, easily the most popular and the most successful of the fishing lures available has been the Carolina rig. It's simply a floating jig head with a weight tied 18-24 inches in front of it. The weight takes the jig down to the bottom but allows it to trail freely above it. Plastic twister tails tip the jig with the favorite colors being fluorescent red, orange, yellow, and chartreuse. The weight used depends on the amount of flow. The general recommendation is to use a 3/8-ounce weight when the water is low — a 3/4 ounce when it's high. Thanks to the Toledo and Wood County Metro Parks, there is plenty of public access along the Maumee River. Fishing and parking are available at Buttonwood, Orleans, and Side Cut Parks. Lacking a lot of rain, anglers will continue to wade to Bluegrass Island. On the Sandusky River, concentrate angling around Fremont's Miles-Newton Bridge. The recent removal of the old Ballville Dam has allowed the walleye to continue their migration upstream to once historic spawning areas. Anglers gaining access to these areas might find some new fishing hot-spots. There're special regulations during these runs and it's important that you review the fishing digest carefully. Better not to find yourself on the hook for running afoul of the laws. The most notable rules include: Fishing is only permitted between sunrise and sunset.One single hook per line with a point to shank width not exceeding a half inch. Treble hooks are prohibited.Walleye daily limit is six.There's a fifteen-inch minimum size limit on walleye in Lake Erie and its tributaries.The other consideration is your safety. Wading can be treacherous during high water, but for the ill-prepared, even shallower walks can become perilous. Dress for water temperature, not air temperature. Even in quality waders, the river saps your body heat. Use a good wader belt and cinch it snuggly. If you fall without the belt, water will fill your waders and make regaining your feet a serious struggle … and don't wear those waders in a boat, regardless of how tempting. Another good wading option is a flotation device. There are excellent inflatable systems that are unobtrusive but can save your life in an emergency. Finally, you might also consider fishing with a partner. Shared experiences add flavor to the trip! If you prefer to go it alone, let someone know where and when you'll be fishing and your expected return time. For fishing reports, check out www.wildohio.gov as well as the excellent sites put up at www.maumeetackle.net and www.fishingbooker.com. "If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles." — Doug Larson Along the way Heather Robinson, a seasoned prosecutor with over two decades of experience tackling environmental crimes, will make her debut on the Ohio Wildlife Council during its next meeting on March 20. Appointed by Governor Mike DeWine last month, Robinson is the director of the Environmental Crimes Unit for the Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney's Office and specializes in prosecuting environmental crimes, including air, water, and land pollution as well as wildlife crimes. Over the course of her career, Robinson's notable cases include prosecuting individuals who poached reptiles and amphibians from the wild for sale in the pet trade, over-bagged sport fish for sale at restaurants, and poached white-tailed deer to sell meat and parts. Robinson was a prosecutor on a 2015 case regarding illegal interstate trafficking and commercialization of deer, which resulted in the largest restitution value for an individual defendant of a wildlife crimes case in the nation's history. In 2016, she was named the Protectionist of the Year by the League of Ohio Sportsmen, and her environmental crimes unit received the Midwest President's Award from the Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Step outside •Tuesday: Wobble Trap, 4 p.m. 25-birds per round and shoot as much as you like. $10 per round includes two draw-pots. UCOA, 6943 Marion Township 243, Findlay. •Thursday: Trap and Skeet Practice, open to the public. 4 p.m. UCOA, 6943 Marion Township 243, Findlay. •Tomorrow: 50-Bird Trap Shoot, Fostoria United Sportsmen, 1324 N US-23 Fostoria. Practice traps open at 11 a.m., program begins at 12 noon. For information, contact Danny Bryant: 567-278-1956. •Thursday: Wildlife Diversity Conference, Ohio Union, 1739 North High Street, Columbus, 43210 (OSU campus). This year marks the event's 40th anniversary. Register online at https://apps.ohiodnr.gov/wildlife/diversityregistration. •March 17: 50-Bird Trap Shoot, practice opens 11:30 a.m., program begins 12:30 p.m. UCOA, 6943 Marion Township 243, Findlay. Public welcome. Contact: Sandy Thomas, sandthm@aol.com. •March 23: Hancock County Pheasants Forever Annual Fundraiser and Banquet. Doors open 5:30 p.m. Old Mill Stream Centre, Hancock County Fairgrounds. A Heybike Explorer E-Bike, Winchester 101 Deluxe shotgun, hunting trips, firearms, artwork, and more are at the center of this conservation fundraiser. For information and tickets, visit https://hancockpf.org/events/ or email mark_plesec@goodyear.com. •April 13: Black Swamp Bucks Unlimited Annual Banquet and Fundraiser. Doors open 3 p.m., dinner at 5 p.m. The Cube, 3430 N. Main St, Findlay. Tickets and sponsorships are now available and with a multitude of prizes which include a Coleman Rubicon camper, Polaris Ranger 570 UTV, Coleman electric cart, Hawk tower tree stand, and other incredible prizes … my advice is get your tickets now. Visit: www.blackswampbucks.com or find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/blackswampbucks. Abrams is a retired wildlife officer supervisor for the state Division of Wildlife in Findlay. He can be reached at P.O. Box 413, Mount Blanchard, OH 45867-0413 or via email at jimsfieldnotes@aol.com.