Steve
04-04-2005, 08:49 PM
It may not seem like it to many of you quite yet, but after another lengthy and harsh northeast Ohio winter another glorious season of open-water angling is all but upon us.To be sure, a significant number of the hardcore have been much in evidence for some weeks now in their pursuit of steelhead and northern pike, the latter having concluded their spawn only recently.To remind and inform newer readers, our annual pre-season forecast is based upon-in no particular order of importance-recent reported success rates, past histories and trends,ODNR stocking statistics, and personal and subjective experience.
Here's hoping that this year's preview will again help a significant number of you narrow your choices, resulting in less time listening and considering hearsay and outdated rumors and more time catching fish:
BLUEGILL(including redear,sunfish,pumpkinseed, and warmouth)
5.Portage Lakes-particularly West Reservoir and Mud Lake.Again, not the cleanest water around, but the panfish at West get little attention and the water quality at Mud provides a ratings boost.
4.Walborn Reservoir-oft-overlooked fishery near the Portage/Stark county border offers many panfish, if not always real big ones.Besides, you'll likely find little competition.
3.LaDue Reservoir-after a couple of relative down years, things seem likely to bust loose once again.Backbay,weedy, bottlenecks with depth always potential bonanza here.
2.Punderson Reservoir-colder, deep-water oriented 'gills here are a fish-eaters treat.To the fortunate few unintimidated by this fisherie's deeper water haunts, this woefully underfished locale also features relatively pristine waters born out by the bonus trout available throughout the summer.
1.MOGADORE RESERVOIR-redear bonanza continues unabated. TackleTip:electric-only stipulation scares off many from pursuing underfished far westend mini-bays.How hard is it to buy or borrow another battery to try areas where many panfish are dying of old age?
CATFISH
5.Walborn-you heard it here.
4.Lake Erie-breakwall summer-night bite can be great fun from Put-In-Bay to Conneaut.Wouldn't advise culinary pursuits as their sores are regularly larger than the entire fish at some inland fisheries but still great fun.
3.Lake Milton-big year last year caught many by surprise.
2.Cuyahoga River- suffers in rating by virtue of access limitations but, on the other hand, that's what helps make the fishing so good.Edison Reservoir depths the focal point.
1.MOSQUITO RESERVOIR-not a unanimous choice;boaters rarely pursue them and breakwall sub-culture can be trying.Big flatheads and channels much in evidence in shockingly shallow waters, an ongoing mystery.Tackle Tip: if annoyed by plethora of bullhead bites,ditch the worms and switch to minnows or shiners on a floating jighead.Goodbye bullheads, hello channel cats.
CRAPPIE
5.Berlin Reservoir-was last season's upswing indicative of a welcome trend back to the glory days or just a blip on the screen?
4.Cuyahoga-underfished,good-sized,and almost EVERYWHERE, unlike other river species that tend to thrive disproportionately the closer you get to the deeper waters of the Cuyahoga Falls -to- Akron stretch.
3.Mogadore-easy access a plus as crappie can be readily found from the boathouse pier to the truly supreme crappie trench along the island west of Rt.43.
2.West Branch Reservoir-this water's best year in more than a decade(easily)for walleye and pike largely overshadowed the similarly improved crappie bite.
1.MOSQUITO-the fact that the lake again takes top honors after a down year in this category reflects just how productive its been here, and for how long.Tackle Tip:too many anglers wedded to the area off the cemetary stay at the same inconsistent depth year 'round.Be versatile enough to move deeper when usuallr reliable shallower-water bite abates.
LARGEMOUTH(BASS)
5.Cuyahoga River-oncoming smallie population not totally uncontested yet.Cloudy skies=buzzbaits along the cover.Hang on.
4.Nimisila Reservoir-some true lunkers linger here.Bring that extra trolling battery to plumb underfished north end.
3.Portage Lakes-once uncontested champ in this category continues steady, if not precipitous, decline.
2.Lake Milton-who would have thought just a few years ago that this lake could so soon be reasonably classed as underfished, as more and more tourney circuits get scared off by 15'' limit?
1.MOGADORE-another under-reported banner year as primo catches here not reflected in publicized tournament results.Good.Tackle Tip:when fishing the edge of those notorious Mogadore weedlines with your buzzer, have a tube rigged and handy for following up short-strikes quickly.
NORTHERN PIKE
5.Nimisila-not many big ones left at all, but a population remains in the weedy bays.
4.Mosquito-not in evidence to the extent they were only a decade ago.Still some biggies show up in shock studies, though.
3.LaDue-past three years have shown a river-supplied upswing in this area.Still not primo, but interesting, to say the least.
2.West Branch-last year's portending run started just about -now...
1.CUYAHOGA-not exactly a tough choice.Last year was particularly productive, as only hinted at in the TV episode we filmed there.Tackle Tip:to have a realistic shot at the truly bigger fish hereabouts:a)seek out the deeper waters where bigger baitfish naturally thrive,b)grow up and get a quality baitcasting outfit,like for muskie,who grow bigger but don't fight as much, c)forego membership in the shiner-soakers club and get out and both cover more water and use bait that angers and attracts the bigger fish-loud,flashy artificials-not shiners and minnows which only serve to gut-hook and regularly harm the smaller pike that are most attracted to them, and cover only the water where they sit, and)exchange action-robbing steel leaders for braided line.
MUSKIE
5.Portage Lakes-hybrid "Tiger-Muskie" sub-species just about played-out.
4.Berlin-locals insist some true giants linger here.Frankly,I'm still waiting for the pictures.
3.Ohio River-longer drive counts against ranking for Cumberland Pool where more than a couple muskies disrupted bass tournaments.
2.Lake Milton-not just the river,either.Fall evidenced a number of muskies hooked as far down as atop the dam.
1.WEST BRANCH-no longer a unanimous choice.2004 certainly a down year, even as the lake enjoyed a relative boom among other species.Tackle Tip:an increasing number of muskie anglers are employing those large soft plastic whole- fish baits popular among Southern California big bass pursuers.
PERCH(YELLOW)
5.Cuyahoga River-essentially Edison Reservoir.Deep-water oriented as elsewhere,pier a popular spot.
4.Portage Lakes-best concentration at Turkeyfoot, which is the good and bad news.
3.LaDue-school seems to feature better quality fish here as time goes by.We'll see if that trend continues...
2.Mogadore-more than a few contacts chose this option to Erie, considering expense and travel factors.
1.LAKE ERIE-no denying another banner year at the big lake.Tackle Tip:always back along a pack of red or dug worms as an insurance policy.Don't fall for that old wives tale that perch here only hit emerald shiners-a fallacy propigated largely by those that sell them.Many a time i've seen both regular fathead minnows,worms,and even 1&2'' plastic grubs stay right up with the more expensive and troublesome emeralds, and more than once totally outperform them.Try an example of each on a spreader and see if I'm wrong.
SMALLMOUTH(BASS)
5.LaDue-less in evidence last year here, after about a four-year ascendancy.Should be a revealing season .Concentrate with tubes around the dam.
4.Berlin-weird fall weather seemed to pre-empt the autumn drop-offs bite here.
3.Milton-15'' limit makes impact on smallie count even less damaging than for bigmouth.
2.Cuyahoga-ready biters last year shallow and deep,especially when found deep.A blast wherever found.
1.LAKE ERIE-go east, young man.Western Basin survivors are bigger and rarer than in recent memory as unthinking charters and tournaments continue to take a terrible toll.Pray the lmits work.Tackle-Tip:when you see baitfish busting the surface,don't assume it's white bass.Throw a buzzbait well past the activity and retrieve it atop the flurry.Sometimes it's a gang of smallies, particularly in the evening or on overcast days.The sport doesn't get much better.
TROUT
5.Cuyahoga-otherwise still unsavory stretch from Cascade Valley to Cleveland yeilds an increasing influx of steelies, finally acknowledged by latest ODNR reports.
4.Lake Hodgson-Friday's opener only a hint of what goes on here the rest of the year.Fall especially overlooked.
3.Silver Creek-nifty little spot on the Norton/Barberton border actually overstocked.
2.Punderson-arguably the most underfished trout hotspot in the entire state.
1.LAKE ERIE(AND TRIBUTARIES)-actually, fishing the lake proper has out-produced the stream fishing of late, though purists somewhat understandably bemoan both the trend and the methodology.Tackle Tip:don't forget good quality ball-bearing swivels whether trolling or flinging your K.O.Wobblers and Little Cleos.The action of the spoons is enhanced and the line twist prevented can be decisive.
WALLEYE
5.Mosquito-The decline in numbers continues, and the reservoir's crappie are often bigger.
4.Hodgson-no longer a big secret, depths off pumphouse have given up some actual trophies.
3.Berlin- now a solid step behind West Branch, both in numbers and average size.
2.West Branch-will be interesting to see if Keith McKee's absense will have locals struggling again for locations.No question it was a fine year.
1.LAKE ERIE -once silly notion of even thinking of ranking an inland lake ahead of Erie no longer an immediate rationale for rehab placement.Tackle Tip: small boaters in particular, especially on calmer days, should think more often of using their electric to troll.It moves better than you think and is infinetely less likely to spook fish.You don't wan t to go to fast in the cooler spring water anyway.
Random Casts:the area's turkey check-in will be Army/Navy Discount supplies in Ravenna...what a great time we had at Ravenna Marine's Open House earlier this month.Thanks to Bill Huber and the staff there for making everyone feel so welcome.
*
Jack Kiser is the host of PBS TV's "Buckeye Angler" and Ohio Editor of "Midwest Outdoors" magazine.You may reach him at the Record-Courier or access his website at buckeyeangler.com .
Al, please send back after editing/thanks for turkey check-in info,though they left no phone # for contact.Getting any sleep?
jk
Here's hoping that this year's preview will again help a significant number of you narrow your choices, resulting in less time listening and considering hearsay and outdated rumors and more time catching fish:
BLUEGILL(including redear,sunfish,pumpkinseed, and warmouth)
5.Portage Lakes-particularly West Reservoir and Mud Lake.Again, not the cleanest water around, but the panfish at West get little attention and the water quality at Mud provides a ratings boost.
4.Walborn Reservoir-oft-overlooked fishery near the Portage/Stark county border offers many panfish, if not always real big ones.Besides, you'll likely find little competition.
3.LaDue Reservoir-after a couple of relative down years, things seem likely to bust loose once again.Backbay,weedy, bottlenecks with depth always potential bonanza here.
2.Punderson Reservoir-colder, deep-water oriented 'gills here are a fish-eaters treat.To the fortunate few unintimidated by this fisherie's deeper water haunts, this woefully underfished locale also features relatively pristine waters born out by the bonus trout available throughout the summer.
1.MOGADORE RESERVOIR-redear bonanza continues unabated. TackleTip:electric-only stipulation scares off many from pursuing underfished far westend mini-bays.How hard is it to buy or borrow another battery to try areas where many panfish are dying of old age?
CATFISH
5.Walborn-you heard it here.
4.Lake Erie-breakwall summer-night bite can be great fun from Put-In-Bay to Conneaut.Wouldn't advise culinary pursuits as their sores are regularly larger than the entire fish at some inland fisheries but still great fun.
3.Lake Milton-big year last year caught many by surprise.
2.Cuyahoga River- suffers in rating by virtue of access limitations but, on the other hand, that's what helps make the fishing so good.Edison Reservoir depths the focal point.
1.MOSQUITO RESERVOIR-not a unanimous choice;boaters rarely pursue them and breakwall sub-culture can be trying.Big flatheads and channels much in evidence in shockingly shallow waters, an ongoing mystery.Tackle Tip: if annoyed by plethora of bullhead bites,ditch the worms and switch to minnows or shiners on a floating jighead.Goodbye bullheads, hello channel cats.
CRAPPIE
5.Berlin Reservoir-was last season's upswing indicative of a welcome trend back to the glory days or just a blip on the screen?
4.Cuyahoga-underfished,good-sized,and almost EVERYWHERE, unlike other river species that tend to thrive disproportionately the closer you get to the deeper waters of the Cuyahoga Falls -to- Akron stretch.
3.Mogadore-easy access a plus as crappie can be readily found from the boathouse pier to the truly supreme crappie trench along the island west of Rt.43.
2.West Branch Reservoir-this water's best year in more than a decade(easily)for walleye and pike largely overshadowed the similarly improved crappie bite.
1.MOSQUITO-the fact that the lake again takes top honors after a down year in this category reflects just how productive its been here, and for how long.Tackle Tip:too many anglers wedded to the area off the cemetary stay at the same inconsistent depth year 'round.Be versatile enough to move deeper when usuallr reliable shallower-water bite abates.
LARGEMOUTH(BASS)
5.Cuyahoga River-oncoming smallie population not totally uncontested yet.Cloudy skies=buzzbaits along the cover.Hang on.
4.Nimisila Reservoir-some true lunkers linger here.Bring that extra trolling battery to plumb underfished north end.
3.Portage Lakes-once uncontested champ in this category continues steady, if not precipitous, decline.
2.Lake Milton-who would have thought just a few years ago that this lake could so soon be reasonably classed as underfished, as more and more tourney circuits get scared off by 15'' limit?
1.MOGADORE-another under-reported banner year as primo catches here not reflected in publicized tournament results.Good.Tackle Tip:when fishing the edge of those notorious Mogadore weedlines with your buzzer, have a tube rigged and handy for following up short-strikes quickly.
NORTHERN PIKE
5.Nimisila-not many big ones left at all, but a population remains in the weedy bays.
4.Mosquito-not in evidence to the extent they were only a decade ago.Still some biggies show up in shock studies, though.
3.LaDue-past three years have shown a river-supplied upswing in this area.Still not primo, but interesting, to say the least.
2.West Branch-last year's portending run started just about -now...
1.CUYAHOGA-not exactly a tough choice.Last year was particularly productive, as only hinted at in the TV episode we filmed there.Tackle Tip:to have a realistic shot at the truly bigger fish hereabouts:a)seek out the deeper waters where bigger baitfish naturally thrive,b)grow up and get a quality baitcasting outfit,like for muskie,who grow bigger but don't fight as much, c)forego membership in the shiner-soakers club and get out and both cover more water and use bait that angers and attracts the bigger fish-loud,flashy artificials-not shiners and minnows which only serve to gut-hook and regularly harm the smaller pike that are most attracted to them, and cover only the water where they sit, and)exchange action-robbing steel leaders for braided line.
MUSKIE
5.Portage Lakes-hybrid "Tiger-Muskie" sub-species just about played-out.
4.Berlin-locals insist some true giants linger here.Frankly,I'm still waiting for the pictures.
3.Ohio River-longer drive counts against ranking for Cumberland Pool where more than a couple muskies disrupted bass tournaments.
2.Lake Milton-not just the river,either.Fall evidenced a number of muskies hooked as far down as atop the dam.
1.WEST BRANCH-no longer a unanimous choice.2004 certainly a down year, even as the lake enjoyed a relative boom among other species.Tackle Tip:an increasing number of muskie anglers are employing those large soft plastic whole- fish baits popular among Southern California big bass pursuers.
PERCH(YELLOW)
5.Cuyahoga River-essentially Edison Reservoir.Deep-water oriented as elsewhere,pier a popular spot.
4.Portage Lakes-best concentration at Turkeyfoot, which is the good and bad news.
3.LaDue-school seems to feature better quality fish here as time goes by.We'll see if that trend continues...
2.Mogadore-more than a few contacts chose this option to Erie, considering expense and travel factors.
1.LAKE ERIE-no denying another banner year at the big lake.Tackle Tip:always back along a pack of red or dug worms as an insurance policy.Don't fall for that old wives tale that perch here only hit emerald shiners-a fallacy propigated largely by those that sell them.Many a time i've seen both regular fathead minnows,worms,and even 1&2'' plastic grubs stay right up with the more expensive and troublesome emeralds, and more than once totally outperform them.Try an example of each on a spreader and see if I'm wrong.
SMALLMOUTH(BASS)
5.LaDue-less in evidence last year here, after about a four-year ascendancy.Should be a revealing season .Concentrate with tubes around the dam.
4.Berlin-weird fall weather seemed to pre-empt the autumn drop-offs bite here.
3.Milton-15'' limit makes impact on smallie count even less damaging than for bigmouth.
2.Cuyahoga-ready biters last year shallow and deep,especially when found deep.A blast wherever found.
1.LAKE ERIE-go east, young man.Western Basin survivors are bigger and rarer than in recent memory as unthinking charters and tournaments continue to take a terrible toll.Pray the lmits work.Tackle-Tip:when you see baitfish busting the surface,don't assume it's white bass.Throw a buzzbait well past the activity and retrieve it atop the flurry.Sometimes it's a gang of smallies, particularly in the evening or on overcast days.The sport doesn't get much better.
TROUT
5.Cuyahoga-otherwise still unsavory stretch from Cascade Valley to Cleveland yeilds an increasing influx of steelies, finally acknowledged by latest ODNR reports.
4.Lake Hodgson-Friday's opener only a hint of what goes on here the rest of the year.Fall especially overlooked.
3.Silver Creek-nifty little spot on the Norton/Barberton border actually overstocked.
2.Punderson-arguably the most underfished trout hotspot in the entire state.
1.LAKE ERIE(AND TRIBUTARIES)-actually, fishing the lake proper has out-produced the stream fishing of late, though purists somewhat understandably bemoan both the trend and the methodology.Tackle Tip:don't forget good quality ball-bearing swivels whether trolling or flinging your K.O.Wobblers and Little Cleos.The action of the spoons is enhanced and the line twist prevented can be decisive.
WALLEYE
5.Mosquito-The decline in numbers continues, and the reservoir's crappie are often bigger.
4.Hodgson-no longer a big secret, depths off pumphouse have given up some actual trophies.
3.Berlin- now a solid step behind West Branch, both in numbers and average size.
2.West Branch-will be interesting to see if Keith McKee's absense will have locals struggling again for locations.No question it was a fine year.
1.LAKE ERIE -once silly notion of even thinking of ranking an inland lake ahead of Erie no longer an immediate rationale for rehab placement.Tackle Tip: small boaters in particular, especially on calmer days, should think more often of using their electric to troll.It moves better than you think and is infinetely less likely to spook fish.You don't wan t to go to fast in the cooler spring water anyway.
Random Casts:the area's turkey check-in will be Army/Navy Discount supplies in Ravenna...what a great time we had at Ravenna Marine's Open House earlier this month.Thanks to Bill Huber and the staff there for making everyone feel so welcome.
*
Jack Kiser is the host of PBS TV's "Buckeye Angler" and Ohio Editor of "Midwest Outdoors" magazine.You may reach him at the Record-Courier or access his website at buckeyeangler.com .
Al, please send back after editing/thanks for turkey check-in info,though they left no phone # for contact.Getting any sleep?
jk