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11-20-2005, 01:22 PM
D'ARCY'S DESTINATIONS
Trophy trout a lure at Punderson Lake
Sunday, November 20, 2005
D'Arcy Egan
Plain Dealer Columnist
What
Punderson Lake in Geauga County is not very big, but the rainbow trout to be released there on Tuesday afternoon are among the largest a Buckeye angler will have the chance to catch in Ohio waters throughout the year.
The fish
About 500 of the trophy rainbow trout will arrive from the London State Fish Hatchery, which raises foot-long rainbow trout for release in Ohio lakes and streams. Every year the hatchery sends its excess brood stock to Punderson Lake to provide a premier fishing experience. The trout range in size from 16 to 28 inches and weigh from two to 10 pounds.
Cool is good
Punderson Lake is a cool place to fish all year round, and that includes the water temperature at the 150-acre lake. Trout need cool water to survive and the small natural lake is one of the few in Ohio where trout can comfortably live all year.
Get there
Punderson Lake is the jewel of 846-acre Punderson State Park. It is 25 miles east of Cleveland and just east of Newbury on Rt. 87. For information call the park office, 440-564-2279.
Inside scoop
The trout will be released at the Punderson Campground this year. The stockings had been made at Punderson Marina in past years, but a switch was made after high concentrations of algae caused low oxygen levels in the water in the marina area.
Top tactics
Hatchery trout can be a little finicky, but Punderson Lake regular Ray Halter of The Rodmaker's Shoppe suspends a tiny ice jig tipped with a maggot under a float or baits his hook with Berkley Powerbait in the hot colors of chartreuse and orange. Small spinners, including the Mepps and Rooster Tail variety, and spoons such as the Little Cleo and KO Wobbler are also good bets. Halter's big tip
for boat anglers is to fish as if you were dunking a trout bait through a hole in the ice. Crappies and bluegills can also be caught and a few catfish are still being pulled from the lake bottom.
The rules
The trout limit at Punderson Lake is five per day. Boats are allowed, but are limited to electric motors.
Family fun
Punderson is one of Ohio's premier winter sports parks with a heated winter sports chalet. The park has a lighted sledding hill, snowmobile trails and cross-country skiing trails.
D'Arcy Egan covers the outdoors for The Plain Dealer
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
degan@plaind.com, 216-999-6136
http://www.cleveland.com/outdoors/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/1132482612274380.xml&coll=2
Trophy trout a lure at Punderson Lake
Sunday, November 20, 2005
D'Arcy Egan
Plain Dealer Columnist
What
Punderson Lake in Geauga County is not very big, but the rainbow trout to be released there on Tuesday afternoon are among the largest a Buckeye angler will have the chance to catch in Ohio waters throughout the year.
The fish
About 500 of the trophy rainbow trout will arrive from the London State Fish Hatchery, which raises foot-long rainbow trout for release in Ohio lakes and streams. Every year the hatchery sends its excess brood stock to Punderson Lake to provide a premier fishing experience. The trout range in size from 16 to 28 inches and weigh from two to 10 pounds.
Cool is good
Punderson Lake is a cool place to fish all year round, and that includes the water temperature at the 150-acre lake. Trout need cool water to survive and the small natural lake is one of the few in Ohio where trout can comfortably live all year.
Get there
Punderson Lake is the jewel of 846-acre Punderson State Park. It is 25 miles east of Cleveland and just east of Newbury on Rt. 87. For information call the park office, 440-564-2279.
Inside scoop
The trout will be released at the Punderson Campground this year. The stockings had been made at Punderson Marina in past years, but a switch was made after high concentrations of algae caused low oxygen levels in the water in the marina area.
Top tactics
Hatchery trout can be a little finicky, but Punderson Lake regular Ray Halter of The Rodmaker's Shoppe suspends a tiny ice jig tipped with a maggot under a float or baits his hook with Berkley Powerbait in the hot colors of chartreuse and orange. Small spinners, including the Mepps and Rooster Tail variety, and spoons such as the Little Cleo and KO Wobbler are also good bets. Halter's big tip
for boat anglers is to fish as if you were dunking a trout bait through a hole in the ice. Crappies and bluegills can also be caught and a few catfish are still being pulled from the lake bottom.
The rules
The trout limit at Punderson Lake is five per day. Boats are allowed, but are limited to electric motors.
Family fun
Punderson is one of Ohio's premier winter sports parks with a heated winter sports chalet. The park has a lighted sledding hill, snowmobile trails and cross-country skiing trails.
D'Arcy Egan covers the outdoors for The Plain Dealer
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
degan@plaind.com, 216-999-6136
http://www.cleveland.com/outdoors/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/1132482612274380.xml&coll=2