SECTION C, PAGE 8 THE BLADE: TOLEDO, OHIO t FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 2004 Sandusky River is a walleye producer Following the Fish By Steve Pollick Sandusky through the third week BLADE OUTDOORS EDITOR of April, by which time the white bass spawning run should be SANDUSKY RIVER he Sandusky River at under way. [Walleye] should peak Fremont may be Ohio’s sometime this week,” the biolo- Sandusky Bay T “second river” – next to gist added, cautioning that a cold the mighty Maumee – when it front could delay things. comes to fishing the popular He agreed that the Sandusky spring walleye runs, but that can be a trophy producer. “There doesn’t mean an angler has any have always been some really less chance of hanging a limit huge females in there.” The stream r Sandusky County e Erie County of fish, or taking a trophy. trailed only Lake Erie and the iv Witness the huge female wall- Maumee River in production of R Boat y k eye taken recently by a state Fish Ohio-size walleye, 28 inch- s Ramp u Elliot St. research crew that was elec- es or longer, in 2003. d n trofishing for samples of fish to Goedde acknowledged that a S

t E be used in a long-term project to some anglers still prefer regular . St n a S te

o S assess the health and status of the jigs and tails, but he thinks that a t. n m d

separate Lake Erie and river wall- the newer floating jighead, Car- t. u

re

eye stocks. The fish went 29.75 olina-rigged, is the better choice s t S F k Fremont n y t.

inches and weighed 13.23 pounds. when it comes to legally hooking o

r R S “I’ve seen a fair number of walleye inside the mouth. Foul- F i v fish, but this one was ... wow,” said hooked fish must be released. e ifth Clyde r F Travis Hartman, a biologist on the The catch on the Sandusky Ohio Division of Wildlife/Ohio has been erratic over the years, as Hayes Ave.

State University crew. He added evidenced in a state summary g

that the fish “was extraordinar- of angler harvest since 1975. The in

ily large for its length. It looked like best year on the Sandusky was in rk a Bellevue

a huge carp. Walleye that size 1979, when an estimated 94,400 P

k r

just have a different look to them walleye were taken, this com- a Hot Spots P

from smaller walleye.” pared to a low last year of 20,705. Walleye g

Bernie Whitt, at Anglers Sup- Since 1990 the catch mainly has n u

ply in Fremont, said that the run been 20,000 to 30,000 range. o

Y

is possibly near or at peak now In comparison, the spring r e

and is stronger than he has seen walleye take on the Maumee g d in five or six years. “The fish are River since 1975 has been as high o in so heavy – I don’t know where as 250,600 in 1990, but as low as R Walleye they came from.” 36,700 in 1976. Most years the Above: The river has been high and Maumee catch has run in the muddy in recent days because of 100,000 to 200,000 range, and Walter steady rain in the watershed, but since1990 it has produced in the Robertson of A leadhead jig and plastic action-tail, left, are a stan- that only seems to have drawn the range of 130,000 to 150,000 fish, Norwalk dard bait for the spring walleye runs. main run upriver. Anglers at the including 138,454 last year. hefts a large same time have switched to heav- No good explanations account walleye from ier leadhead jigs and plastic tails for the ups and downs in the the Sandusky to get their rigs down near the bot- Sandusky’s annual runs, Goedde River. tom in the fast current. said, though that is one of the Left: Wading removed. Its removal, however, even minimized. Moreover, the The main fishing zone on goals of the sampling and testing would open 22 miles of river for absence of the dam would allow the river is between the State under way now. “It’s a completely in with a prime spawning areas for walleye gravel from upstream to replen- Street Bridge and the Hayes different spawning stock,” the walleye. and would be a big shot in the arm ish depleted areas downstream Avenue Bridge and on upstream biologist explained, compared THE BLADE/ALLAN DETRICH for the Sandusky River stock. badly in need of restoration. to the corner of Rodger Young to the Maumee River, western “We suspect that limited spawn- In other river-run news, wall- Park. Some small-boat fisher- Lake Erie reefs, or the Grand stock is falling prey to two prob- changed and increased the flow ing substrate is limiting the [San- eye action on the Maumee River men also work the area from River east of Cleveland. lems: The long-term loss of grav- pattern of the lower river. The dusky] river stock,” Goedde said. above Maumee-Perrysburg around Brady’s Island, below The electrofishing, which el spawning beds caused by the old dam, built in 1913, creates a “It would be a big positive if we remains excellent, though the State Street, on up to the area turned up that 13.23-pounder construction in 1971 of the down- reservoir pool that serves as the didn’t have the Ballville Dam.” run still is pre-peak. “They’re between the bridges. But Whitt last week, continues weekly on the town Fremont floodwall by the city’s water supply. But the pool Several years ago state fish really tearing them up,” said Gary said that the current of late has Sandusky and the other rivers, army corps of engineers, and is badly silted up, and capacity has biologist relocated some wall- Lowry at Maumee Valley Bait been too high and fast for safe along with test-netting on the the denial of upstream access been so reduced that the city is eye upstream of the dam to see and Tackle. boat-handling there. lake reefs. It is part of the research to migrating fish created by the seeking alternatives, such as an if they would spawn successful- Larry Goedde, fish manage- to fingerprint each stock so that old Ballville Dam at Fremont. upground reservoir. ly. They did. Contact Steve Pollick at: ment supervisor for Ohio Wildlife management plans eventually The floodwall eliminated a That project may be years If the dam were removed [email protected] District 2, said that good numbers can be tailored to each if needed. scenic, fish-productive oxbow away, however, and even so does carefully, the silt-loading down- or 419-724-6068 of walleye could remain in the Currently the Sandusky River in the downtown area, and not insure that the dam would be stream could be controlled or

NBA HIGH SCHOOLS

NBA Portland 24 24 18 22 – 88 Philadelphia 15 25 20 22 – 82 Wood County Classic EASTERN CONFERENCE Muscaro PORTLAND: Miles 7-13 4-4 18, Randolph 8- tonight at Elmwood Maveri cks b eat Atlantic Division 15 2-3 18, Ratliff 6-8 2-3 14, Stoudamire 3-9 0-0 9, Anderson 3-11 5-6 12, Abdur-Rahim 3-8 2-4 Continued from Page 1 W L Pct GB 8, Davis 1-2 0-0 2, Gill 2-3 0-0 5, Patterson 1-1 B L O O M D A L E — T h e x-New Jersey 43 31 .581 – 0-0 2. Totals 34-70 15-20 88. doing what is r ight,” Muscaro 23rd annual Wood County 1 PHILADELPHIA: Salmons 0-7 0-0 0, Thomas Miami 37 38 .493 6 ⁄2 4-15 6-8 14, Dalembert 5-14 1-2 11, Snow 2-5 2- said. “In this par ticular case I Cage Classic will be played New York 35 40 .467 81⁄2 2 6, McKie 6-11 0-0 13, Green 9-18 4-4 22, tonight at E lmwood High Korver 3-7 3-4 12, Buckner 0-1 0-0 0, Hamilton had documentation there was a struggling Kings Boston 34 41 .453 91⁄2 2-3 0-0 4. Totals 31-81 16-20 82. School. v i o l a t i o n o f o u r b y l a w s . Philadelphia 32 44 .421 12 Rebounds — Portland 46 (Miles 10), Philadel- The girls game will begin phia 49 (Dalembert 19). Assists — Portland 21 Whether it’s r ich, poor, thin, fat, Washington 23 52 .307 201⁄2 ASSOCIATED PRESS re g u l a t i o n g a m e. Ja s o n K i d d ( S t o u d a m i r e , A n d e r s o n 6 ) , P h i l a d e l p h i a 1 4 i n d i f f e re n t o r w h a t e v e r, t re a t at 6:30 with the boys to Orlando 19 57 .250 25 (McKie, Thomas 4). A — 17,738 (20,444). follow. DALL AS — Coach Don Nel- had 25 assists in a double-over- ever ybody the same. That was a Central Division Ti c k e t s w i l l b e $ 5 f o r s o n’s e m p h a s i s o n s m a l l e r time game in 1996. violation of our bylaws and I W L Pct GB adults and $4 for students lineups is working out nicely for “Steve is always pushing the Sacramento 30 20 31 36 – 117 acted accordingly. I was fair and y-Indiana 55 20 .733 – the Dallas Maver icks. ball up the cour t,” said Jamison, Dallas 30 37 34 26 – 127 consistent. We did what we had w i t h p r o c e e d s f r o m t h e x-Detroit 48 27 .640 7 event going to the par tici- M i c h a e l F i n l e y s c o r e d 2 9 who had 16 points. “If there’s a S A C R A M E N T O : W e b b e r 9 - 1 9 4 - 6 2 2 , to do. little opening, he’s going to get Milwaukee 37 38 .493 18 Stojakovic 8-17 3-3 21, Divac 3-9 2-4 8, Bibby “ When I came to work on [the p a t i n g s c h o o l s ’ a t h l e t i c points, had a career- New Orleans 37 38 .493 18 6-13 9-10 23, Christie 3-11 4-4 10, Songaila 6-9 high 19 assists and the Maver- it to you.” 5-6 17, Peeler 4-6 0-0 10, Wallace 3-4 0-0 6, following] Monday I had about depar tments. Cleveland 32 42 .432 221⁄2 Buford 0-0 0-0 0, Smith 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 42-88 followed a 35- 27-33 117. 300 emails, and probably close The rosters: i c k s w o n t h e i r t h i rd s t ra i g h t Toronto 30 44 .405 241⁄2 game since going back to a p o i n t , 1 8 - r e b o u n d e f f o r t DALLAS: Finley 13-22 0-0 29, Nowitzki 8-18 to 3-to-1 were really hammer ing NORTH GIRLS: Rossford — Atlanta 24 51 .320 31 10-12 27, Walker 4-9 0-1 9, Daniels 6-13 4-4 16, Leslie Lonchyna, Cortney Sim- Nash 8-13 1-1 20, Howard 0-2 0-0 0, Jamison 8- me and calling me ever y name small-ball lineup, 127-117 over Tuesday with 27 points and 10 Chicago 21 54 .280 34 m o n s . P e r r y s b u r g — A l l i s o n r e b o u n d s . M a r q u i s D a n i e l s 11 0-0 16, Bradley 1-3 0-0 2, Najera 4-5 0-0 8. you could imagine. But I also the Wester n Conference-leading WESTERN CONFERENCE Totals 52-96 15-18 127. Vallas, Sara Hughes. Northwood — and suddenly str uggling — added 16 points. Rebounds — Sacramento 48 (Webber 11), had suppor t from a lot of peo- — Jamie Flick, Amanda Agler. Midwest Division Dallas 51 (Nowitzki 10). Assists — Sacramento Sacramento K ings last night. led six K ings in 25 (Christie 9), Dallas 32 (Nash 19). A — 20,533 ple.” B o w l i n g G re e n — M c K e n z i e “ This has been good for us. double figures with 23 points. W L Pct GB (19,200). Mu s c a r o s e e s t o d a y ’s p re p Bedra, Lindsey Vannett. North Baltimore — Carly Flowers. We needed to get our confi- Chr is Webber had 22 points and x-Minnesota 52 24 .684 – WEDNESDAY s p o r t s s c e n e a s m u c h m o re 1 S O U T H G I R L S : dence back,” Peja Stojakovic 21. x-San Antonio 50 25 .667 1 ⁄2 complex, with players who are : L a k e — x-Memphis 48 26 .649 3 Megan Jacks, Kelly McPherson. said. New Orleans 11 24 17 24 – 76 bigger, stronger and possessing Eastwood — Michelle Oberdick, BLAZERS 88, 76ERS 82 x-Dallas 47 28 .627 41⁄2 T h e M a v e r i c k s m a t c h e d a Utah 20 22 19 28 – 89 a higher skill level. But other W h i t n e y H a r t m a n , C o u r t n e y PHILADELPHIA — Zach Randolph Houston 42 31 .575 81⁄2 s e a s o n h i g h f o r p o i n t s w i t h scored 18 points, and Darius Miles for ms of evolution disturb him. D o w n e y. O t s e g o — A n d r e a Utah 39 36 .520 121⁄2 NEW ORLEANS: Lynch 1-6 0-0 3, P.Brown 4- their four th straight game of at had 18 points and 10 rebounds to 6 2-2 10, Magloire 5-11 2-2 12, S.Williams 4-7 2- “ W h a t’s d i s a p p o i n t i n g f ro m Wenig. Lakota — Kelly Gosche, lead Portland. Denver 39 37 .513 13 2 11, Wesley 0-9 2-2 2, Armstrong 4-14 8-9 19, when I star ted until now is that, Erica Walters. Elmwood — Alena least 118 points, a mark they Augmon 1-8 0-0 2, West 2-5 1-2 5, Traylor 2-4 2- Hernandez. had reached just once in 26 The surging Blazers (39-36) have Pacific Division 2 6, Smith 2-5 2-2 6. Totals 25-75 21-23 76. when we talk about student- won nine of their last 12 games and W L Pct GB UTAH: Kirilenko 3-6 2-4 8, Gugliotta 1-4 0-0 2, NORTH BOYS: Rossford — games before that. Collins 1-2 0-2 2, Arroyo 5-7 0-0 12, Giricek 9-15 a t h l e t e s n o w, i n t o o m a n y A n d r e w S c h u m a c h e r, K e v i n moved into a tie with the Utah Jazz x-Sacramento 52 23 .693 – 0-0 19, Ostertag 1-4 9-14 11, Pavlovic 3-4 0-0 6, households we have dropped “ We g e t m o re o p e n l o o k s, for the eighth and final playoff spot in Bell 3-8 3-5 10, Moore 5-6 5-6 15, Lopez 2-5 0-0 Keller. Perrysburg — Ryan Konz, x-L.A. Lakers 51 23 .689 1⁄2 more oppor tunities in the open the Western Conference. 4, M.Williams 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 33-63 19-31 89. the word ‘student,’ ” Muscaro Joe Caig. Bowling Green — Portland 39 36 .520 13 Note: Rebounds — New Orleans 45 (Magloire cour t, and it’s working for us,” The Blazers appear to have found said. “In too many households, Michael Graffin, Jimmy Green. Seattle 34 41 .453 18 10), Utah 49 (Gugliotta 8). Assists — New North Baltimore — Jacob Ford, Finley said. some late-season chemistry after the Orleans 19 (S.Williams 6), Utah 26 (Lopez 10). A athletics are No. 1 rather than 1 Mark Isenberg. Northwood — S a c r a m e n t o l o s t f o r t h e high-profile trades of Bonzi Wells and Golden State 33 41 .446 18 ⁄2 — 19,911 (19,911). the educational program. That L.A. Clippers 27 49 .355 251⁄2 Mike Adams, Chad Domanski. four th time in five games. . Leaders bothers me ver y much.” Miles, acquired in a midseason Phoenix 26 49 .347 26 SOUTH BOYS: Elmwood — “ We’ve won 52 games. We’ve Another problem is reduced N i c k B u r t o n , A n d y S h a f f e r. deal, had his second straight strong x-clinched playoff spot THROUGH WEDNESDAY funding for athletics which has got to find out how we did game for the Blazers. He scored eight Scoring L a k o t a — B r y a n C h a n e y, y-clinched division Andrew Hoffman. Eastwood — t h a t , ” K i n g s c o a c h R i c k points in the fourth quarter, including G FG FT PTS AVG forced a pay-to-play situation at Adelman said. “ We have to find two baskets that both times pushed LAST NIGHT McGrady, Orl. 67 653 398 1878 28.0 many schools. C h a d A l b r i g h t , J a k e S p e c k . the lead back to four. Stojakovic, Sac. 73 604 367 1798 24.6 “I’m extremely disappointed Otsego — Brett Riffner, Chad ourselves again.” Portland 88, Philadelphia 82 Gar nett, Minn. 76 753 334 1851 24.4 Zellin, Damien Montelongo. Lake A day after the Trail Blazers hit a Dallas 127, Sacramento 117 Bryant, LAL 57 445 393 1343 23.6 that it’s coming to that,” he said. Finley made seven straight Davis, N.O. 65 539 233 1492 23.0 — Tristan Lohmeyer. field goals in one stretch. The season-high 61 percent of their shots Houston at L.A. Lakers, late Pierce, Bos. 75 567 477 1721 22.9 “ We may have 25 percent of our and Miles scored 31 points in a win Carter, Tor. 65 541 305 1469 22.6 first four came in a 10-0 r un at over Boston, Portland shot 49 per- WEDNESDAY Duncan, S.A. 62 541 313 1397 22.5 schools facing that. the end of the first half that Chicago 109, Orlando 91 Nowitzki, Dall. 69 547 326 1509 21.9 “In our effor ts to build good school athletics.” cent. Redd, Mil. 75 577 351 1625 21.7 pushed the Maver icks ahead 67- The Sixers played again without Portland 105, Boston 98 O’Neal, LAL 59 482 314 1278 21.7 citizens with the values you get Muscaro is proud of some Indiana 111, Milwaukee 78 James, Clev. 71 565 299 1487 20.9 50. Allen Iverson, out for the rest of the Anthony, Den. 76 578 369 1590 20.9 from par ticipating, we may miss impor tant positive gains he and Coming off a season-low two season with a knee injury. Willie Green New Jersey 103, Washington 99, Marbury, N.Y. 74 561 340 1542 20.8 some kids, and that’s tragic.” the OHSAA have made. points in 10 minutes Tuesday led Philadelphia with 22 points, Kenny OT Maggette, LAC 70 433 489 1426 20.4 What is the solution? Heading that list is a college T h o m a s h a d 1 4 p o i n t s a n d 1 2 O’Neal, Ind. 71 558 322 1440 20.3 against Cleveland after missing Miami 100, Atlanta 97 Randolph, Port. 73 596 279 1471 20.2 “It’s too big for me,” Muscaro s c h o l a r s h i p p r o g r a m t h a t rebounds, and Samuel Dalembert had Golden State 85, Toronto 78 Cassell, Minn. 75 568 267 1471 19.6 t h re e g a m e s w i t h a s t ra i n e d 11 points and 19 boards. Marion, Phoe. 73 546 212 1383 18.9 admitted. “I don’t know where awards around $140,000 annu- r ight calf, Finley hit 13 of 22 Detroit 108, L.A. Clippers 99 Finley, Dall. 66 470 156 1230 18.6 t h e a n s w e r l i e s . I t h i n k i t ’s ally to Ohio student-athletes, a shots in his team-high 42 min- Minnesota 90, Seattle 83 FG Percentage something legislators need to health insurance program that Also: San Antonio 107, Sacramento 89 FG FGA PCT utes. O’Neal, LAL 482 831 .580 address.” covers athletes at no cost to the RAPTORS’ GM OUT: Glen Grun- Utah 89, New Orleans 76 Blount, Bos. 302 535 .564 “It was good to get back into Dampier, G.S. 348 650 .535 The outgoing commissioner schools, and annual leadership t h e t re n c h e s w i t h t h e g u y s, ” wald was fired as the Raptors’ gen- TONIGHT Nene, Den. 300 562 .534 feels that the pr imar y objective conferences that have involved eral manager yesterday with two Atlanta at Orlando, 7 Yao, Hou. 482 908 .531 Fi n l e y s a i d . “I ’m g l a d t o b e Jamison, Dall. 429 821 .523 of high school athletics may t h o u s a n d s o f s t u d e n t s a n d weeks left in a second straight losing Toronto at Indiana, 7:30 back.” season in which he clashed with the Boozer, Clev. 417 803 .519 often be getting lost in the blind adults over the past seven years. Golden State at Boston, 7:30 Miller, Sac. 351 691 .508 His 13-foot fadeaway jumper coach. Brand, LAC 440 878 .501 ambition of individual pursuits. As for his legacy, how would Phoenix at Memphis, 8 with 2:44 left star ted the first- Grunwald, Toronto’s GM for seven Gar nett, Minn. 753 1513 .498 “ We have to let parents know, Muscaro like to be remembered Miami at Detroit, 8 half-ending spur t. His follow-up seasons, was replaced on an interim Rebounds if we have someone who goes for his OHSAA ser vice? Washington at Minnesota, 8 G OFF DEF TOT AVG basis by Jack McCloskey, a former “ That I was a guy that cared slam dunk of Jamison’s missed New York at New Jersey, 8 Gar nett, Minn. 76 225 828 1053 13.9 on to college on [an athletic] general manager of the Detroit Pis- B. Wallace, Det. 74 305 638 943 12.7 about young people,” he said. layup came with 2.3 seconds tons. Grunwald has been with the L.A. Clippers at Chicago, 8:30 Duncan, S.A. 62 205 567 772 12.5 scholarship, that’s great,” Mus- left. Dampier, G.S. 74 344 543 887 12.0 caro said. “But that’s not why “Someone who, in his decisions, Raptors since their inception in 1994. Cleveland at Milwaukee, 8:30 Boozer, Clev. 67 212 562 774 11.6 Sacramento scored the first “I think I can help in this situation,” San Antonio at Utah, 9 Randolph, Port. 73 222 552 774 10.6 [school spor ts] exist. We exist did the r ight thing. Someone Miller, Sac. 66 175 510 685 10.4 w h o, i n h i s l i f e, w a s a ro l e five points of the second half McCloskey said. “There has been Houston at Denver, 9 Thomas, Phil. 67 239 444 683 10.2 f o r t h e v a l u e s l e a r n e d f r o m before Finley scored. Then Fin- great fan support; this team has an L.A. Lakers at Seattle, 10:30 Magloire, N.O. 75 239 523 762 10.2 playing.” model that stood for the r ight opportunity to get better. O’Neal, Ind. 71 183 534 717 10.1 ley’s 3-pointer gave Dallas its TOMORROW “Less than one percent of the things. The bottom line, if you first 20-point lead, 74-54. “We’ve got to make the draft picks, Assists seniors go on to play in Division think of me as a person of we’ve got to make the right choices New York at Philadelphia, 7 G AST AVG Nash had 20 points to go Golden State at Cleveland, 7:30 Kidd, N.J. 62 587 9.5 I, and about two or three per- ethics and integr ity.” on a new general manager.” Marbury, N.Y. 74 663 9.0 along with his 19 assists, the “We didn’t make the strides that Miami at Chicago, 8:30 Nash, Dall. 70 601 8.6 cent continue playing at all in Contact Steve Junga at: most in the NBA this season Davis, N.O. 65 492 7.6 college. We’re losing focus on [email protected] we thought we would,” team presi- Phoenix at Dallas, 8:30 Cassell, Minn. 75 552 7.4 and a franchise record for a dent Richard Peddie said. New Orleans at Portland, 10 Snow, Phil. 75 520 6.9 what our main goal is in high or 419-724-6461.