+ + For inland fi shing info, call Ohio Wildlife For a fi sh photo- District 2, 419-424-5000. gallery, visit the Web, Follow the Fish www.ohio.dnr.com. THE BLADE, TOLEDO, OHIO y FRIDAY, MAY 26, 2006 SECTION C, PAGE 3 Lake Erie walleye switching to nightcrawler diet As the weather has emerged Middle Sister from the recent cool, wet spell Island Canada Unite East Sister and near summerlike conditions Island are setting up, western Lake Erie’s d States Shipping Channel Lake Erie Hen Island walleyes are switching diets from Chick Island Little Chick Island minnows to nightcrawlers. West Sister Northwest Big Chick Island It is a change that typically “Gravel Pit” Island reef occurs much sooner, but ideal West North Bass Pelee weather and fi shing conditions reef Island Island for much of the spring appear to Toledo Middle Bass Water Intake Sugar Island Island have kept walleyes focused on Niagra Rattlesnake Island hairjigs and minnows. But as of reef Ballast Island Gull STEVE POLLICK South Bass Island this week, and presumably for Green Island Island reef Starve Island the summer, the fi sh are onto Crib Mouse OUTDOORS reef Starve various nightcrawler rigs. Island Island reef reef Kelleys For casters, the popular choice 10-inch fi sh around the Intake, Davis Besse Mouse Island West Island is the mayfl y rig, a hybrid of the and eight to nine-inchers around Harbor Catawba reef classic Lake Erie weight-forward Toledo Harbor Light. Island spinner and the worm harness. Some anglers trying Maumee Middle Lakeside Harbor reef Mayfl y rigs, many of them Bay, however, are fi nding the wa- reef homemade and going by the ter too clear — and loaded with name Weapon, consist of noth- white perch and sheepshead. Port Clinton ing more than a barrel sinker on Outside the bay, the area a length of stout leader material, marked as Gravel Pit on charts, a spinner blade, and a hook. between the Ship Channel and of white bass being taken in the These are single-hook affairs West Sister Island, has been a Sandusky River from the rock and shorter than the multi-hook hot zone for walleye, according Inland fi shing banks below downtown around worm harnesses, which also em- to Rick Ferguson at Al Szuch t Angler Supply, Fremont, the old sugar plant all the way to ploy a spinner but which often Live Bait on Corduroy Road. Best 419-332-6071. are used with a lead-and-wire spinner colors, on mayfl y rigs Ballville Dam. Many large fem- t Maumee Tackle, “bottom bouncer.” or harnesses, have been gold or male fi sh of 14 to 16 inches are Maumee, 419-893-3474. t Mayfl y rigs are meant to be copper. being taken. River Lures, Grand cast and “swept” upward, mim- Rick Catley, at Rickard’s Bait on On the Maumee River, white Rapids, 419-832-0989. icking an emerging mayfl y, one bass are being taken from Perrys- t Ohio Wildlife District 2, Laura Jones, who works on the staff of the Ohio Department of Catawba Island, said that the area Findlay, 419-424-5000. of the lake’s prime fi sh foods. around D-Can, off Camp Perry burg’s Maple Street launch up to Natural Resources, displays a hefty Lake Erie walleye. Harnesses are meant to be Firing Zone, and around Crib and Jerome Road and beyond. Mike Western Lake Erie dragged on the bottom. Niagara reefs have been produc- Swartz at Maumee Tackle said t Edgewater Bait and grounds of the Maumee River, 7461. Shipping varies from $4 Only Dave Ray, at Edgewater tive among anglers checking in at the biggest fi sh weighed in the Tackle, Point Place, page 93, Lake Erie fi shing sites to $7.50. Bait on 131st Street in Point his shop. Others have found fi sh contest there this week so far is 419-727-8380. from Toledo to Ashtabula, and w Place, reported any customers northwest of Kelleys Island along 2.28 pounds and fi sh are averag- t Zunk’s Bait, Bono, so on. The second annual Maumee still using jigs and minnows. the Canadian line. ing 10 to 14 inches. 419-836- 3713. The guides also are fi lled River fi shing litter cleanup, t Rickard’s Bait, Catawba These anglers are fi shing Trollers also are doing well Everything is working, from with such details as Ohio Divi- called Get the Lead Out, is re- minnows under bobbers or tight- Island, 419-734-2496. mornings between Turtle Island pulling worm harnesses, Jet or t sion of Wildlife stocking and scheduled for Saturday, June and Toledo Harbor Light and lined on the botton to in-line Ohio Lake Erie fi shing sampling data, general lake Dipsy Divers and spoons, or hotline, 1-888-HOOKFISH. 3, 9 a.m. to noon. Meet at the fi nding fi sh with purple hair-jigs crankbaits. spinners and jigs and tails. characteristics, and fi shing tips w Riverview Area at Side Cut Me- and minnows. “I can’t believe On the rivers, the white bass from local guides, anglers, bait- tropark. At least 200 volunteers this spring,” said Ray of the pro- bonanza continues in force and Revised Ohio fi shing lakes fi shing hot-spots for hundreds of shops, and state fi sheries staff. are needed to collect trash, longed minnow binge by wall- water levels return to normal, guides have been released by inland lakes and impoundments, Priced at $21.95 each, the spent fi shing line, and fi shing eyes. Afternoon anglers, however, wading becomes possible, and Sportsman’s Connection, of Su- the Ohio River system, Lake Erie, guides are available at such jigs snagged in rocks along the retails as Bass Pro Shops, Gan- found better results dragging clarity improves. perior, Wis. and many streams. banks. To sign up call Maumee Two guides, Northern Ohio der Mountain stores, Wal-Mart worm harnesses between the “They’re just really turning on Want to know which of the Tackle, 419-893-3474. Toledo Ship Channel and Toledo right now,” said Bernie Whitt at and Southern Ohio, are available, popular Fostoria Reservoirs are and other local outlets. They Water Intake in 16 feet of water. Angler Supply in Fremont. “It’s each 240 pages in an 8½-by- which, and where? It’s right on also can be ordered on-line at Contact Steve Pollick at: Edgewater also reports some awesome.” He was enthusing 11 format, spiral-bound. They pages 116 and 117, with details. www.sportsmansconnection [email protected] yellow perch anglers taking some about the quantities and quality contain color contour maps and Same goes for the favored fi shing .com, or by calling 1-800-777- or 419-724-6068. HIGH SCHOOLS BASEBALL STANDINGS, STATISTICS BG girls in state 3200; 1 State experience likely big St. Francis boys qualify Middaugh, Ross 69 /3 82 47 34 57 4 7 3.43 City League 1 NWOAL Almester, Ross 20 /3 18 21 10 13 1 1 3.44 AMHERST, Ohio — The Bowl- League Overall Not reporting: Northview League Overall St. Francis 9-2 23-6 Patrick Henry 7-1 27-2 ing Green girls 3200-meter relay Start 9-2 22-6 Suburban Lakes League lift for St. John’s net team Clay 8-3 20-6 Evergreen 6-2 20-5 squad took fi rst place with a Central Catholic 8-3 14-12 Delta 5-3 13-13 League Overall Archbold NA NA time of 9:27.53 Wednesday night St. John’s 8-4 16-10 Genoa 13-1 24-3 By JOHN WAGNER of Cincinnati Hills Christian Bowsher 7-4 15-11 Bryan NA NA in the Division I regional meet at Elmwood 12-2 20-8 BLADE SPORTS WRITER Whitmer 7-4 14-10 Liberty Center NA NA Academy and runner-up Chris Lake 7-7 19-10 Amherst Steele High School, and Libbey 2-9 5-13 Montpelier NA NA Starting today several of the Herrlinger of Cincinnati Country Rogers NA NA Woodmore 6-6 14-10 the St. Francis de Sales 3200 re- Waite NA NA Gibsonburg 3-11 8-17 Swanton NA NA top boys tennis players in this Day. Scott NA NA Otsego 2-12 8-19 Wauseon NA NA area will experience the state And while three local com- lay squad also qualifi ed for next Woodward NA NA Lakota 1-13 5-20 HITTING week’s state meet in Columbus Eastwood NA 18-8 tournament. petitors — seniors Ben Bischoff HITTING AB H R HR RBI SB AVG by placing second (7:49.48) in AB H R HR RBI SB AVG Krauss, PH 93 53 55 8 44 13 .570 The event begins today at of Napoleon, Abi Pai of Mau- Waxler, Lib 40 24 17 2 16 17 .600 HITTING the boys relay fi nal. The top four Moutlon, Start 81 42 33 0 32 7 .519 AB H R HR RBI SB AVG Leonard, PH 90 42 39 0 25 8 .467 Ohio State’s Stickney Tennis mee Valley and Andy Redd of Martens, Lib 46 22 5 0 9 8 .478 Hammer, Elm 90 46 35 4 17 7 .511 Wade, Ever 82 34 25 7 35 6 .415 Center, beginning with Division Archbold — are making their fi nishers (individuals or relay Hartwig, SJ 65 31 21 1 20 6 .477 Clayton, Gen 68 31 18 0 17 12 .456 Reese, PH 95 39 25 0 42 3 .411 teams) in regional competition Lehman, CC 81 38 35 0 13 17 .469 McNalley, Gen 86 39 28 3 23 18 .453 Haas, PH 89 36 32 1 28 4 .404 II singles at 9 a.m.