ODNR Fishing Report 3/13/2006: OH

Article Posted: March 13, 206

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**Remember that 2006 Ohio fishing licenses will be required after February 28. The walleye daily bag limit will be 4 fish from March 1 through April 30. A 15" minimum size limit for walleye remains in effect for the entire season. Starting March 1 the Lake Erie daily bag limit for yellow perch increases to 40 fish. Lake Erie black bass (smallmouth and largemouth bass) are closed to possession (catch and release only) May 1 through June 23. The daily bag limit for black bass on Lake Erie is 5 before May 1 and after June 23. The minimum size limit for black bass on Lake Erie is 14". See the 2006 regulations brochure for specific hook restrictions and closed areas pertaining to tributary and bay fishing during the walleye runs in March and April.**

Over the past weekend (3/11-12) walleye were caught around Catawba Island and nearshore from Turtle Creek to Wild Wings. Cold weather and wind in the forecast will slow fishing this week (3/13).

As the water temperatures warm walleye, yellow perch and smallmouth bass fishing will improve. Walleye spawning in the rivers will start in early to mid March with the peak runs in the Sandusky and Maumee Rivers being in late March and early April. Lake Erie reef walleye spawning usually gets started in mid to late March and peaks in mid April. Large female walleye can be caught in the island area and around the Camp Perry reefs before and after they spawn. Numbers of male walleye can be caught during spawning on and around the reefs.

Jigging with jigheads, jigging spoons, or vibrating blade baits are popular methods for catching walleye on the reefs. Troll crankbaits or worm harnesses to catch the larger fish staging off of the reefs and around the islands. In the rivers walleye can be caught on jigheads tipped with twister tails.


For Walleye Run reports on the Maumee and Sandusky rivers, visit: http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/wildlife/fishing/freport/walleyerunreport.htm

For Steelhead fishing information visit: http://www.ohiodnr.com/wildlife/Fishing/fairport/steelhead.htm

Lake Erie surface temperatures range from 34 to 37 degrees.



Source: ODNR






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