Walleye fishing activity on rise in western Lake Erie

8/10/2004

Walleye fishing activity picked up over the weekend in extreme western Lake Erie, with several areas producing decent catches.

The area from West Sister Island to the chart area marked Gravel Pit and then on into Michigan waters was productive for both casters and trollers, said Rick Ferguson at Al Szuch Live Bait. Interior waters of Maumee Bay also were producing some 'eyes.

Another decent area to try for walleye is between F-Can and G-Can on the Canadian line, northeast of West Sister, according to Rickard's Bait at Catawba Island. The shop said that the East Sister Island area on the Canadian side also was producing well.

Ferguson said the yellow perch action in the Maumee Bay area was spotty, but Rickard's reported excellent catches around and southwest of Green Island, northeast of Kelleys Island, and off Kelleys Island Shoal. Most limits were of seven and eight-inch fish.

Matthews Bait at Monroe, Mich., said that the best perch action reported there was at E-Buoy off Bolles Harbor and at Luna Pier.

•

The National Bass Anglers Association has set a Sandusky Bay Open bass tournament event for Saturday, 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., from the state's Dempsey Public Access on the southeast edge of Marblehead peninsula.

The event is part of a series there that will continue through September, said Mark Bushroe, co-director. He said that NBAA now has 75 divisions, including Michigan, nationwide and has just this year moved into Ohio. For details on the Saturday event and fee information, call Bushroe at 419-475-3680. Or visit the NBAA Web site, www.nbaa-bass.com.

•

The 14th annual Northwestern Ohio Bass Masters Kids Derby is set for Sunday at Mallard Lake in Oak Openings Preserve Metropark.

Registration is 9 a.m., fishing 10 to 11 a.m., lunch at 11:30 a.m., and awards at 12:30 p.m. Age classes include 5-and-under, 6-9, and 10-14. The derby is free. For other details, call Ron Farmer, 419-392-6155.

DATEBOOK

Today - Dragonfly program, 6 p.m., Blue Heron Reserve, U.S. 6 northeast of Fremont; call the Sandusky County Park District to register, 419-334-4495 or 1-888-200-5577: Also, tomorrow, bird count, 8 a.m., Creek Bend Farm, Fremont: Also, Saturday, stargazing, dusk, Wolf Creek Park campground, State Rt. 53 south of Fremont: Also, Sunday, Audubon bird count, 8 a.m., White Star wetlands, County Road 66 east of State Rt. 300, off County Road 65, Gibsonburg.

Today - Birding for seniors, 2:30 p.m., window on wildlife, Side Cut Metropark, Wayne Street entrance. Also, tomorrow, summer pond life program, ages 6 to 8, Secor Metropark, Nature Photography Center; call for reservations, 419-535-3057 extension 101. Also, Thursday, family program on night creatures, 8:30 p.m., Swan Creek Preserve Metropark, Yager Center. Also, Saturday, volunteers to restore Karner blue habitat, 10 a.m., Oak Openings Preserve Metropark, Buehner Center; call extension 101 to register. Also, beetlemania, 2 p.m., Swan Creek, Yager Center. Also, Saturday and Sunday, build a pond weekend, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, Pearson Metropark, Packer-Hammersmith Center.

Tomorrow - Canoeing, 7 p.m., Lake La Su An, west of Pioneer in Williams County, Northwest Ohio Canoe and Kayak Club; call Herb Delventhal, 419-784-3953. Also, Saturday and Sunday, canoeing the Youghiogheny River, Pennsylvania; call Dale, 419-899-2437.

Tomorrow - Wild edible plants program, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Otsego Park, Stone Hall, State Rt. 65; call the Wood County Park District 419-353-1897 to register. Also, tomorrow, garden and nursery care, at the agricultural incubator; call the park district to register. Also, Saturday, pedal and picnic, Portage area; call to register. Also, Saturday, butterfly program, 1 p.m., Cedar Creeks Preserve, call to register.

Thursday - Trapshoot, 6 p.m., Sandusky County Sportsmen's Club, State Rt. 600 east of Gibsonburg. Also, Saturday, cowboy action shoot, call Bob Caswall, 419-862-2861. Also, Sunday, bow shoot, 3-D targets; call Ken Deiter, 419-288-2561. Also, Monday through Aug. 19, hunter education course, 6 to 9 p.m. nightly; call Charlie Nopper, 419-637-7565.

Friday - Naturalists' Camera Club of Toledo, 7:30 p.m., Secor Metropark, Nature Photography Center, Central Avenue entrance, program on canyon lands by Herb Munford. Also, Saturday, field trip to Toledo Botanical Garden, 10 a.m.

Friday - View the Perseid meteor shower, 9 p.m., Van Buren State Park, west main parking lot, State Rt. 613 east of I-75, north of Findlay; repeats Saturday, 9 p.m., Mary Jane Thurston State Park, marina parking lot, State Rt. 65 west of Grand Rapids; call 419-832-7662.

Saturday - Hike the dikes program, shorebirds, 9 a.m., Magee Marsh State Wildlife Area, Sportsmen's Migratory Bird Center, 13229 West State Rt. 2, Oak Harbor; call Mary Warren, 419-898-0960 extension 31.

Saturday - Toledo Naturalists' Association, field trip, shorebirds, 8 a.m.; meet at Tony Packo's, leader, John Szanto.

Saturday - Volunteers to help restore a glacial sand dune, 10 a.m., Kitty Todd Preserve, 10420 Old State Line Rd.; call The Nature Conservancy, 1-877-TNC-OHIO extension 42.

Saturday and Sunday - Outdoor adventure and star party, Black Swamp Bird Observatory, at Camp Pioneer, Williams County; call BSBO to register, 419-898-4070.

Saturday and Sunday - Maumee Valley Gun Collectors show, Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Woodland Exhibit Center, Woodland Mall, State Rt. 25, north of Bowling Green; call MVGCA, 419-893-1110.

Saturday and Sunday - Tomahawk Archery kids' campout, club grounds, 2085 Erie Rd., Temperance, Mich.; to register young archers and campers, call Joe or Libbi, 734-854-4516.

Sunday - Bowshoots: Tomahawk Archery, 2085 Erie Rd., Temperance, Mich.; register 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., elk and mule deer targets, call Jay Kimura, 419-292-1530; Also, Carleton Sportsmen's Club, 14100 Sumpter Rd., Carleton, Mich., register 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; call Jeff Georgic, 734-654-9267.

Saturday and Sunday - Mercer Waterfowl Festival, 5072 East State Rt. 703, east of Celina, Saturday 8 a.m. retriever test, noon state youth goose calling championship, 4 p.m. state goose calling championship, 5 p.m. Buckeye Classic goose calling championship, Sunday 11:30 p.m. youth state duck calling, 1 p.m. state duck calling; vendors, seminars, carvers; call Charlie Ayers 419-678-2166.

Sunday - Women's and youth shoot, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., free, lunch and equipment supplied, Wolf Creek Sportsmen's Association, 349 Teachout Rd., north of State Rt. 2, Curtice; call Bob Trapp, 419-292-1806. Also, Monday, public trapshoot, 5:30 p.m., voice-activated traps available; call Rick Ferguson, 419-836-5264.

Aug. 18 - 14th annual fund-raising dinner, Northwest Ohio Chapter, Ruffed Grouse Society, social hour 5:30 p.m., dinner 7:30 p.m., Valleywood Golf Club, 13501 Airport Hwy., Swanton; call Dan Lane, 419-875-5036.

Contact Steve Pollick at:

spollick@theblade.com

or 419-724-6068.