Early Walleye/White Bass Buckeye Bonanza
USSFN: 4/19/03 - Starting in March and continuing on into May, Ohio anglers brave the chilly rivers and spillway waters to take advantage of walleye spawning runs. These occur throughout the buckeye state including some lesser known spots such as the Berlin Reservoir Dam(Corps of Engineers) spillway just north of Alliance. The most famous areas, which also host historically great white bass runs, are the Sandusky River (Freemont, OH) and the Maumee River (Toledo, Maumee, Perrysburg, Grand Rapids, OH).
As the river water temperature rises above the lake, normally high 40's to low 50's, the magic happens. The females come in laden with hundreds of eggs. The males aren't far behind. Area anglers are currently picking up 18 to 25" males and occasional females.
According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife, "The walleye runs should again be very good this year. Strong year-classes in 1996, 1999, and 2001 have produced a large walleye population in Lake Erie, which will be reflected by tremendous numbers of fish heading into the rivers. Most of these walleye will be 18-22 inches long, although many will be even larger. Walleye measuring 23-28 inches should be common, and some lucky anglers might even hook up with 30+ inch trophies weighing over 14 pounds! Like most past years, many of the larger walleye are expected to be caught in the Maumee River."
Towards the end of the walleye runs, normally mid to late April, fishermen are greeted by white bass which are beginning their runs. Anglers need to adhere to special restrictions for this jigging action. For example, only single hooks are allowed and must not be more than 1/2" from tip to shank. Improperly hooked (snagged) fish must be released immediately. These restrictions are strictly enforced in the more popular areas. In fact, you never know if the guy fishing next to you is actually a game warden. Typically, the most effective lures are lead head jigs tipped with bright plastic tails. ~ Jim