JACK WOLLITZ Walleye make their moves

Walleyes are big in April, literally and figuratively, as local anglers set out in earnest to pursue the region's most popular game fish.
Lake Erie already has begun to yield nice catches for boaters and, weather permitting, anglers will catch good fish in the weeks ahead.
For sheer diversity, however, few waters offer the variety of patterns currently available for walleye fans at Mosquito Creek Reservoir.
Judging by the crowd at Mosquito last weekend, everybody seems to be getting in on the action. Shore-bound crappie anglers hooked eyes on small minnows.
Waders stalked the long tapering points tossing jigs. Drifters worked the shallow flats, sunken road beds and deep breaks. Trollers dragged bait rigs and plugs.
What's interesting is that many people were catching fish regardless of location and presentation. Many of the fish caught last weekend were "eating" size and some approached lunker proportions.
I spent Saturday afternoon searching for largemouths at Mosquito, and while I stirred up a few fish, I caught more walleyes than bass. Three 16- to 17-inch walleyes ate the khaki-colored crankbait I bounced around rocky bottoms six to seven feet deep that breezy day.
That, of course, is a sure sign that the fish are actively feeding and catchable.
Crappie craze: Last week's heavy rains brought the water up into the bushes at most of the local reservoirs and crappies rode the wave.
The fish had been bunching up and anglers were scoring consistently prior to the fresh run-off, but with the water up in the willows and brush the crappies' location is even more predictable.
Mosquito's shallows are producing, as are the shorelines at Pymatuning.
Berlin and West Branch crappies also are reported to be biting.
The rising water also brought color into the shallows, and as they continue to settle the crappie fishing will continue to improve.
Bass magnets: Largemouth fishing around the area also began to pick up last week, again because the water was rising and warming.
The fish began to move up from deeper water and were checking out feeding locations on points at most of the local reservoirs. Anglers worked crankbaits, spinnerbaits and jigs to catch their bass.
Water temperatures were inching upward, but still a bit cool, so lure presentations had to be s-l-o-w to generate strikes. Jig bites, for instance, came mostly from bass that picked up motionless baits while they rested on the bottom between drops around cover.
Castingkids: Ninety-four youngsters from 46 states and Canada will square off in the BASSMASTER CastingKids National Semifinals presented by Chevy Trucks during the B.A.S.S. Federation National Championship in Mobile, Ala., April 27-28.
The competition was established in 1991 to encourage children to become involved in fishing. Since then, more than 1.2 million young people have participated.
Events are similar to Punt, Pass and Kick contests, with an emphasis on motor skills.
From the semis later this month, qualifiers will move on to the championship round in New Orleans at the BASS Masters Classic in August.