JACK WOLLITZ Walleye action strong

Walleye anglers are enjoying a banner year at local reservoirs, as the action continues to be strong at local reservoirs.
The armada that sets sail each weekend morning at Mosquito Creek Reservoir is the clear indicator of the quality of the fishing. Hundreds of trollers and drifters are scattered across the lakescape, creating an obstacle course that makes it impossible for boaters to run a straight line north and south.
Judging by the numerous clusters of boats, the fishing has been good at a variety of locations.
Anglers are picking up walleyes deep, shallow and in between, and some interesting patterns have been evident this spring.
The relatively clear and low water at Mosquito has helped the weed beds get established early this year, and a number of walleyes are being caught by people working jigs and crankbaits through the greenery.
Drift fishers are scoring by dragging jigs and bait, while those who are slow trolling the breaks and humps with plugs also are connecting.
Pymatuning also is producing good catches of fish, with reports that the action is scattered around on all the traditional hot spots.
At Berlin, meanwhile, the walleye fishing improved over the past two weeks.
Fish are reported in fair numbers on the main lake between the railroad trestle and the U.S. 224 causeway, as well as north of the causeway on the long points and sandy flats.
United Way bass: Officials of the Youngstown-Mahoning Valley United Way are putting the finishing touches on the second annual fund-raising bass tournament June 2 at Evans Lake.
A full field of pro and amateur entrants is set for the competition. Last year the tournament raised more than $6,000 that was used to help local people served by United Way agencies. Officials report one out of every four people in the Mahoning Valley use some sort of United Way service.
The public is invited to the weigh-in, which will be held at nearby Pine Lake beginning around 2 p.m. Radio personalities from Clear Channel stations will be participating in the festivities, which this year are sponsored by BFI Carbon Limestone Landfill, Astro Shapes, Pepsi and Consumers Ohio Water Co.
Pine Lake will host a free fishing day on June 2, so local anglers can come out to fish and take a time-out to watch the bass tournament weigh-in.
Pro walleye tour: Life on a professional fishing tour can be rigorous, as the contenders discovered last week in Minnesota.
Contestants in the In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trails Lowrance/Evertroll Central Pro-Am were greeted by rain and 36-degree temperatures during the opening round on Lake Mille Lacs in Minnesota.
The tournament was switched there from its original site, which was scheduled for the upper Mississippi River. Officials made the change after the Mississippi reached flood stage.
Despite the cold gray weather, a number of big fish were caught. Leading the way after two of the three rounds was Bruce Samson of Minnesota, who had boated a total of 35.32 pounds, including two fish topping 28 inches.
Due to state slot regulations, anglers at Mille Lacs can keep only one fish a day over 28 inches. "Keepers" are between 16 and 20 inches, so many of the 25-inchers the fishermen caught in the tournament had to be released.
The tournament was to conclude Friday afternoon.