The long, hot summer took its toll on fishing

Labor Day weekend traditionally marks the beginning of the transition from the dog days of summer to autumn's prospects for better fishing.
Looking back, it's apparent the weather was a major factor in fishing fortunes this summer.
To describe 2005 as a hot one is an understatement. Water temperatures hit the mid-80s in June and stayed there throughout July and nudged toward 90 as August began. Anglers adjusted and found fish, but success involved quite a bit of creativity.
Now water temps have started to slide back down from the boiling point. Much-needed rain has helped freshen the area's rivers and reservoirs. The shorter days and cooler air have the fish heading back to daytime feeding patterns.
Big differences
Those who fish the inland reservoirs saw big differences in their 2005 fishing.
The heat and resulting depletion of dissolved oxygen, for example, took a toll on walleyes at Berlin and Pymatuning. Day after day of bright sunlight and relatively windless weather raised the water temperature and lowered oxygen concentrations to a level that could not sustain all the walleye that live in the two reservoirs.
A number of floating walleyes were observed in recent weeks. Phil Hillman, fish management supervisor for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources‚ Division of Wildlife, said the dead fish are result of natural circumstances.
"We've examined fish and found no disease," he said. "Berlin [and Pymatuning] have very, very low levels of oxygen."
He said this summer's still conditions created problems. Also contributing were weather-related disruptions of the aquatic plants‚ photosynthesis cycle and the fact that hot water can't hold as much oxygen as cooler water.
"With little or no wind, we're not getting any stirring up of the water column," he said. "Most of the dead walleyes at Berlin have been seen from U.S. 224 to the railroad bridge, where the oxygen is the lowest. Further up stream the oxygen is better."
Anglers also have noticed another byproduct of the dry weeks of June, July and August. Weed growth is significantly more lush this year at Mosquito Creek Reservoir.
"Conditions for weed growth were phenomenal this summer," Hillman said. "They are 180 degrees different this year compared to last year's cool, wet weather."
Milfoil and coontail beds grow out from the bank to the five- to seven-foot breaks at Mosquito. In Pikie Bay, mats of vegetation grow nearly across the shallow channel.
Berlin, on the other hand, is as weedless as always.
"Berlin is more turbid than the other lakes in northeastern Ohio and part of the reason is the boat traffic there," Hillman said. "The turbulence from the skiers and other boaters from Memorial Day to Labor Day keeps the water cloudy and hinders weed growth."
A few weeks away
The better fishing for the balance of the 2005 season is still a couple of weeks away. But recent reports show the fishing already is improving.
Anglers are catching walleyes while drifting Mosquito's north end. Trollers are scoring on Berlin walleyes and a few nice fish also are coming from Lake Milton and West Branch.
Crappie fishing also is starting to pick up. The causeway at Mosquito has produced some decent catches, while Berlin anglers are picking up fish around brush and other wood that is still submerged as the drawn-down continues. Crappies also are coming from around the docks and bridge pilings at Lake Milton.
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