JACK WOLLITZ Message to class: Learning is fun!

For many anglers, March means the walleye are running, the crappies are poking their noses toward the shoreline cover and the store shelves are screaming for your attention to buy some of the season's newest lures.
Before we get into today's fishing news, however, I'd like to take a moment to address the students of Mrs. Mattiussi's first grade class at Taft Elementary School on Youngstown's South Side.
Read and write
Thanks to the Youngstown Stars, I was invited to read to Mrs. Mattiussi's class Thursday morning during the & quot;Community Day: Read A Book To A Class & quot; program.
The teacher's students are a fine bunch of youngsters who eagerly waved their hands when I asked how many enjoyed fishing, football, doughnuts, trees and railroads -- the topics about which I may write for Vindicator readers or my clients at Innis Maggiore. They paid close attention as I read about how Leo, a young lion, was a late bloomer who suddenly blossomed into a well-rounded fellow.
So I'd like to round out my visit with a reminder to all of Mrs. Mattiussi's students that reading and writing can be great fun and rewarding work. You can learn so much about the subjects that interest you and take that knowledge all the way into your adult lives.
Thanks again.
Walleye on the move
The famous Lake Erie walleye runs were pretty much at full speed ahead as the week drew to a close. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources' Division of Wildlife reported the Maumee and Sandusky rivers were yielding nice catches of walleyes.
Cold weather last week discouraged many anglers from heading to the rivers, but those who did venture out caught nice fish.
The Maumee was running at 41 degrees, with the flow slowing toward normal. Most of the walleyes caught last week were 18- to 22-inch males, with a few females up to 28 inches reported.
Best success was reported with floating jigs fished on 2- to 3-foot leaders Carolina-style -- that is, with a sinker at the end of the main line in front of the leader.
On the Maumee, the best area was between Fort Meigs and the Flats above the I-475 bridge.
At Sandusky River, meanwhile, anglers last week caught walleyes measuring 17 to 22 inches on chartreuse, orange and fluorescent green jigs. The water temperature was 37 degrees Wednesday.
Anglers are reminded that the walleye size limit for Erie tributaries is 15 inches. The daily bag limit through April 30 is four walleyes. Special lure regulations are in effect on certain areas where single hooks only are permitted. Maps showing boundaries for the ODNR's single-hook regulation can be found on the website: www.dnr.state.oh.us/.
New Creme jigs
Every once in a while, a new lure comes to market with great potential. One of this season's more interesting offerings is Creme Lure's one-inch Spoiler Shad. It's just about the perfect size for crappie anglers who are looking for a lifelike jig they can swim around cover.
Five colors are available. All feature a holographic, light-reflecting jig and plastic combination that looks amazingly similar to a small baitfish.
Creme Lure Co. was founded in 1949 by Akron's Nick Creme, who is credited as the inventor of the modern plastic worm.