Device shows just how far fish will go

A fish caught by a group of Youngstown-area anglers July 5 near Geneva has helped Ohio fisheries managers keep tabs on Lake Erie’s walleye population.

Joe Harbert of North Lima and friends Sammy Cappelli, Keith Walters and Tom Davis were fishing out of Geneva when Harbert hooked up with a fat Erie ’eye. Harbert is a dyed-in-the-wool bass angler, while his three pals are walleye tournament veterans.

As Harbert’s fish came to the net, the anglers were surprised to see a small cylinder-shaped device attached to its back. It was a tracking device the Ohio Department of Natural Resources had secured to the walleye to observe its movement around the lake.

“There was a number on the tracking device to call the ODNR,” Harbert said. “We did that from the water after we took a bunch of pics.”

The gang was fishing out of Cappelli’s 21-foot Lund, trolling Thundersticks.

“All of them fish walleye tournaments, and they are nice enough to let a bass guy tag along when they have openings,” Harbert said.

He said ODNR called Cappelli saying the walleye Harbert caught and 199 others were tagged in March in Sandusky Bay. So, in four months, the fish swam from Sandusky Bay to the depths off Geneva, a distance of around 100 miles.

“It’s remarkable how far those fish migrate during the year,” Harbert said.

ODNR asked Cappelli to return the tracking device, so it can be reused in future studies.

Ohio continues to do a good job watching over Lake Erie’s precious walleye population. The daily bag limit is six fish that must measure a minimum of 15 inches. The regulations protect against overharvest and enable the fish to survive for a couple of spawning seasons before they are iced in anglers’ coolers.

The Division of Wildlife reports walleye fishing has been good lately northwest of Geneva in 68 to 72 feet of water and off Ashtabula in 65 to 73 feet. Trollers are using worm harnesses, crankbaits and spoons off diving assistance devices, planer boards and downriggers.

Reports also indicate good fishing off the Chagrin River in 60 to 65 feet of water, and northwest of Fairport Harbor in depths ranging from 39 to 72 feet.

Out in the western island region, good shallow-water walleye fishing is reported in 12 to 22 feet off Crane Creek. Fish also are being caught at the northern edge of the Toledo shipping channel and between the channel and West Sister Island.

“C” can off Camp Perry and the North Bass Island area also are producing for anglers drifting bottom bouncers and worm harnesses, and casting mayfly rigs.

Harbert, meanwhile, also reported excellent perch fishing off Conneaut.

“I took my two boys out last Friday and we caught our limit pretty quickly,” he said. “We were in 62 feet of water. I hardly got to fish, since I was too busy taking off the boys’ fish and baiting up with shiners.”

Ah, Lake Erie!

jwwollitz@aol.com