Fishing for a good cause

The third annual Water For People fishing event hosted by Aqua Ohio on May 17 is a great opportunity for those who want to spend a relaxing day of great fishing at Pine Lake.

Pine is chock full of largemouth bass, crappies, bluegills and other species eager to bite for visiting anglers. The event will run from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The event is open to the public, and tickets can be purchased before the event at Aqua Ohio’s office, 6650 South Ave., Boardman, or at the lake the day of the event. Cost is $25 for adults and $10 for children under 12. Tickets are limited, so anglers are encouraged to buy in advance.

The event is a fundraiser for the Water For People organization, which works to improve drinking water and sanitation in Third World villages. Aqua Vice President of Engineering Brian Bisson is a member of Water For People.

“One and a half billion people in the world are without adequate water and sanitation facilities,” he said. “The vision of Water For People is to have a world where all people have access to safe drinking water and sanitation, a world where no one suffers or dies from water- or sanitation-related disease.

Fishing at last year’s Water For People event was outstanding. A number of 5-pound bass were caught, along with catfish up to 8 pounds, and numerous crappies, bluegills and yellow perch.

Anglers’ personal boats can be launched. They must be at least 14 feet long, have motors no more than 10 horsepower and comply with Aqua’s requirements to ensure they are free of invasive species that might be introduced into Pine Lake. Boaters must respect the no-wake rule on Pine Lake.

For further information about the event and about requirements related to your boat, contact Bisson at (330) 397-0788.

Browns’ star in O’Charley’s Classic

Organizers of the O’Charley’s Bass Classic have learned that Cleveland Browns star Joe Thomas will compete in this year’s pro-am May 31 at Pine and Evans lakes.

Browns fans know Thomas as the first-round draft pick who eschewed attending the big hoopla in favor of going fishing with his father on the big day. He’s an avid angler whose love of the outdoors equals his passion for football.

Thomas and all the other competitors will compete on the water the morning of May 31 to see who can catch the heaviest limit of five largemouth bass. Their catches will be scored at the pro-style weigh-in beginning at 2:30 p.m. in the parking lot between the stores of sponsors Dick’s Sporting Goods and Lowe’s in Boardman.

In conjunction with the O’Charley’s Bass Classic, the Lowe’s Kids Fish Fun Event will begin at 10 a.m. May 31 in the parking lot in front of Dick’s. The public is encouraged to attend to enjoy the numerous kids-oriented activities.

Where’s the early Erie action?

Reports from Lake Erie indicate the walleye fishing has been excellent in recent days. Ohio Division of Wildlife says jig fishing is great in Maumee Bay, nearshore from Crane Creek to Locust Point, around “K” near Camp Perry and on the reefs in the firing range.

Drift fishing with worm harnesses will kick in soon as the fish move off spawning areas. Trollers have begun to catch fish around Rattlesnake and North Bass islands, on the Canadian border from North Bass to Gull Island Shoal and around Kelleys Island.

jwwollitz@aol.com