Surfing on the Web? How about fishing?

Ohio Division of Wildlife has begun efforts to educate the public about its plans in 2010 to launch a real-time, Web-based system to license anglers and hunters, and collect pertinent information.

The current license sales system went to work in 1999 with expectations that it would last five to seven years. Turns out the current system has lived beyond its predicted lifespan, but the time has come to upgrade, the division says.

Wildlife spokeswoman Jamey Graham says the new system, which will be launched March 1, 2010, will use best available technology to better serve Ohio’s hunters and anglers. It is called “Wild Ohio Customer Relationship Management System” (or WOCRMS), and will be more convenient, intuitive, cost-efficient and user-friendly, Graham said.

“We are really taking advantage of technology to deliver significant new benefits to Ohio’s sportsmen and women,” she said.

The system will operate more efficiently, thus enabling the division to redirect resources to programs valuable to anglers and hunters. It will enhance the division’s fish and wildlife management practices by making the exchange of information between the division and its “customers” easier.

Hunters, for example, will be able to complete their game-check transactions in any of three convenient ways: on the Internet via secured access, over the telephone using an automated voice-response system, or at an authorized license sales outlet. Nights, weekends and holidays will not create communication gaps once the new system is operating in 2010.

Graham noted the current system, known as Point-Of-Sale, has become increasingly costly to repair and maintain — total investment in the POS system will be approximately $11 million by the time the new WOCRMS goes live.

The cost factor — combined with the vastly more efficient means to communicate between the “customers” and wildlife division — will pay big dividends for Ohio’s hunters and anglers.

Other benefits the state expects to realize include better management and integration of license sales information, hunter education, publications distribution, special permitting initiatives and controlled hunt allocations.

Hot picks for 2009

Here’s a quick look at the best bets for good Youngstown-area fishing this year. We’ll examine them more as the season develops.

Muskies — West Branch and Pymatuning. Both should yield good numbers. For size, look to Pymatuning and make a pass or two at Lake Milton, too.

Walleyes — For numbers, Mosquito will once again be hard to beat. Lots of fish immediately after ice-out. In the summer, work the weed edges with jigs and you’ll stay on the ’eyes.

Crappies — Again, Mosquito. The fish are easy to locate in the flooded willows in spring. Berlin will have good numbers, but the size sometimes falls below Mosquito’s average.

Largemouth bass — Shenango Reservoir will be excellent. Mosquito and Berlin will be good, but for 3-pound and better bass, buy a Pennsylvania license and fish Shenango.

Smallmouth bass — Berlin will be a solid smallie lake in 2009. Lake Erie has more and bigger bronzebacks, but Berlin’s proximity makes it a no-brainer for a half-day trip this season.

Happy New Year and good fishing in 2009.

jwwollitz@aol.com