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Reservoir stocked with some porcupines
They’re dropping porcupines in Pymatuning Reservoir and the fish are fairly delighted.
Boaters fear not, however, because these porcupines are spineless. They may snatch a jig or two, but the critters aren’t going to leave an angler with a handful of barbed quills.
In a full-on cooperative effort, crews from Ohio and Pennsylvania have been sinking wooden structures known as Porcupine Juniors at Pymatuning. The porcupines are intended to serve as fish-attracting structure. Some 125 structures have been dropped at two sites not far from the Wilson Boat Launch.
The work was done by crews from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Wildlife, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, the Pymatuning Lake Association and various volunteer organizations.
“This is, by far, our largest structure-placement project in the state each year,” said Matt Wolfe, the Ohio Division of Wildlife fish biologist who managed the project. “The help of the various state agencies and the numerous volunteer groups go a long way to improve fishing opportunities on Ohio’s largest inland lake.”
The porcupines, several feet in height, are built with lumber secured in a manner that enables small fish to swim through the structure. Crews stow concrete blocks on the floor of the structure and build the sides and top to form a three-dimensional fish house.
As reservoirs age – Pymatuning was impounded in the 1930s – the trees and stumps that were inundated continue to deteriorate. Manmade structures are part of the plan to rejuvenate the lake’s ecosystem with habitat.
In a matter of a few weeks, algae will begin growing on the wood, which will make the structures even more attractive to the fish species at the foundation of the food chain. Baitfish such as shad feed on algae and other tiny aquatic life, which in turn pulls in game species such as bass, crappies, walleyes and muskies.
Anglers would be well advised, of course, to fish over and next to the arrays of porcupines planted on Pymatuning’s bottom.
To find the structures, program your GPS to zero in on the two locations.
Forty structures were dropped in five to seven feet of water from North 41 degrees, 39 minutes, 29.6 seconds, and West 80 degrees, 30 minutes and 19.6 seconds to North 41 degrees, 39 minutes, 26.2 seconds, and West 80 degrees, 30 minutes, 19.1 seconds.
Eighty-five were deposited in six to seven feet of water from North 41 degrees, 39 seconds, 42.1 seconds, and West 80 degrees, 29 seconds, 42.5 seconds to North 41 degrees, 39 seconds, 40.1 seconds and West 80 degrees, 29 minutes, 43.3 seconds.
Map datum on your GPS should be set at NAD 83 to find the structures.
Anglers’ constant challenge is finding the fish, and today’s technology provides a multitude of clues.
Tech-savvy anglers can download a Google Earth file that defines planted structure locations throughout Northeast Ohio. To gain access, contact the Ohio Wildlife District Three Office in Akron, 330-644-2293.
Experienced anglers know every bit of information is helpful. A little time invested before your next fishing trip may put you right on top of the best fishing of the summer.