Jack Wollitz: Not all anglers carry a fishing rod
It’s fair to guess most people who pick up a rod and reel begin to believe their fishing skills are better than average.
Fishing is like other activities. Most of us think we’re better than we are, like the golfers who convince themselves they are tattooing 280-yard drives that really are rolling to a stop at 225.
Sure, we catch a few fish almost every trip to the lake. Big deal! But we are far from the best fishers on the lake. Have you seen an osprey in action?
If not, you aren’t fishing the lakes I’m fishing. Eagles and ospreys are thriving in Northeast Ohio.
I have seen bald eagles during every fishing trip I’ve made this year. I do not recall that having ever happened before — and I’ve been hitting our local lakes hard for more than 30 years.
Though they are spotted with increasing frequency these days, bald eagles still are spectacular sightings. Sometimes, we see them without recognizing them at first, then the sun catches them just right and their bright white heads and tail feathers gleam in the light.
Ospreys are equally evident. During a visit to Nimisila Lake north of Canton two weeks ago, I watched in awe as an adult osprey swooped down and plucked a keeper-size largemouth bass from the lily pad flat I was fishing.
It was not a particularly good day of fishing, but the osprey made it look easy.
Last week at Pymatuning, I saw a big bald eagle soaring overhead, no doubt hunting for fish for the eaglets at home in its nest.
Mosquito has become the local bald eagle hot spot. The burgeoning populations of bass, perch, crappies, bluegills, carp and walleyes assure the raptors will not go hungry.
South of Youngstown, bald eagles are nesting in the trees near Evans and Pine lakes. Several nesting pairs have set up housekeeping on Ohio River islands near East Liverpool.
In western Pennsylvania, I’ve seen bald eagles fishing near me on Shenango Reservoir. Ospreys are visible at several locations where wildlife managers have erected poles with platforms where the birds build big nests.
It is heartening to see the big predators. Their presence is a clear sign that they can coexist with people as long as we don’t mess things up too badly for them.
Eagles and ospreys are testimony about the quality of our fisheries. A pair of eagles or ospreys, with nests of hungry chicks, need a lot of fish to sustain themselves and their brood – and they need the fish day after day after day.
So when I see ospreys and eagles, I know I’m fishing where the fish live. I may become a little dismayed when I see a bass in the talons of an eagle or osprey, but I assure myself that there are plenty more where that one came from.
If that weren’t the case, the predators would have moved on. Restaurant dining is not an option for them.
Take time during your next trip to your favorite local lake. Look at the tree line and scan the sky. Chances are good you’ll see osprey fishing the same waters you are fishing. And if you are fortunate, you also will spot one of the dozens of eagles living near Youngstown.
Jack Wollitz enjoys writing about fishing almost as much as fishing itself. He has written the Vindicator’s fishing column weekly since 1988. After more than 1,600 columns, he’s still looking for ideas, so go ahead and send yours to jackbbaass@gmail.com.