Last year, early-season heat waves and higher-than-normal water temperatures put a damper on Lake Erie fishing throughout most of 2005. Barring another spring of near-record temperatures, the lake is poised to produce a Buckeye angler's dream season.

Mark Turner, a fisheries biologist with the Sandusky Fish Research Unit, said that the 2003 hatch of all Lake Erie species was one of the best ever.

"There should be a lot of fish from this hatching for anglers to catch this year," he said.

The Ohio Division of Natural Resources has charged the Sandusky Fish Research Unit, along with the Fairport Fish Research Unit, with collecting, compiling and evaluating information about most of Lake Erie's fish species. Through fish surveying techniques, creel reports, stocking programs and careful application of fisheries regulations, biologists will be able to maintain and improve Lake Erie's fishery for generations to come.

Biologists also conduct studies on subjects like predation or the impact of invasive species to further assist them in evaluating Lake Erie's future. The units and the Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife use all of this information to predict future trends and tailor their regulations to mitigate or capitalize upon those patterns.

SMALLMOUTH BASS
Two years ago, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources placed a new conservation regulation on smallmouths. This regulation requires the release of bass caught from May 1 through the last Saturday in June and remains in effect for the foreseeable future. Aimed primarily at improving spawning success numbers for the bass, this regulation should also improve the quality and quantity of trophy smallmouth fishing in Lake Erie.

"There is still not enough data to gauge the effects of the new regulation as of yet," Turner said. "Because it's so hard to sample smallmouth numbers with the methods we use, I'd have to say the jury is still out on what effect it may be having to date.

"Our primary survey methods use nets to take samples. Because the smallmouth bass' primary habitat is in shallow-water areas, the technique makes sampling them very difficult. If we catch any at all, it's a good indication that numbers are strong," Turner noted.

He said that smallmouths should be frequenting their normal Lake Erie haunts this year. In the Western basin, anglers should find plenty of bass this spring around Kelleys Island and the Bass islands. The shorelines and near-shore areas around Marblehead and Catawba Island are also great places to latch into lunker bronzebacks.

Other areas in the western basin that Buckeye State anglers should target include the Camp Perry firing zone reefs. These reef complexes often hold smallmouths that average upward of 5 pounds. A lucky, persistent angler could hook some 7- to 8-pound bruisers there.

Moving east toward the central basin, anglers shouldn't forget Sandusky Bay or any of the shoreline and near-shore areas of Lake Erie all the way through the central basin to Lorain. Reefs outside of the Lorain harbor area regularly give up 5-pound smallmouths in spring and fall.