"Don't be fooled by the size of the creek," Peterson continued. "I have seen some of the biggest steelhead of the season on creeks you could jump across. It doesn't take much water for a steelhead to try and go upstream."

The daily bag limit for steelhead is two fish from Sept. 1 through May 15 on Lake Erie and all its tributaries. From May 16 through Aug. 31, the daily bag limit increases to five steelies. Also, a minimum size limit of 12 inches is in effect for steelhead throughout the entire year.

OTHER SPECIES
Many other sport fish call Lake Erie home and, with the changes to the lake being brought about by lower silt levels and improved water quality, most are doing quite well. Here's a quick look at how some species are faring on Lake Erie.

Crappies
"Crappie numbers on Lake Erie are good and stable," said Ray Peterling, administrator for the ODOW's Inland Fisheries Department. "Anglers can catch crappies throughout Lake Erie's shoreline areas, but the best fishing in the state is at Sandusky Bay."

Anglers targeting crappies this spring should concentrate on shallow flats that have edges dropping off into deeper water. Sheltered areas behind break walls and any areas with structure such as rocks, logs or vegetation can also be productive. Pike and Muskies

Biologist Mark Turner said that muskellunge and northern pike are sometimes caught in the survey nets in the bay areas but anglers would still be better off traveling north of the islands.

"Their numbers are still low here," he said, "but they do seem to be improving."

Largemouth Bass
Largemouth bass populations are good in the western basin harbor areas and in Sandusky Bay. Local fishermen continue to catch good numbers of largemouths averaging 16 inches each spring.

White Bass White bass continue to do well, according to Turner.