The Ohio Division of Wildlife first began stocking young muskies into Ohio’s lakes and streams in 1953. Anglers and muskies both responded well. It wasn’t long before a dedicated number of muskie hunters organized into clubs and organizations that supported the ODOW’s efforts.

Today, state hatcheries are producing thousands of 9-inch muskies every year to stock into several Ohio lakes, said Elmer Heyob Jr., the state’s fish hatchery administrator and the ODOW’s liaison to muskie anglers.

The hatchery program ran into a glitch in 2007 when viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) was found in the ovarian fluid of female muskies in Clear Fork. The virus affects fish but isn’t a threat to humans. One of the hatcheries was temporarily quarantined and so the ODOW fell a little short of its target production of 19,634 fish.

The division keeps a sharp eye on its program lakes and has the ability to adjust management efforts as conditions dictate. In fact, stocking at Cowan Lake was discontinued in 2007 because of a lack of angler success.

On the positive side, muskies have been stocked into East Fork and Milton lakes for the first time. Last year, the ODOW released muskies into those lakes after deciding the habitat is right and it will keep local muskie hounds from having to travel far. Muskies from 20 to 25 inches should be caught in East Fork this year and most of the good fishing will start in 2010 or 2011.

HUSKIE MUSKIE CLUB
An important component of the ODOW’s muskie management program since 1961 has been the Ohio Huskie Muskie Club. The club was started by the ODOW and became a success story almost overnight.

Scale samples from member angler catches allow fisheries managers to age fish and gain other biological insights.

Today, the club recognizes angler success with banquets and certificates. Anglers can become Associate Members even if they’ve never caught a muskie. Membership in the club is a great way to get in on organized outings and pick up a few fishing tips. The Honorable Mention Membership includes anyone who has caught and released a muskie. Regular Membership is reserved for those who have landed a 42-inch-plus fish.

Visit the ODOW’s Muskie Angler Log at www.ohiodnr.com to record catch information and check on current catch rates. Click on “Programs and Activities” and then onto the log.

Ohio’s two-fish daily bag and no minimum size limit are fairly liberal when compared with some states, but there’s no reason it shouldn’t be. Some 90 percent of the fish caught are released.

The success of any fisheries program is always at the end of the line. Here’s a look at what’s happening across the state:

LEESVILLE LAKE
Leesville Lake is always one of the state’s top muskie destinations.

The lake’s icon is Don Weaver, past president of the OHMC, and if anyone has the lake figured out, it’s Weaver, who caught 13 muskies in 2007 and raised his all-time total to 753 fish.

But Weaver isn’t the only one catching fish at Leesville. The lake is always at the top of the list of Buckeye State lakes based on the total numbers of muskellunge reported through the OHMC.

Leesville covers 1,045 acres in Carroll County five miles south of Carrollton. Access is from state routes 39 and 212.

For more information, contact the ODOW at (330) 644-2293.

CAESAR CREEK LAKE
Caesar Creek Lake is southwest Ohio’s premier muskie water, according to fisheries biologist Doug Maloney. Angler success is high and the chances of tangling with a trophy-class fish are good.

Most of the muskies caught in Caesar Creek are from 30 to 38 inches, but there are larger ones in the depths.

Over the last two years, good numbers of 40- to 45-inch fish have been seen, with some reaching 49 inches, said Maloney.