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Whereas
we remain in the midst of an angling season in which a notoriously
cold
winter led into a spring and summer of record-setting precipitation
that have delayed
everything from spawning activities to predictable summer movements,
most of us
are already receiving our hunting catalogs and checking out the
new hunting shows
on tv, already widespread and varied across the dial. I think you'll
like the nature and
number of hunting articles planned for and upcoming in this column
for this year.
Keep a close eye on "Portage Outdoors" for expanded and thorough
coverage of
the upcoming season.
One obvious indicator of the year's atypical weather and its affect
on the usual fishing
patterns is the oh-so-important variable of water temperature. Too
many fishermen
watch their temperature gauge like a hawk in the early spring of
the year only to forget
about it later on. Big mistake.
One for instance is the stunning number of decent northern pike
still being caught
throughout the more reliable stretches of the Cuyahoga River lately.
In most all other
years the months May through mid-September find 25''+ pike buried
in the depths in
search of cooler waters.The little pike, up to 20'', will bite all
year long but this year
have been joined at an aggressive activity level by many specimens
a foot or so
longer. While the true big boys are indeed dormant even this year,
cool night
temperatures have combined with high water levels and frequent cooling
rains to
keep decent sized northerns on the bite from Mantua to Akron, particularly
on flashy
spinnerbaits. Truly a memorable year.
Whispers overheard hereabouts regularly mention the comeback at
Springfield Lake,
for years a largely overlooked and almost forgotten area locale.Will
keep you posted
on any credible reports.
Hitting the Trails Dept.; ginseng dealers and collectors in Ohio
are reminded of three
significant changes to state ginseng regulations this season, according
to the ODNR
Division of Wildlife:
1. Opening date for ginseng collecting is moved from August 15 to
September 1.
2. Ginseng collectors are now required to immediately plant the
seeds from acquired
plants at the place where the plants were collected.
3. The fee for certification of wild ginseng by state wildlife officers
is raised from
$1 to $3 per pound.
Amazed and
disgusted at the huge, growing, and ongoing reports of stolen marine,
electronics, and fishing gear reported stolen from area homes and
especially fisheries in
our area. Many such incidents evidently originate from very public
and very regularly
crowded area ramps, parking lots, and campgrounds.Too many of us
tend to look the
other way if its not our gear. Such attitudes almost invite future
victimization
themselves. With all of the almost comical overuse of cell phones
in today's society,
here's one area in which their use is actually warranted-by those
who care enough to.
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