It's finally time to name the walleye as Ohio's state fish: NE Ohio fishing report
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Anglers from around Ohio and the country flock to Lake Erie every year to take advantage of the legendary schools of walleye where limit catches of six fish per angler each fishing day are expected.
In a bipartisan effort to honor the Walleye Capital of the World, a pair of Lake Erie area legislators have passed House Bill 599 to designate the walleye as the official Ohio state fish. State representatives Sean Brennan, a Democrat from Parma, and Republican D.J. Swearingen, from Huron, saw their bill approved last month, 93-4.
“The Ohio Senate will now vote on it, but that most likely won’t happen until after the Nov. 5 election,” said Rep. Brennan. “It’s a long overdue honor for our Great Lake, and the wonderful Lake Erie walleye fishing, which contributes so much to fishing folks around the Buckeye State, and the many anglers we welcome throughout the year.”
Bass anglers have actively disagreed on the designation over the years, a major reason the Buckeye State is one of only three states — including Indiana and Iowa — without an official state fish. Legislators from southern Ohio, where bass fishing is popular, have wanted to refrain from offending smallmouth bass and largemouth bass anglers, who feel their favorite sport fish better deserves that distinction.
With almost a half century of writing about fabled fishing areas under my belt, and a deep love of the world class walleye, bass, yellow perch and steelhead trout fishing on Ohio’s North Coast, it’s finally time to acknowledge the walleye’s special place in Ohio’s angling world.
The economic value of Lake Erie’s walleye fishing is indisputable. It is a billion-dollar sport fishing industry in Ohio, luring thousands of non-resident anglers, supporting more than 950 fishing charter guides, and acknowledging a sport fishing industry that can’t be matched anywhere in the country.
“When you talk walleye fishing, Lake Erie is the best in the world,” said Tommy Harris, 76, of Kenosha, Wisconsin, a long-time lure designer and frequent visitor to Lake Erie. “With great hatches in recent years, it’s really doesn’t matter where along the Ohio shoreline you’ll be fishing for walleye. It’s unmatched, with no closed seasons and never an offseason.”
Travis Hartman, the head of Lake Erie fisheries management for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, estimates the lake-wide walleye population at 72 million fish — which does not include the numbers of extremely plentiful yearling walleye.
“Walleye live a long time, 15 to 20 years, and as a result we’re getting more production from walleye spawning in the Central Basin of Lake Erie,” Hartman said. “The wonderful expansion of the walleye fishing keeps giving Lake Erie anglers more opportunities throughout the year.”
Walleye anglers from 37 states came to Lake Erie to fish for walleye in the past year, according to a state study, a massive tourism boost. The non-resident sportsmen also enjoy inexpensive one-day ($14) and season ($50.96) licenses, far less than Ohioans pay to fish in other states, complain Buckeye anglers.
Lake Erie Walleye Trail in Ashtabula
Tournament teams will head to Ashtabula Harbor for the Vic’s Sports Center Open, a Lake Erie Walleye Trail event and a Kayak Division on Saturday, Aug. 3, with the entry deadline Wednesday, July 31, at lakeeriewalleyetrail.com.
John Gribble and DB Marine Service, 5750 N. Ridge Rd., Madison, will also host a Friday Big Fish Derby and BBQ on Friday, Aug. 2. Entry is $100 per boat at DB Marine Service or online at LEWT. Fishing is from dawn to 6 p.m.
Entries open for the popular Fall Brawl walleye fishing derby on Lake Erie at the LEWT weigh-ins, the DB Marine’s Big Fish Derby or online at LEWT. The Fall Brawl will run Oct. 19 through Dec. 8.
Confiscated fishing boat auctioned
The 2022 Ranger fishing boat, motor and trailer seized from Chase Cominsky, 37, of Hermitage, Pennsylvania, after Cominsky and fishing partner Jacob Runyon, 44, of Ashtabula, were arrested in a felony cheating scandal in the Lake Erie Walleye Trail Championship tournament in Cleveland in September 2022. The 22-foot boat was sold at auction this week by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
The winning bid was $82,000, with a final price of $96,289 including fees and taxes. The Division of Wildlife will use the funds to purchase a new Lake Erie law enforcement patrol vessel for Ohio Wildlife Officers.
In 2022, the Division of Wildlife received a report of individuals cheating during a LEWT fishing tournament in Cleveland. The resulting investigation prompted ODOW officials to seize Cominsky’s boat, and court penalties included a three-year fishing license revocation for Cominsky and Runyon.