Thursday, September 10th, 2026

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Thursday, September 10th, 2026

Breaking News for

Sportsmen Since 1968

John Hageman

Hot perch bite taking place on Ohio waters of Lake Erie

As predicted by Ohio Division of Wildlife fisheries biologists and seen the previous few summers, yellow perch have begun biting as the Lake Erie water temperatures are reaching their peak temperatures.
For around 10 years, yellow perch have been feeding more heavily on the Eurasian spiny water flea, a large, invasive zooplankton that has sharply increased in abundance in Lake Erie. However, observations by persistent perch anglers and Ohio Division of Wildlife creel survey clerks showed an uptick of perch catches have been occurring during the summer season when spiny water flea reproduction slows in hot water and their densities subside.

Hot perch bite taking place on Ohio waters of Lake Erie Read More »

Ohio’s commercial fishing is a heavily scrutinized business

At the annual Ohio Sea Grant Charter Captain Conference in March, Lake Erie Law Enforcement Supervisor Matt Leibengood gave a summary of his crew’s 2023 efforts on the lake, which included an extensive look at how much the commercial netters are monitored.
A great deal of the Division of Wildlife’s monitoring is conducted with the use of electronic vessel tracking technology that follows the movements of all the trap net boats in real time using GPS tracking “pingers.” This reporter recently accompanied Law Enforcement Investigator Jason Hadsell as he demonstrated the effectiveness of the vessel monitoring system, which told him where the active trap net boats were, permitting Hadsell to meet them as they arrived at their docks.

Ohio’s commercial fishing is a heavily scrutinized business Read More »

Fawning season is upon us, and motorists, outdoor users should take note

With does now in the middle of fawning season, another period of high seasonal deer movement is underway, proving that there is no off-season for being diligent about deer crossing the roads.   
As does approach the last few days of their pregnancy, they drive away last year’s offspring as they search for isolation to safely give birth to this year’s fawns. By chasing away all other deer, she can decrease the chances of attracting predators by having additional animals in the immediate area, allow the newborn fawn(s) to imprint on her alone, and be able to devote more attention to her helpless offspring.

Fawning season is upon us, and motorists, outdoor users should take note Read More »

CAFO issue, a driver of Western Lake Erie algal blooms, comes to a head at conference

Thirty years have passed since harmful algal blooms (HABs) began reforming in Western Lake Erie. In response, more than 11 years ago Ohio, Michigan, and Ontario signed an agreement promising to reduce Western Lake Erie dissolved reactive phosphorous (DRP) loading by 40%. In August 2014, the city of Toledo told its more than 400,000 water customers not to drink or even touch their treated water due to the presence of an algal toxin, microcystin.
Yet, former Ohio Sea Grant and Stone Laboratory Director Jeff Reutter said that progress to curb DRP, also known as total bioavailable phosphorus (TBP), has “not even been 1% yet.”

CAFO issue, a driver of Western Lake Erie algal blooms, comes to a head at conference Read More »

Grass carp spawning for first time in Central Basin of Lake Erie

In the April issue of the Journal of Great Lakes Research, an article appears that is entitled, “First documentation of grass carp spawning in Lake Erie’s Central Basin.” This scientific paper outlines the detection of the grass carp’s spawning range expansion into the Huron River.
Previously, these invasive species have been found to be spawning in the Maumee and Sandusky rivers, both Western Basin tributaries. Eggs, fry, and juvenile fish have all been captured there by fishery crews over the years.

Grass carp spawning for first time in Central Basin of Lake Erie Read More »

Ohio’s Division of Wildlife hosts open houses for CWD education

To present updated information about the status of the Ohio Division of Wildlife’s (DOW) response to chronic wasting disease (CWD), four open house sessions were held recently in northwest Ohio.
They were advertised through e-mail contacts with hunters from the DSA counties who bought licenses in the past couple of years, local landowners, with post cards, and even using radio ads. A postcard invited people to join the DOW to hear about 2023-2024 harvest and test results, future management plans, and participate in a question-and-answer session.

Ohio’s Division of Wildlife hosts open houses for CWD education Read More »

Ohio Sea Grant funds yellow perch experiment

Yellow perch is currently a hot commodity, with retail prices well above $20 per pound at the fish markets. With wild supplies not sufficient to meet demand, there has been increased efforts in recent years to develop aquaculture techniques for the species.
Yet, traditional aquaculture comes with high operating expenses, water pollution concerns, and parasite and/or disease outbreaks, creating variable production. This makes profitability uncertain, which has limited interest in starting such operations in the Midwest.

Ohio Sea Grant funds yellow perch experiment Read More »

NOAA warns that Western Lake Erie algae bloom could be severe this summer

As proof of the wet spring that has prevailed in northwestern Ohio, the all-time precipitation record for April was set this year in Toledo.
As a consequence of the high regional rainfall levels, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science first Western Lake Erie Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) forecast that was released on May 2 is calling for above-average HABs this summer.

NOAA warns that Western Lake Erie algae bloom could be severe this summer Read More »

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