The future of the fish responsible for Lake Erie’s claim to world-class supremacy is looking good as we begin the new year.

Year-end headlines from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife announced last year’s walleye hatch was the sixth largest of the past 38 years.

That is great news for Lake Erie’s walleye population and the corps of anglers who invest their spring, summer and autumn fishing time on the big lake.

Ohio’s Division of Wildlife uses trawl surveys to gauge spawning success and survival rates. The 2025 surveys were exceptional. “The results allow biologists to predict how many fish will enter the catchable population as 2-year-olds in 2027,” said ODNR in a recent news release.

Without question, walleyes are the primary target for anglers who visit Erie. Smallmouth bass, yellow perch and steelhead trout are popular, as well, but walleyes are the main attraction for the big fleet of charter boats and private vessels that push away from Erie docks every morning.

The news release reported Erie will maintain its reputation as Walleye Capital of the World thanks to above-average hatches in eight of the past 11 years. Many of this year’s hatchlings are projected to surpass the 15-inch minimum length requirement as early as spring 2027.

“Walleye fishing is expected to remain fantastic for many years,” the news release declared.

Long-time anglers know that although Erie today is the world’s greatest walleye fishery, that has not always been the case. By the 1960s, walleye numbers had dwindled severely due to over-fishing and pollution. Better water quality management and numbers-based fishing regulations helped reverse the decline and set the foundation for today’s thriving walleye population.

Yellow perch also were surveyed in the 2025 trawling. Erie’s west zone from Toledo to Huron revealed above-average numbers. ODNR judged last year as the seventh best in four decades.

Perch trawls in Erie’s central zone from Huron to Fairport Harbor and east zone from Fairport to the Ohio-Pennsylvania border showed below-average results. ODNR blamed the poor results partially on bad weather during trawling days.

“Many anglers caught limits of large yellow perch near central basin harbors in late fall 2025, especially near Lorain and Cleveland, indicating that good seasonal opportunities still exist despite the lower population size,” ODNR said.

RECYCLE CHRISTMAS TREES

ODNR also issued a reminder that live-cut Christmas trees can be repurposed as brush-pile habitat for fish, birds and mammals.

Northeast Ohioans can donate Christmas trees at the Mahoning County Green Team’s designated drop-off sites until Jan. 31. The Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office’s Community Service Program collects and preps trees for fish and wildlife habitat in partnership with ODNR.

Christmas trees can be anchored in lakes as cover for crappies, bass and other species, and set out as shelters for cardinals, chickadees, titmice, nuthatches and wrens. Rabbits and other animals also use brush piles as sanctuaries.

Those who wish to recycle their Christmas trees are advised to remove all ornaments, tinsel and other decorations.

Jack Wollitz writes about our region’s fishing every week for readers of the Trib and Vindy. Contact him at jackbbaass@gmail.com.