Water quality for fishing good, but need for vigilance remains

April 30, 2023

As a fisherman, I certainly do have many opportunities to gauge the quality of the waterways here in Northeast Ohio and I care a great deal about actions that can affect them. So it was with great concern that I watched the aftermath of the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine in February. It was but the latest event that threatened the waters on which we rely for drinking, commerce and, yes, fishing. While East Palestine continues to weather the aftermath of the derailment and subsequent burn-off and clean-up, the waterways draining from the disaster site seem to be ...

Spring’s arrival signals beginning of fishing season

April 23, 2023

Signs of spring are always welcome, even after a relatively mild winter and especially for people who look forward to breaking out their fishing gear. I’ve always said the season’s early fishing trips are the best of the year regardless of whether any fish actually show up to play. Any day on the water in April is a plus on most people’s fishing calendar. Nature delivers amazing rewards for those of us who take advantage of glorious days in April when the sun is shining, the water is warming and the breeze is fresh. I have many years of April fishing experience to remind me why ...

Achieving the freshwater grand slam

April 16, 2023

Specialists are the rule rather than the exception today on our local reservoirs, even though the lakes offer good fishing for the three most popular species here in Northeast Ohio. Check the boats at Mosquito Lake as their skippers get ready for a day on the water. You will see lots of bass boats with decks strewn with rods rigged for largemouth. You will see many boats with bait buckets and spinning rods sporting jigs. You also will see a number of rigs set up for casting tiny jig-and-minnow combos hanging under adjustable floats. One thing you’ll rarely see, however, is the ...

Baseball’s rule changes a great step forward

April 11, 2023

You certainly could have described me as skeptical when Major League Baseball announced it would implement a pitch clock, among other rule changes, heading into this 2023 season. Right up until Opening Day, I was curious — if not unconvinced — about the effects it would have on making ...

Improve angling skills at fishing school

April 9, 2023

It’s one thing to walk the banks of a two-acre farm pond with expectations of catching a big largemouth bass, but quite another to break down a 7,000-acre lake with miles of fishy cover scattered from the shoreline out to the depths. For an experienced angler, deciding on a fishing location at a large lake is not too much more complicated than picking a spot at that small pond on your friend’s country property. But for many newbies, the variables presented by a massive body of water and the dozens of options in lures, lines, locations, rods and reels can make solving the bass ...

Lake Erie biting hard for spring walleye

April 2, 2023

He owns trophies from dozens of tournaments, including major national championships, so Sammy Cappelli has proven his mettle when it comes to finding and catching big walleyes regardless of the waterway or time of the year. Fresh from his big win in the Cabella’s Masters Walleye Circuit season opener on the Illinois River (see last week’s column for winning details), Cappelli offered a few pointers for Northeast Ohio anglers looking to jump start their 2023 walleye fishing. We asked him, “What’s the best bet this spring for Ohio walleye?” He didn’t even hesitate to ponder ...