wading across slippery rocks and protect, restore and enhance wetlands
other debris commonly found on their property through perpetual
along river bottoms. easements, 30-year easements or Land
• Do not fish alone; fish with a Treatment Contracts. The U.S.
wading or boating partner. Let Department of Agriculture (USDA)
friends or family members know Natural Resources Conservation
Walleye madness
their fishing activities elsewhere
across the state as warmer tempera-
of your fishing and boating plans. Service manages the program and
The annual wall-
tures gradually emerge. Here are some
• Be properly licensed and know provides technical and financial sup-
eye runs up the
basic safety tips to keep in mind while
the fishing regulations. Avoid port to help landowners who partici-
Maumee and
wading and fishing from boats during
alcohol consumption and be pate in WRP.
Sandusky rivers in
early spring:
aware of local ordinances and The goal of WRP is to achieve the
northwestern Ohio is both the kickoff for
• Dress properly for the water tem-
state laws that prohibit open dis- greatest wetland functions and values,
— and a highlight of — the fishing sea-
perature instead of the air temper-
plays of alcoholic beverages and along with optimum wildlife habitat.
son for thousands of anglers from all
ature to guard against the effect of
public consumption of alcohol. Enrolled lands are mostly high-risk
over Ohio and adjoining states who
hypothermia should you unex-
• Keep available extra clothing, be agricultural lands located in flood-
wade into waters literally filled with fish
pectedly fall into the water.
prepared to handle an emergency prone areas that are then restored
answering nature’s call to head upstream
• Wear an approved inflatable life
situation if it arises, and stay to wetlands.
and spawn.
vest, life jacket or flotation coat
informed of current and forecast In addition to paying the landowner
I’ve joined those ranks exactly once in
anytime while wading in a river
weather and water conditions. for the easement, the U.S. Department
my 40 years of fishing Ohio — and I
or stream and anytime while on
Visit the ODNR Web site at of Agriculture pays up to 100% of the
use the term ranks literally, for never
a boat.
www.ohiodnr.com for more informa- cost of restoring the wetland. In Ohio,
have I been lined-up elbow-to-elbow
• Wear a pair of quality-made chest
tion and fishing regulations. WRP was offered for the first time in
with as many fisherman as I was that
waders and tighten a cinch belt at
Remember: there is a four walleye per 1995. To date, Ohio has 326 WRP ease-
early April day many years ago. I
the waistline outside the waders
day limit, and sunrise to sunset legal ments covering 20,143 acres.
caught a few fish, but it just isn’t my
to help prevent them from filling
fishing hours in effect through April for One of the primary concerns of
style of angling. Same with tourna-
with water should a water immer-
Lake Erie and its tribs. And the landowners considering participating
ments; I don’t fish competitively. I fish
sion occur. Water weighs about 8
Maumee and Sandusky rivers are heav- in WRP is over control of the wetland
for the peace and quiet and cama-
pounds per gallon and can make
ily patrolled by undercover wildlife area. The landowner retains ownership
raderie I find with a close friend or
walking to the shoreline extreme-
officers who just may be the fellow just and controls access of the land. The
family member or two. It’s the same
ly difficult if waders fill with
downstream who helps you net that landowner must agree to implement a
with hunting. It’s just my style.
cold water.
snagged — and therefore illegal — fish. Wetlands Reserve Plan of
But that doesn’t make it any less fun
• Never wear waders while fishing
for those fishermen who enjoy partici-
Want wetlands?
Operations (WRPO), a conserva-
from a boat.
tion plan that identifies how
pating in their sport with plenty of
If you are interested in develop-
• Carry a large walking stick or
the wetland functions and
other like-minded anglers. The fishing
ing a wetland, the Ohio
wading staff to help provide bal-
how the area will be restored,
can be fast and furious! It can also
Division of Wildlife
ance while wading in a river. Use
improved and protected.
be dangerous.
(ODOW) and Natural
a pair of metal crampons or
Interested landowners
Resource
Play it safe when wading for walleye cleats, which fit over
should contact a NRCS
Conservation
The arrival of the popular
the boot portion of
Wetland Team member or an
Service
“walleye run” along the Maumee and
waders, to sig-
ODOW private lands biologist.
(NRCS)
Sandusky rivers and other early spring
nificantly
Landowners wanting to participate
fishing opportunities is underway, and
improve
should call one of the following repre-
anglers are advised by the Ohio
traction
sentatives in the next few months:
Department of Natural Resources to
when
NRCS Wetland Team Members: Barbara
Baker, 419-429-8306; Danielle Balduff,
observe some basic safety tips while
330-830-7700; Gordon Starr, 937-836-
wading and boating in pursuit of their
5428. Ohio’s Private Lands Biologists:
favorite gamefish.
would
Central Ohio, Dan Crusey, 614-644-
The walleye run traditionally hits its
like to help.
3925; Northwest Ohio, Jeff Burris, 419-
peak and attracts the largest numbers
The NRCS
429-8367 and Mark Witt, 419-429-8362;
of anglers to the Maumee and
Wetlands Reserve
Northeast Ohio, Dan McMillen, 330-
Sandusky rivers during late March
Program (WRP) is a
644-2293; Southeast Ohio, Lloyd
through mid April. Boat anglers and
voluntary conservation
Culbertson, 740-589-9957; Southwest
wading anglers also begin to increase
program that offers landown-
Ohio, Heidi Devine and Diana Malas,
ers the means and opportunity to
937-372-9261.
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The walleye fishing is underway on the Maumee and
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Sandusky rivers in northwest Ohio.
Ohio’s Country Journal • April 2009 •Country Life 35
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