1. sports
2. fishing

S.O.N.S. of LAKE ERIE,
SAVE OUR NATIVE SPECIES, INC.
PO BOX 3605
ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA 16508
TIME DATED MATERIAL
A not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization
NONPROFIT ORG.
US POSTAGE PAID
ERIE PA
PERMIT NO. 480
North East Marina
11950 East Lake Road
North East, Pa. 16428
“The Bucket” published monthly
by the S.O.N.S. of Lake Erie
(814)459-0666
owners
ONLY $60 PER SEASON FOR S.O.N.S. MEMBERS
Richard A. “Mickey” McMahon
Proprietor
454-3676
34 STATE ST - ERIE - PA - 16507
(814) 874-0698
David A. Brennan
City Council Member
Ken Handman, Owner
2730 W 12th St. • Erie, PA 16505
814.450.4152 or 814.838.0300
www.porterieboatworks.com
Erie’s Largest Full Service Boat Repair
GEM CITY
OUTDOORSMEN
CLUB
6701 Van Camp Rd.
Fairview, PA
814- 474-3126
814- 474-2492
since 1967
The City of Erie
City Hall
Paid for by Friends of
Dave Brennan
Silkscreen Unlimited
1701 West 8th St
Erie, PA 16505
814.453.4543
800.724.1683
fax 814.455.3911
www.silkscreenunlimited.com
Screen Printing • Embroidery • Advertising Specialty
Promotional Products & Awards
626 State St, Rm. 104
Erie, PA 16501-1128
814-870-1291
[email protected]
317 Peninsula Dr. • Erie, PA 16505
(814) 838-2850
West End Hardware, LLC
1912 Liberty Street
Erie, PA 16502
Jeff Earll, Jr.
Phone: 814/452-2342
Fax: 814/461-1289
Cell: 814/881-4569
[email protected]
Presque Isle Passage
CAMPGROUND
ULTRACRAFT
FISHING
BOATS
Just 500 feet N of I-90 (Exit 18)
Full Hookups • Pull-Thru Sites
30 & 50 AMP Service • Modern Restrooms
Laundry Facilities
Cabins • Store • Rec Room
MISTY HARBOR PON-
814/833-3233
Tohatsu Outboard TOON BOATS
Finncraft
713 West 26th Street
Phone 455-1007
www.thomasleeprinting.com
JOHN FRIES
3027 WEST 12th ST • ERIE, PA 16505-3892
(814) 833-7749
DRAFT WAGON perfect for
Graduations • Stags • Weddings
USED CARS & TRUCKS
Jeffrey Howell
Owner
Gary & Dottie
Heubel
ICE • POP • CHIPS
AUTO SALES, INC.
1500 West 12th Street
Erie, PA 16501
BEST LITTLE
LURE HOUSE
IN PA
UNLIMITED ON-THE-WATER TOWING
24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE
LICENSED - INSURED - ACCREDITED
• TRANSIENT DOCKAGE
• BOATING SUPPLIES
• NAUTICAL CHARTS
• BOOKS AND GIFT ITEMS
YOUTH FIELD DAY AUGUST 17th 2013
1540 West 26th St.
Erie, PA 16508
Presque Isle Auto
Paint & Collision
453-4302
KEGS & TAPS
WOLVERINE PARK MARINA
& SHIP’S STORE
REMINDER
KEY WEST
BOATS
(814) 453-6387
VHF CH 16
34 STATE ST
ERIE, PA 16507
3102 CHERRY STREET
ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA
Port Erie Boat Works
The Gem City Outdoorsmen Club will be holding their annual
Youth Field Day on August 17th from 8 AM to 2 PM at 6701
Van Camp Road, Fairview, PA. Kids will enjoy a day of fishing,
archery, shooting, canoeing, trapping and other activities. Free
T-shirts, lunch and door prizes will be provided. Call Todd Zonna
at 814-323-5115 to register a kid.
www.lakeshoretowing.com
Beals-McMahon
Painting
“A Replenishing Species”
814/825-3456
DOCKAGE - STORAGE
TACKLE - BAIT - ICE
SERVICE - GASOLINE
FISHING LICENSES
BOAT SALES
(814) 725-8244
Fax (814) 725-2957
Volume 10 • Issue 7
JULY 2013
NO GENERAL
MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS
UNTIL SEPTEMBER.
GOOD FISHING!!
SOUTH ERIE BEER
North East Marine
Services, Inc.
John Fries Paul Fries Bill Goodwill
John (Scotty) Szkotnicki
• Specializing in Automotive Repair •
• Tune ups and Carburetor Service •
• Fuel Injection Cleaning • Dayton Tires •
• Towing Service • PA State Inspection •
Erie’s New Perch Fishing Head Boat
“The O’Danny O”
Get $3 off with this coupon
Docked in the East Slip, foot of State St
Bait included
Call 814-450-3571 for more info
On line at http://Tinytimfishing.com
PETER S. HOWARD
CAI,AARE, S/CRPA
Realtor • Appraiser • Auctioneer
Lake Erie Custom Charters
Office (716) 769-7300
Fax (716) 769-7341
Cell (716) 499-7447
Toll Free 1 (888) 876-4999
The ultimate Lake Erie experience...
Welcome aboard!
6821 West Lake Road
Fairview, PA 16415
814-474-5623
10438 Main St, #1 Alexander Findley Square
PO Box 496, Findley Lake, NY 14736-0496
[email protected]
www.findleylake-property.com
12 East Dobbins Landing Erie, PA 16507
(814) 459-4440 • Fax (814) 459-4441
[email protected]
We are here for the fishing community.
We strive to keep emerald shiners on hand every day.
We offer a broad selection of fishing tackle.
We offer ice and various items at our concession area.
We offer on the water dock-side boat parking.
We are going to be your preferred Bait & Tackle center.
Edinboro outdoors
Sporting Goods
Ken
Chernicky
Buy • Sell • Trade
Jim
Buschak
211 Mill Street • Edinboro, PA 16412
(814) 734-4727 • (814) 734-4927
www.edinborooutdoors.com
Monday, Friday, 9 - 8 • Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday, 9 - 6 • Saturday, 9 - 5
PRESQUE ISLE
MARINA FUEL SERVICE
814-833-8981
gas, diesel, boating supplies, ice,
snacks
Party
Boat
Fishing
Aboard
$32 Adults • $27 Seniors • $22 Kids
$3 off with this coupon
All bait is included
details: 814/881-7611
www.EdwardJohnPerchFishing.com
WORKING TO IMPROVE FISHING AND THE FISHERY OF LAKE ERIE FOR 31 YEARS SINCE 1981
The
Official Publication of the S.O.N.S.
VOLUME 10 • ISSUE # 7
JULY 2013
Bucket
S.O.N.S. PHONE NUMBER 814-453-2270 (ALSO FAX NUMBER)
sonslakeri @aol.com • www.sonsoflakeerie.org
The S.O.N.S 2013
membership badge
commemorating the 200th anniversary of
the battle of Lake Erie is available at all of
our meetings or events or by mailing $2 to
S.O.N.S. of Lake Erie, PO Box 3605, Erie,
PA 16508, with your membership form and
money, to cover mailing costs.
JOIN
A
FRIEND
RECORD OF MEMBERSHIP
Name
Address
City
 Renew  New
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________
Phone
The Lake Erie Committee is composed of the managers from
the Lake Erie Border States including the Province of Ontario.
The committee sets the harvest quotas for Lake Erie.
_________________________________
$5.00 ADULT
THE S.O.N.S. ARE BATTING 3000
State
Date
___________
Zip ________________
_______________________________
$4.00 SR. CITIZEN (over 65)
$3.00 JR. (under 16)
RETIRED PFBC WCO
PASSED AWAY
Retired WCO John Bowser passed
away on Friday, June 28. John retired
in 2002 after serving 14 years with
the PFBC. John was living in Rocky
Mountain, NC. John was named Officer
of the Year in 2001.
Pennsylvania is represented on LEPMAG by Dave Mico, PFBC
Fisheries Manager, Chuck Murray and Mike Hosack, biologists
from the PFBC’s Lake Erie unit, Eric Obert from PA Sea Grant,
charter captains Pete Alex and Ralph Eades and Jerry Skrypzak
from the S.O.N.S.
John worked with the S.O.N.S. on
many projects. One of his most notable
accomplishments was organizing and
implementing stream bed improvement
by building habitat in Walnut Creek
LEPMAG has met 10 times and are completing a computer model
to be used for estimating walleye stocks in Lake Erie that will be
presented to the Lake Erie Committee for use in setting walleye
harvest levels. The final report on walleye management should
be ready for submission to the Group for approval at the next
meeting.
UPCOMING EVENTS
(L to R) S.O.N.S. volunteers Larry Lipinski, Jack Klapthor and Gerry Vollentine pose for a
picture after selling the 3000th S.O.N.S. membership at the June 28th Erie Sea Wolves
baseball game. June 28th was the “Environmental Night” at the ball park. This is the second
year in a row that our membership sales team has sold over 3000 memberships.
S.O.N.S. PROJECT MAKES “WEIRD LIST”
The SONS has had a program at the Erie County Library for over ten years. A library patron
may check out a rod, reel and tackle box just like a book. All you have to do is present your
library card and you can use the equipment for two weeks. The tackle box contains a coupon
that can be used to obtain free bait.
This program became the top of the list of weird things you can get at a public library on
the NPR website: http://www.npr.org/blogs/theprotojournalist/2013/06/26/195517501/weirdpublic-library-stuff-check-it-out
“Weird Public Library Stuff: Check It Out” - by Linton Weeks June 26, 201311:11 AM
Thurs. August 1st 9:45-12 Villa
Day Camp PISP Waterworks Pond
Volunteers Needed
Mon. August 5th 5-? Lawrence
Park Fishing Club S.O.N.S.
Volunteers’ Picnic
Thurs. August 8th 10-2 Millcreek
Summer Rec. Day 4 Cabin# 4 PISP
Volunteers needed
PLEASE
Sure, at certain public libraries around the country you can check out ebooks and
audiobooks and DVDs and iPads and Nooks and Kindles. Paintings to hang on your
walls at home? Yep. Bridal magazines? Yep, those too. You can also check out a bunch
of strange stuff, including:
1) A fishing pole from the Erie County Public Library in Erie, Pa.
2) An energy meter at the Lake County Public Library in Leadville, Colo.
3) Puppets at the Canton Public Library in Canton, Mich.
4) Free passes to: state parks at Georgia public libraries; Chicago area museums
and the Brookfield Zoo at River Forest Public Library; and area attractions in
Fairfield, Conn.
5) Seeds for your garden at the Pima County Public Library in Tucson, Ariz
6) Camping gear at the Perham Area Public Library in Perham, Minn.
7) Snowshoes at the Alice M. Ward Memorial Library in Canaan, Vt.
Sat. July 27th 9-12 Discover
Presque Isle Family Fishing event
Waterworks pond Volunteers
needed.
NOTE: There was a mistake in
the upcoming events handout
given at our May meeting. Our
Discover PI date should have
read Saturday, July 27th.
DON’T LITTER.
Lake Erie Perca Management Advisory Group Meeting in Erie June 26 & 27
2013
_______________________________________________________________________
L.E.P.M.A.G. GROUP MET IN ERIE
The Lake Erie Perca Management Advisory Group met in Erie
at the T.R.E.C. on June 26th and 27th. LEPMAG is a group of
stakeholders in the Lake Erie fishery. The group is composed
of scientists, biologists, fishery managers, commercial
fishermen and sport fishermen from New York, Pennsylvania,
Ohio, Michigan and Ontario. The purpose of LEPMAG is to
study problems related to our perch and walleye populations
on Lake Erie and to advise the Lake Erie Committee on the
management of these species.
TODAY!
MAIL TO: S.O.N.S., PO BOX 3605, ERIE, PA 16508
S.O.N.S. VOLUNTEERS’ PICNIC SET
The S.O.N.S. of Lake Erie Annual Volunteers’ picnic will be held on Monday August 5th at the Lawrence Park Fishing Club
from 5 PM until ? This annual event is a small token to honor those S.O.N.S. members who have so generously volunteered
their time and resources to further the mission of this club. Note: The Lawrence Park Fishing Cub is located on the bank of
Lake Erie just North of East Lake Rd. (Route 5) on Golf Course Road.
One hundred and sixty one S.O.N.S. volunteers have helped out at over 30 scheduled events working close to 3000 hours
since August of 2012 . In addition to our scheduled events our volunteers sat at over 20 gun shows as well as other public
gatherings to sell SONS memberships, raffle tickets and merchandise. Our volunteers also spend countless hours at our
hatchery. Other volunteers are also active in other organizations like 3-CU, Steelhead Association, Erie Pennsylvania Sport
Fishing Association and more groups that have the same goals as us- Improving the Lake Erie Fishery.
Below is a list of those who have volunteered over the last year and are invited to attend our annual volunteers’ picnic
on August 5th. If you have volunteered since last August, and your name does not appear on the list below, please call
814-453-2270 so we can add your name to the guest list. PLEASE CALL 814-453-2270 BYJULY 30th IF YOU CANNOT
COME TO THE PICNIC.
Don,Benczkowski
Ron,Bolash
Bill,Brown Jr
Frank,Burbules
Deborah,Carter
Joe,Chmielewski
Ralph,Corvaglia
Mary,Downey
Bob,Flowers
Trent,Glover
Casey,Grabinski
Kevin,Grace
Jim,Harris
Diane,Heeter
Dottie,Heubel
Joe,Jaruszewicz
Dave,Kaschak
Rob,Kisiel
Vic,Kraus
Elaine,Kuzma
Francis,Licsko
Audrey,Lubak
Kevin,Lubak
Bob,Luce
Larry,Lund
Tom,Masi
Chuck,Miller
Ken,Minns
Rich,Nyberg
Ben,Pamula
Tom,Pruzenski
Will,Richardson
Mark,Schiller
Rebecca,Skrypzak
Tammy,Smith
Joe,Springer
Al,Swab
George,Trost
Gary,Vollentine
Randy,Work
Bob,Zawadzki
Dan,Benczkowski
Sam,Brady
Steve,Brown
Hannah,Burbules
Zack,Carter
Bill,Chodubski
Bob,David
Tom,Duda
Ralph,Friend
Brian,Goodman
Connor,Grabinski
Ray,Halt
Jason,Heckathorne
Brenden,Heidt
Gary,Heubel
Paul,Jenkins
Dick,Kelley
Ed,Kissell
John,Krupinski
Frank,Kuzma
Larry,Lipinski
Ava,Lubak
Lexi,Lubak
Greg,Luce
Pat,Lupo Sr
Jim,Mathews
Diane,Miller
Rich,Muse
Bill,Oshinsky
Terry,Pfeffer
Jim,Ragen
Eric,Robbins
Mark,Signorino
Steve,Skrypzak
Alexa,Soles
Abby,Stadler
Ben,Szobody
Rich,Turko
Don,Vollmer
Carl,Wyant & Son
Jared,Bliley
Rich,Brine
John,Brugger
Bert,Camp
Marshall,Chase
Mark,Cifranick
Dick,Donnelley
Mike,Felege
Ray,Friend
Robert,Goodman
Kelsey,Grabinski
Cas,Haraburda
Pete,Hedlund
Bill,Henderson
Paul,Holtz
Dave,Jurkiewicz
Herb,Kightlinger
Jack,Klapthor
Katie,Krupinski
John,Larese
Allie,Lubak
Doug,Lubak
Mia,Lubak
Mary,Luce
Dick,Mando
Jim,Mattson
Madison,Miller
Dave,Nawrocki
John,Ott
Ken,Plonski
Gary,Raszmann
Joe,Rula
Alma Jean,Skrypzak
Tom,Skrzypczak
Jacob,Soles
Audrey,Stadler
Wes,Tolbert
Doug,Vest
Chas,Wagner
Buddy,Yurcak
Jack,Bock
Bill,Brown
Joe,Bruno
James,Carpenter
Sue,Chase
Chuck,Cook
John,Downey
Jeremy,Figal
Bob,Gibbs
Seth,Goodman
Kyle,Grabinski
George,Harris
Bob,Heeter
Maureen,Herbst
Leroy,Hoover
Dave,Karle
Mildred,Kightlinger
Frank,Kneidinger
Jeff,Kujawinski
Bob,Leonard
Alyssa,Lubak
Emily,Lubak
Ron,Lubak
Maygen,Luce
Char,Markiewicz
Justin,Mattson
Ron,Miller
Bob,Nielsen
Robert,Owens
Kevin,Pora
Jonathan,Reber
John,Schack
Jay,Skrypzak
Rich,Smith
Kevin,Soles
John,Staranio
Don,Tombaugh
Ron,Vethman
Bob,Wellington
Ray,Yurcak
PERRY 200 FISHING
CHALLENGE UPDATE
Leader Board
More than 100 fish have been entered into the
Perry 200 Fishing Challenge as of this date. There
are five weeks left to enter. If you catch a big fish
in one of the twenty categories, enter it into the
contest. It’s free! There are about six weeks left.
Just a reminder S.O.N.S. members who do not
win, but have entered a fish, will be eligible for
a consolation drawing which will be held at our
September General Membership Meeting. Below
are photos taken of two contest entries.
For more information and an updated leader
board, visit our web page at sonsoflakeerie.org.
Dallas James Rearic entered this 41 inch
carp which he caught off of the North Pier
PLEASE USE
THE LINE RECYCLE
RECEPTACLES
During one of our recent kids’
fishing clinics, we noticed pieces
of line on the ground around the
Waterworks Ponds within the
shadow of the fishing line recycling
stations. The stations were built by
Eagle Scout Martin Bonner of Troop
182 BSA in 2010. He and the scout
team built 23 of these stations that
were placed at Elk Creek, Trout
Run, Presque Isle, the South Pier
and the Public Dock. Loose fishing
line is a hazard to wildlife. Please
dispose of your unwanted fishing
line at these stations.
James Stahon holds the 33 inch brown trout
that he caught off of the point in 60 feet of
water off of the Point. He used a green/
gold custom crawler harness with 1.5 oz
inline weight off the planer board 15-18’
down. There were no fin clips on the fish.
T.R.E.C. STURGEON GET NEW HOME
Thanks to a $3500 grant from the S.O.N.S. of Lake Erie the
sturgeons in the aquaponics lab at the Tom Ridge Environmental
Center have a new home. The fish had out grown their tanks. The
grant provided funding to purchase a new 750 gallon tank.
The young lake sturgeon moved into the Aquaponics Lab at the
Tom Ridge Environmental Center in 2011. They came from the
Cleveland Museum of Natural History. The fish were originally
provided by the Wisconsin DNR to the Cleveland museum.
Space restraints in Cleveland however, forced the transfer to the
Ridge Center. There is a female and a smaller male in tanks at
the T.R.E.C. The female sturgeon is outgrowing the male fish.
The female appears to have been “hogging” their food so they
have been separated. Regional Science Consortium and DCNR
Naturalists are studying the fish.
You may visit the Aquaponics Lab at the T.R.E.C. Center by asking
the volunteers at the visitor’s desk for a tour of the lab.
Presque Isle State Park Naturalist Ray Bierbower poses alongside the new
750-gallon tank purchased by a $3500 grant from the S.O.N.S. of Lake
Erie. Note the female sturgeon that is visible in the viewing glass .
PFBC REMINDS BOATERS THAT
B.U.I. IS A CRIME
HARRISBURG, Pa. (June 27)
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC)
reminds boaters that operating a boat under the influence
(BUI) is a serious crime and a threat to public safety.
“Boating under the influence is no different than driving a
car after someone’s been drinking,” said PFBC Executive
Director John Arway. “Alcohol impairs an individual’s
ability to operate a vehicle safely. For the safety of all
individuals on the water, please do not operate your boat,
jet ski, canoe or kayak if you’ve been drinking.”
So far this year, five individuals have been charged
with boating under the influence. PFBC waterways
conservation officers arrested 60 individuals in 2012 and
62 in 2011 for boating under the influence.
“Many boaters may not know that the threshold for BUI
is the same as with motor vehicles – 0.08 percent,” said
Corey Britcher, director of the PFBC Bureau of Law
Enforcement. “Fish and Boat officers regularly patrol
waterways and will have an increased presence around
this holiday.”
If convicted of boating under the influence, operators
could face fines and jail time.
Pennsylvania has more than 331,000 registered boats.
MIKE BLEECH SAYS...
GREAT LAKES WATER LEVELS RISING
The following was posted June 27th, 2013 at 8:38 pm
by Bill Steffen under Bill’s Blog, News, Weather
Here’s the link: http://blogs.woodtv.com/2013/06/27/
great-lakes-water-levels-continue-upward-trend/
The water level of all five Great Lakes (and Lake St. Clair) are now
higher than one year ago. The level of Lake Michigan/Huron gained
another inch in the past week. The level is up 4” in the last month
and it’s now one inch above the level of one year ago. The lake is
now 13” above the record lowest June level of 1964. It’s still 18”
below the 100-year average (remember I linked to this article from
the Milwaukee Journal). The article states “The St. Clair (River) has
been heavily dredged for over a century, and the federal government
has long acknowledged that this human meddling in the riverbed
has led to a permanent drop of about 16 inches from Michigan and
Huron’s long-term average. A Canadian conservation group created
by property owners from northern Lake Huron’s Georgian Bay hired
its own engineering firm to conduct a study of what was going on in
the St. Clair River back in 2004. That study said the water lost from
the lakes by expanding the river channel was actually much greater
than 16 inches – and getting worse.” If this is to be believed, without
the dredging, we’d be at or even above average water levels right now.
Lake Superior has had the 2nd biggest spring water level rise in
recorded (back to 1918) history. It’s also up 4” in the last month (each
inch is 552 billion gallons!) and is now six inches below the long-term
average. It’s now 18” above the lowest June recorded level (in 1926)
and 18” below the highest recorded June level (in 1986). Lake Erie
is up 6” in the last month, 3” inches higher than at this time last year
and just 3” below the average June level. Lake Ontario has gained
a whopping TEN INCHES of water in the last month. Ontario is 11”
higher than one year ago and 5” ABOVE the century average.
Erie Times News outdoor writer, Mike
Bleech wrote in a recent column
that he uses an ice chest to carry
live minnows. He points out that an
ice bucket is larger and helps keep
the minnows cool. Emerald shiners
are especially sensitive to heat. Add
some ice and they will last longer.
You’ll need an aerator too. It might
be worth a try.
WANTED:
Old photographs of Erie’s WaterfrontShips, Boats, Buildings, Fishing and
Fishermen, Railroads, etc. Call Jerry
at 814-452-6291. I would like to
borrow and scan them for my slide
presentations.
Dr.Stuart A. Ludsin, Assistant Professor
of Biology,from Ohio State University’s
Department of Evolution, Ecology and
Organismal Biology addressed the
LEPMAG Committee in Erie regarding
the next phase of the group’s work,
developing a yellow perch management
policy. Dr. Ludsin talked about his
research and findings during his perch
studies.
they are of higher quality. It appears that
warm winters having a negative effect
by reducing egg quality. One possible
reason is that female yellow perch during
short warm winters do not have the time
to develop their ovaries. It has also been
shown that the perch larvae produced
after warm winters are smaller and less
viable than those resulting from a longer
colder season.
He talked about the potential impacts of
climate change on fish in the Great Lakes,
and focusing particularly on two predicted
impacts: warming temperatures and an
increase in extreme precipitation. Shorter
winters and fewer days below freezing
and little or no ice cover as well as
record high temperatures are impacting
yellow perch. Warmer air temperatures
also lead to warmer water temperatures,
which could impact coolwater species
like yellow perch and walleye.
Dr. Ludsin pointed out that warmer
temperatures are producing harmful
algae blooms. These are already a
common occurrence in Lake Erie’s
western basin, where warm, shallow
waters and nutrient runoff from the
surrounding agricultural lands. The
effects of these blooms on Lake Erie’s
fish community by impacting how fish
forage for food and the toxins produced
by the algae severely impact egg and
larval development.
His studies have shown that very warm
winters are followed by failed year
classes of both walleye and yellow
perch the next spring, whereas good
year-classes only occur following long,
cold winters. Year-class strength is an
index used by agencies that signifies
how many juvenile fish are present in
the ecosystem during late summer,
essentially serving as an indicator of
that spawning season’s reproductive
success. That same index is also used
by fisheries managers to help determine
how many adults will recruit (survive) to
the fishery two years later, and to help
set quotas on how many adults can be
harvested during a particular fishing
season.
Algae blooms also produce areas of
hypoxia (lack of oxygen) or dead zones
in Lake Erie. These dead zones produce
areas where food is scarce causing a low
fat store in perch thereby affecting their
ability to survive through the winter.
Dr.Ludsin said that studies have also
shown that yellow perch eggs that
are produced after a long winter are
significantly larger than eggs that are
produced after a very short winter, and
For Sale:
1970’s 19 foot fiberglass boat with 65
hp Johnson outboard and trailer $600
Engine needs some work. Call Joe at
814-602-8418
Boat- 19 ft Lowe with walk through
bow, 84 hp and 9.5 hp Evinrude
motors, trailer, hummingbird fish finder
and assorted gear. Like new condition
only used 25 hours. Boat has been
stored in a garage since purchase.
Asking $10,000 call 814-474-5482
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY PROFFESOR
ADDRESSED L.E.P.M.A.G.
LIBERTY PIER ACCESS AREA IS GOOD FOR KIDS
On July 2nd Sister Pat Lupo from the Neighborhood Art House loaded 20 inner city kids onto an
EMTA trolley bus taking them to Liberty Pier where they were met by S.O.N.S. volunteers. The kids
were provided with rods, reels, bait and instructions by our S.O.N.S. guys. They caught fish and had
a great time then loaded back on the bus and then back to the Neighborhood Art House. It worked
great. One girl even caught a 15” largemouth bass.
Dr. Ludsin also talked about changes to
Lake Erie brought about by the Clean
Water Act that brought about reduced
phosphorous levels in the Lake. Recently
however, phosphate loads are increasing
with 75% entering the Lake via the
Maumee River. Phosphates are essential
to a healthy fishery. Too much is not good
however. The filtering by zebra mussels
for example are minimizing some of the
effects.
The clearer water facilitates predation on
yellow perch larva by white perch which
are growing in abundance in the Western
Basin of Lake Erie due to the warmer
climate. White perch thrive in brackish
waters and do not do well in cold water.
They come from the Atlantic Coast and
entered the Great Lakes through the
Welland Canal in the 1980’s. Walleye
are their usual predators but reduced
walleye stocks have allowed them to
flourish. After a decade of poor walleye
hatches it is estimated the stocks have
diminished to an estimated 17,000,000.
Dr. Ludsin stated that the plumes of
sediment from the Maumee are important
right now to hide newly hatched from
their predators.
Yellow perch are on the decline in the
Western Basin but improving in the
Central Basin.
He concluded his presentation by saying
that more research and monitoring are
critical to reduce the uncertainty of
yellow perch success. The LEPMAG
efforts will now be directed to the study
of yellow perch.
We also learned that the Ohio Department
of Natural Resources has tagged and
released 6700 yellow perch near Fairport
Harbor. PIT tags (Passive Integrated
Transponders) were placed in the fish.
The PIT tags are a tiny wire that is not
visible externally. Fish are scanned
electronically for the tags. Chuck Murray
from the Lake Erie Unit said that he will
periodically scan perch that are being
cleaned at Poor Richard’s Bait and
Tackle. The study is being conducted
to monitor migration patterns of perch.
One fish has already been found off of
Ashtabula which is 30 miles from where
they were released.
A representative of the Ontario
Commercial Fishermen stated that
the demand for rainbow smelt has
been down so that they have not been
targeted. This may account for the large
numbers that are being caught by local
anglers while perch fishing.