CLEVELAND, Ohio — Fishing success has been a roller coaster ride around Northern Ohio, especially this year on the local steelhead trout streams and along the Lake Erie shoreline. For many anglers, that means learning a few new fishing tricks at the local fishing shows, including Vic’s Sport Center Open House, 2039 Tallmadge Road, Kent.
“I’m really looking forward to this Saturday’s seminar at Vic’s Sporting Goods, the biggest Ranger Boat dealership around,” said Ryan Buddie, a walleye tournament angler and Lake Erie fishing guide when the Northeast Ohio airline pilot can find time on the water.
“I’m on stage at 1 p.m., and introducing me will be one of my heroes, bass tournament pro and long-time television star Jimmy Houston from Southern Oklahoma,” said Buddie. “For a legion of fishermen, growing up watching Houston catch bass and other game fish was always a barrel of laughs. Jimmy’s a great bass angler, and a regular in the Bass Masters Classic each year.”
Vic’s Sporting Goods will have walleye guide Nicholas Zart on the Saturday stage at 11 a.m., followed by Houston (noon), Buddie (1 p.m.) covering angling electronics, Vance Kaloz (2 p.m.) on muskies and Dal Elko (3 p.m.) on crappie. Zart will return on Sunday at 11 a.m., followed by Kalz (noon) and Elko (1 p.m.).
The free show features a variety of boat and angling exhibits, and food and refreshments. Free parking is available the Brimfield Plaza at the corner of Tallmadge Road and Route 43.
Ohio’s ice fishing still on hold: The unseasonable weather has frustrated ice fishermen hoping to catch a few panfish are even a walleye or two through the ice on local lakes and Lake Erie this winter. It’s been especially frustrating for Lake Erie Island guides, many doubtful they’ll be in action in February.
Looking at the meager ice cover around the Great Lakes tells the story. Lake Erie as of this week only has 0.1% ice cover. The combined ice cover for all of the Great Lakes is just 5%. Lake Huron has the most, at 9%, followed by Lake Michigan at 7%.
There is still open water around the Lake Erie harbors, allowing fishermen to cast from the breakwalls and piers for steelhead trout and walleye. The best combination for steelhead is to cast marabou jigs tipped with maggots or nightcrawlers under a light stick float. Walleye are biting best in the Lake Erie Islands area, hitting diving plugs that are cast after dark and jigs trailing plastic swim baits.
Cleveland Metroparks ponds open: The Cleveland Metroparks ponds and lakes that usually offer good ice fishing at this time of year are still offering open water, and the stocked rainbow trout are still biting. Fish with jigs tipped with maggots or waxworms, or a small ball of PowerBait dough.
Wallace Lake in Berea received the largest trout stockings in December, and offers the best fishing. Other lakes where trout were stocked this year include Shadow, Ledge, Ranger and Judge’s lakes, as well as the Ohio & Erie Canal ponds.
Master Fly Tying Contest set: The best fly tiers in the region will match their skills at a free competition held on Saturday, Jan. 28, from 7-9 p.m. by the Cleveland Museum of Natural History Trout Club at Gormley’s Pub, 19500 Center Ridge Road, Rocky River.
Bring your own fly tying vise and tools, but not fly tying materials. Entrants will receive a bag of mystery fly tying materials, and will be judged for their unique creations. The title of Fly Master of Cleveland will be up for grabs. To register, visit: cmnh.org/troutclub.
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