Why is this a bad time to go fishing? Basically, it’s too damn hot! But unless you can get out at 5 a.m., forget it. You might get a bite in the wee hours, but not later.
I don’t know how many times I’ve heard friends say: “It’s too hot to fish!” You know, the fish feel the same way.
That’s right. Most of the lakes around here shut down when the real heat (80s and 90s) rolls in.
“We’re up around 82 right now and the only species people are catching are catfish. Of course, people fish all night for catfish,” said Gene Marciniak, long time bait dealer on Indian Lake.
That was a couple of days ago. With this latest heat wave, who knows how high the water temperature will go.
“Typically fish will hang out around the thermocline (where warm water meets a layer of cold water),” said Marty Lundquist, biologist for the Ohio Division of Wildlife. “They are more comfortable.”
Also, cold water holds more dissolved oxygen than warm water. So if you were a crappie or bass, where would you want to be?
Lundquist said fish feed much more efficiently in cold water.
One has to wonder if we are having the kind of temperatures we have been experiencing in June-July, what will August bring?
And I wonder how the fishing will be. But that is a moot point since nobody will be fishing.
Two New Record Fish
There are two new Ohio fishing records, set in recent days. One is a green sunfish, weighing 1.2 pounds, caught by 9-year-old SueAnn Newswanger of Shiloh. She caught it from a Richland County farm pond on May 13. The old record was 0.99 pounds.
The second record fish came by bowfishing. On May 21, Josh Bowmar of Westerville shot a 43-pound Buffalo Sucker at Hoover Reservoir in Delaware County. The old record was 40.8 pounds.
All record fish are identified and weighed by qualified biologists at the Ohio Division of Wildlife and then certified by the Outdoor Writers of Ohio record fish committee.
Hunters teaching hunters
The Ohio Division of Wildlife is looking for volunteers to teach hunter education in a classroom setting. If you are an experienced hunter, this is a chance to help get more young hunters in the field and to pay it forward. Workshops for individuals interested in becoming a volunteer hunter/trapper education instructor in Ohio are offered at five locations across the state each year. Individuals must complete a volunteer instructor training workshop to become a certified instructor. Participants must be at least 18 years of age and have successfully completed a hunter education course. Call 1-800-WILDLIFE (945-3543) for additional information.
Outdoor Industry has Big Impact
According to BoatUS, quoting a report from the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis, the economic impact of the outdoor industry is now greater than agriculture or petroleum. The BEA report noted that the outdoor recreation industry includes boating, fishing, RVing, hunting, camping, hiking, bicycling and supporting activities.
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Open this year’s hunting season with a trip to Olde English, proud to sponsor outdoors columnist Jim Morris on Press Pros Magazine.com!
