Ohio Mixed Bag: Lake Erie among top-rated bass lakes – Outdoor News
Birmingham, Ala. — There is a stretch of more than 50 miles of the St. Lawrence River (Thousand Islands) in New York, as well as eastern Lake Ontario, that constantly produces chunky, hard-fighting smallmouth bass. It’s this reputation for consistently giving up large numbers of quality bronzebacks that has earned the fishery the top spot in the 2024 Bassmaster Magazine 100 Best Bass Lakes standings.
The St. Lawrence River took top honors in the 2022 rankings.
After slipping to No. 2 last year, the St. Lawrence has reclaimed the coveted title – and rightfully so. In 2023 the unrivaled smallmouth fishery gave up more than 100 pounds to the top four competitors in the Bassmaster Elite Series tournament held there in late August; it took a staggering 105 pounds to win the event. The unrivaled smallmouth fishery appears to be getting even better, as five-bass tournament limits of more than 20 pounds now seem to be commonplace.
Anglers face a variety of factors – weather, time of year, moon phases and more – every time they cast a line. And like the factors that affect a day of fishing, there are many factors that affect a body of water and can push a good, even great, fishery, into a “must-visit” destination for an angler – the 100 Best Bass Lakes list.
Bassmaster breaks down its top lakes by region. In the northeastern division that encompasses Ohio, Bassmaster ranks Lake Erie No. 4 behind the St. Lawrence River, Lake St. Clair, and Lake Erie/Upper Niagara River in New York.
MORE COVERAGE FROM OUTDOOR NEWS:
New York’s St. Lawrence River ranked top bass water in U.S.
Program opening private lands to public hunting keeps growing in Ohio
Ohio DNR will invest more than $17 million in Lake Erie’s Bass Islands
Grants Available For Great Lakes Region
Milwaukee — The USDA Forest Service Eastern Region is announcing two requests for applications for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative projects. Through an agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency, the Forest Service anticipates that up to $6.2 million will be available for reforestation, ecosystem restoration, and forest health improvements on non-federal lands in the Great Lakes basin of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
Launched in 2010, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) strategically targets the biggest threats to the Great Lakes ecosystem and accelerates progress toward long-term restoration goals.
The Great Lakes form the world’s largest surface freshwater system and are the source of drinking water for more than 30 million people. Launched in 2010, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) strategically targets the biggest threats to the Great Lakes ecosystem and accelerates progress toward long-term restoration goals.
Applications can be submitted through two separate requests for applications:
• The CWMA Request for Applications funds partnership work to address invasive plant species that pose significant ecological threats in the Great Lakes basin.
• The Forest Restoration Request for Applications funds projects that mitigate forest insect and disease impacts, reduce runoff from degraded sites through green infrastructure, or restore and connect coastal and riparian forest habitats.
All applications for this funding opportunity must be received in Grants.gov by 6 p.m. Eastern, Sept. 18.
For more information: www.fs.usda.gov/main/r9/workingtogether/grants.
Andrew Wade Is Hart Memorial Scholar
Xenia, Ohio — The Larry A. Hart Memorial Scholarship Committee has announced they recently determined the recipient for 2024-2025.
Andrew Wade was selected from several excellent candidates, according to the committee. Andrew is the son of Gregory and Tiffany Wade of Lancaster, Ohio. He graduated from Fairfield Union High School and Hocking College and is presently in his last semester at West Virginia University in Morgantown, W.Va. He is majoring in wildlife and fisheries resources with emphasis in wildlife. He plans on furthering his education in the future and obtain his masters degree in studying waterfowl and their breeding grounds. Upon completing his masters, he strives to become a waterfowl biologist. He is following in the steps of his grandfather and father to become a third generation wildlife officer in Ohio. Andrew is an avid hunter, trapper, and angler. He is very big into conservation and wants to ensure future generations to be able to experience what he gets to enjoy today.
The Larry A. Hart Memorial Scholarship is a $1,000 scholarship that is sponsored by the Ohio Wildlife Officers Lodge No. 143 of The Fraternal Order of Police, and The Twin Valley Rod and Gun Club in Preble County. This scholarship is available to those persons who are graduating or have graduated from an accredited high school, and will enroll, or are enrolled in an accredited college majoring in law enforcement or natural resource studies.
This scholarship was established in memory of wildlife officer Larry A. Hart. At the time of his death, Hart was a 30-year veteran of the Ohio DNR Division of Wildlife. Those in the profession of wildlife management and law enforcement recognize his integrity and his commitment to service and conservation.
ODNR Plants Trees In All 88 Counties
Columbus — The Ohio DNR (ODNR) Division of Forestry coordinated a commemorative tree planting in each of Ohio’s 88 counties this spring. This tree planting initiative is to honor ODNR’s 75th anniversary. The majority of the trees were planted in April leading up to Arbor Day.
“ODNR is celebrating 75 years of conservation all year long and these tree plantings are a great way to emphasize the work the Division of Forestry has done over its history,” said Gov. Mike DeWine.
Source: https://www.outdoornews.com/2024/07/29/ohio-mixed-bag-lake-erie-among-top-rated-bass-lakes/
