Tibbels proposes walleye fishing to be closed March 20-May 15 Will help replenish declining numbers

I would like to propose that walleye fishing be closed from March 20-May 15, to help replenish the declining numbers. Even with this action it may still be necessary to cut the daily bag limit in Ohio.

ODNR (Ohio Department of Natural Resources) estimates daily catches. Ohio has some of the best fishermen in the charter industry and private sector. There is no way law enforcement can police all illegal catches. Currently catch quotas and walleye population estimates are done by creel surveys, fish cleaning store surveys, and trawls done by state research vessels. Closing the season during the spawning period should help replenish walleye populations. I maintain catching walleye during the spawn is like "shooting fish in a barrel." In the past, large tournaments and small individual tournaments are held in Ohio waters during the spawn. Out of state fishermen come to Lake Erie Ohio since other states close their season to preserve their own walleye population.

Fishermen are not all to blame as the cormorants, gobies, and other invasive species have contributed to damage the aquatic wildlife population.

Anyone in favor of bringing back the walleye capital of the world, e-mail Roger Knight at roger.knight@dnr.state .oh.us.

Or mail this letter to:

Roger L. Knight; Lake Erie Fisheries Program Administrator; ODNR Division of Wildlife; Sandusky Fisheries Research Station; 305 E. Shoreline Drive; Sandusky OH 44870; 419-625-8062

[ ] Yes, I am in favor of shutting down the spawning season as a start to saving the walleye in the "Walleye Capital of the World."

Your input can be important to the future of fishing and tourism on Ohio waters of Lake Erie.

Jack Tibbels

Tibbels Marina and Charter Service

E. Harbor Rd., Marblehead