Emerald shiner shortage persists; key dates for hunters, trappers

Here are some fall updates and outdoor opportunities to mark on your calendars:PERCH AND SHINER MINNOWSThe yellow perch bite remains elusive, with the lake frequently being subjected to strong winds causing muddy conditions over the traditional perch fishing territories.On many days, schools of what appear to be yellow perch seem ambivalent to any minnow being offered, regardless of the species — golden or emerald shiner. Spiny water fleas still seem to be the preferred forage that fills many perch stomachs when examined.The emerald shiner shortage is still being seen by many anglers, even after golden shiners, a.k.a. "goldies", have slowly earned their place as a suitable substitute when the perch decide to bite.The reasons for the emerald shiner shortage are not fully understood, but bait dealers agree that Superstorm Sandy in 2012 destroyed the schools that were assembled in the nearshore areas that September.Predation by the huge number of walleyes and other game fish also is likely in play, but there have historically been other times when the minnows persevered through high walleye populations.Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) is another possible cause, but Travis Hartman, Ohio Division of Wildlife's Lake Erie Fish Administrator, says that since VHS was detected in Lake Erie, there have been two peaks in shiner populations that were higher than before VHS was present.Equally encouraging is a reference to emerald shiner populations found in W.B. Scott and E.J. Crossman's 1973 Freshwater Fishes of Canada. They cited observations of Lake Erie commercial fishermen who related that "periods of scarcity followed by great abundance have been characteristic of (emerald shiner) populations for over 50 years."Testing is being done on Eastern gizzard shad, Lake Erie's most common forage fish, to see how microcystis (blue-green algae/cyanobacteria) blooms may be affecting this species. But similar testing has not yet been done on emerald shiners, which are known to feed upon blue-green algae.The VHS-testing requirements effectively rule out routine shipments of live bait across state lines, according to minnow wholesalers who were contacted for their explanation, because captive shiners are so fragile that many of them die before the results of the tests are available.DRAWINGS, DEER PROCESSINGThere are a few opportunities for sportsmen being offered by the Ohio Division of Wildlife and their partners this fall. Some simply require pre-registration, while others will require luck at being drawn for a limited number of available slots.Deer ProcessingThe Division of Wildlife is offering a free deer processing seminar on Oct. 18 at the Fitchville Conservation League Clubhouse, 2623 Jennings Road in New London, beginning at 6 p.m.The three-hour course will include field-dressing, skinning and basic home butchering techniques to make venison steaks, roasts and burger. The seminar is free but requires registration. Call Andrea Altman at (419) 429-8321.Trapping InstructionA trapping workshop is being offered by the Ohio State Trappers Association at Magee Marsh on Oct. 27-28. The workshop is free, but requires registration with instructor Doug Lee at (419) 333-6653.Participants need current licenses.Trapping Drawings Oct. 13, noon: For select public land beaver and otter trapping; held at the corresponding Ohio Division of Wildlife District offices with registration beginning at 11 a.m.Fore more information, contact District 2, Findlay, at (419) 424-5000 (Northwest counties); District 3, Akron, at (330) 644-2293 (Northern Ohio counties from Lorain/Ashland eastward).Oct. 17, 6:30 p.m.: Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area check station: 19100 County Highway 115, Harpster (1½ miles south of State Route 294).Oct. 25, 6:30 p.m.: Pickerel Creek Wildlife Area: 3451 County Road 256 (north from State Route 6), Vickery.Deer DrawingsDrawings for deer hunts at the Transportation Research Center in East Liberty will be held at 6 p.m. Oct. 17 at the West Mansfield Conservation Club, 700 South Main Street, West Mansfield.The chance to hunt on weekends during shotgun, muzzleloader and archery seasons from Dec. 1 to Feb. 3, 2019, and for separate, archery-only areas during the same period will be drawn.Daily Waterfowl Hunt DrawingsMagee Marsh Wildlife Area: 13229 State Route 2 at 5:15 a.m. on Monday/Wednesday/Friday from Nov. 10-30 and Dec. 1-22.Howard Marsh: Construction was completed this past spring at Howard Marsh (611 South Howard Road at State Route 2, Curtice), which will hold waterfowl hunts for the first time this fall. Drawings for Howard Marsh will be held at Magee Marsh at 5:15 a.m. on Monday/Wednesday/Saturday from Nov. 10-28 and Dec. 1-22.Pickerel Creek Wildlife Area: 3451 County Road 256 (north from State Route 6), morning hunts: 5:15 a.m. and afternoon hunts: 11 a.m. on Monday/Wednesday/Friday/Saturday from Oct. 15-27, Nov. 10-30 and Dec. 1-12.Muskrats, historically locally important fur-bearers, will be pursued by trappers at the Magee Marsh trapper workshop and in area marshes.