MORE THAN 9,300,000 SAUGEYE AND WALLEYE FINGERLINGS RELEASED INTO OHIO WATERWAYS TO ENHANCE ANGLER SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE
COLUMBUS, OH - A recently completed stocking of more than 9,300,000 fish in state waterways by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife will provide anglers with many great fishing opportunities in future years.
Fifty-four reservoirs around Ohio each received a share of 7,500,000 fingerling saugeye; more than 1,800,000 fingerling walleye were stocked into an additional 15 lakes. Fish were stocked from mid-May through the first week of June.
“Thanks to the good weather we had this spring, we were able to exceed our production goal for saugeyes,” said Jim Stafford, administrator for Ohio’s fish hatchery program.
 The saugeye fingerlings (pictured here) are a hybrid cross between a female walleye and a male sauger. Incapable of natural reproduction, they must be stocked annually to provide fishing opportunities. Saugeye fishing is a year-round pursuit and is productive in many lakes, as well as in the tailwaters below dams. Saugeye were stocked in a number of popular fishing spots, including Alum Creek Reservoir, Hoover Reservoir, Deer Creek Lake, Buckeye Lake, and Indian Lake in central Ohio. Grand Lake St Mary’s in northwest Ohio, C J Brown Reservoir at Buck Creek State Park in southwest Ohio, and Berlin Reservoir in northeast Ohio were some of the more popular locations stocked with walleyes.
Adult saugeye and walleye can be caught with both artificial and live bait. Jigs tipped with minnows or night crawlers and night crawler harnesses probably account for most of the inland saugeye and walleye caught by anglers. Another popular and effective method is to troll shad-imitating crankbaits, especially during the mid and late summer months.
The ODNR Division of Wildlife also raises and releases muskies, channel catfish, hybrid striped bass, steelhead trout, brown trout, and rainbow trout.
Approximately 1.3 million people fish in Ohio annually. Recreational sportfishing contributes an estimated $1 million to the state’s economy. The ODNR Division of Wildlife also raises and releases non-sportfish species such as shovelnose sturgeon, which has not been found naturally in Ohio waters for many years.
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