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June 26, 2006
GOVERNOR PROMOTES LAKE ERIE SPORT FISHING
AT ANNUAL FISH OHIO DAY
 PORT CLINTON, OH (June 26, 2006) Governor Bob Taft today reeled in several Lake Erie walleye as part of the 28th annual Fish Ohio Day celebration. The governor joined members of the press, conservation leaders and state wildlife officials to promote Lake Erie sport fishing and its positive impact on the region’s economy. Fishing the lake’s western basin, the governor caught five walleye.
“There is no better place than Lake Erie to fish for walleye, yellow perch and smallmouth bass,” Taft said. “Our biologists predict this will be an exceptionally fine year for walleye fishing, and judging from the fish we’ve caught today, it looks as if they’re right on target.”
Taft credited the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Fish Management Program for progress made over the past seven years to strengthen fishing opportunities for walleye, smallmouth bass and yellow perch in the state.
“We have been very proactive in our managing of Lake Erie, and today the fishery is stronger and better poised for success because of the crucial decisions we have made in recent years,” Taft said. “Yellow perch are plentiful once again, smallmouth bass are rebounding and we now have the strongest walleye population in the past 16 years.”
Taft also celebrated progress being made to expand boating and fishing access to Lake Erie and Ohio’s inland waters. He cited state investments in new or proposed boater/angler access facilities and marina improvements at several state park lakes along the Ohio River and on the Lake Erie coast.
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