Owners must ask themselves if pet health care insurance is good for their Fido and Fluffy

A week or two ago came a sticker shock reminder of just how expensive pet ownership is in this country.


That's true even if your dog (and for others, a cat) is in general good health and you fulfill your obligation as a pet owner (yes, owner; not companion or whatever is current humaniac term now in vogue) by taking the animal for its regular and routine checkups.


In may case I transported my one of two pure-bred black Labrador retrievers, six-year-old Millie. to see her veterinarian, Dr. Debbie Ting.


Ting is the only vet any of the animals I've owned in adulthood have seen. That includes six Labradors, one German shorthair pointer and four or so cats.


My house rabbits went elsewhere as Debbie's not attuned to handling such critters.


Anyway, I've beaten a trail off the traveled path. Sorry about that. What I want to bring out is that Millie's routine visit included a comprehensive test that included a look for heartworm (she doesn't) along with several other such infestations.


The usual round of preventative injections followed. And the total bill came to $155.50.


No wonder "X" number of folks challenged by the loss of employment and/or those persons living on fixed incomes have found themselves giving their charges up for adoption, having them put down, or simply opening a car door and tossing the animal out or leaving it behind when they bail out of a rental place to live. Hey, it happens, unfortunately.


In any event, after paying the $155.50 with my debit card I looked to ensure that my retirement-fueled checking account could cover the amount between the time my pension check arrives and that of my Social Security check.


Yep, it did and I would be willing to sell my blood or one of my firearms in order to ensure that either of my two dogs received proper and prompt care.


That is when I plucked a brochure from Ting's office waiting room, the material describing via details of a particular brand of pet health care insurance. It was a lot to absorb and I'm still being pulled in each direction, given that Millie is six and Berry is a doggie senior citizen at age 9.


All of this being said the Internet-based DealNews.com - and thence picked up by Fox News' also Internet site - has an excellent largely tell-all about the benefits, traps and alternatives to pet health care insurance.


Here is DealNews.com's April 24, 2014 on-line story as it appears on Fox News' on-line pril 27, 2014 edition. It makes for very thought-provoking reading and is a must read for any pet owner,


Unless you happen to own a pet house rabbit. I'm sure there are not too many pet insurance policies that cover these happy little critters:

Are Pet Insurance Policies Worth the Cost?

Published April 25, 2014

DealNews.com

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  REUTERS

Insurance policies can be confusing, even those designed for your four-legged friend. After all, not all pet policies are created equal, and with various caveats to each, it's easy to sign up for a plan that doesn't meet your expectations.


But despite the complexity of pet insurance, it may be vital to your budget. In 2013, pet owners spent approximately $14.3 billion in veterinary care for their furry friends, according to the American Pet Products Association, and the number is expected to rise to $15.2 billion this year. Thus, with the rising cost of vet bills, the right insurance policy can turn a $1,000 vet visit into something more manageable.


So, in honor of the Red Cross's Pet First Aid Awareness Month, we spoke to industry experts about the costs of treating your pets. Read on for information about which questions you should ask, what red flags to look for, and who should sign up for pet insurance in the first place.


Who Needs a Policy: Dogs Are More Likely to Get Injured


Policies are geared toward both cat and dog owners, but many companies tend to emphasize dogs. "Although there are more cats in the United States than there are dogs, veterinary costs for dogs usually run higher," says Dr. Jeff Werber, a Los Angeles-based veterinarian who cares for the pets of many Hollywood stars including Eva Longoria, Magic Johnson, and the Jonas brothers. "Dogs lead more active lifestyles, so the chances of injury increase, whereas cats will stay indoors most of their lives," he says.


As a result, about 85% of insurance policies are for dogs versus 15% for cats, says Dr. Jessica Vogelsang, a San Diego-based veterinarian and author. That's not to discourage cat owners from seeking coverage. In fact, insurance plans for cats are generally less expensive.


For instance, the most popular cat policy with Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), which was the first pet insurance company in the United States, costs between $15 to $22 per month, versus $25 to $35 per month for VPI's most popular dog policy.


Age Matters: Premiums Are Lower for Younger Pets


The age of your pet plays an important role in which policy you purchase. "Policies are for anyone with a pet of any age," says Vogelsang. However, as your dog ages, rates will cost more and they'll become harder to find, she says. Some policies may even deny coverage when your pet reaches 10 years of age.




So the earlier you enroll, the lower your monthly premiums, which are the payments you make to your insurance company. Payments can range from $15 to $50 per month depending on the pet, plan, and type of coverage. Certain policies will also increase as your pet ages, but not all do.


Enroll Early: Pre-existing Conditions Might Not Be Covered


Some companies may say they don't have age limits, but you have to read the fine print closely because they'll include pre-existing clauses, says Janie Knetzer, author of YourOldDog.com. "Pet owners are better off purchasing an insurance plan before their dog is ever taken to the vet and any records are created," she says. "Anytime the vet notes a condition, it can be denied as a pre-existing health problem and this is how most of them get out of paying a claim."


So if your 8-year old dog had certain conditions noted in his medical history prior to you signing up for insurance, your insurance company may deny reimbursement for treatments associated with those conditions years later because they'd be considered pre-existing conditions.


Types of Coverage: Make Sure to Read the Fine Print


Pet insurance policies originated in Sweden, where roughly 50% of pets are insured. Yet here in the United States, less than 1% of pets have coverage, says Werber. "Pet insurance has been available worldwide for decades, but has only made headway in North America since the 1980s," adds Vogelsang.


Indeed, the first pet insurance policy in the United States was written to protect none other than Hollywood's famous border collie, Lassie.


Today there are about 11 companies operating in the United States, with some of them operating multiple insurance brands, says Vogelsang. The most common names are VPI, Embrace, Petplan, Trupanion, Pets Best, and AKC Pet Healthcare.


"Each company usually offers several different types of plans: Accident, Accident and Illness, and Accident, Illness, and Wellness," says Vogelsang. "Most people opt for the middle option, preferring to cover preventive care themselves." Either way, you have to read the fine print, ask questions, check out the policy ratings, and, most importantly, understand what you're getting.


"Each insurance company is different and handles policies differently," says Dr. Brittney Barton, founder of HEAL Veterinary Hospital in Dallas, TX. "Some companies cover a percentage of the bill, others have a max amount per diagnosis that they will cover within a year."


That said, insurance policies generally work on a reimbursement schedule where owners file a claim and are reimbursed after directly paying their veterinarian. While some plans are known for their quick reimbursements, others might take longer or may have an annual maximum that can be claimed, which is something owners should consider when choosing a plan.


"How they choose to reimburse you can be based on a flat percentage of your bill or on a 'benefit' schedule, which is a pre-determined reimbursement cap based on where you live and the diagnosis," says Vogelsang.


When choosing a plan remember to see what's included and what's not covered. The most common exclusions are pre-existing medical conditions, pregnancy, and breed-related disease, says
Vogelsang.


Likewise, many natural or holistic treatments, such as hydrotherapy for dogs with hip dysplasia, are generally not covered by any policy. It's also important to check and see if there is a waiting period between the time you purchase the plan and the time certain conditions are covered.


If you're still unsure which policy is right for you after research alone, ask your vet for advice, says Vogelsang. "They see many policies coming through and know from feedback which one clients are happiest with."


The Premiums Are Probably Worth It for City Dwellers
Prior to purchasing insurance you should also factor in where you live, says Werber. Veterinarian costs are much higher in major cities like Los Angeles and New York, so if you and your pet live in one of these cities, your policy may pay for itself with just a few vet visits.


But if your dog leads a relatively quiet life and you don't live in a major city, your vet costs will probably be low, in which case a savings account in your pet's name may be sufficient.


"Pet insurance, like our own health or car insurance, often results in premiums being paid for treatments and/or services that are never utilized because a catastrophic illness or accident didn't occur," says Werber. "Insurance companies are in business to make money. Still, most of us seek the peace of mind, and access to treatment when needed, afforded by having insurance, even though most people are going to end up paying more in premiums than they are going to get in payouts," he says.


"And if you factor in Murphy's Law, you're going to need it the most when you don't have it!"


Alternative Plans


Having pet insurance is a smart decision for both young and older pets. However, if you opt to go without insurance, there are some precautions you should take. "I recommend you open a separate savings account and make regular deposits to cover catastrophic pet care," says Werber. "That way, if you get lucky and your pet skates through life in relative good health, you get to keep the 'premiums,' not the insurance company," he says.


Alternatively, what you feed your pet can also have a great impact on their health, regardless of their age. "It all starts with food," says Knetzer.


"You have to feed a high quality food and kibble is not recommended," she says. "I always recommend dehydrated forms of food such as The Honest Kitchen or Dr. Harvey's."


Dry food alone is very hard on the kidneys, which is one reason why so many dogs and cats especially have kidney and liver issues.


Financial help is also available through humane organizations, animal advocacy groups, and local veterinary schools, many of which run low-cost clinics for limited-income clients.


"You don't want to leave it to chance," says Werber


 Unexpected surgeries and operations can quickly leave you in the red. But with the right policy or backup plan, you and your pet should be able to ride out any financial storm that comes your way.


- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischk@Ameritech.net

One "Brown County Five" defendant gets old job back but no retroactive back pay

With the threat of a criminal trial now behind them, two members of the so-called “Brown County Five” continue to see their employment anchor hold with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Indeed, one of the defendants even has his old job back within the department’s Ohio Division of Wildlife. Meanwhile the other person has decided to hold fast to her position in the department’s human resources section.

Todd Haines has returned as the supervisor for the Wildlife Division’s District Five (southwest Ohio) office while Michelle Ward-Tackett has decided to remain as a Natural Resources Department’s human resources supervisor, said departmental spokesman Matt Eiselstein.

Haines and Ward-Tackett in 2010 were named as defendants in a matter that led back to activities of the former state wildlife officer assigned to Brown County, Allan Wright.

Named with Haines and Ward-Tackett were former Wildlife Division chief David M. Graham and two other high-ranking agency officials; Randy L. Miller and James E. Lehman.

It was alleged by Brown County prosecutor Jessica Little that the five violated the law by treating Wright’s conduct as an internal disciplinary matter rather than as a criminal one. This action was taken after what later was charged as a poorly done investigation by the Ohio Inspector General.

All five defendants faced potential felony conviction for their alleged conduct.

However, the five fought the charges by claiming their right against self-incrimination via what’s called the Garrity Warning rule which protects certain public employees who fear their comments will cost them their jobs and possibly result in criminal charges.

The five’s appeal eventually reached the Ohio State Supreme Court. There the Supremes unanimously agreed that the Brown County Five did not have to answer questions originally posed by the Ohio Inspector General’s office.

Subsequently Little dismissed all charges against each of the five defendants.

Between the time of the charges being filed against the Brown County Five, Graham was fired while Miller and Lehman eventually retired. That being said, the Natural Resources Department found other jobs within the agency for both Haines and Ward-Tackett.

That is, until recently as Haines was awarded his old job back while Ward-Tackett decided to remain in the Natural Resources Department’s human relations section instead of returning to a generally similar post with the Wildlife Division.

“Neither (Haines nor Ward-Tackett) has any back pay pending as they have always remained in the employ of the department,”Eiselstein also said.

As for whether the Natural Resources Department intends to see the return of Graham - let alone Wright – that’s not going to happen, says Eiselstein as well.

“We do not have the expectation that either Mr. Graham or Mr. Wright will be rehired as neither is currently employed by the department,” Eiselstein said.

Even so, the Brown County Five remain united on another legal fight. All five are presently

seeking judgment against the Office of the Brown County (Ohio) Prosecutor, the Ohio Inspector General Office, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, current Brown County Prosecutor Jessica A. Little, former ODNR deputy director Anthony J. Celebreeze III, former ODNR director Sean D. Logan, current ODNR Director James Zehringer, and Ohio Inspector General Randell Meyer, Deputy Inspector General Ronald E. Nichols and former Ohio Inspector General Thomas Charles.

 

The five are asking for a federal jury trial before the U.S. District Court's Southern District of Ohio Court.

 

Each of the five plaintiffs is seeking $200,000 in judgment plus another $200,000 per plaintiff “…for punitive damages, plus interest, costs, attorney fees and all further relief to which Plaintiffs are entitled.”

 

This associated legal matter is now threading its way through the courts system.

 

• By Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
• JFrischk@Ameritech.net

Army Corps scuttles plans to dump 180,000 cubic yards of contaminated dredge into Lake Erie

In a move that already has environmentalists happy the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has backed away from plans to dump contaminated material dredged from the lower Cuyahoga River and into the open waters of Lake Erie.


Led in large part by the Ohio Environmental Council - a non-governmental organization that serves as an environmental pit-bull guard dog - the plan met a huge profile of strong resistance. This effort was directed at both the Corps and dump supporters.


Up to 180,000 cubic yards of dredged spoils was to have found its way onto the clay bottom of Lake Erie had the plan gone forward.


The Environmental Council says the scraped plans was a "win-win" situation, both for Northeast Ohio's economy as well as the health of Lake Erie.


Likewise, notes the Environmental Council, the Corps was further slammed last week when the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency squashed the required permit the federal government needed to proceed with the dredging and the dumping.


"We thank the Army Corps along with the Ohio EPA in making the correct and really, the only, decision that will help protect Lake Erie," said the Environmental Council's staff attorney, Nathan Johnson.


The river's shipping channel will remain open even as Lake Erie's fishes and the public's source of drinking water are protected, Johnson also said.


"What this does is show that commerce, recreation and a healthy environment can co-exist," Johnson said. "This is a good result, and the Kasich Administration forged it all when it insisted that it would not allow toxic-laced wastes to be dumped into the open waters of our great lake."


As a result of the pull-back on dumping dredge spoil into Lake Erie the material will now go to an approved landfill, a suggestion first put forth by the Ohio EPA, said Johnson.


- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischk@Ameritech.net

 

UPDATED/REVISED THROUGHOUT Ohio's youth-only season and general season turkey opener harvests plunge

A good reason exists for why Ohio’s recently concluded youth-only wild turkey-hunting season harvest was plucked by 17 percent.

Much less accountable is why the April 21^st general wild turkey-hunting season opener kill dropped from the roost by a nearly equal whopping 11 percent.

In the first case the youth-only season ran April 19 and 20 with the latter date being Easter Sunday. Church services, family gatherings and Easter egg hunts almost certainly kept both youngsters and their adult mentors out of the woods.

No such excuse existed for the April 21^st general spring turkey season opener, however. Blessed with perfect weather and a generally assumed large flock of sexually active two-year old male turkeys – called either “toms” or “gobblers,” hunters should have experienced a corresponding opening day harvest blitz.

Instead, the season’s first day numbers were truly disappointing, if not downright discouraging.

On April 21st, 2,455 male wild turkeys were killed statewide compared to the 2,762 toms harvested on the 2013 season opener, based on figures supplied by the Ohio Division of Wildlife.

And for the youth-only two-day season the statistics were 1,480 and 1,784, respectively, for the 2014 and 2013 hunts.

In both cases there were far more Ohio counties tallied in the “oops” column than in the “hurrah” column.

“I was surprised myself when I first saw the numbers,” said Ryan Harris, assistant wildlife management supervisor for the Wildlife Division’s District Four (southeast Ohio) office in Athens. “I’m not entirely sure what to make of it either.”

In a possible partial explanation for the opening day harvest, a lack of hunters being in the woods might have contributed to the decline, Harris said also.

Harris said he went hunting on the general season’s first Thursday at the 6,696-acre Wallace H. O’Dowd Wildlife Area in Athens and Hocking counties and noted how he pretty much had the run of the place.

“Counting my vehicle, there were only three on the wildlife area, and this is a place that typically can at times see some rather heavy hunting pressure,” Harris said. “I just think the harvest stats are down because a lot of hunters simply aren’t in the woods yet; maybe they’re waiting for better weather.”

Even so, the statistics that Harris referred to showed a widespread county-by-county pattern of declines in the numbers of turkeys harvested. For this year’s general season opener, of Ohio’s 88 counties only 10 showed harvest increases while 8 reported no change from the 2013 opener to this year’s opener.

In looking at the youth-only season, 11 of Ohio’s 88 counties registered gains while 15 recorded no change between the 2013 youth-only season and this year’s hunt, the Wildlife Division’s check-in system reveals.

Yet Harris believes this year’s frost-bitten winter likely had little impact on contributing to a real or imagined decrease in Ohio’s wild turkey population.

Cold it was, Harris agrees, but in much of the state any subsequent large-scale crusting of ground-covering snow failed to materialize. Consequently turkeys in all likelihood had little difficulty plowing through the snow with their powerful legs and sharp claws to get at acorns and other hard mast, Harris said.

“Wildlife is well adapted to dealing with these sort of weather events and turkeys are no exception,” Harris said. “And we have to remember we’ve seen some mild winters lately so what occurred this past winter was more typical and people tended to forget that.”

Some of the noteworthy counties with (mostly) declines or (just a couple) gains for the general wild turkey-hunting season opener (with their respective 2013 opening day figures in parentheses) were: Ashtabula County – 75 (114), Brown County – 64 (58), Columbiana County – 73 (62), Coshocton County – 71 (89), Guernsey County - 69 (87), Harrison County – 82 (76), Jefferson County – 58 (60), Licking County – 60 (also 60), Meigs County – 66 (60), Monroe County – 64 (76), Muskingum County – 68 (97), Trumbull County – 74 (70), Tuscarawas County – 68 (85).

Several other counties showing the largest drops and not noted above (with both double digit 2013 and 2014 opening day harvests a requirement) were: Clermont County – 39 (60), Jackson County – 40 (59), Perry County – 38 (47), Pike County – 32 (44).

At the other end, several additional counties showing the biggest gains and not noted above (with both double digit 2013 and 2014 opening day harvests a requirement) were: Defiance County – 27 (20), Hocking County – 52 (40), Lorain County – 23 (19), Mahoning County – 34 (24), Richland County – 36 (47), Ross County – 32 (49), and Vinton County ­- 35 (39).

Note that Vinton County was the site of Ohio’s first modern-day efforts to reintroduce wild turkeys into Ohio, a project launched in the 1950s with the county also the first location where the state conducted a very tightly controlled turkey hunt that included a lottery drawing just in order to obtain a permit.

“Hopefully the weather will improve and the harvest will get better as we move through the season,” Harris said.

Properly licensed hunters – both residents and non-residents – in Ohio can tag up to two male wild turkeys during the season, which will run through May 18. The daily bag limit is one bearded bird, though; almost always and with only rare exceptions the individual being a male wild turkey.

Hunting hours now through May 4 are one-half hour before sunrise until noon. From May 5 to May 18 the hunting hours will be one-half hour before sunrise until sunset.

Any bird taken must be checked-in using the Wildlife Division’s Internet- and telephone-based system by 11:30 p.m. on the day of kill.

 - Jeffrey L. Frischkorn

JFrischk@Ameritech.net

Lake Metroparks' two bobcats all grown up and ready for the wild

The two bobcat kittens under the care of Lake Metroparks’ animal rehabilitators for the past year will soon gain their independence.

Wildlife biologists with the Ohio Division of Wildlife have given the go-ahead to return the two bobcats to the wild. Likely the release will be near the edge of Noble County and one of its adjacent neighboring counties.

Though no specific release date has yet to be set, the timing likely will occur no sooner than the middle of May. This is just fine with Lake Metroparks, the agency hand-picked by the Wildlife Division to raise the two bobcat kittens to maturity.

These specialists knew from the first days when the bobcats arrived not much larger than furry puff balls with sharp claws and equally sinister teeth their care was just a temporary – though exciting – study in wildlife rehabilitation. Especially for a species that’s listed as threatened in Ohio.

“The Wildlife Division asked if we’d be interested in raising the kittens, each of which had genuinely been orphaned,” said Tammy O’Neil, the manager of Lake Metroparks’ Kevin P. Clinton Wildlife Center in Kirtland, Ohio. “Believe me; we didn’t need any arm-twisting for us to say ‘yes.”

A backdrop pointed to the kittens arriving separately from two different southeast Ohio counties last May. Though one of the kitten was slightly older than the other both were in need of medical attention and each successfully integrated with the other, O’Neil said.

“One is very inquisitive and brave while the other is more reserved,” O’Neil said.

Even so, O’Neil said, raising the bobcats was an interesting challenge but hardly an undertaking the wildlife center’s staff was unable to successfully navigate. This adaptability was particularly true when the labor-intensive effort of near round-the-clock care and hand-feeding no longer was required.

“Once we put them in the enclosure their instincts kicked in,” O’Neil said.

At that point human interaction with the bobcats was all but eliminated. The public never was allowed to visit the bobcats in their 30-foot-by-28-foot-by-16-foot-high isolated and specially constructed open-air enclosure.

And the agency even hauled in any number of deer carcasses which were donated by hunters and others, O’Neil said.

Even feeding was taken into consideration when approaching the task of minimizing human contact. A large PVC-plastic tube was used to supply live rodents, which slid down into the enclosure with its eagerly awaiting bobcats.

“Every time we care for a wild animal we learn something but having the bobcats gave us an entirely new protocol to work up and deal with,” O’Neil said. “The entire process was an invaluable educational experience for us and we are grateful for all the help we received from other states, other experienced wildlife rehabilitators but especially the Division of Wildlife.”

Yet all good things have a closure and that end incudes raising the two no-longer bobcat kittens. They are very nearly now fully grown and have reached the point in their lives when their respective mothers would have shown them the door, O’Neil said.

O’Neil said that once a release site is selected and the bobcats given their one-way ticket and ride the felines probably will hang out together at first. Maybe even see that their final home turfs overlap a bit, O’Neil says.

And the Wildlife Division will even have some ability to keep tabs on the wild cats. Each animal will wear a radio-transmitting collar.

“I really don’t believe they’ll have any problems,” O’Neil said.

- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn

JFrischk@Ameritech.net

Lake Erie fishes expected to cooperate this summer though no word on the weather

With spring's winds beginning to blow more favorable many anglers' are warming up thoughts about trolling for Lake Erie walleye or dropping a spreader for Lake Erie yellow perch.


In each case the fishing should be fine, weather determining, of course.


Here is the official version of what Lake Erie anglers can expect to encounter this year on the Big Water. Again and of course, weather determining.

Lake Erie Sport Fishing Outlook Should Please Anglers

Walleye, yellow perch bag limits announced

COLUMBUS, OH – Lake Erie anglers can expect to enjoy another year of diverse fishing opportunities in 2014, according to Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) biologists. “While fishing success always varies among species and seasons, we expect that anglers will find success on the waters of Lake Erie this year,” said Jeff Tyson, Lake Erie fisheries program manager for the ODNR Division of Wildlife. “The lake’s population of walleye, yellow perch, black bass, white bass and steelhead remains stable, with a very broad distribution of sizes for each species.” Lake Erie walleye and yellow perch fisheries are managed through an interagency quota system that involves Ontario, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio. Each jurisdiction regulates their catches to comply with quotas and to minimize the risk of over-fishing these species. Quotas for the upcoming fishing season are determined through a consensus agreement by these jurisdictions through the Lake Erie Committee of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, which were recently announced for 2014. Currently, the daily walleye bag limit is four and the daily yellow perch bag limit is 30 per angler in Ohio waters of Lake Erie until April 30. As a result of the 2014 quota allocation, the daily bag limit will be six walleye from May 1 through Feb. 28, 2015. From March 1, 2015, through April 30, 2015, the daily walleye bag limit will be four. A 15-inch minimum size limit is in effect during the entire season for walleye. The daily yellow perch bag limit is 30 from May 1 through April 30, 2015, with no minimum size limit. Lake Erie anglers can find walleye and yellow perch bag limit information at ODNR offices, in special publications at bait and tackle shops and online at wildohio.com. Walleye Ohio walleye anglers in 2014 will catch fish from the 2010, 2009, 2007 and 2003 hatches, with some fish from the 2011, 2008 and 2012 year classes. Walleye from the 2012 hatch will be present in the fishery with most individuals near or over the 15-inch minimum size limit fairly early in the 2014 fishing season. Walleye from the moderate 2010 hatch will range from 18 to 23 inches, while walleye from the 2007 hatch will be more than 20 inches. The 2003 and 2007 hatches are likely to carry most of the Central Basin fisheries. These walleye will contribute to the population that has a good number of fish over the 26-inch range. Large walleye from the strong hatch in 2003 will continue to provide “Fish Ohio” opportunities (greater than 28 inches), with this year class nearing the size that may give Ohio a new state record walleye. Yellow Perch Expect good perch fishing in 2014, with the largest fish in the eastern areas of the Central Basin. Perch anglers should encounter fish ranging from 7 to 13 inches from the 2012 through 2007 hatches in this year’s fishery, with major contributions from the 2010, 2008 and 2007 year classes. Fish from the average hatches in 2007 will contribute fish in the 10 inch and greater range. In 2013, yellow perch fisheries flourished in the eastern portions of Ohio’s Lake Erie, and ODNR biologists expect this trend to continue into 2014. Black Bass Smallmouth bass fishing in 2014 is expected to be fair but improving. Smallmouth bass catch rates in 2013 were slightly below those seen in 2012, but were still some of the highest observed since the mid-1990s. Smallmouth bass caught should be an excellent size (14 to 22 inches, weighing up to 6 pounds). The best fishing for smallmouth bass will continue to occur in areas with good bottom structure, which is the available habitat across much of the entire Ohio nearshore and islands areas. Continuing the trend from previous years, largemouth bass fishing should be excellent in 2014. This emerging fishery is producing high catch rates and some large fish in nearshore areas and harbors across Ohio’s Lake Erie shoreline. All black bass (smallmouth and largemouth) must be immediately released from May 1 through June 27 of this year. Beginning June 28, the daily bag limit for bass is five, with a 14-inch minimum length limit. Steelhead Steelhead anglers should enjoy another year of great fishing in 2014 on Ohio’s Lake Erie open waters and tributaries. Peak summer steelhead action on Lake Erie can be found offshore from June through August between Vermilion and Conneaut, with catches measuring 17 to 29 inches. Most Lake Erie anglers troll for steelhead in deep waters using spoons with dipsy divers or downriggers until fish move close to shore in the fall. The daily bag limit remains five fish per angler from May 16 through Aug. 31, and two fish per angler between Sept. 1, 2014, and May 15, 2015. A 12-inch minimum size limit is in effect throughout the year. White Bass White bass continue to provide excellent seasonal fishing opportunities in the Maumee and Sandusky rivers and in the open lake. The 2014 catch will be dominated by fish from the 2012, 2011 and 2010 year classes. Fish from 2006 could be as large as 16 inches. Anglers should focus on major Western Basin tributaries during May and June and nearshore areas of the open lake during the summer. There is no daily white bass bag or size limit. Other Species Bays, harbors and main lake shorelines offer excellent fishing for panfish, as well as the occasional northern pike and muskellunge in vegetated areas. Anglers are reminded that fishing conditions on Lake Erie can change hourly, and adjustments are often necessary to improve success. Anglers should take into account factors such as water temperature, cloud cover, water clarity, boat traffic, wave action, structure, currents and the amount of baitfish in the area. Anglers are also reminded to carefully monitor the Lake Erie weather and to seek safe harbor before storms approach. Updated Lake Erie fishing reports are available at wildohio.com or by calling 888-HOOKFISH (888-466-5347). Information is available from ODNR Division of Wildlife staff from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays at the Fairport Harbor station (440-352-4199) for the Central Basin and at the Sandusky station (419-625-8062) for the Western Basin. Information on the ODNR Division of Wildlife’s Lake Erie research and management programs, fisheries resources, fishing reports, maps and links to other Lake Erie web resources are available at wildohio.com. ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.  - Jeffrey L. Frischkorn JFrischk@Ameritech.net

Wintry weather slows Ohio fishing licenses - with two noteworthy exceptions

Pummeled by the unusually sustained cold weather, sales of Ohio fishing license have largely stalled.

Largely, though entirely, says the to-date statistics related to sales of the state’s various fishing and hunting licenses.

Provided by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Ohio Division of Wildlife the data reveals that the issuance of resident annual Ohio fishing is off 15 percent. In raw numbers this translates into 126,439 such documents being issued to-date this year compared to 148,785 resident adult licenses sold during the same period in 2013.

In all last year the Wildlife Division sold 653,798 resident adult annual fishing licenses. Such licenses represent the fiscal backbone of the Wildlife Division’s fisheries-related economic tally.

Down also are sales of non-resident adult annual fishing licenses, as well. The to-date figures for this important category are 6,805 so far for this year and 7,502 for the same period in 2013. Last year the Wildlife Division sold 32,914 non-resident adult annual fishing licenses.

However, two categories of fishing license sales are actually up; and the suspect for causing the increase is the weather, says Tom Rowan, a Wildlife Division’s assistant chief.

Increased sales are being noted in the categories of both one-day fishing licenses and three-day non-resident fishing licenses.

Data supplied by the Wildlife Division show that so far this year the agency has issued 1,673 three-day fishing permits compared to the 2013 same to-date tally of 25,360 three-day licenses for a 27-percent gain. In 2013 the agency sold 25,360 three-day fishing licenses.

Again was noted also for sales of one-day licenses to non-resident adults. The current 2014 to-date figure for this category stands at 2,254 one-day tags end compared to the 2013 to-date sale of 1,756 such documents. That increase totals 28.36 percent.

In 2013 the Wildlife Division sold 28,487 one-day non-resident fishing licenses.

“I believe what happened is that a lot of anglers saw and took the opportunity to go ice fishing in the Western Basin,” Rowan said. “Guides up there said the season was one of the best they saw in a long time. People took advantage of that good fishing and it’s reflected in the sales of three-day fishing licenses and one-day non-resident fishing licenses.”

Rowan said that overall fishing sales are off, though such shifts are hardly unusual. The same situation was seen early on 2012 when cold and wet weather struck early also, Rowan said.

“Sales boomed last year this time because we had a mild spring,” Rowan said. “We always see license sale increases when the weather is nice.”

Like the sale of Ohio fishing licenses their respective hunting brethren tags also have slid, though hardly enough to elicit a yawn by the Wildlife Division’s bean counters.

The to-date sale of 2014 general resident adult hunting license figure is off less than 8 percent while sales of spring turkey tags is down slight at 5.5 percent.

Neither drop is even worthy of the smallest of worries, including those for spring turkey permits, says Rowan.

“It’s just like what we see for the deer season; a lot of turkey hunters wait until just before the season starts,” Rowan said.

And that season begins Monday, April 21 with this Easter weekend dedicated to youth only.

Perhaps another area where the on-going wintry weather has impacted sales involves the one-day and seasonal shooting range permits. The first category is down 23.48 percent while the second category is down 12.45 percent.

The Wildlife Division operates five Class “A” supervised rifle and pistol shooting ranges around the state that each require a participant to first purchase either an one-day or else a seasonal permit.

“You can never predict what’s going to happen with license and permit sales because of factors like the weather,” Rowan also said. “But our sales have been steadier than those seen in other states. We take these ups and downs into account when we work up our budget.”

- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn

JFrischk@Ameritech.net

Pennsylvania knows how to raise trout and the ire of anglers

SANDY LAKE, PA – The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s failure to warn the public it couldn’t stock trout along a long stretch of Sandy Creek proved a costly mistake for anglers.

After all it was the several dozen or so anglers up and down Sandy Creek who had bought fishing licenses (adult resident, senior citizen resident and adult nonresident) in the belief they were going to return home with fresh-caught trout.

The eagerness was understandable, too, since all of the fishers were participating in Pennsylvania’s annual trout opener, this latest seasonal launch happening Saturday, April 12.

Given that the Commission will ultimately stock its Commonwealth streams, lakes and ponds with 4.2 million brook, rainbow and brown trout for the year – and with many of these fish released in anticipation of the season opener – an expectation of luring a daily creel limit of five trout was reasonable.

Yet reason was crushed by the bumbling failure of the Commission to notify anyone that a lengthy portion of Sandy Creek upstream from the Utica Bridge to near Sandy Lake Village was not stocked.

None of the Sandy Creek anglers who spent the first 90 minutes fishing for the proverbial whale in a bucket disagreed with the Commission’s logic, of course.

Hammered hard by the 2014 Winter that Would Not Die, the Commission found itself against the calendar.

Consequently the agency’s trout-full stocking truck was stymied by too much snow lingering on the access road that parallels Sandy Creek. That was March 11; one month and one day before Pennsylvania’s trout season opener.

Instead, said the Commission’s waterways patrol officer who made his entry along this trout-starved section of Sandy Creek, he had the truck’s crew pour the vehicle’s fishy contents into the creek at the Utica Bridge. That dumping was worth 2,000 trout, the fish warden said.

Stunned, the angler standing next to me noted in a telling understatement, “no wonder we’re not catching fish.”

Well, not entirely, since just an hour shy into the season I caught one 14-inch rainbow, either a fish washed downstream from a genuine stocking point or else a trout that was curious Marco Polo and had made its way upstream from the Utica Bridge. It was the only fish taken by anyone within eyeshot of the Furnace Run dead- end angling terminal

No doubt, had the officer stuck around just a few minutes longer he’d have heard  language take on a decided deep blue color for all of the  salty “that dirty so-and-so” tints directed at him as well as the entire Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

“Why didn’t it get the word out; call the media, bait stores that Sandy Creek wasn’t stocked?” queried more than one angler as he (and she) began packing up to leave.

Other anglers opined upon their exit that at the very least the printing of signage saying something like: “Due to heavy snow cover on the access road the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission was unable to stock this portion of Sandy Creek. We regret any inconvenience.”

However, inconvenienced were the dues-paying tout anglers, though their regrets were not directed at the previous month’s uncharitable for stocking weather.

Instead, the anglers’ collective regret was in trusting the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission would have done the right thing. That being, of course, the Commission going not just the mile but the extra mile in a genuine effort to alert prospective Sandy Creek trout anglers to make alternative plans for opening day.

Problem is such a thought process requires a heartfelt belief that the customer comes first, last and always.

Given that government bureaucracy is a monopoly it makes sense in some twisted way that the Commission would dump 2,000 trout at one location. And followed by pretty much keeping the news to itself instead of directing the agency’s  sign shop to print informative posters that could be stapled to the oaks, sycamores, maples and other tree species that line Sandy Creek.

 - Jeffrey L. Frischkorn

JFrischk@Ameritech.net

Ohio approves 2014 hunting seasons, use of some straight-walled cartridges for deer

Ohio's deer hunters will now have the opportunity to use a limited number of centerfire rifle calibers even as they will confront tighter bag limits.


On Wednesday, April 9, the eight-member Ohio Wildlife Council approved allowing more than 20 specific so-called straight-walled calibers commonly used in centerfire rifles. They include such venerable calibers as the .45-70 Government.


For a number of years various pro-firearms and pro-hunting groups have lobbied in favor of allowing such calibers. But it was only after the introduction of in-line muzzle-loaders, new propellants for them along with superior sabot pistol-type bullets was the opposition to the straight-walled calibers largely silenced.


The reason for this is because in-line muzzle-loaders powered by new powders that crank up velocity and propel heavier payloads and with improved ignition systems are now in everyway equal to or better than many of the old-fashioned calibers chambered in various rifle configurations.


Of interest and concern now is whether the demand for single-shot and lever-action rifles chambered in the allowed calibers will exceed supply. Already some Northeast Ohio gun shops have experienced enhanced customer interest along with increased sales of such firearms and related ammunition.


Anyway, here is the official press release from the Ohio Division of Wildlife as it relates to the approval of the various 2014-2015 hunting seasons and regulations:


The Ohio Wildlife Council approved new white-tailed deer hunting regulations at its meeting on Wednesday, April 9, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).


Among new regulations are decreased deer bag limits in many counties, and hunters may use straight-walled cartridge rifles during the 2014 deer-gun week. The council also voted to remove bobcats from Ohio’s list of threatened species.

The Ohio Wildlife Council voted to approve deer hunting proposals prepared by ODNR Division of Wildlife biologists. The 2014-2015 deer hunting season dates will remain largely consistent with previous years.


One change in season dates included adjusting deer-muzzleloader season to begin on Friday, Jan. 2, 2015, and end on Monday, Jan. 5, compared to last year when the season began on a Saturday and concluded on a Tuesday. The October antlerless deer-muzzleloader weekend will be held for the second year.

Deer hunting seasons for 2014-2015:

• Deer archery: Sept. 27, 2014 - Feb. 1, 2015.
• Antlerless deer muzzleloader: Oct. 11-12, 2014.
• Youth deer gun: Nov. 22-23, 2014.
• Deer gun: Dec. 1-7, 2014.
• Deer muzzleloader: Jan. 2-5, 2015.

The Ohio Wildlife Council also approved changes to Ohio’s list of endangered and threatened species. The bobcat, previously threatened, was removed from the list. Bobcats are still considered a protected species in Ohio with no hunting or trapping season.

The snowshoe hare was changed to a species of concern, Bewick’s wren was changed to extirpated and smooth greensnakes were changed to endangered.

Small-game hunting and furbearer trapping season dates were also passed on Wednesday.


Season dates and bag limits for migratory birds, including mourning dove, Canada goose, rail, moorhen, snipe, woodcock and waterfowl will be set in August in compliance with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s framework. The Ohio 2014-2015 hunting and trapping season dates can be found at bit.ly/1415Ohiohuntingseason.

Deer bag limits reflect the reduction in the deer population in many counties as numbers continue to move closer to target levels. Bag limits were reduced in 44 counties, increased in five counties and 39 counties stayed the same as last season.


Antlerless tags are eliminated in some counties as deer populations approach target levels. Antlerless tags were introduced as a way to reduce Ohio’s deer herd, and have been successful, thereby eliminating their need in certain counties.

County deer bag limits:

• Two (no more than one antlerless permit): Auglaize, Darke, Fayette, Hancock, Madison and Mercer counties..
• Three (antlerless permits are not valid): Belmont, Carroll, Coshocton, Defiance, Fairfield, Fulton, Gallia, Geauga, Greene, Guernsey, Hardin, Harrison, Hocking, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Knox, Lawrence, Meigs, Miami, Monroe, Morrow, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Richland, Van Wert, Washington and Williams counties.
• Three (no more than one antlerless permit): Adams, Allen, Ashland, Ashtabula, Athens, Butler, Champaign, Clark, Clinton, Columbiana, Crawford, Erie, Henry, Highland, Huron, Licking, Logan, Lorain, Marion, Medina, Morgan, Ottawa, Paulding, Pickaway, Pike, Preble, Putnam, Ross, Sandusky, Scioto, Seneca, Shelby, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Union, Vinton, Wayne, Wood and Wyandot counties.
• Four (no more than one antlerless permit): Brown, Clermont, Cuyahoga, Delaware, Franklin, Hamilton, Lake, Lucas, Mahoning, Montgomery, Portage, Stark, Summit and Warren counties.

The council also approved straight-walled cartridge rifles for deer hunting. The rifles are the same caliber and use the same straight-walled cartridges that are currently legal for use in handguns.


The new regulation is designed to allow additional opportunities for hunters that own these guns or want to hunt with these guns. These rifles have reduced recoil compared to larger shotguns, and the rifles are more accurate than the same caliber handgun.


Legal deer hunting rifles are chambered for the following calibers: .357 Magnum, .357 Maximum, .38 Special, .375 Super Magnum, .375 Winchester, .38-55, .41 Long Colt, .41 Magnum, .44 Special, .44 Magnum, .444 Marlin, .45 ACP, .45 Colt, .45 Long Colt, .45 Winchester Magnum, .45 Smith & Wesson, .454 Casull, .460 Smith & Wesson, .45-70, .45-90, .45-110, .475 Linebaugh, .50-70, .50-90, .50-100, .50-110 and .500 Smith & Wesson.


A new regulation states shotguns and straight-walled cartridge rifles used for deer hunting be loaded with no more than three shells in the magazine and chamber combined. The current hunting regulation states a shotgun must be plugged if it is capable of holding more than three shells.


New next year, youth hunters can harvest up to two wild turkeys during the 2015 two-day youth season (one per day). Checking two wild turkeys would fill the youth hunter’s bag limit for the remaining 2015 spring wild turkey season. This change does not take effect until 2015. The bag limit remains one wild turkey for the two-day 2014 youth wild turkey hunting season.


The Ohio Wildlife Council is an eight-member board that approves all of the ODNR Division of Wildlife proposed rules and regulations. Small-game hunting and trapping seasons were proposed at the Ohio Wildlife Council’s January meeting.


Deer proposals were presented in February and amended in March. Go to wildohio.com for more information about hunting in Ohio.


Open houses to receive public comments about hunting, trapping and fishing regulations and wildlife issues were held on March 1, and a statewide hearing on all of the proposed rules was held on March 13.


Open houses give the public an opportunity to view and discuss proposed fishing, hunting and trapping regulations with the ODNR Division of Wildlife officials.


Council meetings are open to the public. Individuals who want to provide comments on a topic that is currently being considered by council are asked to preregister at least two days prior to the meeting by calling 614-265-6304. All comments are required to be three minutes or less.

ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.

UPDATED Fish Ohio program undergoes revamping

A good year for anglers in 2013 produced a vintage year for the state’s Fish Ohio program, too.

The Ohio Division of Wildlife’s 37-year-old (started in 1976 but re-launched in  1980 when the agency began adding the pin feature) Fish Ohio awards program saw 12,760 submissions by anglers last year. And the program also accounted for 532 Master Anglers last year.

For the previous year the total (2012) was 12,462 qualifying Fish Ohio entries along with 521 Master Angler awards. In 2011, those figures were 11,278 qualifying Fish Ohio entries and 490 Master Angler awards.

As for the year when the Wildlife Division’s Fish Ohio program maxed out that was in 1988 when 37,132 awards were presented along with 691 Master Angler awards.

Yet the program has undergone a significant submission component change. Beginning this year the program has incorporated an entirely new entry format that includes – among other things – the requirement to establish a log-in password protocol.

The advantages with the new system, says Wildlife Division officials, is the ability to review what species an angler has submitted, when it was caught and its length.

Interesting as well as new the system now allows people to view the approximately to-date data of the entries electronically submitted and for each of the 20 officially recognized species.

For example, an angler can go on line and access either via a PDF or Excel version how many walleye have currently been entered, from what body of water, the date of submission as well as the length for each fish.

“That’s a pretty nice feature we built into the system,” says the Fish Ohio program administrator, Vicki Farus.

To become eligible for a Fish Ohio award consisting of a really cool, colorful and collectable hat pin and a do-it-yourself printed recognition certificate, an angler had to catch a qualifying specimen from one of the aforementioned 20 recognized species.

The Master Angler award requires an angler to catch at least one representative from a minimum of four recognized species. But this pin is even more jazzed up and makes the additional work worth it for many anglers; as mentioned earlier, 532 fishers to be exact.

For a Grand Slam award an angler is challenged with catching no fewer than three eligible species, each of which must come from one of the following specific bodies of water: Lake Erie, the Ohio River, and inland waters. Oh, the three species vary for each specific waterway as well.

The 2013 pin featured a brown trout. The year’s Master Angler pin is a bit fancier that includes a sort-of brushed bronze background along with the standard “Master Angler” embossed on the pin along with the year.

A yellow perch will grace the 2014 Fish Ohio as well as 2014 Master Angler pin. This will be the forth time the yellow perch has appeared on a Fish Ohio pin (1986, 1996, and 2006 were the years the species was depicted).

Some of the recognized species that have yet to appear, Farus says, are the northern pike, the carp and the blue catfish.

“We added the blue cat to the list of recognized species just last year,” Farus said.

Whatever species is depicted, however, the last thing any recipient wants to do is besmirch these somewhat oval in shape base-metal pins with painted fronts.

Such pins often find their way onto Internet auction and for-sale sites. Prices range widely, depending on year and whether the pin is a standard Fish Ohio model or as a step-up Master Angler pin or one of the even much less common “Grand Slam” award.

Thus prices may range from about $10 each to $300 or more with the first-year-issue 1980 pewter model featuring a raised smallmouth bass being among the most valuable.

A complete set of Fish Ohio/Master Angler pins have been known to sell for $650 to more than $1,300, too.

All of which is considerably more than the approximately 50 cents it costs to forge each Fish Ohio pin and a program that sets back the agency less than $20,000 annually.

Even so, many anglers have no interest in parting company with their award pins and sometimes will seek out missing or replacement tokens for their collection.

Thing is, accumulating a collection constitutes a hard several years’ worth of angling. It also typically involves fishing in more than one body of water. After all, while an angler might catch a qualifying 36-inch muskie from Lake Erie the odds are better this will be done in West Branch Reservoir.

Still, Lake Erie stands at the pinnacle of where to seek a trophy, Fish Ohio-qualifying entry. Last year 4,462 Fish Ohio entries were pulled from Lake Erie. That figure is the most for any other body of water, public or private, too.

 In fact, of the 20 recognized Fish Ohio eligible species, Lake Erie led the public bodies of water in fully one-half of the categories. And Lake Erie failed to break into the Top Five public waters in only five categories.

Lake Erie produced 1,915 qualifying walleye, 1,055 yellow perch, 838 freshwater drum (sheepshead), 256 channel catfish, and 168 white bass.

Yet many anglers looked to private lakes and ponds to secure their Fish Ohio awards. Fully 2,703 Fish Ohio qualifying entries came from these private bodies of water. Among them were 1,200 sunfish/bluegill, 501 largemouth bass, 433 crappies (both black and white), 295 channel catfish, and even 82 carp.

Way, way down the list of places where Fish Ohio qualifying species were caught in 2013 was the Ohio River. Only 782 eligible entries were recorded as coming from the Ohio River in 2013. This system’s Top Five entries included 248 hybrid striped bass (wiper), 129 sauger, 77 channel catfish, 72 white bass, and 39 crappies as well as freshwater drum (tied for fifth place).

As for the state’s top lakes and rivers for catching trophy fish in 2013 they were Mosquito Reservoir (264 entries), Buckeye Lake (171 entries), Hoover Reservoir (166 entries), Pymatuning Reservoir (148 entries), Indian Lake (146 entries), and the Maumee River (143 entries).

Yet what is in store for the 2014 Fish Ohio program is a major revamping of how eligible species are entered and recorded. Long gone are the paper applications with even the Internet-based system having undergone considerable revision.

The new rules do require that an applicant follow the instructions specifically. For details, visit the Ohio Division of Wildlife’s web site at: www.fishohio.org.

And still being work on is allowing a person to enter an eligible fish for someone else. This substitution process was permissible under the old system but  the new process’s programing prevents such a buddy approach at the moment, Farus says.

“We’re working on it, though,” Farus says.

- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischk@Ameritech.net