Hi Captains,

Wow—can you believe we’ve already sailed into May? Time sure does fly! Hopefully, by now, everyone has their boat in the water and is making the most of the jig fishing bite.

I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to the captains who have once again volunteered to assist Dr. Justin Chaffin with the water sampling program this season. Since 2013, our captains have played a vital role in supporting Lake Erie scientists by collecting water samples to help track harmful algal blooms (HABs). Thanks to your dedication, more than 1,000 samples have been collected—an incredible contribution to this ongoing research.

Now, onto some exciting upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, and learning experiences:

• Governor’s Fish Ohio Day – Mark your calendars for Wednesday, July 16, 2025! You’ll find more details inside this newsletter.
• Meet and Greet – Join us the evening before, Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at the Bait House from 5–7 PM for a chance to connect. See the newsletter for additional information.
• Captains Day at Stone Lab – Save the date for Wednesday, August 27, 2025! This is a fantastic opportunity to gain the latest insights on our great lake. Stay tuned for more details.
• Partnership Opportunity – We have the chance to collaborate with Shores and Islands—more details can be found in this issue.

There’s plenty to explore in this edition, so dive in and enjoy.

Wishing you all tight lines and safe travels on the water!

Until then,



Tight lines and signing off.



Respectfully,

Captain Peg

Captain Peg VanVleet

Editor, The Hook

LECBA VP Environmental Issues for Lake Erie

937-414-6742

2025 Governor’s Fish Ohio Day … Wednesday, July 16, 2025

To kick off this event, there will be a Meet and Greet the evening of Tuesday, July 15, 2025 at the Bait House from 5-7. All Captains and first mates are invited to the Meet and Greet. This is your opportunity to meet and have casual conversations with State representatives and staff as well as the staff from the Division of Natural Resources and the Division of Wildlife. Hope to see you all there.

The day of the event ….

Why should you volunteer your boat and knowledge for a day?

This is an excellent opportunity to talk with our legislators when you have them out on the water showing them what is happening with our lake. This is your chance to express your thoughts and ask how they are going about helping clean up our lake.

Captains that volunteer receive the day of the event:

·       Breakfast snacks and drinks

·       Ice for the day

·       Bait for the day

·       Captains gift from ODNR and Division of wildlife

·       Snacks for the day

·       Lunch at the Shores and Islands Visitor’s Center

From LECBA you’ll receive

·       Next year’s membership

·       Your first mate will receive next year’s membership.

·       A stipend to help offset the cost of expenses to run your boat.

If you’re interested in volunteering for this great event … please contact Captain Peg at

937-414-6742 or email pegvanvleet@gmail.com