Southwick Associates just released their March/April angler survey, wherein they interview anglers online to get their preferred angling methods, gear, locations, general interest and fishing opinions.

The questions and respective percentages indicate the most annoying problems with angling today. They are as follows:

Q: What is the biggest problem facing fishing today?

Access to water said 26-percent of respondents; Water quality, 13.6-percent; Invasive species, 12.3-percent; Too expensive, 8.8-percent; Too many disruptive activities on the water (i.e. water skiers, persona watercraft, etc.), 8.6-percent; Over regulation, 6.8-percent; Not enough fish, 5.2-percent (this one surprises in that it’s not more); Too many anglers, 2.8-percent; Not sure, 15-percent.

Q: Which best describes your fishing practices:

I occasionally take home fish to eat, releasing most, 45.2-percent; I take home fish on the majority of my fishing trips, but release many 20.6-percent; I catch and release all my fish, 18-percent; I take home all the fish I catch that are legal to keep, 16.1-percent; None of the above, 0.1-percent.

Q: To the best of your recollection, in the past 12 months, how many fish have you personally cleaned, None; 1-5, 16.7-percent; 6-10, 8.9-percent; 11-25, 10.4-percent; 26-50, 9.1-percent; 51-100, 3.2-percent; over 100, 2.8-percent; Not sure, 3.2-percent.

Q: Which of the following are the top-three most credible sources of information about issued related to fisheries?

State or federal fish and wildlife organizations, 66-percent; Fisheries scientists, 48.2-percent; Other fishermen (through personal communications, forums, social media, etc.) 4.1-percent; Nonprofit organizations, 22.4-percent; Guides/outfitters, 16.7-percent; Professional/competitive tournament anglers, 11.8-percent; Celebrity anglers, 4.2-percent; Company spokespersons, 0.5-percent; Other, 5.1-percent; None of the above, 9.1-percent.

Q: Which of the following are the top-three most credible sources of information when considering your next fishing equipment purchase?

Other fishermen (through personal communications, forums, social media, etc.), 70.6-percent; Guides/outfitters, 39.7-percent; Professional/competitive tournament anglers, 31.2-percent; State or federal fish and wildlife organizations, 9.6-percent; Company spokespersons, 8.4-percent; Celebrity anglers, 7.7-percent; Nonprofit organizations, 6.5-percent; Fisheries scientists, 2.9-percent; Other, 9.4-percent; None of the above, 12.6-percent.

There you have it. This survey offers a wide array of angling habits and equipment that you can compare to your own.

FISHING REPORT

With a limited amount of recent rainstorms, local waters are finally receding and clearing up brown their muddy color. According to Willie from Willie’s Bait & Tackle in Cementon, Lehigh River anglers are catching trout on stick baits, spinners and most recently, 3-inch PowerWorms in bubble gum color and hooked in the middle are enticing river trout.

Up at Mauch Chunk Lake, sizable bluegills, crappies and perch are being taken on jigs tipped with minnows. Largemouth bass too are being hooked and released on Mauch Chunk.

At Beltzville Lake, stripers are being taken during early morning late evening hours. Stripes are falling for live bait, stick baits and chicken livers. According to On the Water Magazine’s Fishing Report, Brian Wilkins of East Stroudsburg, managed to catch to dandy stripers at Beltsville. One was 34.75 inches, the other 31.5 inches. Both had girths of 18 inches and were caught on live bait.