Anglers complaining about disappointing smallmouth fishing in Erie this summer may have just cause, according to Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission biologist Roger Kenyon.

"Catch rates appear to be significantly down, something we're hearing from good fishermen," Kenyon said. "Whether actual bass numbers are down, we just don't know yet.

"It could be that fish went off their feed and scattered when the long cold spring quickly turned into a hot summer," he said. "Bass are temperature-sensitive animals."

The same conditions also could account for the long-delayed spawn Kenyon saw in surveys two weeks ago. Eighty percent of the bass he collected were female and many were still loaded with eggs, which they may not drop, but instead reabsorb.

"I've never seen it this late in our lake," Kenyon said. The season opened June 12.

Erie tournaments

Lower catch rates on Lake Erie may mean more of a challenge for anglers fishing there this weekend in the Bassmaster Northern Open series out of Sandusky Bay. Some of the same competitors are fishing the CITGO Bassmaster Classic in Pittsburgh at the end of this month. Erie is a world-class bass fishery that has yielded some stunning records in past tournaments.

In 1993, Randy VanDam, brother of Kevin VanDam, broke the Ohio record with a 9¹/₂-pound bronzeback.

In the fall of 2003, a Northern Division tournament on Lake Erie produced a three-day total catch that is ranked fourth in all-time BASS records for heaviest weight (4,743 pounds, 10 ounces) and seventh for number of limits (310) caught.

Last June, in the New York CITGO Bassmaster Open out of Buffalo, winner Frank Scalish caught more than 55 pounds of Erie bass for a $50,000 prize.

Of note: On July 27-30, the $6.24 million FLW EverStart Series will hold a Northeast Division event on Erie, launching out of Cleveland.

Tournament slated

Lock Three Bait and Tackle's annual "all species" fishing tournament is Friday and Saturday on the Allegheny River. The contest starts at 4 p.m. Friday and ends at 6 p.m. Saturday, with 100 percent payback for biggest fish in every species, from muskie to bass to crappie, said Lee Murray, who owns Lock Three in Cheswick. Adults pay $20 to enter and kids under 16 are $10. The contest includes a dinner at Clyde and Patti's Bar next door. For details, call Lock Three at 724-274-7710.

Prowling for cats

The next tournament in the summer-long Chester-Newell Sportsman's Club catfish contest is Saturday. The all-night competition runs every other weekend through August on the Ohio River from Wheeling, W.Va., to Pittsburgh. James Stevens, of Avella, won $250 in the July 2 contest with a 39¹/₄-inch flathead. There were 68 entries. For more information, contact Don Chaney at 304-387-3982.

Women's event set

The National Wild Turkey Federation's Moraine Chapter will host its seventh annual Women in the Outdoors event July 23 at the Butler City Hunting & Fishing Club in East Butler. Women eager to experience the outdoors can sample a range of activities from fly fishing to kayaking to muzzle-loading and orienteering. For more, call Tammy Mowry at 724-284-9201 or email her at tammynwtf@zoominternet.net.

Walleye stockings

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has stocked almost 2 million walleye fry in the Monongahela River in Allegheny, Washington and Westmoreland counties, and fingerlings in Connoquenessing Creek in Beaver, Butler and Lawrence counties, and in Raccoon Creek in Beaver County.