Matt Markey
The Toledo Blade
Contact Matt
Discover and connect with journalists and influencers around the world, save time on email research, monitor the news, and more.
| Recent: |
|
| Past: |
|
Past articles by Matt:
Silk moths take Toledoan along on incredible journey
Toledo resident Cindy Rowe keeps a small garden of local pollenating plants, including two varieties of Milkweed, which Monarch butterflies feed on. This summer she has raised and released more than 100 Monarch butterflies. THE BLADE/KATIE RAUSCH Enlarge | Buy This Image Metamorphosis takes place millions of times each day in the natural world — frogs going from their larval stage as tadpoles,… → Read More
The NFL season starts, but I won’t be watching
In this 2016 file photo, San Francisco 49ers safety Eric Reid (35) and quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) kneel during the national anthem before an NFL football game. ASSOCIATED PRESS Enlarge In more than 30 years of covering high school, college, and professional sports, I witnessed athletes go on and on about being motivated by what they perceive as a lack of “respect.” This opponent doesn’t… → Read More
Blade Fishing Report: Perch fishing throttling back
■ Lake Erie/perch: The perch fishing bonanza that had been taking place over the last month of summer throttled back a bit over the past week, but the pros at Netcraft report that good limits are still out there for the taking. They recommend fishing southwest of Green Island in 25-30 feet of water, or trying the waters around “F” can in 22-24 foot depths. There have also been limits taken in… → Read More
Bad actors hurting efforts to combat lake’s algae issue
WEST SISTER ISLAND, Ohio — Although the 2018 Lake Erie algal bloom did not develop to the degree that some experts had expected, it definitely made an appearance. The algae did not envelope the Toledo water-intake crib in Maumee Bay, and it didn’t suffocate large areas of the western end of the lake, but vast mats of the green, spongy goo did spread out across the lake north of here. “There were… → Read More
Local anglers reel in trip of a lifetime
QUEPOS, COSTA RICA — After a marathon day of flying that started after a 4 a.m. ride to the Detroit airport, Josh Fisher and Pat Brobst arrived in the capital city of San Jose. A two-hour van ride through the mountains, jungle and farming areas brought them here, to this small, bustling fishing harbor on the Pacific coast. At Marina Pez Vela they met up with Toledoan Scott Kozak, who operates a… → Read More
Blade Fishing Report: Perch, catfish angling remains strong
Lake Erie/perch: The pros at Netcraft report that the wind and rain of recent days has not done much to slow the perch fishing, with the action north of Kelleys Island and off Lucy's Point, as well as the waters around Green Island and “B” can, quite busy. The proven approach for Lake Erie yellow perch is weighted spreaders fished on the bottom and tipped with shiner minnows. Captain Mike… → Read More
Lake Erie’s economic impact highlighted by officials
PORT CLINTON — On Lake Erie’s spreadsheet, the numbers continue to be staggering. There is the $15.1 billion in tourism-related economic impact in 2017, just for the eight Ohio counties that border the big lake — Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky, Erie, Lorain, Cuyahoga, Lake, and Ashtabula. Then there is the $1.9 billion in taxes tourism generated, and the 128,000 tourism-related jobs anchored in those… → Read More
Lake Erie Islands reveal a rich history, robust ecosystem
PUT-IN-BAY, Ohio — The legacy of this vacation mecca and the islands that are sprinkled about the western end of Lake Erie is one of a colorful past, and a present filled with the fun and frivolity the harbor and active downtown here support. Next week, guests, visitors, and the islanders themselves will get an intimate and informative look at the many other resources and treasures the… → Read More
Blade Fishing Report: Perch hauls picking up in Lake Erie
The perch fishing has picked up considerably in the Western Basin of Lake Erie of late. Lake Erie/Ohio: The staff at Netcraft reports that walleye anglers have been finding fish in the waters northeast of West Sister Island in 25-35 feet of water. The best success has come from pulling Tru-trip 40s with spoons or crawler harnesses 42-45 feet back. Anglers working out of Vermilion are moving… → Read More
This apostle has faith in the value of fishing
MANITOU BEACH, Mich. — Excuse the apparent incongruity of it all, but a day spent fishing a place called Devils Lake with a holy man can be downright delightful. And this time, the good padre was clearly on the winning side in a battle waged not for souls, but for some of this Irish Hills resort’s infamous bluegills. Father Tom Helfrich spends most of his time tending the flock at St. Rita… → Read More
Blade Fishing Report: Catfish abound in Maumee River
■ Lake Erie/Ohio: The crew over at Netcraft reports some of the better walleye fishing of late has taken place in the waters between Middle and North Bass islands, with anglers using spoons and harnesses with a No. 1 Dipsy on a No. 3 setting, fished 35-40 feet back at speeds of between 2.1-2.4 mph. The anglers working out of the Rocky River area report that the walleye fishing is hot in 45-52… → Read More
Blade Fishing Report: Mayfly hatch slows up walleye fishing
Capt. Dave Spangler of Dr Bugs Charters fishes for walleye on Lake Erie in June. ■ Lake Erie/Ohio: Amid scattered reports of tougher walleye fishing due to the recent mayfly hatch and a rash of wind events that had stirred up the western end, captain Eric Hirzel from Erie Gold Sportfishing relayed news of strong catches for his clients using Mini Streak and Stinger Scorpion spoons with copper… → Read More
Record fish part of the plan for former Heidelberg athlete
Josh Bowmar, who was a track & field All-American at Heidelberg, recently broke the state record with a 43-pound Bigmouth Buffalo sucker he shot while archery fishing on Hoover Reservoir, north of Columbus. Bowmar Fitness/Bowmar Bowhunting Enlarge BLENDON TOWNSHIP, Ohio — Record fish don’t usually come about as the result of extensive scouting and planning, years spent in pursuit of that one… → Read More
Blade Fishing Report: Recent downpours made it tougher to find a catch
■ Lake Erie: Mother Nature has not been especially friendly to the anglers on the big lake recently, dishing up equally problematic doses of stout northeast winds and biblical clouds of mayflies, but through all of that the fishing remains surprisingly good, according to the staff at Netcraft that closely monitors the pulse of things on Lake Erie. There have been solid reports of walleye catches… → Read More
Big sailfish wrestled in by 86-year-old Toledo angler
The skipper and deck hands aboard Pacific Fly were concerned. The 86-year-old fisherman strapped into the fighting chair on this big offshore fishing boat had been battling a powerful and agitated sailfish for close to half an hour. “I guess they were worried about how I was holding up, but all I was thinking about was not losing that fish,” Toledoan Phil Longacre said. “When that fish hit the… → Read More
Through ups and downs of history, Lake Erie remains gold mine for fish
PORT CLINTON — Prehistoric native tribes were likely the first to feast on Lake Erie’s abundant supply of walleye. A missionary working in the region in the late 1700s called the same fish a perch with "sharp teeth like those of a pike.” That fish is now responsible for the majority of a sportfishing economy that churns out a $1.3 billion impact annually in the lake’s Ohio waters alone. This… → Read More
Biologists intensify Asian carp search in area rivers
Fisheries biologists from multiple state, federal and provincial agencies combed the waters of the Maumee and Sandusky rivers recently searching for grass carp, one of the invasive Asian carp species. FREMONT — In the continual battle to confront the serious threat that invasive species pose to the Great Lakes, and specifically to Lake Erie and its adjoining river systems, dogged surveillance… → Read More
Every week on the water should be safe boating week
CATAWBA ISLAND — There was a lot of blue in the sky, a lot of heat in the air, and a relatively calm Lake Erie laid out in front of the thousands of boaters anxious to officially kick off summer with a Memorial Day weekend on the water. In their well-understood haste, the hope is the mandatory safety manual that should be every boater’s first mate and companion wasn’t left on the dock. National… → Read More
Turtle dogs: Spaniels aid research project
Boykin Spaniels are skilled bird dogs that can be trained to follow a turtle's scent across a damp forest floor or through meadows and prairies. The Blade/Kurt Steiss Enlarge | Buy This Image Before you can study turtles, you have to first find them, and in an environment of hardwood forests, densely covered ground and damp bottomlands such as those at Oak Openings and some of the other… → Read More
A Memorial Day walk we all should take
ARLINGTON, Va. — Sadly, for many people Memorial Day has evolved into something more about cookouts, picnics, and another day off work, and less about recognizing those who died while serving our country. I guess time has chipped away at our perspective and eroded the day’s meaning for many. The holiday or the weekend does not have to be spent in somber reflection, but there is some significant… → Read More