Sarah Schott, a Wildlife Communications Specialist with the Ohio Division of Wildlife, organized tours of the Put-in-Bay Aquatic Visitor Center and the South Bass Island Lighthouse on Governor’s Fish Ohio Day. Participating in the tour were, front row, Jeff Frischkorn of Ohio Outdoor News, and back row, from left, Meaghan Reynolds of Shores & Islands Ohio; Park District of Ottawa County Executive Director, Jannah Wilson; Eric Hirzel of Erie Gold Fishing Adventures; Terri Harper of the Great Lakes Fishing Commission; Shores & Islands Ohio Public Relations Manager, Jill Bauer; Claudia Plumley of Great Lakes Studio; Lu Cooke of the Office of Senator Rob McColley; and Schott. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

BY SHERI TRUSTY

PUT-IN-BAY – The Governor’s Fish Ohio Day, held on June 23, offered local leaders, statewide elected officials, and members of the media the opportunity to fish Lake Erie waters. But several participants chose a different option: tours of the newly renovated Put-in-Bay Aquatic Visitor Center and the South Bass Island Lighthouse organized by Sarah Schott, a Wildlife Communications Specialist with the Ohio Division of Wildlife. The Aquatic Visitor Center, which is operated by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, opened in August, 2025.

Aquatic Visitor’s Center Manager Steve Norton holds one of the Lake Erie water snakes that live at the center. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

The tour was led by Aquatic Visitor’s Center Manager Steve Norton, who talked about the history of the building, which became Ohio’s first fish hatchery when it opened in 1907. The building served as a fish hatchery for 80 years and then “transformed from raising fish to raising awareness for about 40 years,” Norton said.

Norton talked about the complex process of raising fish and about lake sturgeon restoration efforts. He showed the group preserved freshwater jellyfish that appeared in the lake last summer and live sea lampreys, an invasive species that are a threat to Lake Erie fish. He talked about scooping up buckets of dead mayflies to freeze as winter food for the center’s live fish, and he showed a livestream of the chimney swifts that roost in the center’s chimney.

Aquatic Visitor’s Center Manager Steve Norton gives a tour of the center on Fish Ohio Day. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

Guests can meet about a dozen Lake Erie water snakes and view dioramas depicting South Bass Island above the water and below the water. Adults can immerse themselves in Lake Erie science through educational exhibits and events, and kids can learn the fun way – with interactive displays.

Sea lampreys are on display at the Put-in-Bay Aquatic Visitor Center. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

“One of the most impactful things we do is bring kids out on the pier to fish. For some kids, this is their first time on an island, their first time on a ferry, and their first time fishing,” Norton said. “Hopefully, it’s creating that first connection to Lake Erie. That connection can help them understand Lake Erie, and hopefully, they’ll want to protect it. It’s a simple theory – start with putting a pole in their hands.”

For more information on the Put-in-Bay Aquatic Visitor Center, visit https://ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/putinbay-aquatic-visitor-center.