I’m feuding with the newly domesticated feral cats because they have tried to claim the Fish Hawk as their own fishing boat.

I’m not much on “cat” fishing, but they have found the bow of the boat to their liking as they scout out the area around my garage. I’ve been busy cleaning and scrubbing the winter dust and leaves from the deck and giving the swivel seats a once over.

Fresh fuel and battery charges are in order and I have purchased a new cover, tie downs and mooring ropes. The Fish Hawk will never look or run better than in the 2011 season.

My First Mate and pal Beaver Boy likes a tidy operation and I’m ready to hit the waters. We even have some new rod holders to install so that we can do some trolling as it suits us for walleye, striped bass or muskies.

In a few weeks, the Fish Hawk will be hitting the local lakes for the crappie season as my recent visit to Pymatuning Lake showed that the locals were catching some crappies in the shallows in the Ohio section.

In Pymatuning, anglers can fish anywhere on the lake with either a Pennsylvania or Ohio license. However, all that changes when you step on to the dry land. This is when you better have the right license on your person because they are now not interchangeable.

While I was at the lake, I was able to get some literature on two Walleye Tournaments that will be held in April on Pymatuning. April starts the fishing for walleye in earnest and the Crystal Lake Inn will hold its 11th Annual Walleye Tournament April 23.

The tournament is unique in that it is a team event with 2-3 person teams. Three walleye per boat are allowed for the contest with prizes awarded after measurements. Largest fish will break all ties and there will be a cash prize for longest crappie, perch & bass (white, small, large mouth).

All fish will be used for a fish fry after the tournament measurement session. Sign up is at the Crystal Lake Inn in Hartstown, Pa. Call 814-382-6249. This is strictly a fun tournament.

The second tournament is the second Annual Fisherman’s Cove Walleye Tournament.

This tournament will be held on April 30 at Pymatuning Lake as well. Top teams will be awarded prizes and this includes a big fish “lunker” prize.

Registration cost is $20 per angler with teams of 2-3 per boat and a total of three walleye per boat to be measured. After the check in, all the fish will be used for a fish fry and side dishes are welcomed.

This event is a fundraiser and all proceeds will be donated to charity. For more information, contact Pam at 330-772-2683 or Mike at 330-507-5201.

Night fishing and fishing overcast days is the best time to catch walleye and a crawler on a jig or harness can be deadly effective.

Rods need to be sensitive as the fish are known to nip at the crawler tails lightly and many a hit is missed. Once you get into the rhythm of the fish hitting, you will increase your catching odds greatly.

Remember, if you are not on the bottom, you will not be in the zone that walleye like to frequent. Hang ups on snags, rocks and sunken timber can be frequent, but you will be in their living room.

A steady taut line will be best. Slack in the line will let them throw the hook up and bulling the fish will disengage the fish as well.

Walleye need to be 15 inches long with a creel limit of six fish. Bass need to be 12 inches and Muskies 30 inches.

There are plenty of campgrounds, cabins, and restaurants in nearby Jamestown, Pa., and in Andover, Ohio. Remember to check out your boating equipment before you hit the water.

When we meet again, I hope it is on the water or at a fish fry!

Jay E. Hewitt is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle