During the summer months, there is a lot to like about living near a Great Lake. Not only can the waters be refreshing, it also can help keep the region a bit cooler when the summer heat is nearly unbearable.

Along the western border of Chautauqua County, Lake Erie has an average depth of only 62 feet and is the shallowest of the Great Lakes. That allows it to warm up quickly in the summer. On Monday, the lake temperature off Buffalo was 75 degrees. Lake Ontario, to our north, is a whole other story. The temperature off Rochester was only 50 degrees.

While the waters can be inviting — and hazardous when the wind starts to whip — fishing is a key to our summer months. Synonymous with Lake Erie numerous fish populations, its most popular has made it considered the “Walleye Capital of the World.”

In our poll question last week, “Have you been fishing this year on Lake Erie?” the results could be termed as a bit disappointing. Nine percent indicated at observertoday.com they have while another 91% said they had not.

Our outdoors columns, by Forrest Fisher, added some perspective on the sport that is worth noting earlier this week. “Perhaps the greatest resource isn’t the water itself. It’s the people. Fishing creates friendships that often last a lifetime,” he wrote. “Local clubs, conservation organizations, youth fishing programs, tournaments, and community events bring together people from every background and every generation. Experienced anglers willingly teach newcomers. Grandparents introduce grandchildren to their favorite fishing holes. Neighbors become lifelong friends after sharing a boat or a dock for an afternoon. Those conversations matter.”

This week’s poll question: Are rising electricity prices starting to impact your budget?