Friday, February 10th, 2012

State trying to lure fishing tournaments

Events generate tourism revenue for the two county area

By Nancy Allen
GRAND LAKE - The state is using accurate information as bait to lure fishing tournaments back to Ohio's largest inland lake.
Grand Lake St. Marys State Park Manager Brian Miller sent letters asking tournaments to return to the lake and he's soliciting new ones as well.
Miller wants to set the record straight on the lake's algae issues.
"We wanted to clear up misinformation by putting out correct information such as the lake was never closed, the fish are safe for consumption and that the algae cannot be transported from one lake to another like zebra mussels can," he said.
The lake hosted 81 bass, catfish and crappie tournaments in 2006; last year there were just 26, park records show. Tournaments can draw between 10 to 200 or more boats a weekend. In the 1990s the lake hosted nearly 100 tournaments annually, Miller said.
The lake has had state-issued water quality advisories the last three summers due to blue-green algae toxins. Lake visitation has decreased and millions in tourism revenue have been lost.
The letters note that the bass catch was not down last year at the lake, though it started slowly at most Ohio lakes. Last spring through late fall produced some very nice, healthy catches, Miller said, and fishing this fall and winter has been some of the best on Grand Lake in years.
Projects planned this year are noted in the letters, including renovating the East Bank launch ramp and parking lot, shoreline protection work, a planned whole lake alum treatment if state funding comes through, increased dredging and continued rough fish removal.
Dave Faller, assistant director of Fishers of Men bass tournament, said organizers decided to hold its kids tournament on the lake this year after canceling it in 2011. The event, a mainstay at the lake for years, was scrapped after the state issued a water advisory May 19 due to algae toxins. The state advised against swimming, wading in or swallowing the water and avoiding surface scum.
"We decided to (hold the tournament this year) because scientists are telling us it's OK as long as we don't drink the water in large quantities," Faller said.
The tournaments are important because the people they bring to the Mercer and Auglaize county area increase tourism dollars.
"When they come, they're not only coming to bait stores, they're buying gas, staying in hotels, eating at restaurants and buying stuff," said Dan Manning, owner of The Outdoorsmen store in St. Marys. "People ... come weeks and months earlier to check out the lake and do their homework and they spend money then, too."
Manning said the biggest misperception he hears when anglers call his store is that the fish are unsafe to eat.
"I still spend 20 to 30 minutes a day on the phone telling people the state has tested them and they're safe," he said.
Manning said he's happy to inform anglers the recent fall fishing was the best he's seen on the lake in 15 years. Fishing for bluegill, a popular pan fish, really increased and those catches remain good.
"They've just gotten bigger the last three years," he said. "Now on a regular basis we're seeing nine-inch bluegills; an eight-inch bluegill is considered a pretty good size."
Additional online story on this date
FORT RECOVERY - The Marion Local Flyers overcame a litany of first-half miscues on Thursday night to wrap up their second outright Midwest Athletic Conference championship in the past three years. [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
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MINSTER - Local officials would like to attract new businesses, but the community doesn't have acreage or the existing buildings prospective clients want.
Fort Recovery would be eligible for funds if the legislation is passed
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CELINA - County officials are moving forward to financially help an athletic equipment and apparel store open this summer at the vacant Walmart site.
The Celina Police Department is awaiting word on whether the death of a local man will be ruled a traffic fatality.
Lester L. Johnson, 76, died Wednesday night at St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima, four days after a traffic accident along Hierholzer Street near Fairlawn Drive.
COLDWATER - Although both teams were hampered by turnovers all evening long, the host Cavaliers played well in the second half and kept the Redskins at bay as Coldwater earned a 62-49 win over St. Henry on Thursday at The Palace.
Local Roundup
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
Celina built a 42-21 lead through the first three quarters of play while rolling to a 57-38 win over Kenton in Western Buckeye League girls' basketball action on Thursday night at the Fieldhouse.
MINSTER - Following two straight losses to begin the Midwest Athletic Conference portion of their schedule, Nann Stechschulte's Minster Wildcats notched five straight conference victories heading into their meeting last night at home against the New Knoxville Rangers.