Grand Lake St. Marys fishing is better than it has been in years, according to anglers and the local businesses that cater to them. A related article by Jim Krumel was recently published in The Lima News. Here are some highlights:
- Don Sawmiller cannot remember a spring when the fishing has been better at Grand Lake St. Marys.
- “It was phenomenal,” the owner of Grand Lake Bait and Tackle said.
- Those are words that outdoor enthusiasts and businesses around the lake have been waiting to hear for several years. The problems associated with algae blooms had all but killed recreational fishing, earning the body of water the dubious nickname of "Green Lake St. Marys."
- The Ohio Division of Natural Resources is heralding the improved fishing as a sign that the water levels are clearing and the lake is becoming healthier.
- The fish are bigger, and ODNR and the Ohio Department of Health say they are also safe to eat.
- Recent fishing tournaments for largemouth bass and catfish, in particular, have ended with record catches in sizes and numbers of fish. Many anglers also have reported excellent catches of crappie along with bluegill and some walleye.
- There are no restrictions for eating fish from Grand Lake St. Marys based on elevated levels of algal toxins in the lake.
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Dan Manning, from the Outdoorsman in St. Marys, agreed.“I’ve been in business 23 years, and it’s the best I’ve seen. Fishing is generally the best it’s been in a long time,” said Manning.