Lake group to fund removal of rough fish

CELINA - A rough fish reduction pilot program will begin this week to reduce the number of carp in Grand Lake.

Milt Miller, Lake Restoration Commission director, told Lake Improvement Association members on Saturday the LRC is paying JR Commercial Fish $35,000 to harvest carp from the lake. The company is owned by Jeff Riedemann, a co-host of the Outdoor Channel's Bottom Feeders show.

"We met Jeff through one of our consultants and some discussions back and forth have taken place with (the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of) Fish and Wildlife down in Columbus and we finally got the green light," Miller said.

The lake has a problem with rough fish, specifically carp, he explained.

"Guys down in Columbus at the fishery are saying based on their electroshocking that we're 90 percent rough fish and only 10 percent game fish," he said. "If we can get those carp in balance with the game fish, which are predators, then they'll take care of it themselves."

Reducing the number of carp is crucial to the continued success of the wetlands that have been or will be created by the Coldwater Creek and Prairie Creek treatment trains.

"We are spending literally millions of dollars trying to re-establish wetlands. And these (carp) devastate wetlands," Miller said. "We just have to make the all-American try. We won't know until we try."

Miller described the process JR Commercial Fish uses. This week, the company will harvest 25 carp, tag them and release them back into the lake. In a month's time, using telemetry, the company hopes to find and harvest large schools of carp, using the 25 tagged fish as guides.

"We're hoping to have that success. We know we can't eradicate all the carp with that but if we can get them in balance in the lake, that's the key," Miller said.

Miller said the company has received the permits necessary from ODNR to harvest the fish.

The work must be done during the winter and early spring. Miller said the company's largest profit margin comes from the roe, or eggs. During late spring, fish dump their eggs when taken out of water so the work needs to be completed now, he explained.

This is not likely to be an annual project, Miller added. However, he noted it depends on the fishing company's ability to find the mass of carp.

Past efforts to reduce carp include a 2011 state project to net and remove the rough fish species. In two days in April 2011, the nets caught more than 3,000 pounds of mostly rough fish. There is also a yearly "Get the Carp Outta Here" tournament held on the lake.

In other business, LIA members,

• welcomed new Grand Lake St. Marys State Park Manager David Faler of Wapakoneta, who is taking over for Brian Miller. Miller moved into a new position as the Southwest District park manager last summer. Faler has been with the state parks department for 20 years, starting as a seasonal worker in 1995, Miller said.

• learned the membership drive will be in April. Vice president Mark Piening said last year the drive brought in $22,000.

• learned upcoming events are Motown on the Lake at 6 p.m. Feb. 27 at Romer's in Celina and Casino Night at 7 p.m. March 19 at Romer's. The Casino Night is held in partnership with the Lake Festival committee, Piening noted.

Correction:

The subhead incorrectly stated the Lake Improvement Association was paying $35,000 to JR Commercial Fish for a rough fish removal pilot. The Lake Restoration Commission is paying the fishing company's fees. The error was made in page design.