The mean green (grand lake) report

[NBCrappie]

My son and I fished Saturday from noon till the buckeye game. We got a lot of bluegill but only 8 crappie that we could of kept. The bluegill were all over the sea walls. Any crappie we found were on docks.

[Spooner1975]

Bite was very slow in our channel too. I had one gill and we caught 2-3 crappie. I'm planning on live bait from now on and move away from the tubes. Water temp was unbelievable at 68 degrees. Should be spawn time soon if it cools back off with the cooler weather. I think the draw down is also affecting bite. Don't think they can get to the same places we normally find them when spawn in on.

[jeepguyjames]

is the water quality better? i read in the past theresb been issuse

[NBCrappie]

I think the water quality is better but there still is an issue. Matter of fact you could see your jig about a foot down, which has not been the case for awhile. I just started fishing the lake again after three years. We just go up there to fish and not keep. I do not feel that you have to clean everytime you catch a keeper size crappie or bluegill. It just seems like there are a lot of fish in the lake with very little pressure. That combination goes well when taking kids fishing.

[Spooner1975]

There's a reason the thread is titled "mean green". Until the farmers quit with the manure spreading, the lake will always be dominated by algae. We'll likely never ever be able to see the bottom but you can't at Brookville either.

No toxicity last summer. '10 was the worst but that was a different type of algae that's not the normal dominant strand. That was gross with all the no contact with the water advisories. ODNR claims that because of the longer than normal ice over that the lake couldn't release the ammonia that built up. That ammonia kept the usually dominant strand of algae from growing allowing the nasty version to become dominant. Last year ice out was in early February so there wasn't the prolonged retention of ammonia and the normal strand regained dominance. This year should be the same since ice never got to more than an inch. Plus Army Corp Eng's and Batelle, who did the most recent studies on improving water quality, said that prior to a whole lake Alum treatment that a draw down would aid in application and effectiveness. That treatment is supposed to start here soon, within the week I think. Let's just hope the wet winter keep the farmers from being able to put more poop on the fields!!!!!banghead

[NBCrappie]

Great Information. I hope the lake does come back. I told my son that the water looked low for this time of year. I did not realize that the water was being drawn down. How long do they plan on doing the alum. Is it a five year thing or a year to year?

[Spooner1975]

I'm pretty sure its just a year to year contract or experiment might be a better word. If the lake explodes again, I can't see the state or feds providing the funding. Lord knows the farmers won't pony up any money. Can't fine them to pay for treatments. I just hope the proposals set forth have effect. With the manure digester coming next year there is hope that the poop goes else where.