MORE FISHING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ANGLERS
AT GUILFORD AND HIGHLANDTOWN LAKES
Partnership project between Divisions of State Parks and Wildlife
leads to new launch ramp at Guilford Lake; fish stockings provide greater
opportunities for anglers
AKRON, OH – Anglers will be pleased with the recent fishing access improvements and opportunities at Columbiana County’s Highlandtown and Guilford lakes according to the ODNR Division of Wildlife.
At Guilford Lake, the Divisions of State Parks & Recreation and Wildlife partnered to provide an improved boat ramp with a new courtesy dock near the beach, where a large parking area already existed. This project was completed in March of 2008 and cost less than $17,000 and was covered using a portion of the 1/8% gas tax funds that the Division of Wildlife receives and coupled with Dingell-Johnson federal funds. The “Dingell-Johnson Act” of 1950, also known as the “Sportfish Restoration Act”, helps fish conservation by way of taxes placed on fishing gear including rods, reels, lures, and other items.
At Highlandtown Lake, the Division of Wildlife contracted to repair damage to the two major boat ramps and courtesy docks. This work was completed during May of 2007 and cost approximately $9,300.
Nearly 10,000 yearling channel catfish were stocked into the two lakes recently. Over 5,100 were stocked into Guilford Lake and over 4,800 into Highlandtown Lake.
The Division of Wildlife frequently places fish-attracting structures in both Guilford and Highlandtown lakes to improve the catch rates (i.e. shorten the time between bites) for sunfish and crappie in particular. These structures are placed in waters deep enough that they should not provide navigational hazards.
Ohio’s state hatcheries and stocking projects function well thanks to anglers’ license fees. Read more about Ohio’s hatcheries and stocking projects.