Bluewater
06-17-2000, 01:15 PM
The State of Ohio has recently announced the purchase of the historic Lonz Winery and it's surrounding 123 acres on Middle Bass Island on Lake Erie. The plans for this property include the potential conversion of the winery to a lodge, new campgrounds, hiking trails, beaches,
and marina. The diversity this offers to families and fishermen has been economically driven to a large part by the revival of the water quality of the lake and a single species of fish, the walleye. This fish is to Ohio what gambling has been to many of the surrounding states. It has stimulated an economy that has retooled Ohio's rust belt image to "The Walleye Capital of the World" The motels, marinas, boat dealers, baitstores, and restaurants have all been by products of what will eventually be Ohio's biggest industry, recreation. Ohio's newest State Park on Middle Bass Island will be the gateway to our closest recreational border to our Canadian neighbors. Only some six miles north of Middle Bass, the border is unmistakable. As far as the eye can see in either direction east and west, flags that mark Canada's commercial fishing nets pierce the lake as needles, bleeding this resource of it's full potential. I trust the State of Ohio is aware of the impact commercial fishing may have. It must be reminded. How coincidental it was that the years of the mercury scare that halted much of the commercial fishing on each border, were followed by the largest explosion of walleyes in the lake. Remind our Governor, and State officials, our Senators and Congressmen by writing to them so they attend to our concerns. Standing by, may be Ohio's biggest gamble.
and marina. The diversity this offers to families and fishermen has been economically driven to a large part by the revival of the water quality of the lake and a single species of fish, the walleye. This fish is to Ohio what gambling has been to many of the surrounding states. It has stimulated an economy that has retooled Ohio's rust belt image to "The Walleye Capital of the World" The motels, marinas, boat dealers, baitstores, and restaurants have all been by products of what will eventually be Ohio's biggest industry, recreation. Ohio's newest State Park on Middle Bass Island will be the gateway to our closest recreational border to our Canadian neighbors. Only some six miles north of Middle Bass, the border is unmistakable. As far as the eye can see in either direction east and west, flags that mark Canada's commercial fishing nets pierce the lake as needles, bleeding this resource of it's full potential. I trust the State of Ohio is aware of the impact commercial fishing may have. It must be reminded. How coincidental it was that the years of the mercury scare that halted much of the commercial fishing on each border, were followed by the largest explosion of walleyes in the lake. Remind our Governor, and State officials, our Senators and Congressmen by writing to them so they attend to our concerns. Standing by, may be Ohio's biggest gamble.