Rainbow Trout not being stocked in Shelby's Reservoir #3 this year
This week’s Streets & Utilities Committee meeting brings some disappointing news for local fishermen. Utilities Director John Ensman shared that the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife (ODNR) have made changes to their Catchable Rainbow Trout Program. There has been a realignment on where the trout are being stocked.
Ensman shared that the ODNR hatcheries produce around 100,000 rainbow trout each year and stock 70+ lakes, reservoirs, and ponds throughout Ohio during late March through early April. He explained that trout are sensitive to warmer water temperatures and those that are not caught by anglers typically do not survive in the warmer water temperatures.
Ensman went on to say that the ODNR conducted a survey during 2018 to 2019 to provide data on the program. They found that most anglers fish for trout from the shores and large bodies of water typically provide less shoreline accessibility. Angler activity is highest the day the trout are released and decreases sharply about ten days after the stocking.
Ensman commented that watching the large number of anglers fish while the ODNR stocked the Reservoir was a sight to see. He continued to share the findings of the survey saying, “Small lakes and ponds provide the best opportunity to catch the trout. Anglers typically fish close to home, in the same county or in the adjacent county.”
He said that the trout stocked in larger lakes and reservoirs benefitted anglers less than the angler fishing in a small lake or pond and that the angler activity would likely increase if the trout were stocked closer to a populated area.
The adjustment to the stocking locations that the ODNR proposed was to limit stocking to lakes, reservoirs, and ponds that are less than 25 acres in size and greater than 75% of shoreline accessibility to fish from. They also want to redistribute stocking per county proportionate to the population and adjust stocking to reach a more diverse group of anglers.
Ensman reluctantly shared that there were seven lakes and reservoirs that were impacted by the redistribution of the stocking efforts, include Shelby Reservoir #3. It is one of the seven bodies of water that will not be stocked this year.
However, the two bodies of water closest to Shelby that will be stocked in April are the Crossroads Pond in Bucyrus (21 miles), being stocked on April 29 and the Malabar Farm State Park pond (44 miles), being stocked on April 21.
The other bodies of water included in this 2023 not-being-stocked list are Lima Lake, Delta Reservoir #2, Norwalk Reservoir #1, White Star, Van Wert Reservoir #1, and Mckarns Lake. Information providing the lakes, reservoirs, and ponds to be stocked with rainbow trout in Ohio this year can be found on the ODNR website.
Vicki Howard has always had a creative soul. She describes herself as an “old school crafter” because she makes all of her crafts by hand. In recent years, she has funneled that creativity into making decor with pine cones.
She currently has many items on display inside the Little Shops of Shelby under the name “Pine Run Crafts.” Howard and Connie Roub, owner of the Little Shops of Shelby, attend the same church, Shelby Nazarene Church, and made a connection.
After going through a challenging time in her life, Howard moved back home to help care for her parents. She explained that she had to be her dad’s legs and often found herself raking up the pinecones in the yard due to the large number of surrounding pine trees.
Howard says she enjoys making crafts that people would identify with, crafts that they think are unique. “It all started with the terrible thing of getting on Pinterest,” she laughed. This is where she came up with the idea to turn the old pine cones into beautiful flowers.
She has gotten so good at what she does that she knows exactly what kinds of flowers she can create with the species of pine cones she collects such as zinnias and daisies. Howard’s pine cone flower arrangements are so creative and a great use of a part of nature that would be discarded anyway.
Howard mentioned that about 65 years ago, her grandfather built a camp in Pennsylvania which her mother named “Haven of Rest.” A couple of the pine trees on the property had to be removed due to their death so Howard took a piece of pine wood and created a commemorative decoration for her and her sisters that stayed at the camp. Her shop, Pine Run Crafts, is named after the road that the camp is situated on, Pine Run.
“I have always been that crafter and since I have come home, I have enveloped that love,” Howard said. Her day job is at Avita and she said her coworkers have been some of her biggest supporters. “They really have taken care of me. It’s that affirmation after all these years that I do make nice stuff, I can do this, I can sell my things,” she said.
Howard prides herself in making affordable and unique art that anyone can enjoy. She plans to bring a line of transfer art into the Little Shops of Shelby to add to her display, just in time for the Spring Open House on Saturday, March 25 from 10:00AM to 4:00PM.
After her parents passed away, Howard purchased her family home. “It’s just been a wonderfully incredible journey full of sadness and yet, for me, in my journey, the upside of that has been that I was able to buy that home on my own merit. It’s just an incredible thing,” she said.
Howard uses her crafting as an outlet. She explained that working with her hands and getting to create something has been very healing for her. Crafting has also served to boost her self esteem and helped her see her worth. Howard has learned that she is able to create beautiful things and that other people can and do appreciate them.
Howard is open to doing custom pine cone flower arrangements. Projects she has done for others in the past include centerpieces for a graduation party, flower arrangement pots for a new baby with their initials, and flower arrangements made with a deceased relative’s saved pine cones. To request a custom order from Howard, leave a message or text 419-564-4676 or email yodie1161@gmail. com.