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| FishTails: Dec.
28, 1999 |
DNR to aid fish pining for shelter
Will drop Christmas trees in Cheat Lake
BY JENNI VINCENT
FAIRMONT — State fishery biologist Frank Jernejcic is hoping hundreds — even thousands — of Christmas trees can
be collected next week to help establish fish habitat in Cheat Lake.
The state Division of Natural Resources is teaming with garbage collector BFI to collect trees from people in Fairmont
and Morgantown beginning Monday.
Trees can be placed at the curb along with regular garbage, although a separate truck will follow to pick up the
trees, Jernejcic said.
“We can use as many trees as we can get,” he said. “BFI has graciously agreed to pick up the trees and then deliver
them to Cheat Lake. That's a lot of extra work, and we really appreciate their cooperation on this project.”
Jernejcic said the pine trees will be weighted with concrete blocks and sunk in the lake to be used as fish shelters.
Plans call for putting them in areas that lack cover to attract fish, he said.
The goal is to help concentrate fish populations in areas frequented by fishermen, Jernejcic said.
DNR officials are planning to put the fish shelters along two 200-foot-long fishing platforms built along the lake
shore at West Penn Beach Recreation Area, about a half mile above Cheat Dam, he said.
“This is being done in conjunction with Allegheny Power, which is developing hiking and fishing opportunities at
Cheat Lake,” Jernejcic said.
Some of the trees may also be placed in the lake's shallow mud flats, visible from Interstate 68 where it crosses
Cheat Lake, he said.
Cheat Lake's water quality and fishing have improved the past few years, Jernejcic said.
Fish commonly found in Cheat Lake include largemouth bass, sunfish and yellow perch, he said.
A walleye stocking program was started last year and 1.7 million were released, Jernejcic said. Stockings will
continue for two years and there are already signs the young fish are doing well, he said.
Jernejcic said he caught a couple of 9- and 10-inch walleye last month below the dam. More testing will be done
next fall, he said.
“This walleye stocking program is a positive because walleye provide a good winter fishery, they tend to do well
in reservoirs and they are among some of the best tasting fish,” he said.
Bass fishing is also flourishing at Cheat Lake, Jernejcic said.
“Cheat Lake was the second best lake for bass fishing tournaments in the state for the last two years — right behind
Stonewall Jackson Lake,” he said. “And to fishermen, that says a lot.”
Sizable yellow perch — anywhere from 10 to 12 inches long — have been caught in Cheat Lake's waters, Jernejcic
said.
Establishing fish habitats will help aquatic life as well as fishermen, he said.
“This is a way to recycle your Christmas tree so that it is truly beneficial,” Jernejcic said.
Any company or organization that has leftover Christmas trees — perhaps from a sales lot — is welcome to donate,
he said.
Information: Jernejcic, 367-2720, during regular business hours. |
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