JACK WOLLITZ Mahoning's rebirth needs support

Imagine Youngstowners could hop in their cars, drive a few minutes and launch a canoe on a river where the trees form canopies that offer shady relief from the summer sun.
Anglers could stow a couple of fishing rods in their canoes within easy reach when fishy-looking spots beg a couple of casts. Imagine if those casts might generate strikes from game fish like smallmouth bass, walleyes and perhaps a pike or even a muskie.
That river is not imaginary. It's the Mahoning River. And the imagery relating to game fish strikes is no fish tale.
It's hardly a secret anymore that the grimy old Mahoning River is home to a growing number of game species -- the kinds of fish that anglers pay big money to catch on wilderness expeditions. A number of anglers have discovered their own special places along the river's banks where they can retreat for an hour or so to cast for everything from bass and muskies to sunfish and carp.
Attention caught
So the recent news that the government will study the feasibility of dredging the polluted river bottom caught the attention of those who know the potential the Mahoning possesses.
While the water that flows down through Warren, Niles, Girard, Youngstown and Lowellville is cleaner today than it has been in more than 100 years, the stream bed itself is in sorry shape. Years of disregard for the consequences of rinsing the factories of oils and heavy metals have fouled the sediment to the point where it is considered toxic.
Many of the species of fish that appear to be thriving today in the urban sections of the Mahoning River look to be quite healthy. But as representatives of the upper echelon of the river's food chain, the game fish eat minnows and crustaceans that get their nutrition from the tiny plants and animals that live on the polluted stream bed. It has been hypothesized that dredging would remove much of the toxic murk that makes the river a hazardous home for aquatic life. That would be a good thing, indeed, not just for the fish, but for those who enjoy catching them.
But make no mistake that the likelihood of a large-scale dredging project is still an iffy proposition. Many things have to fall into place before the first few yards of mud are dredged up.
The initial study has to prove the project is feasible. Then millions and millions of dollars will have to be found to pay for what will be a tricky job that no doubt will require years to complete.
So will the Mahoning River become an overnight success story? No.
But can it benefit from a show of support from the community? Most certainly.
Let your feelings be known. Send your letters and emails to local, state and federal government officials. Tell them you care about the Mahoning River and that if it can be saved, it should.
Public support contributed to the reversal of the problems that threatened to kill Lake Erie in the 1960s. Today it is one of the world's finest sport fisheries.
Imagine if the old Mahoning were to enjoy a similar reincarnation.
Brothers win again
George and Nick Prvonozac of Warren continue to make their presence felt wherever bass anglers gather to compete in northeastern Ohio. Their most recent conquest was the X Series tournament June 15 at Berlin Reservoir.
They topped the 105-boat field with a limit of bass weighing 10.18 pounds and collected $5,000, the biggest check awarded in recent years in this region's bass tournaments.
Another local team, Tony LaRocca of Canfield and partner Russ Hudoba finished fourth in the Berlin X Series event, with a catch weighing 9.15 pounds. It included the tournament lunker, a 3.11-pounder. They took home a total of $1,880 for their day's work.
jwwollitz@aol.com