About 125 turn out for MVSD's fishing day at Meander

MINERAL RIDGE

For four hours Saturday, about 125 people ignored threatening skies and occasional rain to experience a once-a-year fishing treat: casting their lines in the pristine waters of Meander Creek Reservoir.

“I can scratch this off my bucket list,” said Craig Richards of Youngstown as he tossed another line into the water. “It’s a blessing and a privilege to be here.”

The Mahoning Valley Sanitary District, the water supplier for Youngstown, Niles, McDonald and all or part of 15 other communities, opened the west dam section of the reservoir for public fishing for the first time since 2012 — the only time that fishing will be permitted in the reservoir this year. Last year’s event was limited to veterans.

This year, the MVSD limited the number of fishermen to 200, but weather appeared to hold down the turnout.

In addition, the MVSD imposed a strict rule to protect the area’s largest water supply.

For more on the event, read Sunday's Vindicator or Vindy.com.