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Good fishin’ at Salem Reservoir

SALEM — The Salem Reservoir opened for fishing on April 11 and according to James Joy, a clerk at the boathouse, bass, yellow perch and crappie are all hitting.

The boathouse received inside and outside cleanings over the winter and Salem Parks Director Steve Faber all the prices remain the same as last year, except bait prices climbed a little.

“We look for a fantastic year. People are enjoying it and taking some nice-sized fish out,” Faber said.

The lake does not require anglers to have a state fishing license.

It is still easier to get around the lake with the four new Lund boats and electric motors that arrived late in the summer of 2015.

The boats are available to rent along with 10 new batteries purchased in s2014.

The reservoir is a favorite for local anglers and located on Gamble Road south of Salem.

The weather hasn’t kept fishermen away.

Joy said the crappie just started hitting in the last few days, adding bass have been hitting too.

The catfish and carp are almost always hitting, said Joy, who is working his second year at the boathouse.

“They’re catching 19 to 22-inch bass out there,” Joy said, “there are some big bass in here and they’re catching 9, 10 and 12-inch crappie and perch. The perch were the first ones to really start hitting.”

Season single passes are $40, family season passes are $50 and Golden Buckeye season passes are $40.

Boat rentals for people 18-years-old and up with valid identification are $2.50 per hour, with an electric motor add $2.50 per hour and with a battery add another $2.50 per hour.

The minimum charge is for a one-hour rental and the maximum all-day charge for a boat, motor and battery is for six hours at $45 a day.

The lake is open every day except Monday from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. and daily passes are $5 and children under 12 are free. Children 13 and 14 can fish on a daily pass for $3 a day while 15 years and up are $5 a day. Golden Buckeye cardholders can fish for $4 a day.

Boat owners can use their own boats but no gasoline engines are allowed.

Life jackets are required on boats for adults and children. There are life jackets in the boathouse.

There is also bait including minnows, mediums and shiners, night crawlers, wax worms and maggots and all have all gone up about 20 cents from last year, Joy said.

The boathouse has light refreshments including pop, chips and candy.

To get to the lake from Salem, take Depot Road south for approximately 6 miles to Teegarden Road and turn left and continue for 1.5 miles to Gamble Road and turn right.

The lake entrance is approximately 1 mile from Teegarden Road.

The lake, which also provides the city of Salem with its drinking water supply, is open until the last Sunday in September.

lshields@salemnews.net

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