Economic Value of Fishing in the ReCreation Land

• Estimated Total Trip Related Expenditures*: $3,149,208 based on an average of $235/trip** and 13,401 trips during the survey period April-September 1998.

Angling Effort

• A Total of 60,304 angler hours were expended during the survey period which ran from April through September. This does not include nighttime angling.
• 13,401 anglers visited ReCreation Land between April and September of 1998.
• Angler effort measured in angler hours per acre (200) exceeded the statewide average (170) for lakes less than 1000 acres.

Angler Catch

• The estimated catch (all species) was 99,319 fish. Largemouth bass represented 19% and bluegill 49% of the total estimated catch.
• Angler catch rates for largemouth bass and bluegill are much better than the statewide average.
• High angler catch rates indicate high quality fishing opportunities in this area.

Angler Demographics

• 77 Ohio counties, 4 states, and one foreign country represented.
• 7.8% from out-of-state (Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, and Puerto Rico).
• Anglers come from all parts of the state and region to fish this area.

Angler Opinions

• 100% of the anglers interviewed believe AEP should continue to offer their land for public use.
• 98% of the anglers interviewed believe AEP's commitment to public recreation exhibits environmental Outdoor Recreation and community involvement; 92% of those interviewed felt this would be an important consideration when choosing their electric company.
• 59% of the anglers visited the area more than 5 times in 1998. li> Anglers favored (87%) the idea of having a select group of lakes set aside as a controlled management fishing area that could be managed for high quality bass and bluegill fishing.