Third and final year for ‘PJC’ pike project

Published 6:21 pm Friday, June 23, 2006

By By MARCIA STEFFENS / Niles Daily Star
EDWARDSBURG - A plan, now in its third year, is working.
The Painter Juno Christiana (PJC) Lakes Association has been stocking the lakes with walleye that were between six and nine inches for the last two years.
Fisherman have reported catching walleye 15 inches in length. Though that is a legal catch, the association is requesting fishermen release their catch, as more than 14 inches is when the fish begin to breed.
This is the final year donations will again bring more fish into the joining lakes, with the 1,500 bringing a total of 5,000, according to Jerry Marchetti, committee chairman and past president.
This Satuday, everyone is invited to the annual meeting of the PJC at Our Lady of the Lake, on U.S.-12, at 11 a.m. Cass County Drain Commissioner Jeff Vanbelle will speak along with a Cass County Marine Patrol officer.
More members are welcome and there will be an election of the offices of president, now held by Clint Draeger, and treasurer, presently Dick Bruno.
About 120 families are members, Marchetti said.
The lakes are perfect for the walleye, with “so much marshland, fast running water and no sea walls,” he said. “With Christiana and June 40 feet deep, we have a lot of things going for us.”
Protecting the environment is really important to the group and they monitor the water. Testing results will be presented at the annual meeting by Bill Francis.
Two fishermen on Monday were thrilled to find walleye in these lakes.
Kelby Love and Cory Lee Miller, both of Elkhart, Ind. believe in “fish and release.”
He still has it - but it is on his cell phone.