The Division of Wildlife added 600 trout to the water, each around 10 to 12 inches long. The division of wildlife brings in fish once a year to Schoonover from the fish hatcheries to help restock the lake, and the fishermen were ready to catch their limit.

The trout will be coming to Schoonover Lake to help the City of Lima continue to redevelop that area. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources will be releasing around one thousand rainbow trout into the lake on Monday and fishermen are welcome to come out and try and snag some of them.  The time is unknown when the trout will be put in the lake, but in years past it has been around 10 and 11 in the morning.   You must have a fishing license to fish at Schoonover Lake.  Over the past few years, Lima has been working to restore the park and the lake, including working on the dam at the lake.  This will be the first time in a few years that ODNR has brought trout to help stock the lake.    

Lima Mayor Sharetta Smith released the first of hundreds of channel catfish into the lake. The stocking of the fish was part of a re-dedication of the new island and improvements at Schoonover Lake. The mayor held her weekly briefing on location to thank all those involved in the project.

Schoonover Lake is looking good as much of the growth of vegetation that grew during the time the 20-acre lake was empty of water is being cut back. The water is clear, and the oxygen level is good for fish life. They haven’t restocked the lake, but fish have found a way to repopulate.

After years of repair work, Schoonover lake will soon be filled with water and wildlife. 

It's been months since the Schoonover Lake and dam project in Lima has been complete, but it has yet to be filled with water. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources recommends allowing rain and runoff from adjacent properties to fill the empty space. There are low levels of water in it currently, but even more vegetation. Lima's Public Works Director, Howard Elstro, says it could take a while for the lake to fill to a level fit for fishing again.

The trial run began on Thursday and there’s no timetable being set. The city wants to see how these goats do in the small lagoon on the south side of the lake. For $15 a day per goat, Cox will have them roaming about from morning to evening. He hopes people enjoy watching them on their walks through the park but asks you don’t bother them. Their health is his priority.

It's been a year since work at Schoonover Lake began, and now the $2.2 million project is almost complete. Lima's public works director says that the contractor has until the end of July to complete the project, which has included replacing the levy, and reconstructing the dam and decorative island in the middle of the lake.

Although the project has been delayed, Schoonover Lake renovations continue to be made. The project was scheduled to be finished last November but the weak soil base has made it harder for crews to wrap up. They have completed the North Island Armed Forces Memorial. The dam reconstruction is 75% done. The old dam was eroding on the Ottawa River side and had to be moved more inland. The project looks to be completed in the summer with addition of an American with Disabilities Act-compliant fishing pier, bicycle pump track, and renovated walking and biking trail along the lake.