TURKEY HUNTING MISTAKES - P.8 A Turkey Dissection Story inside page 6
Simple Flies Are Often the Best Flies OV Outdoor Times
The older I get, the more I appreciate keeping fishing tactics simple. Not that there aren’t times when more complicated By Jeff Knapp riggings are Fishing Editor appropriate. But why make things more elaborate when it’s not necessary? During a trout fishing weekend late last month this philosophy was reinforced. Saturday morning found me along one of Western Pennsylvania’s Delayed Harvest, Artificial Lures Only areas, one that had been stocked a couple of weeks prior. This DHALO area receives rainbow trout mostly, and as many of you know, rainbows are fond of eggs. So it’s no surprise that egg patterns had been productive there. As such, I made an egg pattern, more specifically a Glo Bug, my fly of choice to tie to the tip-
pet end. You can’t get much simpler than a Glo Bug, basically a ball of brightly colored yarn attached to the hook. I’d taken several trout during an earlier outing on the Glo Bug, but wanted to show the fish something else as well. So I tied about a footand-a-half of 4x tippet to the bend of the Glo But hook, then searched in my fly box for a good candidate for the dropper. A couple small orange-colored numbers caught my attention. I can’t recall where I’d gotten them, as a couple buddies and I trade flies we’ve tied, and their origin sometimes becomes lost with time. At any rate, the bead-headed fly — which was basically a just a size 14 scud hook, wrapped with tinsel and finished off with a collar of orange dubbing behind the gold bead — looked right. During the next hour and a half a hooked about 10 nice rainbows, and all but one fell for the orange pattern, before it became a victim of a snag. I refrained from using the last one, wishing to keep as a sample for future ties, which I knocked out later that evening. The afternoon of the following day my friend Dave Keith and I were on a section of remote stream in Jefferson County (PA), one that’s produced some nice wild Turn To Flies Page 13
Ohio Valley
FR
EE!
Outdoor Times April 2016
Ohio Valley Outdoors–Photo by Jeff Knapp
Dave Keith displays a nice wild brown trout that fell for a simple fly, the green weenie.
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April 2016
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A Turkey Dissection: “Beak to Butt”
18
Finding Live Bait this Spring
19
Great Lakes Restoration Supported by Majority
Spring Gobbler Season in Near
ODNR
Ohio’s Turkey Season Larry Claypool
10 13
Larry Claypool
WVDNR
Calendar of Events
Healthy Lakes.org
Iowa Legalizes Suppressors
14
SilencerCo
You May Want to Get Your Own Worms this Spring Grey D. Berrier II
8
Turkey Hunting Mistakes
OUTDOOR CALENDAR
3D Archery Shoots - April 17, May 15, June 19, July 17, Aug. 21, Sept. 18. Hosted by Mosquito Bowmen, 2535 McCleary Jacoby Rd., Cortland, OH 44410. Cost $10, Cubs under 12 free. For info. call 330-507-1212 or see website: www.mosquitobowmen.com. Beaver Creek Wildlife Education Center 2016 Opening/Free Fishing Day - May 7-8, at Beaver Creek State Park/Education Center at 12798 Echo Dell Rd., East Liverpool, OH. For info. call Jim at 330-301-0019. Trader’s Day Swap Meet & Gun Show - May 14 at Trumbull County Rod & Gun Club. Buy, sell, trade your hunting and fishing equipment, firearms, other outdoor sports gear, and more. 50/50 & Gun Raffles. Tables (indoor or outdoor) – $15. Food and Drink will be available. For information contact: Jason Chamberlain at 330-307-0522. Ohio River Catfish Tournaments - May 7, 21; June 11, 25; July 9, 23; Aug. 6. Sponsored by Chester-Newell Sportsmen’s Club. Open to everyone. 7 p.m. Sat. to 7 a.m. Sun. Boundaries Pittsburgh to Wheeling. $10 per fisherman. Visit Chaney’s Service Station or call 304-387-3982.
Ohio Valley
Ohio is full of history when it comes to fishing bait and tackle. My knowledge of that expanded even more recently while I was researching for an article on available live bait in the upper Ohio Valley By Larry Claypool region. Editor Of course the Akron, Ohio area presented us with Pflueger lures and reels, Fred Arborgast’s lures (Jitterbug, Hawaiian Wiggler, Hula Popper and many more), the Creme Lure Co. (inventors of the plastic worm), which comprised a large chunk of the artificial fishing bait in this century. Akron also has been the home of many large wholesalers of live bait in the midwest. Three larger live bait warehouses — featuring minnows of all sizes — previously handled the business in this region. They were Akron Wholesale Live Bait in Mogodore; Bass Boss Bait in Akron and Eddie’s Live Bait of Nimisila Lake (Portage County, OH). Eddie’s Live Bait is the only wholesaler still in business. They now work under the name of J.W.S. Wholesale Bait of Clinton, OH (North Canton). J.W.S. Wholesale Bait is run by Joe Langenfeld. His father started the business more than 50 years ago. He said the other two long-time bait businesses (Akron Wholesale and Bass Boss) were family-run businesses too. “It’s a tough business. It’s five months of hard work, and is very demanding,” said Langenfeld recently during a phone interview. It was generally a slow spring day for Langenfeld due to a string of cold weather days in early April. Read more about Langenfeld’s bait business in my article “Finding Live Bait this Spring’ on Page 10.
I guess the species of fish you’re trying to net, or the method, will determine the bait you use — live or artificial. Some fisherman use one or the other. For me, I use both. It depends on what I’m fishing for, the body of water, or what live bait is available. Ninety percent of the times I go fishing I have nightcrawlers in my bag. And my refrigerator at home usually has worms kept in storage, waiting for my next fishing trip. Another staple item that’s usually in my tacklebox is some form of doughball. I may only use it one out of five times, but it’s something I like to have if nothing else is working. During my research for bait shops along the Ohio River I came across the manufacturer of Van-Do, a long-time supplier of doughball, a brand I used to have in my tacklebox for years. This well-known doughball has been around for 65 years and is made in Toronto, Ohio. Van-Do owner Bob Nelson said he bought the recipe and business in 1980 from the original owner, Jack Kelly. Ohio is also home to the top walleye fishing lure in the country, the Erie Dearie. Since 1961 charter boat captain and bait shop owner Dan Galbincea has churned out the popular walleye lures near Mosquito Lake (Mecca, OH). Galbincea once told a reporter his company was selling two million Erie Dearie lures a year. Currently the Erie Dearie lures are manufactured out of state, but still sold from Ohio, along with many other fishing products. Two other midwest states are well known for inventing and manufacturing fishing equipment that have been staple items for many years. South Bend reels and other fishing equipment are made in Indiana and Shakespeare and Bronson reels hail from Michigan. Legendary Heddon Lures also come from Michigan.
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Outdoor Times April 2016
The Bait Business — It’s an Ohio Thing OV Outdoor Times
INSIDE THIS MONTH
5 Hunters Prepare for 6
April 2016
OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
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VOL. 8, NO. 4
is published by Ohio Valley Outdoors Magazine©
Offices located at
Ohio Valley Outdoor Times
210 E. 4th Street, East Liverpool, OH 43920 Phone 330-385-2243, Fax 330-385-7114 ohvod@ohiovalleyoutdoors.com www.ohiovalleyoutdoors.com
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Contributing Editors
Ralph Scherder, Hunting Editor Jeff Knapp, Fishing Editor Brian Miller, Field Editor
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April 2016
OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
Hunters Prepare for Ohio’s 2016 Turkey Season
COLUMBUS, OH — For many hunters, spring brings the unmistakable sound of gobbling wild turkeys as Ohio’s annual hunt of this popular game bird begins. The 2016 Ohio spring hunting season opens on April 18, and the youth wild turkey season is April 16-17, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). The ODNR Division of Wildlife anticipates approximately 65,000 licensed hunters, not counting exempt landowners hunting on their own property, will enjoy Ohio’s popular spring wild turkey season before it ends on May 15. The spring and youth turkey seasons are open statewide with the exception of Lake La Su An Wildlife Area in Williams County, which requires a special hunting permit. Hunters are required to have a hunting license and a spring turkey hunting permit. The spring season bag limit is two bearded turkeys. Hunters can harvest one bearded turkey per day, and a second spring turkey permit can be purchased at any time throughout the spring turkey season. Turkeys must be checked
no later than 11:30 p.m. the day of harvest. All hunters must report their turkey harvest using the automated game-check system. Game-check is available online, by phone or at a license agent. A complete list of participating license agents can be found at wildohio.gov. Visit the Turkey Hunting Resources page at wildohio.gov, or call 800-WILDLIFE (945-3543) for more information about the game-check process. The youth-only turkey season is April 16-17 for youth possessing a valid youth hunting license and a turkey permit. Youth hunters must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult, 18 years of age or older. Only two wild turkeys may be checked by a youth hunter during the two-day season. Additionally, if two turkeys are harvested in the youth season, no additional birds may be taken by the youth hunter for the duration of the spring turkey season. Hunting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise until noon from April 18-May 1. Hunting hours from May 2-15 will be 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset. Hunt-
Ohio Valley Outdoors– Photo courtesy of Keith Cummings
The 2016 Ohio spring hunting season opens on April 18. Keith Cummings took this nice tom (24.5lb) last year in Mahoning County, OH.
5 ing hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset during the two-day youth season. Hunters may use shotguns or archery equipment to hunt wild turkeys. It is unlawful to hunt turkeys using bait, live decoys or electronic calling devices or to shoot a wild turkey while it is in a tree. The ODNR Division of Wildlife advises turkey hunters wear hunter orange clothing when entering, leaving or moving through hunting areas in order to remain visible to others. Wild turkey breeding activity is primarily controlled by the increasing amount of daylight. Hens typically start incubating eggs around May 1 in Ohio. Ohio’s current wild turkey population is approximately 175,000. Wild turkeys were extirpated in Ohio by 1904 and were reintroduced in the 1950s by the ODNR Division of Wildlife. Ohio’s first modern day wild turkey season opened in 1966 in nine counties, and hunters checked 12 birds. The wild turkey harvest topped 1,000 for the first time in 1984. Spring turkey hunting opened statewide in 2000, and Ohio hunters checked more than 20,000 wild turkeys for the first time that year. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.
OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
A Turkey Dissection: “Beak to Butt”
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OV Outdoor Times
For the last nine years local outdoorsman Chris Creed has offered a very interesting seminar for youths, and others, on the topic of turkey hunting. It is a detailed look at wild turkeys — an actual By Larry Claypool dissection of the large Editor bird. With spring wild turkey season opening soon Creed recently was invited to On Target Outfitters, in Canfield, OH, to give his seminar. Creed, an avid turkey hunter, said he wanted to get kids interested in the sport. From there it has been a seminar that many others have wanted to see. “Originally, it was intended to get kids more interested in turkey hunting by providing a fun and unique way of keeping their interest. However, it quickly became an event that was requested by churches, sportsmans clubs, NWTF Jakes Day Directors, and many more,” Creed said.
“The dissection seminar, called “Beak to Butt”, was soon educating everyone from 4 to 94 in Ohio and several surrounding states,” added Creed. “No matter who I am in front of, my goal is to teach them something new that will help them on the hunt. Since it is an actual turkey dissection, I get to cover every part of the bird in great detail.” It makes for a very interesting ‘Show and Tell’ seminar for anyone interested in turkey hunting. “ There is just something exciting about holding a gizzard that you just plucked out of a gobblers body cavity and walking it around the room! It’s not important if the kids don’t remember exactly what a body part or organ is called if they can remember how it works and how it relates to them as a hunter,” said Creed. It’s a relationship Creed thinks will stick with kids and adults. “The joy of the dissection is that it is so impactful, they don’t forget! It is a blessing to be able to put my passion to use is a way that is memorable and helpful to both youth and adult hunters,” said Creed. For additional information about turkey hunting or his seminars, contact
April 2016
Ohio Valley Outdoors– Photo by Chris Creed
Local hunter Chris Creed provided a detailed turkey seminar “Beak to Butt” recently for members of On Target Outfitters in Canfield, OH.
Chris Creed via email at: ccreedfish@aol.com.
Editor’s Note: The story below was written by 10-year-old Jonathan Mitchell, an active member of On Target Outfitters, after he recently attended Creed’s seminar “Beak to Butt”.
This is What I Learned About Turkeys
By Jonathan Mitchell On Target Outfitters You might think turkeys are dumb birds that you eat for Thanksgiving dinTurn To Turkeys Page 7
April 2016
Turkeys From Page 6
ner; but they are actually really smart birds. A turkey can see 270 degrees around itself. That’s why they are hard to hunt. Turkeys also can hear a mile away. That’s also why they are hard to hunt. A tip when you are hunting: Have you ever seen the little red part that sticks out right under the turkey’s eyes? Well, that’s called the snoot. The snoot is very important when you are hunting turkey. When the snoot is hanging low, it means the turkey is relaxed. When they suck in the snoot, it means they are concentrating on something. So, they either see you or something else like another animal. This is not good for the hunt. Some fun turkey facts: Did you know that turkeys’ bones are hollow? Did you know that Toms (male turkeys) have bigger hearts than Hens (female turkeys)? Did you know that turkeys have a gizzard? The turkey’s gizzard can actually flatten a small, round metal pipe that has been eaten by the turkey! Did you know that turkeys eat stones to help them crush nuts and bark in their gizzard? When you get your first turkey, you should probably take a look inside their
OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
gizzard for hints about where to hunt for more turkeys. So, if you find nuts in the gizzard, go to where you find nuts on the ground close by. If there are stones, go to where you find stones on the ground. If there are mushrooms in the gizzard, go to where you find mushrooms. Did you know turkey parts can make
Ohio Valley Outdoors–Photo by Chris Creed
Creed’s seminar includes showing the difference between a female and male turkey’s heart (the male’s is larger), in the top photo and a series of hen’s eggs from start to finish (photo at left).
Ohio Valley Outdoors–Photo by Chris Creed
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turkey calls? Since turkey bones are hollow, you can actually make a horn-looking call out of three turkey bones. You can also make a call or a fan out of turkey tail feathers. This is some of what I learned about turkeys!
About OTO: On Target Outfitters is a youth mentoring ministry, that uses hunting, shooting, fishing and other outdoor sports as a way to instill confidence, ethics, values, and faith into a young person’s life. Find them online at: www.ontargetoutfitters.org. Contact Director Steve Scott at 330-423-5101.
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OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
Turkey Hunting Mistakes OV Outdoor Times
April has finally arrived and, with it, turkey season. I wish I could say that every season gets easier as I get older and more experienced, but that’s not always the case. That’s the neat thing about being an By Ralph Scherder outdoorsman – you Hunting Editor never stop learning. No matter how many tricks and techniques I uncover along the way, there are still more waiting to be discovered. I’ve certainly made my mistakes hunting turkeys over the years, but I’ve learned from them. One mistake I’ve made (several times, in fact) is expecting birds to be where I saw them the previous fall. Many times while archery hunting I’ve had groups of gobblers parade past my treestand. When I returned to hunt there the following spring, though, they were gone. The reason was simple – food sources had changed. Also, in fall, gobblers tend to flock up whereas in the spring they dis-
perse more because of competition for breeding. Birds can still be in the general area. Just don’t expect them to be exactly where you saw them last fall. Which leads me to another mistake I’ve made – not scouting enough. Honestly, scouting for turkeys is so easy we take it for granted. You can spend mornings driving around from wood patch to wood patch listening for gobblers in the early morning light, or you can take a walk and look for scratchings in the leaves left behind by feeding birds. Turkeys aren’t secretive. They let their presence be known by leaving a lot of sign. Yet, for whatever reason, many hunters decide to just “wing it” (pun intended!) come the first day of the season, and then they wonder why they go to the same spot they went last year and don’t hear any birds or have any luck. A little scouting can go a long way in turkey hunting. Just as important, though, is the technical end of things, primarily patterning your gun. Here’s a fact that almost every turkey hunter I’ve ever known has overlooked — every brand of shotgun shell
April 2016
Ohio Valley Outdoors–Photo by Ralph Scherder
The author lists several mistakes he’s made while turkey hunting. There was no mistake while he called in this tom last season in his home state of Pennsylvania.
will pattern differently out of every model of shotgun. I shoot a Remington 11-87 and have been shocked that some shells will almost completely miss the target at 30 yards. Patterns can be con-
sistently higher or lower or to the left or right, and not one single BB hits the target. It doesn’t seem possible, but with several brands I’ve found that’s defiTurn To Turkey Mistakes Page 9
April 2016
Turkey Mistakes From Page 8
OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
nitely the case. When I hear about guys missing birds they think they should’ve hit, I always wonder if they took time to pattern their shotguns. Even if the pattern ends up where it should on paper, some brands will have more gaps between BB’s than others, and some of those gaps will be big enough to completely miss a gobbler’s head. Every shotgun seems to have its sweet spot, a brand that shoots best, where the pattern hits dead center and provides good coverage with no gaps. Always buy two or three different brands to determine which one shoots best out of yours. While it’s true that with today’s super tight turkey chokes it is possible to kill gobblers at long range, I wouldn’t bank on it for every situation. For one thing, it’s a lot like practicing with your bow for fall. Yes, you can hit a 3D target at 60 yards in your backyard, but can you do it under hunting conditions when your adrenaline spikes and you’re taking aim at the buck of a lifetime? A boss gobbler can be an intimidating force, not to mention their head is an awfully small target at 60 yards. Even the best and tightest chokes in the world can’t guarantee that
your pattern will be tight enough at that range to kill, or even hit, a bird. I’d wager that many birds are missed because hunters shoot too soon, before the bird is fully within range. For this reason, I carry a rangefinder. Before I even start calling, I range a couple trees or rocks and make mental notes. Personally, my ideal range is 30-40 yards or less. Beyond that, my efficiency is diminished. Yes, I’ve killed birds at longer ranges, but I’ve also missed more than I ever hit at longer ranges, for the simple reason that shotgun patterns can be unpredictable. The biggest mistake I’ve made and seen others make involves movement. It sounds like the simplest thing in the world, but it happens all the time. Gobblers bust us because they see us move. Whether trying to get into position to shoot or making one last call to pull the bird within range, you have to make sure the bird doesn’t see you. Take advantage of every instance when the bird has its head turned or is gobbling or drops briefly out of sight. Remember, you might think your movements are too subtle to be seen, but to a mature gobbler, that little flick of your wrist to work a slate call is the equivalent of someone waving a huge red flag over your head.
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Mentoring young people in sport, in life, and in faith. For details about our summer day camps visit our website . . .
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I’ve also made the mistake of allowing my mind to wander. Turkey hunting isn’t always edge-of-your-seat excitement. There are many long quiet moments between action, and it’s easy to lose focus. Big toms don’t always gobble when they’re coming to your call, especially in high pressured areas. One time I was set up on the edge of a thick cut in the rain. I hadn’t heard a gobbler all morning and just figured I’d kill time by making a few clucks and purrs on my slate call. I did that for perhaps 20 minutes without rhyme or reason, for the simple fact that I was bored. And then it sounded like the forest was falling down. I looked up and saw a big silhouette descending on me with wings fanned wide and spurred feet outstretched like pterodactyl claws. Images of being carried away raced through my mind. My hat went flying and my shotgun flopped out of my lap as a gobbler crash landed at my boots. In an instant I realized it wasn’t some winged predator but a big old tom, which was when he must’ve realized I wasn’t a flock of hens but a hunter. He hit the ground running, disappearing into the cut. I’d literally had a gobbler at my boots and never even got a shot. I don’t make that mistake anymore.
9 No matter what, I try to always stay focused because, in turkey hunting, you never know what might happen next. You’ve got to always be ready. Of course, these aren’t the only mistakes I’ve made while turkey hunting. There have been plenty more that come to mind, and I’m sure there will be plenty of new ones to make in the future. But that’s OK because each mistake is an opportunity to learn. And actually, it’s fun to look back and recall the things I’ve done wrong over the years because those mistakes made success that much sweeter.
Ohio Valley Outdoors-Magazine
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OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
Finding Live Bait this Spring OV Outdoor Times
EAST LIVERPOOL, OH — Fisherman in the upper Ohio Valley will find it tougher to purchase live bait this year as long-time supplier Chaney’s Service Station, in Chester, WV, have decided to By Larry Claypool close down that por- Editor tion of their business. It was one of the few bait shops still in business in the Tri-State area near the Ohio River and upper Ohio Valley. Pat Chaney, grandson of founding owner Don Chaney (who passed away in October 2014), said selling live bait was no longer a profitable venture. “Minnows are hard to keep alive. By the time you throw out the dead ones there’s not much money to be made,” said Chaney. “With the prices going up you can’t make enough money at it.” Chaney said the gas station and convenient store (the bait shop was located at the rear of the store) removed all items related to fishing tackle and bait. “We
cleaned out everything,” said Chaney. Will they sell nightcrawlers? “No.” So, where do you find live bait in the area? That’s been my quest this spring. After making several phone calls to bait shops and a key wholesale supplier in the region I’ve compiled a pretty good list of stores/shops that sell live bait. Fish on! Picking up the slack since Chaney’s have hung up their nets will be three live bait shops near East Liverpool, and the Ohio River; Mee Mee’s Live Bait near Wellsville; B & S Country Carryout near Salineville and Reddi Bait & Tackle in Bridgewater, PA. All three of these shops carry live minnows, worms and much more. Several other shops that carry minnows and nightcrawlers will be discussed below. Some locations may sell state fishing licenses, or for an Ohio license go online: www1.oh.wildlifelicense.com/start.php. Here’s the details on the three shops mentioned above. • Jason and Shelby Congrove of Mee Mee’s Live Bait (15499 state Route 45, Lisbon, OH, a short drive behind
April 2016
Ohio Valley Outdoors– Photo by Larry Claypool
Purchasing live bait, like these minnows, could be tough this spring after one key bait shop closed recently. These minnows were found at Mee Mee’s Bait Shop near Wellsville.
Wellsville) are gearing up for a busy spring season. They carry all types of shiners, fatheads, cutbait, crawfish, salamanders, nightcrawlers, other worms, tackle and supplies. Mee Mee’s also sponsors catfish tournaments during the spring and summer. See their Facebook page for updates and photographs from local fishermen. Mee Mee’s phone number is: 330-383-2383. • B & S Country Carryout, located along state Route 39 near Southern Local Schools and Highlandtown Lake (38268 state Route 39, Salineville, OH), has three types of minnows (crappie, bass and shiners), nightcrawlers, maggots, wax worms, rods, reels and tackle. B & S’s phone number is: 330-6790300. • Reddi Bait & Tackle in Bridgewater, PA., located at 214 Bridge Street in Bridgewater, PA, has a wide selection of live bait, according to owner Tim Reddinger. They specialize in catfish bait. “We have bluegill, suckers, shiners, crappie minnows, bullhead minnows, cutbait, worms, chicken liver, we have it all,” said Reddinger. “We have anything that wiggles, swiggles, creeps or crawls.” Located near the Ohio River in Bridgewater, Reddi Bait sponsors several fishing tournaments, including some larger catfish tourneys, each year. Reddinger also keeps an active Facebook page for his shop. Besides local fishing
photos he also posts YouTube videos about his shop with fishing tips and fishing information in general that are very entertaining. Reddi Bait’s phone number is: 724-888-2932. Joe Langenfeld, of J.W.S. Wholesale Bait in North Canton, OH, was able to offer many live bait locations in the area since he delivers to many of the bait shops. He too was surprised that Chaney’s is no longer selling live bait. Over the years the Chester location had been one of his best. Langenfeld said he delivers to about 150 stores and marinas in Ohio. Only a portion of those carry minnows but most sell nightcrawlers and other worms. They also sell various fishing supplies. During the early spring months J.W.S. is very busy delivering crappie minnows. Langenfeld’s routes in the summer include weekly runs to about 80% of the shops. “We have 20-30 stops that we see 2-3 times a week and during the busy season we have 10 stops that we deliver three times a week,” said Langenfeld of the live minnow deliveries. Some of the other local shops that sell minnows, worms, other live bait and some tackle are listed below. Phone them for availability and hours: • Glenn’s Archery & Tackle (two locations - near Guilford Lake, OH, 33094 Baker Road, phone: 330-222-2425 and Turn To Live Bait Page 11
April 2016
Live Bait From Page 10
near Lake Milton, OH, state Route 534 & Mahoning Ave., Lake Milton, phone: 330-538-2425) • Red’s Sports (14125 Market St., Columbiana, OH, phone: 330-5495672) • Salem Reservoir (also known as Cold Run Reservoir, Gamble Road, Lisbon, OH, phone: 330-332-5512) • Runzo’s Outdoor Sports (27533 state Route 62, Beloit, OH, phone: 330-5372137) Some convenient stores that sell “dry” bait; nightcrawlers and other worms. Again phone them for availability and hours: • Four Seasons Mini Mart (49150 Calcutta Smithferry Rd., Calcutta, OH, phone: 330-385-3315) • Save-A-Lot (325 Wells Ave., Wellsville, OH, phone: 330-532-1967) • Campbell’s Grocery (12532 state Route 45, Lisbon, OH, phone: 330-4243876) • Riverside Market (115 2nd Street, Stratton, OH, phone: 740-537-2772) • Gorby’s (368 North Market St., East Palestine, OH, phone: 330-426-2049) • Gorby’s (50571 Richardson Ave, Negley, OH, phone: 330-426-2865)
OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
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• Pit Stop (JT Pit Stop, 13408 state Route 164, Lisbon, ‘Gavers’, OH, phone: 330-424-5469) • B K Beverage (42 W. Main St., Salineville, OH, phone: 330-679-0212) • Circle K (335 N. Market St., Lisbon, OH, phone: 330-424-1208) • Circle K (3 stores in Salem, OH, 780 W. State St., phone: 330-337-8593; 1125 E. State St., phone: 330-337-8018; 1827 S. Lincoln Ave., phone: 330-337-8010) • Smith Oil (3232 St. Clair Ave, East Liverpool, OH, phone: 330-385-6592) • Walmart (store in your area)
Editor’s Note: If I missed a shop in your area please send me a note at: lclaypool@ohiovalleyoutdoors.com, and I’ll add them to the list.
Ohio Valley Outdoors– Photo courtesy of Van-Do
This popular doughball carp (or catfish) bait Van-Do - is available at many bait shops, across the country actually. And it’s made by a small company from Toronto, Ohio.
Ohio Valley Outdoors– Photo by Larry Claypool
Salamanders make great bait for fishing, but they are hard to find. These ones were available recently at Mee Mee’s Bait Shop near Wellsville.
April 2016
OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
Iowa Legalizes Suppressors
DES MOINES, IA — Iowa has become the 42nd state to legalize suppressors. House File 2279, a bill introduced by Rep. Matt Windschitl and Rep. Terry Baxter, recently passed the Iowa Senate Judiciary Committee on March 2, 2016 by a wide margin of 11-2. The bill moved through the Iowa Senate without issue, and has now been signed by Governor Terry Branstad. After three years of efforts by the American Suppressor Association, the National Rifle Association, and the Iowa Firearms Coalition to educate lawmakers on the benefits and realities of suppressors, HF 2279 was met with positive response. This victory in Iowa is bringing hope to the eight other states where suppressors are still illegal for civilians to own. As part of their “No State Left Behind” campaign, the American Suppressor Association will now turn its attention to those states, including California, Illinois, Massachusetts, and New York. Ohio legalized the ownership of suppressors by citizens and their use for hunting in 2015. Pennsylvania and West
Virginia have also passed those laws. “SilencerCo has been a strong supporter of the American Suppressor Association since its inception. We’re proud of the hard work they have put behind HF 2279 along with the help of the NRA and the Iowa Firearms Coalition. Because of the determination and educational push by these groups, Iowans can now enjoy the same rights as are held by law-abiding citizens in 41 other states,” says Joshua Waldron, CEO of SilencerCo. SilencerCo is also working to remove suppressors from the list of NFA items all together through the introduction of the Hearing Protection Act. Founded in West Valley, Utah in 2008, SilencerCo started with a belief in the fundamental premise that firearms don’t have to be loud and has now become the market leader in sound suppressors, muzzle devices and related products. By investing in innovation, customer service, organic manufacturing, advocacy, education and talent, SilencerCo is now focused on making firearms hearingsafe for all hunting and shooting appli-
but effective fly. On this particular stream it’s accounted for many of the brown trout for us the past couple of trout we’ve taken. Simply chenille years. But most of our prior outings had wrapped around a hook, it likely suggests been during the summer and early fall, caddis larvae, or some terrestrial bug when the water was warmer, in the high that’s fallen in the stream. 50s and low 60s. During such conditions A spin-off of the green weenie is a the fish are likely to be holding in pocket killer on brook trout. Native brook trout water and mid-stream runs, and willing are known for liking bright colors, pink to move to chase down a lure or fly. Wild in particular. One trout in moving of my most effecwater are easier to tive patterns when catch, as they’re in targeting natives is such areas to feed, a weenie pattern, and less likely to only tied with pink detect an angler’s chenille rather than movements. green or chartreuse. On this day, And I’ve taken though, we didn’t some nice wild expect to catch any browns on it as browns from the well. Stream-bred faster stuff, with the Ohio Valley Outdoors - Photo byOrvis.com brookies also have water temperature in a fondness for pink A greenweenie fly by Orvis. the 40 degree range. or salmon colored So we concentrated Woolly Buggers, yet on pools and areas with cut banks. The another simple pattern. day was cold, with occasional snow Perhaps one reason simple flies work flakes, and the action was slow. The well is that since they are easy (and ecohighlight of the trip was a gorgeous wild nomical) to construct, you fish them near brown that came out from an undercut the bottom without fear of losing them, bank to inhale a green weenie. which is where trout are much of the A green weenie! Now there’s a simple time. Flies From Page 1
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Ohio Valley Outdoors– Photo courtesy of SilencerCo
Iowa has become the 42nd state to legalize suppressors, including using those for hunting.
cations, introducing products that have never been made before, and making the buying experience a better one. In this region we are fortunate to have an expert on suppressors in J.D. Jones of SSK Enterprises, of Wintersville, OH. Jones offers a wide variety of gunsmith
services and manufacturers suppressors, custom AR platforms and Contender and Encore barrels. Read a detailed article about Jones on our website: www.ohiovalleyoutdoors.com. SSK’s website is: www.sskindustries.com.
Send us your t rophy photos
Eric Mehalko largemouth bass using green pumpkin java tubes
Also for our Photo Showcase
Connor Mayle turkey Trumbull County, OH
email to: ohvod@ohiovalleyoutdoors.com mail to: Photo Showcase 210 East 4th Street East Liverpool, OH 43920
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OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
You May Want to Get Your Own Worms This Spring OV Outdoor Times
Earthy? Outdoorsy? Wormy? I don’t know what the proper adjective is to describe that distinct essence, but you can definitely detect it after a spring rain when roads and yards smell like earthworms. On those nights and mornings when large nightcrawlers and smaller garden worms leave their subterranean By Col.(Ret.)Grey D. Berrier II FIN Pro Staff burrows to come above ground in large numbers, there is no mistaking that peculiar odor that permeates the air. Back in January, I learned some interesting facts from the owner at Bill’s Field & Stream in Transfer, PA; a popular local bait shop. Most of the nightcrawlers sold in the U.S. come from extensive worm operations in Canada, especially Ontario province. There, pickers gather nightcrawlers by the tens of thousands from leased farm fields
with headlamps at night and then they are stored in prepared beds within chilled 35° warehouses until sorted and packaged for shipment. Apparently, the 2015 worm harvesting season was less than ideal, due to the winter of 2014-15 being extremely cold, followed by an unusually dry spring. My guess is that those big worm operations didn’t get to inhale that distinct earthworm odor as much as they would have liked, because coming into 2016, there is an inopportune wholesale shortage of nightcrawlers. That translates into either limited availability of nightcrawlers at the retail level (your local bait shop, convenience store, or big box store) or higher prices for those worms that are in the cooler. The bottom line is that until the 2016 Canadian nightcrawler harvest begins and those freshly picked worms work their way through bait distribution channels, you may want or need to gather your own nightcrawlers and garden worms, prior to your upcoming 2016 fishing excursions.
Think SPRING ... Think CARROLL COUNTY
Blow away the cobwebs of cabin fever and let the waves at our lakes wash away the winter blues with your first taste of spring Visit www.carrollcountyohio.com 1-877-727-0103 Follow us on Twitter, Pinterest
April 2016
Statistically, more fish are caught on worms than any other single bait or lure. Most people, myself included, caught their first fish with a worm on the hook. Worms are “go-to” bait for fishermen, women, and children of all ages and experience levels, since they can be employed to attract a wide variety of species. With worms remaining in high demand and potentially in limited availability, especially early in the season, now is a good time to consider the many methods you can employ to harvest your own nightcrawlers and garden worms this year. 1. Pick Them Up – This is probably the easiest and most convenient way to obtain your worms. Ohio Valley Outdoors - Photo by Grey D. Berrier II The next time that worm smell is preva- A simple container and headlamp with red lent either during or immediately after a LED bulbs, are the tools of the trade for spring rain, head outside at night or in gathering your own nightcrawlers. the morning with either a coffee can or The author plucked four dozen nightcrawlers in 20 minutes in his back yard recently. bucket to pick up as many large nightcrawlers and smaller garden worms as you care to. There are times there are so take advantage of the impromptu harmany worms above ground that it’s dif- vesting opportunity, but it is well worth ficult not to constantly run them over on it, since one good hour’s worth of worm the road or in the driveway, or step on picking can provide enough worms for them in the grass or on the sidewalk. the entire year. As a teenager, I rememThis method may mean you have to be ber keeping count one time and I disflexible with your schedule or get up a Turn To Worms Page 15 little earlier before work or school to
Crappie Fishing Seminar in PA
TRANSFER, PA — A free crappie fishing seminar will be offered on May 19, 2016, at the Reynolds VFW in Transfer, Pennsylvania. The VFW is located just off Rt. 18 at 115 Edgewood Drive Ext. Scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., the seminar will be held in the Pavilion adjacent to the VFW hall. Presentations will be offered by crappie fishing experts representing several tackle companies. These pro-staff members are in the area for the 2016 PA Crappie Camp – an outdoor media event hosted by both Crawford County Convention & Visitors Bureau and Visit Mercer County PA tourism. There is no charge to attend the seminar. However seating is limited and individuals must obtain a ticket in advance of the seminar. Free tickets may be picked up during normal business hours at Crawford County Convention & Visitors Bureau, 16709 Conneaut Lake Road, Meadville, or at Visit Mercer County PA, 50 North Water Ave., Sharon, PA.
April 2016
Worms From Page 14
tinctly remember picking up 852 worms in one hour. With nightcrawlers currently retailing for $3.00 a dozen or more, you can quickly see why gathering your own worms is well worth your time. 2. Hunt Them Down – I like hunting nightcrawlers almost as much as enjoy fishing with them. There’s something special about heading out in the darkness with either a headlamp or handheld flashlight to seek out nightcrawlers and garden worms that have come above ground to feed and mate at night. Nightcrawlers are very sensitive to noise and vibrations, so it is important to walk softly and quietly. Additionally, they are extremely light sensitive, so you’ll want to avoid shining a bright white light directly on them. Using a red lens on your flashlight or headlamp helps eliminate this problem or you can use the outer periphery of a white light beam to provide just enough light to illuminate your quarry. Some worms will be completely above ground and those ones are easily harvested. Others will be only partially exposed and require quick reflexes to grad them by the head. The trick is to not pull too hard after you grab them,
OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
because the worm can easily tear apart. Keep a firm grip on the nightcrawler, but patiently wait a few seconds until the worm relaxes and loosens the grasp its tail end has within its burrow. Sometimes you have to have to go through this slow steady pull while waiting for the worm to relax process a second and third time with the largest nightcrawlers, but it is well worth your patience. In addition to our yard, I have hunted nightcrawlers on nearby school property, ballfields, and farm fields with permission. Others have told me that golf courses make excellent nightcrawler habitat, if you can obtain the owner’s consent. I find I average at least a nightcrawler per minute on most nights, so it’s well worth my time and keeps others wondering about my sanity while I’m out searching in the darkness with a flashlight. 3. Dig Them Out – It’s prudent to keep a can nearby this spring when you are rototilling the garden, digging up flower beds, removing a stump, raking up leaves, or working on any landscaping or construction projects around the house that involve moving dirt. Grabbing a container is often an afterthought and I’ve frequently let a dozen or more worms go when my activity involved
Spring Gobbler Season is Near
SOUTH CHARLESTON, WV — West Virginia’s spring gobbler season will open a week earlier than in past years, running from April 18, through May 14, 2016. “Hunters should note that beginning this year, the spring gobbler season will open on the third Monday in April and not the fourth, a fundamental season change approved by the Natural Resources Commission last year,” according to Keith Krantz, Upland Game and Wild Turkey Biologist for the Division of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Section (DNR). Hunters may kill one bearded turkey per day and two per season. A special one-day youth season will be held April 16, 2016, for hunters at least 8 years old and less than 18 years old. Hunters ages 15-17 must comply with all licensing requirements. Birds harvested that day count toward the season bag limit. Check Page 35 in the 2015-2016 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Summary brochure for specific details on this season. “Hunting turkeys over bait and killing hens is both illegal and unethical,”
Ohio Valley Outdoors– Photo by WVDNR
Krantz said. “It disrespects the great sport of spring gobbler hunting and significantly reduces your bragging rights. Also, removing hens at this time of year hurts future turkey hunting.” Individuals observing illegal hunting activity in progress should call 911 immediately. To report the activity after the fact, call a DNR district office or report it online at www.wvdnr.gov/LEnforce/Poachers.sht m. The West Virginia Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation pays a reward of $200 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of persons illegally killing wild turkeys.
disturbing the soil, simply because I didn’t begin collecting worms right from the start. Gathering worms while working can be a great incentive to take yourself and family members fishing after you finish up your home improvement projects. When they were younger, my children took care of the worm gathering while I worked, so we could go fishing afterward; and I’ll bet your children or grandchildren would welcome the chance to do the same thing now. 4. Seek Them Out – This has always been my “go to” when the opportunity to go fishing suddenly presents itself and I don’t have any worms on hand. Worms like cool dark places, so even in the middle of the day they can often be found by overturning rocks, logs, landscaping ties, lumber, trash cans, leaf piles, or any other object touching the ground that you can look under. Even in the middle of summer, I know I can always gather a dozen or more worms, primarily smaller garden worms with a few nightcrawlers thrown in, from a few favorite spots around our property where it remains dark and damp to the worms’ liking. 5. Lure Them In – You can artificially replicate a cool dark place for worms to congregate under by placing large
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pieces of wet cardboard out in your yard. If you do this the night before with pieces that are 2 feet x 2 feet or larger, you will normally find several worms under each piece of wet cardboard the following morning. I like to put a brick or other heavy object in the center of the cardboard to keep the wind from moving it around. You’ll want to avoid leaving the cardboard in one place for more than two days, since it can begin to kill the grass in that spot. 6. Call Them Out – I have employed worm grunting or worm charming more as a novel means of gathering worms than a regular practice. (Primarily because I gather an abundance of worms with the preceding methods that I don’t need to work this hard at it.) The premise is that sending vibrations down into the ground will drive earthworms to the surface. I had an old-timer tell me that the worms think the vibrations are an approaching mole, which prey heavily upon worms, and subsequently the worms head above the surface of the ground to escape from the mole. I use a 1 inch x 1 inch oak stake that is 30 inches long and drive it at least 8 inches into the ground with a hammer. Then I Turn To Worms Page 16
16 Worms From Page 15
take a 2 foot piece of 1/2” threaded rod and aggressively rub it against the oak stake, like I’m playing a violin. It makes kind of a sawing/humming sound that gets transferred into the soil. I’ve found that you need to keep it up for at least 15 to 20 sounds to get any worms to come to the surface. My experience has been that I’ve never had more than 4 worms come up from any one spot and all the worms that surfaced were within 16” of the stake. (Many times I haven’t had any worms vacate their subterranean burrows at a “calling” site.) Thus, you can see the need to constantly move around the yard and repeatedly drive in your stake. I know others who use an oak stake that is more like a bannister spindle and then use a dowel rod run up and down over the “bumps” on the spindle to create their vibrations. You may want to give this technique a try sometime to prove to your friends and family members that it can be done, but I think you will agree that there are easier, more productive methods to gather worms. 7. Force Them Out – There are several methods that I’m aware of that others use that I haven’t tried and really
OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
don’t anticipate employing. The first is by distributing an electrical charge through a conducting rod down into the ground. Some individuals use a battery as their electrical source and others plug it into a household outlet. (However, modern GFI outlets will be tripped if this is tried.) The concept is that the electricity going out from the probes drives worms to the surface. I have seen on-line videos where this works for worms within close proximity to the conducting rods, but I also found documentation where dozens of individuals have been injured or killed by electrical shock employing this method over the years; so I have avoided the practice and recommend you do as well. Others employ caustic liquid concoctions that they pour on the ground to drive the worms to the surface. One technique is to pour soapy water with a high concentration of dish soap on the ground. This can potentially kill both the grass and the worms, so if it is used, it is recommended you find a place where you don’t mind eliminating the grass and you’ll need to rinse off the worms you obtain to keep them from dying. Additionally, there is the primitive technique of soaking pieces of green hulls from black walnuts in water.
This solution is then poured on the ground to drive the worms out. It will work on a very limited basis, but is a lot of work for very minimal returns on your efforts. After you gather your nightcrawlers and garden worms, you’ll want to have a plan to store them, if you don’t plan on using them immediately. There are a variety commercial worm beds and worm bedding that you can purchase. I prefer to make my own with a 50/50 mixture of top soil and peat moss. The trick is to have your top soil/peat moss thoroughly mixed together and then to keep it moist, but not wet and soggy. If you can take a handful and squeeze it to get a few drops of water to come out, you’re just about right. Worms prefer a cool damp place, so a back corner of the basement or a back shelf in the refrigerator (if you’re permitted to keep your worms there) will provide a favorable environment. Remember to poke some air holes in any plastic container and occasionally feed your worms some cornmeal or coffee grounds to keep them healthy. Nightcrawlers and smaller garden worms are in high demand by fishermen, gardeners, and composters. Based
April 2016
on the currently reduced commercial supply, you may want to consider harvesting your own earthworms this year for availability and economic reasons. There are many ways you can harvest your worms, so why not find what methods work best for you. You’ll be rewarded for your efforts the next time you go fishing. If you have children or grandchildren, they’ll enjoy both helping you collect your worms and going fishing with you; and if their enterprising, they may just be able to make a few dollars selling worms from a lemonadelike stand to the other fishermen who didn’t heed this advice.
Enjoy the outdoors....Take a kid hunting or fishing
Join your local Sportsman’s Club, You’ll be glad you did!
April 2016
Kaleb Nape 8-pt. Jefferson County, OH
OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
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PHOTO SHOWCASE SPONSORED BY
Greg Jack 7-pt., 1st buck Butler County, PA
Jack Hemrock, age 10 button buck, 1st deer Dryden, MD
Paul Grimes, Les Grimes, age 12 double deer Columbiana County, OH
Clay Hartley, age 19 Lorain County, OH
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Everett Weller 8-pt., 1st deer Enon Valley, PA
Isabella Cornell, age 6 1st buck, muzzleloader Meigs County, OH
Gavin Shrum 10-pt. Coshocton County, OH
We’ll print your hunting, fishing or trapping photos in the next issue of OV Times or Ohio Valley Outdoors magazine. Send photos via mail, email or Facebook.
Email to: ohvod@ohiovalleyoutdoors.com Mail to: Photo Showcase 210 East Fourth St., East Liverpool, OH 43920
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS Regional Events
Tri-State 3-D Archery Shoots - Runs March 12 - September 25. Schedule through May. April 17 at Sherwood Archery (8 a.m. to 2 p.m.). Contact Carl at 740-282-4612; April 23-24 at Paris Sportsmen (8 a.m. to 3 p.m.). Contact Max at 304-670-8982; May 7 at Colliers Sportsmen; (8 a.m. to 3 p.m.). Contact Shawn at 304-670-8428; May 15 at Toronto Rod & Gun; (8 a.m. to 2 p.m.). Contact Gary at 740-537-1615; May 21-22 at Paris Sportsmen; May 29 at Sherwood Archery and May 30 at Wyandot Bowmen (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.). Contact Larry at 304-387-1519.
Walleye Madness Tournaments (WMT) - April 24 at Mosquito Lake; May 8 at Berlin Lake; May 28 at Lake Erie, Lorain) blow day, May 29 and June 25 at Lake Erie, Geneva), blow day June 26. Inland events 40-boat limit, Lake Erie events 50boat limit. Entry fee $150. Visit their website: www.walleyemadness.net or call club president Adam Momirov at: 330-9046446. Columbiana County, OH Events
3-D Archery Sunday Shoots - April 17,
OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
June 19, July 17, Aug 21 at East Palestine Sportsmen’s Club, Failer St., East Palestine, OH 44413. 30 targets; registration: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. Cost $10 adults, cubs under 12 free; 15-target Mini-Shoots June 15 Aug. 31 (Weds. evenings 6 p.m.). For information call Gary Day at 330-4572205/330-853-9941. Website: www.epsportsmensclub.org.
3-D Archery Shoots - May 1; June 4-5; July 3; Aug. 6-7; Sept. 4 at Beaver Creek Sportsman Club, 14480 Washingtonville Rd., Washingtonville, OH. All ages and equipment welcome; McKenzie Targets, 30 targets, no rangefinders. Reg. 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. Adults $10, Youth (10 & under) free. Contact Chuck York at 330-978-3253 or 330-716-3964. Scores posted weekly on Facebook.
Indoor Pistol Shooting - Every Fri. (7-10 p.m.) thru Apr. 29, 2016. Open to public; all calibers except mag. loads. At Columbiana County Fish & Game Association, 45716 Middle Beaver Rd, Lisbon, OH. Visit website: www.columbianacountyfishandgame.com.
Indoor .22/Air Rifle Shooting - Range open to public each Tues, thru April 26, 2016 (6-9 p.m.). Offhand at 50ft., closest to bull and best group. At Columbiana County Fish and Game Association; 45716
Middle Beaver Rd, Lisbon, OH 44432. Visit website: columbianacountyfishandgame.com.
Gun Show - May 21-22, 2016 at Beaver Creek Sportsman Club, 14480 Washingtonville Rd., Washingtonville, OH. Sat. hours 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Sun. hours 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Admission $5. 12 & under free. Tables $15 per day (before April 30). Contact Phil Brown at 330-482-5125 or 330-502-8429. Beaver Creek Wildlife Education Center 2016 Opening - May 7-8, at Beaver Creek State Park, Columbiana County. Located at: 12798 Echo Dell Rd., East Liverpool, OH. Free fishing at Gaston Mills Pond. For info. call Jim at: 330-301-0019. Website: www.beavercreekwildlife.org or email: fobcsp@gmail.com. Mahoning County, OH Events
Shoots 3D Archery Apr. 23-24; May 21-22; 28-29, June 18-19 ASA (Fee: $20), June 25-26. (Schedule runs through Sept.) Lake Milton Fish & Game Club. Sat. 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Sun. 8 a.m.1 p.m.. Cost $10, cubs $5. Crossbows permitted, no rangefinders. Contact Dennis Dabney at 330-414-5795.
Gun Show by Mahoning Valley Gun Collectors - April 16-17; (9 a.m.-4 p.m.) at
April 2016
Lowellville Rod and Gun Club. Admission $4. GPS address 6225 Quarry Road, Lowellville, OH. Call Bill at 330-506-9194. Trumbull County, OH Events
Trader’s Day Swap Meet & Gun Show May 14 at Trumbull County Rod & Gun Club. Buy, sell, trade your hunting and fishing equipment, firearms, other outdoor sports gear, and more. 50/50 & Gun Raffles. Tables (indoor or outdoor) – $15. Food and Drink will be available. For information contact: Jason Chamberlain at 330307-0522. Mercer County, PA Events
Crappie Fishing Seminar - May 19, 7 p.m. Free crappie fishing seminar at Reynolds VFW in Transfer, PA. The VFW is located off Rt. 18 at 115 Edgewood Drive Ext. Presentations by crappie fishing experts representing several tackle companies. Seating is limited. Individuals must obtain a ticket in advance. Free tickets may be picked up at Crawford County Convention & Visitors Bureau, 16709 Conneaut Lake Road, Meadville, or at Visit Mercer County PA, 50 North Water Ave., Sharon. Tickets also available at many bait and tackle shops in the Pymatuning Lake, Shenango Lake and Lake Wilhelm areas.
April 2016
OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
New Poll: Great Lakes Restoration Supported by Huge Majority
ANN ARBOR, MI – A new 8-state, Great Lakes regional opinion survey finds overwhelming support for continuing the federal government’s efforts to improve the health of the Great Lakes. More than eight in 10 residents – 86 percent – approve of the government spending over $300 million a year to clean up toxic waste and bacteria, reduce run-off pollution from cities and farms, and protect and rebuild wetlands. More than six in 10 residents – 63 percent – strongly support continued funding. Only 9 percent want to reduce federal funds for this purpose. The poll was commissioned by the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. In this era of intense political party polarization, support for funding Great Lakes restoration transcends party politics, according to the poll, as majorities of Democrats (92 percent), Republicans (80 percent), and independents (88 percent) want the federal government to invest in Great Lakes restoration. “The most remarkable finding in this survey is the unusual consensus among Democrats, Republicans, and independents on an issue regarding federal spending – they all agree that the government should spend hundreds of millions of tax dollars a year to keep the Great Lakes healthy,” said John Russonello, partner with Belden Russonello Strategists, a Washington, D.C.-based firm which conducted the poll. The poll was conducted by telephone, February 5-18, 2016, using landlines and cell phones. The sample size was 1,535 adults in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, New York (excluding the New York City metropolitan area), and Pennsylvania (Erie County, only). The data were weighted by age to reflect the population of the region. The margin of sampling error is ±2.5 percentage points. Other highlights of the poll include: 1. Residents are concerned about a number of threats to the Great Lakes. Prompted with a series of threats to the Great Lakes, residents express high levels of concern about all of them. “Bacteria from untreated sewage” (53 percent “very concerned,” 28 percent “somewhat concerned”) and “toxic pollutants such as mercury” (50 percent “very,” 29 percent “somewhat”) generate the most
concern, followed by “invasive species like Asian Carp” (44 percent “very,” 32 percent “somewhat”). 2. Flint’s and Toledo’s drinking water problems reinforce need for continued restoration funding with the public. There are many reasons cited by the public as motivators for continued Great Lakes restoration funding. Messages focused on drinking water and public health are somewhat more persuasive than those focused on the economic importance of the Lakes. Two very convincing reasons to maintain federal investments in the Great Lakes are the recent lead contamination in drinking water in Flint, Mich., and the harmful algal bloom that fouled water in Toledo, Ohio, (55 percent, and 51 percent respectively). 3. People think restoration investments are a good use of federal dollars. At least seven in 10 people view as “excellent” or “good” uses of federal tax dollars the cleanup of “toxic contamination such as mercury from the mouth of the Ashtabula River” (44 percent “excellent,” 37 percent “good”). 4. Great Lakes restoration could become a voting issue in the region. Majorities of registered voters in the region say they would be less likely to vote for a congressional candidate (58 percent) or a Presidential candidate (53 percent) who intended to cut funding for Great Lakes restoration. 5. Support for Great Lakes restoration has grown since the last poll conducted by the Coalition in 2011. At that time, 75 percent of people in the region supporting continued funding for the Great Lakes and 24 percent favored of reducing funding. The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition consists of more than 130 environmental, conservation, outdoor recreation organizations, zoos, aquariums and museums representing millions of people, whose common goal is to restore and protect the Great Lakes. Learn more at www.healthylakes.org or follow us on twitter @healthylakes.
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