Northern Neck Getaway - Spring, 2016

Getaway... for a day, or a stay!

SPRING/SUMMER 2016

FREE

Hidden Treasures of the Northern Neck and beyond!

Welcome to Virginia’s Northern Neck!

This is an area rich in history, culture and natural beauty.

We can, without hesitation, refer to it as God’s country.

Are you looking to get away from it all? Then come to the Northern Neck.

This is the ideal spot to visit for an extended vacation or just a lazy afternoon’s drive.

Whether you’re interested in seeking out the works of local artisans, exploring the roots of America’s fight for independence, hiking a nature trail or enjoying a glass of wine, the Northern Neck offers something for everyone.

Part of the focus for this year’s Getaway is the parks and trails that have across the Northern Neck.

Whether your thing is distance running,fishing, biking or simply finding a nice spot to have a picnic, the area has it covered.

So take a leisurely trip and pause to sip the best fruit of the vine that the commonwealth can offer.

While you’re rolling across the Northern Neck, check out the many exhibits, museums, festivals and events the region offers.

Discover the charm of hamlets such as King George, Montross, Essex and Reedville that dot the countryside as you move toward the coast.

Enjoy the bounty of the region’s fields and waterways by sampling local cuisine at the wonderful restaurants that proudly serve travelers and locals alike.

We hope the the spring/summer edition of Getaway will inspire you to take time to explore the places and events highlighted.

If you’re visiting, stay awhile. If you’re looking for a new place to call home, look no further.

The Northern Neck truly is an amazing community.

We hope you enjoy the time you spend with us.

Calendar of Events Saturday, May 7 Irvington Farmers Market When: Sat, May 7, 9am – 1pm Where: Irvington, VA Description: The Market runs every first Saturday from May through November 9am-1pm.

It features handmade crafts; homemade breads and bakery products; artisanal cheeses, meats, seafood, and soaps; handmade clothing; furniture; jewelry; glassware; baskets; crafts of all kinds and both original and hand-printed artwork. A variety of musicians join us during the season, playing free in the gazebo. Additionally, there are free books from the Lancaster Library; tips from the Northern Neck Master Gardeners; Audubon Society; local farms and more.

Oyster Gardens and select water products are sold, too.

Kinsale’s 5th Annual Strawberry Festival When: Sat, May 7, 10am – 3pm Where: Kinsale Museum, Kinsale, VA Description: Kinsale’s 5th-annual Strawberry Festival, May 7. Mother’s Day Saturday, 103. Vendors, food, fun for all. Music. Vendors needed, $10/spot, contact Lynn King (804) 214-0955, aux4co3@aol.com.

Sunday, May 8 Mother’s Day at Ingleside When: Sun, May 8, 12pm – 5pm Where: Ingleside Vineyards, 5872 Leedstown Rd, Colonial Beach, VA 22443 Description: Enjoy Mother’s Day at Ingleside including free wine tastings for all moms!

Wednesday, May 11 Hokule’a Ship to Hull Springs Farm When: May 11 – 13 Where: Hull Springs Farm, 645 Hull Springs Farm Rd, Montross, VA Thursday, May 12 Thomas Carter Home Site Archaeological Dig When: May 12 – 14 Where: Lancaster County, VA Description: Mary Ball Washington Museum & Library and Historic Christ Church & Museum are proud co-sponsors of an archaeological dig to take place at the Thomas Carter home site in Lancaster County.

2nd Friday Art Walk in Colonial Beach When: Fri, May 13, 6pm – 9pm Where: Colonial Beach Description: Numerous galleries are open to display works by local artists. Free and open to the public to enjoy! For more information, call (804) 224-7181 or (804) 224-8145, www. colonialbeachartistsguild.org/home/artwalk Saturday, May 14 The Fox on the Fairway at The Westmoreland Players When: May 14 – 29 Where: The Westmoreland Players, Inc., 16217 Richmond Rd, Callao, VA 22435 Description: It’s the day of the big tournament.

The resident pro has switched teams. Who will save the day for the Quail Valley Country Club?

This hilarious romp pulls the rug out from underneath the stuffy members of a private country club. Filled with mistaken identities, slamming doors, and over-the-top romantic shenanigans, it’s a furiously paced comedy that recalls the Marx Brothers’ classics. A charmingly madcap adventure about love, life, and man’s eternal love affair with … golf.

Stratford Hall Volksmarch When: Sat, May 14, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Where: Stratford, VA 22520 Description: Join us for our Stratford Hall Volksmarch. Pay $3 at the gate (reduced grounds pass price) and register at the Visitor Center. Wear appropriate clothing….and have fun! Visit www.walkfredericksburg.com for more information.

Main Street Brass presented by Rappahannock Concert Association When: Sat, May 14, 7:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Where: Northumberland High School,

Heathsville, VA Description: The quintet was formed in 1986, inspired by a musical camaraderie, a passion for brass quintet literature and performance, and a goal to present interesting and entertaining music to its audiences. “The group is as much at home with a Bach fugue as it is playing the blues of Fats Waller...” The Morning Call mainstreetbrass.com rappahannockconcerts.org (866) 217-8149 Friday, May 20 Just Gardens Tour in Lancaster County When: May 20 & 21 Where: Lancaster, VA Description: The gardens, during this rain or shine event, will be open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Tickets will be $20 in advance and $25 the days of the tour. Tickets will be available for purchas at The Dandelion in Irvington, The Pedestal in Kilmarnock, Pearl in Kilmarnock, The Box Boutique in White Stone, Wildest Dreams in Burgess and the Shoppe for Haven’s Sake in Warsaw. Tickets may also be purchased by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope (#10 business size) and check payable to The Haven, to : Just Gardens, P.O. Box 429, Irvington, VA 22480. For more information please call 804-333-1099 or email info@havenshelter. org.

Kiwanis Club of the Northern Neck BBQ Supper When: Fri, May 20, 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Where: 435 E Church St, Kilmarnock, VA 22482 Description: $10 per person $5 for children continues on page 6

The Getaway Getaway is published by Journal Press, Inc., of King George County. The Getaway is for both locals and tourists visiting the Northern Neck and regional visitor locations, and is published two times a year. Each issue highlights attractions in the counties of the Northern Neck and surrounding areas, as well as the City of Fredericksburg. All rights reserved. No part may be reproduced without written permission.

P. O. Box 409, King George, Virginia, 22485 (540) 775-2024, FAX (540) 775-4099.

Publisher General Manager Editor Production Advertising

Joel Davis Robert Berczuk Joel Davis Drue Murray and Cynthia L. Ailey Narcene Ruczynski and Dennis Verdak

Friday, May 13 Spring/Summer, 2016 • Getaway

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Rail trail has personal meaning for local runner Neil Richard The Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail was built in the early 1940s by the Navy to transport goods and personnel to the Dahlgren Naval Base. Over time it would serve as a way for local residents to get back and forth to Fredericksburg. Since then it has become private property and is now owned by David Brickley, former head of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). In the past few years, it has hosted two recurring trail races; a half marathon in February and a 50k ultramarathon (that’s 31 miles) in August. We’ve hosted runners from King George to Japan and from back of pack runners to World Record holders.

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But all of this information can easily be found on the trail’s website, www.friendsdrht.org, or on the Race Timing Unlimited website, www.racetimingunlimited.org. I could go on to tell you about the hours of volunteer labor it takes to maintain the trail. Or I could tell you about the hundreds of weekly users or the bike commuters. I could go on and on about the wonderful potential the trail has but it’s hard to describe a hidden gem that’s over 15 miles long. So instead, I’ll explain my personal connection with the trail.

It was 1993 and I was standing with my fellow teammates behind what is now the Old King George Middle School.

We were hearing a fellow team-

mate regale us with a story about his long run through the woods, off school property, and onto a railroad bed. I’ll be honest, most of us didn’t believe him. Even though he was one of our fastest runners, he was also known for telling tall tales.

But we listened to the story like we always did and then went back to finish our cross-country practice. That was the first time I heard about the trail.

I forgot about it in the years after and didn’t hear about this mystical place again until 2010.

My father was telling me about a former neighbor that finished a half marathon on an old rail trail. Not only was I interested in learning more about a half marathon in my proverbial backyard, but I wanted to learn

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more about this mysterious trail that was apparently real.

After a few quick searches I found out that the trail was indeed real and there would be another race, an ultramarathon at that, in a few months. That ultramarathon would mark the birth of my ultra-running career, my growth as a more confident person, and some rather large blisters. I was hooked on ultras and would go on to finish many more in the years since.

As I near my 40th birthday, that feeling of a mid-life crisis is really kicking in. I think about the future of my children and how I can guide them into becoming better people by learning about the world around continues on next page

Getaway • Spring/Summer, 2016

from previous page them. My son is 8 (“8 and a half ” if you ask him) and he’s already found nicknames for certain parts of the trail. The “swamps of Dagobah” are near Mile 8.5. The “forest of Endor” is near Mile 2. He already knows it’s a great place after just a few visits. My oldest told me she “loves running next to the tracks because you can pretend to race a train.” I’m confident they’ll both grow up to enjoy and respect nature and I have the DRHT to thank for making it an easy lesson.

As I get older I also think about the future of King George County and how much it expands every year. I moved here as a small child and can still

remember the old lumber mill where the Post Office is now.

I remember getting Bazooka bubble gum from Buddy’s Superette but now it’s just an abandoned building. Even now I can go on a training run down the street and see where a local field is being surveyed for hundreds of future homes. Despite these massive leaps in development in King George, the DRHT fights an uphill battle from those that claim they want to preserve the County’s rural integrity. I can only hope my children can one day share the DRHT with their children. I can only hope that those that rally against the trail will someday experience it. A mile on foot or bike or horseback is all it takes to be convinced it’s a good thing.

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from page 3 under 12yrs old Children under 5yrs old FREE Tickets available at the door, Bay & River Home Decor & Karen Wilkins, The Orchard (karen.wilkins@rivhs.com 804-313-2446 Menu: Carolina BBQ, Cole Slaw, Baked Beans, Hush puppies, Dessert & Beverage Saturday, May 21 Farm to Fork Dinner at the Northern Neck Farm Musem When: Saturday, May 21 Where: Northern Neck Farm Musem Going to the Dogs and Living History at Heathsville Farmers Market When: Sat, May 21, 9 a.m. – 1p.m.

Where: Heathsville Farmers’ Market, 73 Monument Pl, Heathsville, VA 22473 Description: Enjoy lots of doggie activities.

Bring your own canine! Spend time in a costumed Civil War encampment. RHHTFoundationInc.org (804) 580-3377 Spring on the Plantation at George Washington Birthplace When: Sat, May 21, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Where: George Washington Birthplace National Monument, Colonial Beach, VA Description: Join Park Staff and volunteers for a variety of activities around the Park including sheep shearing, tobacco planting, blacksmithing, and open hearth cooking. (804) 224-1732 www.nps.gov/gewa/index.htm Street Food, Bands & Brews in Irvington When: Sat, May 21, noon – 5 p.m.

Where: Golden Eagle Golf Club, 364 Clubhouse Rd, Irvington, VA 22480 Description: Golden Eagle Golf Club Live Music From Four Great Bands: noon-1 p.m.

Matt Sease, former American Idol contestant 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Respect Band 2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Mercy Creek 3:30 p.m.-5 p.m. East of Hollywood Food Truck Concessions Beer & Food Tents Parking at Golden Eagle & Complimentary Transportation from the Tides Inn General Admission - $20 tidesinnevents.ticketleap. com/street-food-brews--music-festival/ Bringing Music to Life: The John Byrne Band When: Sat, May 21, 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Where: Historic Christ Church & Museum, 420 Christ Church Rd, Weems, VA 22576 Page 6

Description: Enjoy the superb musicianship and rollicking music of this Celtic acoustic band, led by Dublin native John Bryne.

PURCHASE TICKETS BY MAY 13, 2016, AND SAVE $5!

Tickets are $20 per person if purchased by May 13, 2016.

After May 13, 2016, tickets are $25 per person.

Thursday, May 26 Great Road Style: The Decorative Arts Legacy of Southwest Virginia When: Thu, May 26, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Where: 4037 Menokin Rd, Warsaw, VA 22572 Description: For the past 15 years, Betsy White and her team of scholars have been delving into the decorative arts traditions of southwest Virginia and northeast Tennessee, parts of two states linked geographically, culturally, and historically. Settled during the last years of the 18th & first years of the 19th centuries, it became America’s first frontier, connecting the eastern seaboard with Kentucky, Tennessee, and beyond. Its Wagon Road or simply the Great Road, as it was known locally, Artisans followed settlers, bringing with them the material culture of their homelands, What sprang up was a lively blend of cultural traditions that formed a distinctive style of furniture, ceramics, textiles, metalwork, and music. menokinrubblewithacause.com/menokin-speaker-series.

Saturday, May 28 2016 Strawberry Festival & Farmers’ Market When: Saturday, May 28 Where: St Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 6807 Northumberland Hwy, Heathsville, VA 22473

Description: Annual Craft Fair event on the grounds of historic St. Stephen’s Church in Heathsville, VA. Craft artists, food, fresh strawberries, strawberry shortcake, large plant and bake sale, music, and more for the entire family Open House at the Northern Neck Farm Museum When: Saturday, May 28 Where: Northern Neck Farm Museum Stratford Hall Trades Fair: The Building Trades When: Sat, May 28, 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Where: 483 Great House Rd, Montross, VA 22520 Description: This year’s Trades Fair is produced in partnership with members of the Colonial Williamsburg Joiners Shop. Master carpenter Garland Wood will be joined by journeyman Ayinde Martin and master joiner Ted Boscana in discussions and display of building trade techniques and tools, the role AfricanAmericans played in the building trades, and many aspects of material production and the carpentry trade.

The price for the event is regular admission: $12 adults and $7 children. Cost of Trades Fair event admission includes access to the grounds, a self-guided tour of the Great House, and Trades Fair demonstrations. The event is free to Friends of Stratford cardholders.

Sunday, May 29 Acoustic Sunday Summer Music Series Kickoff at Ingleside When: Sun, May 29, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Where: Ingleside Vineyards, 5872 Leedstown

504 Main St, Reedville, VA 22539 • 804/453-6529 • www.rfmuseum.org

Exhibits of watermen’s tools and heritage William Walker House 1875 restored waterman’s home Boat building and model workshops Historic small craft and workboat collection Skipjack Cruises on Historic 1911 Claud Somers Waterside Summer Concerts Fall Oyster Roast Winter Markets at Festival Halle “Christmas on Cockrell’s Creek” House Tour

For Museum Hours, Sailing Schedules and Event details, visit www.rfmuseum.org OR call 804-453-6529 www.journalpress.com

Getaway • Spring/Summer, 2016

Explore Caledon State Park’s spring and summer programs – get out there!

Phyllis Cook Looking for somewhere to go to enjoy the spring weather?

Caledon State Park in King George County has ten hiking trails and four multiuse trails open year-round for visitors to walk or bike through environmentally sensitive marshlands and picturesque wooded areas of the park.

The park is a serene location on 2,579 acres of old growth forest along the Potomac River.

It’s the summer home to one of the largest concentrations of American bald eagles on the East Coast.

A visitor center with bald eagle exhibits is located near the parking lot and there are two picnic areas, a picnic shelter, and restrooms available.

Caledon was a state ‘natural area’ for decades following the 1972 donation to the state by Mrs. Ann Hopewell Smoot in memory of her late husband, Lewis E. Smoot. It became a state park in 2012.

Caledon State Park also offers numerous

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Serving Patients ages 2 to 102 Always Welcoming New Patients We accept Mastercard, Visa, Discover, American Express, and Care Credit.

FAMILY & COSMETIC DENTISTRY Wendy M. Moore, DDS (540) 775-5774

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from previous page family-friendly activities spring through the fall, including hayrides, campfires, fossils programs and plant-identification hikes.

The parking area for Caledon State Park is at 11617 Caledon Road (Route 218).

Parking is $3 on weekdays and $4 on weekend visits.

Some events require advance reservations; call (540) 6633861.

Below are some programs offered in the two weeks of April.

To see the complete season schedule, go online: www. dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/ caledon#general_information BIRDING 101: Noon-1:30 p.m. April 9. Meet at the Visitors Center to learn the basics of bird watching and get to know some of the park’s most popular bird species with a trip through the park. Bring binoculars and

a field guide if you have them.

Contact the park office for reservations, $3 per person or $8 per family.

STAR PARTIES ON THE LAWN: Begins 30 minutes after sunset April 9. Meet on the front field near the picnic shelter. Learn about the night sky with the Rappahannock Astronomy Club. Look through one of the members’ telescopes or bring your own. Note- If the weather forecast calls for cloudy or overcast conditions, call the park to make sure the program is still being offered, (540) 6633861. Free event.

PREDATOR VS. PREY: 10 to11 a.m. April 10. Meet at the Visitors Center to learn how each animal has its own unique place in the food chain and discuss the special adaptations that certain animals have to help hunt, or hide from each other.

Free event.

GEOCACHING 101: 2 to

F R E E

Join us for our inaugural Rhythm, Brews and BBQ event!

Live music, great food, and fabulous craft brews, all within walking distance of the Steptoes District (old town) of Kilmarnock.

Buy Tickets Today at www.LancasterVA.com Page 8

Call Ruby Hawkins 540-775-7755 Green Tree Realty 540-373-6221

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Getaway • Spring/Summer, 2016

from previous page 4 p.m. April 10. Meet at the Visitors Center for a high tech global scavenger hunt. Use a hand held Global Positioning System to find hidden containers in the park. GPS units provided. Call for more information and to make the required reservations. $3 per person or $8 per family.

HOWL N’ OWL PROWL: 7 to 9 p.m.

April 15. Meet at the Visitors Center. The park comes alive at night with Owls, Coyotes, Foxes, and many others. Take a ride on the hay wagon as we go out calling for these animals. Spaces are limited, so please call (540) 663-3861 to make your reservations. $3 per person or $8 per family.

EAGLE TOURS: 10 a.m. to noon April 16. Meet at the Visitors Center. The tour begins with a brief talk on the biology and history of the bald eagle and why so many can be found at Caledon. At the river, watch eagles as they soar and perch over the shoreline. Call for more information and to make the required reservations. $3 per person or $8 per family.

SPIES ON THE POTOMAC: 2 to 4

p.m. April 16. Meet at the Visitors Center. The American Civil War brought great hardship and personal trials to the region.

Personal convictions and the will to survive drove ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Hear the stories of some local citizens making their way through the war and learn about the plot to kidnap President Lincoln. Call for more information and to

make the required reservations. $3 per person or $8 per family.

RAPTORS RULE: Noon to 2 p.m. April 17. Meet at the Visitors Center. Learn about the raptor species of Caledon why they rule the food chain, which adaptations have made them masters of the sky.

A short talk is followed by a ride down to Jones Pond. $3 per person or $8 per family.

VISIONS By Shirl 116 HAWTHORN STREET, C-1 & C-2 COLONIAL BEACH, VA 22443 Telephone: 703-303-1743

Shirley A. Rush Artist/Owner

If you like, relax and enjoy our wine with our cheese, sausage, and crackers on your own picnic.

VisionsByShirl@aol.com www.visionsbyshirlart.com www.facebook.visionsbyshirl.com

Open Tuesday through Sunday

Oak Crest’s Winery and Artisan Gift Shop are celebrating their membership in the new Northern Neck Artisan Trail.

Presenting fine works by more than 25 artists/artisans (Space available with conditions)

Fine Art/Photography, Pottery/Fused Glass, hand- made Jewelry, hand-made Wooden Items which includes pens and furniture, Fabric Art, Notecards, Art Supplies, Giclee’ Prints

Come taste our wines and browse the gift shop where works by talented local artisans can be enjoyed and purchased.

For more information, please visit www.artisanscenterofvirginia.org

Member, Northern Neck Artisans Trail

An art studio/gallery/shoppe for art lovers of all ages!

Spring/Summer, 2016 • Getaway

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Northern Neck Heri Barnesfield Barnesfield Park Park

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Caledon Caledon State State Park Park

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eritage Trail Bicycling Route Network CoNNeCTiNg PeoPle aNd PlaCes The Northern Neck Heritage Trail Bicycling Route network is a segment of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, a developing network of trails between the broad, gently flowing Potomac River as it empties into the Chesapeake Bay and the Allegheny Highlands in western Pennsylvania. The “braided” Trail network offers opportunities for hiking, bicycling, paddling, horseback riding and cross-country skiing. Other segments of the network include the Mount Vernon Trail and various Potomac Heritage Trail routes in Northern Virginia; the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath; a bicycling route in Southern Maryland; and the Great Allegheny Passage.

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Rice’s Hotel / Hughlett’s Tavern Restored 18th century tavern shows how people lived and traveled in the 18th and 19th century. Now operated as a store and restaurant. www.rhhtfoundation.org

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Vir-Mar Beach A small sandy beach on the Potomac offering strolling, relaxing, and birding opportunities. On clear days, the Smith Island Lighthouse can be seen, as well as the shores of Maryland. www.dgif.virginia. gov/vbwt/siteasp?trail=1&loop=CNN&site=CNN10

Hughlett Hughlett Point Point Natural Natural Area Area Preserve Preserve

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Historic Historic Christ Christ Church Church

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Stratford Hall (1738) Birthplace of Robert E. Lee and home to two Lee signers of the Declaration of Independence. Visit the Great House, the Mill, and the rare Miocene cliffs formation, the last found in only three other places in the world. www.stratfordhall.org Westmoreland State Park Located on the Potomac, the park includes hiking trails, a variety of campsites (some with water and electricity), fully equipped cabins, water craft rentals and, seasonally, a pool, gift shop and snack bar. www.virginiastateparks.gov George Washington Birthplace National Monument A site managed by the National Park Service, the complex includes a visitors center with a film, a memorial house, a kitchen house, a farm with a colonial herb and flower garden, and hiking trails. www.nps.gov/gewa

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Dog Dog and and Oyster Oyster VIneyard VIneyard

Steamboat Steamboat Era Era Museum Museum

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WHITE WHITE STONE STONE

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Windmill Windmill Point Point

James Monroe Birthplace Markers identify the birthplace of James Monroe, 5th President of the United States. There is also a small museum with Monroe artifacts. www.monroefoundation.org Colonial Beach Historic town on the Potomac River. Widest point of the Potomac River – 7 miles wide. www.colonialbeachva.net

Northern Neck is home to many distinct fishing opportunities Mark Fike Once spring arrives, the fishing heats up quite a bit on the Northern Neck. The run of white perch, rockfish and shad begins in March and peaks in late April or May. Being that the Northern Neck is bounded on either side of the long peninsula by two great rivers, residents and visitors alike are sure to have ample opportunity to wet a line and take home some supper this spring and early summer.

April anglers will find river action to be quite good for catfish, white perch, crappie, largemouth and shad. Catfish action

is good up and down the river with most of the action for larger fish occurring on drop offs, in deep holes but near shallow water and near structure. Fresh caught shad impaled on a huge 7/0 or 8/0 hook will tackle the biggest brutes. One thing to keep in mind during April is that mudflats warm faster than surrounding water so on overcast days, don’t overlook fishing a mudflat, particularly one that has a secondary channel flowing through it or a flat that is near the channel. May and June fishing switches over to night angling.

Smaller catfish (the ones better to eat) can be found

Wilkerson’s

Photo by Mark Fike The two young men spent a morning with the outdoor writer and put some weight on the stringer in short order.

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Getaway • Spring/Summer, 2016

anywhere, but popular places to fish for them include mud flats, edges of holes and secondary channels. Bluecats are the most common catfish caught in our rivers, but there are some channel catfish to be had too.

The smaller fish can be caught on squid, shrimp, chicken liver, nightcrawlers and minnows.

The whole stretch of the Potomac or Rappahannock down to where the salt takes over is good catfish country. Angling from the bank can be just as good as from a boat if you have ready bank access.

White perch are normally caught in April, but some stragglers are caught in the Rappahannock’s lower reaches in May. Fish tidal creeks with deep holes and bends for the better size class. Grassy edges near drop offs are worth fishing too.

On the Potomac, white perch

Photo by Mark Fike

Eating size catfish are abundant and easily caught on the river.

angling can be steady through the summer with fish relating either to grassy edges in the creeks or rock shoals in the The Historic Town of river. Small spoons, Montross Invites spinnerbaits, pieces of shrimp or strips You To Visit Us, of cut fish work very This Spring & Summer well. Bloodworms are very expensive but work very well for white perch.

Fishbites will work during the summer once the water warms up. A bottom rig is best in the main river while a simple hook and split shot does the job in the small waters. Don’t overlook using small white perch for catfish or rockfish bait either!

Shad fishing is very good on the Rappahannock River near Fredericksburg with April being the peak month. Anglers line the banks to cast shad darts

and spoons, Sabiki rigs and small crappie jigs to these bony fish. Fish for them in the main channel. Shad are off limits in the Potomac River and only Hickory shad may be creeled on the Rappahannock below the Rt. 1 Bridge. American shad and herring are off limits on both rivers. The Hickory shad has a longer lower jaw than the upper jaw and typically measures 18 inches in size. American shad

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Page 13

Fish the waters in the Northern Neck! from page 11

These girls show how easy it is to catch supper on the river.

photo by Mark Fike

Morattico Waterfront Museum Morattico is “a place heaven and earth never agreed better to frame man’s habitation.” - Captain John Smith, 1608

Preserving the cultural history of a Rappahannock fishing village and its general store.

Open May through October Saturdays noon - 4 pm Sundays 1 - 4 pm (804) 462-0532 6584 Morattico Road, Morattico, VA 22523 www.moratticowaterfrontmuseum.org moratticowaterfrontmuseum@yahoo.com

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have a mouth with an upper and lower jaw that nearly match and a body that can weigh up to 5 pounds. In Colonial times these fish were highly sought after. All shad and herring are fun to catch and entertain anglers with dazzling leaps like a saltwater tarpon.

Their sizzling runs on an ultralight rod and reel make the fishing that much better.

Some anglers enjoy eating the roe or caviar from the shad. Carefully removed, the egg sacs and cooked by broiling, frying or boiling. Some fry the eggs with eggs, some fry and serve on toast. Once these fish finish their spawning in April and early May, they head back to saltwater until the following year.

Crappie are caught near treetops and old barge walls located up and down the river near old ports, particularly from Hopyard upriver on the Rappahannock River in April. Structure is the key with minnows dropped to the appropriate depth the fish are holding being a close second in requirements to load a bucket with these fish. The Rappahannock River has more crappie opportunities than the lower Potomac due to salinity. Fish from Wilmont Landing upstream on the Rapp to find your speckled supper.

The largemouth bass fishing has picked up on the Rappahannock River over the past few years with many chunky fish being caught from Leedstown to Fredericksburg.

In the lower river, the best fishing seems to be in the headwaters of tidal tributaries. The stretch of river from Port Royal to Fredericksburg is the better stretch to fish for largemouth. Fish the moving tide and hit creek mouths and numerous blowdowns. In April the fishing starts with white and chartreuse spinnerbaits or jig and pig combos. Once May rolls in and the water heats up, the fishing can be explosive with topwater lures early and late and crankbaits during the day. June is quite good for bass angling but once the heat and sunshine bore down, the fishing is best only early and late with a pronounced slowdown midday.

In the Potomac River the bass angling is centered in tributaries along and in weedlines. Topwater can be good in April and Getaway • Spring/Summer, 2016

Spring checklist for Northern Neck Hunters Mark Fike Much has changed on the Neck over the past hundred years, mostly due to rapid development via housing subdivisions gobbling up prime farmland. Although the landscape is changing, the tidewater country of Virginia is still home to where hunting is a tradition and a passion. Deer, turkey and rabbit hunters still roam the flatlands and marshes of the lower Northern Neck for their venison and hunters in King George climb the hills in search of their quarry too. With so many subdivisions dotting the landscape these days it can be tough to find a place to hunt. New development has made hunting a challenge in some ways but the good old boys and girls have adapted and found new opportunities while still enjoying the old ones.

SPRING GOBBLER Turkey hunting has improved greatly over the past century with the past twenty years being memorable for many spring gobbler hunters. Spring gobbler season begins in April and ends in mid-May. Turkey numbers are up and fields along roads often have fanned out gobblers and flocks of birds in them once the grass greens up. Turkey hunting is a very addictive tradition. All it seems to take is one strutting gobbler to fan and wheel around putting on a show for a prospective hunter and then they are hooked for life.

What many new turkey hunters don’t realize is that turkey gobbling (which is what hunters use to locate and communicate with turkeys to hunt them) has peaks in activity.

Some years the birds gobble a lot in late March or early April and then the gobbling drastically declines until late April when the hens are sitting on a nest and the gobblers are busy looking for a new mate. This sometimes means that hunters get discouraged by mid to late April just before the gobbling activity increases again. Discouraged hunters often stay home or give up too soon and miss opportunities. This is a mistake.

If you try turkey hunting this year, don’t give up at the end of the season. Many of my harvested gobblers or birds I have called in for hunters have come in May. In fact, May is my favorite time to hunt gobblers.

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Ground hogs can damage crop fields and local gardens in short order. body parts, make sure your hunting license is with you and hit the woods this spring. Be sure to check for ticks as they are out and carry some pretty nasty and undesirable diseases.

GROUNDHOGS Once turkey season is over mid-May, hunters should swap firearms for a .22 rifle or if safe, a high powered rifle. While the density of farmland has decreased over the past century, there are still plenty of open field areas along the Northern Neck. In those open fields grows a variety of summer crops. Most notably corn and soybeans are grown. One of the farmer’s

Fike photos

worst enemies besides insects is groundhogs.

Groundhogs are destructive in two ways. First, they eat a lot of crops and can drop a litter of a half dozen or more young in early spring.

Groundhogs are often fond of digging their tunnels and dens in the middle of farm fields where they have ample food all around them.

The fact they can consume ¾ of a pound of vegetation each day plus the fact that their holes and tunnels can wreck farm equipment or toss an equipment operator off the tractor, is enough reason for farmers to declare war continued on page 16

Monday - Saturday, 9:00 - 6:00, Sunday 12 -5 • 746 Germana Hwy. (Rt. 3), Culpeper www.journalpress.com

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May, but jig and pigs, Senkos and other plastics are the dominating baits from April through the summer. Pitch plastics in holes in the weeds, along the edges and along docks. Some anglers find that the headwaters are the best places to find bass that are unpressured. Regardless, the further downriver one fishes, the further up the creek one has to go to find freshwater. Some pretty fish are caught in the Potomac River and a boat is the surest way to find them.

There are snakeheads in all tidal tributaries of the Potomac River now and in most of the Rappahannock River tributaries as well. Although these fish are not native and certainly undesired in the river from a fisheries standpoint, they do provide good table fare rivaling most other species of fish you might serve. The flaky white meat is delicious.

Snakeheads are often confused with bowfin as they both resemble each other closely. Snakeheads are found most readily in the tidal tributaries where they thrive in low oxygen environments. Look for weedy areas and work a weedless frog or snake over the grass and hold on to your rod! The hits are explosive. They do have teeth so use

pliers to remove the hooks. Remember that all snakeheads must be killed and reported, but can be kept to eat. Use braided line in weedy areas to avoid break offs.

Popular put ins for the Rappahannock River can be found in Westmoreland County at Leedstown Campground, in King George at Wilmont Landing and Hopyard Landing and in Fredericksburg at the City Dock. The Potomac River has few public landings but plenty of private boat marinas scattered up and down the river.

SMALL WATERS The Northern Neck has plenty of private ponds dotting the landscape. These private ponds are all home to crappie, largemouth

bass and sunfish populations. Many developments have small ponds or lakes in them that residents may fish. In fact, some of the best largemouth bass fishing can be had in private ponds.

April and May are the top months to fish ponds but the summer is good too. Bass will hit topwater all the time but once summer arrives, use topwater during the early and late hours only. Plastic worms or creature baits are top choices for casting near lily pads.

Crappie fishing is prime in spring with minnows and a float taking the prize for the fastest way to fill a bucket. Fish near structure such as a blowdown or pipe. Small jigs will do the

We've got your hunger covered in the Northern Neck

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Getaway • Spring/Summer, 2016

Dahlgren Museum celebrates Richard Leggitt The Dahlgren Naval Support Facility's almost century of service to the nation is being celebrated anew with the expanded operating schedule of the Dahlgren Heritage Museum located on U.S. 301 on the banks of the Potomac River.

The impressive museum, which is located at 3540 James Madison Highway, was created to memorialize the story of the Naval Support Facility that has been a prominent contributor to the vitality and economics of King George County and the Northern Neck since 1918.

An expanded five day a week schedule will hopefully allow the museum to make contact with more visitors and residents of the Northern Neck, said Ed Jones, president of the not for profit Dahlgren Heritage Foundation, which operates the museum The museum has been operating on an abbreviated schedule, usually open only on Saturday afternoons. Under the expanded schedule, paid staff and volunteers will keep the museum's story telling exhibits open for 35 hours a week including Wednesday's through Sunday's from 10 a.m. until 5

Photo by Richard Leggitt Dahlgren Navy base veterans and museum volunteers turned out for the grand opening in April p.m. The museum will also host heritage events with key speak-

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ers including a First Thursday event every month.

"This major upgrade will produce significant, tangible benefits to the surrounding counties throughout the Northern Neck," Jones said. "We will now be in a better position to support tourism in the region in a way that respects our history and fuels local economic development. The mission of our museum is to tell the story, not only of the Naval Support Facility at Dahlgren, but also of the community that surrounds it."

The Dahlgren Navy base first

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opened in 97 years ago to test guns designed for Navy warships. Over the years, the base has evolved into one of the Navy's premier research and development labs. Now known just as the Naval Support Facility, it includes a 25-mile firing range along the Potomac River.

Determined to honor and celebrate the Navy base's achievements through the decades, the Dahlgren Heritage Foundation open the museum in 2012 and moved and expanded it last year. The musecontinued on page 17 Page 17

Hunting in the Northern Neck from page 13 on them. Hunters can help farmers by ridding farm fields of these varmints.

While doing farmers a favor, hunters are able to scout out potential deer hunting locations (deer eat a lot of crops and farmers are not generally fond of them either) and get some valuable marksmanship practice in during the summer to keep shooting skills fresh. A .22 rifle is enough rifle to do the job without creating a lot of noise or sending a projectile a long distance. In fact, for areas where fields are small, or there are houses nearby, the .22 long rifle is perfect for the job.

A short stalk will put shooters in range.

However, in circumstances where the fields are huge, the

area is largely undeveloped, and there is less cover to use to stalk groundhogs, a step up to a small caliber high powered rifle such as a .222, .223 or 22-250 might be in order. These calibers will extend the range of shooting from 100 yards out to 300 yards with a practiced hand and a telescopic sight. Use a laser rangefinder and practice estimating range while you are shooting. Above all else, be sure of your backstop and remove the dead groundhogs so vultures won’t destroy the fields in their efforts to eat the groundhogs.

SPRING SQUIRREL In June, VDGIF has instituted a spring squirrel season. Spring squirrel hunting is very different from fall and winter hunting. The cover is thick, the temperatures are hot and insects are out. Hunt-

ing squirrels in the spring requires hunters to hunt field edges where there are berries and fresh shoots that the squirrels are feeding on.

Go out early and late to avoid the heat of the day and expect shots to be very close. A .22 rifle or a small gauge shotgun is perfect. Any field edge will have squirrels, but some scouting to find fresh food sources will be in order. Again, check yourself for ticks once you are home. Dress out the squirrels quickly and get them cooled off to avoid meat spoilage.

FROG GIGGING Frog gigging used to be a regular pastime in the area but interest has tailed off, likely due to fewer people participating in outdoor pursuits. I have never met anyone who gave frog legs an honest try that would not admit that they were quite good. The good news

is that although bull frog numbers don’t seem to be as high as they used to be, there are fewer people going after them and there are plenty of ponds, swamps and marshes in the Northern Neck counties that are home to bullfrogs. One only needs a frog gig or spear which can be purchased at an outdoor retailer, a piece of electrical conduit or long, lightweight pole to install it on, or a .22 rifle that will shoot .22 shorts. I prefer the rifle although care does need to be taken when shooting it near water. This spring and summer, don’t overlook some hunting opportunities on the Northern Neck. We are blessed still have quite a bit of farmland and water to enjoy. Hunting does not end during the winter.

It can be a nearly year around pastime.

Historic PORT ROYAL, VIRGINIA Celebrates 17th Annual

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Getaway • Spring/Summer, 2016

Dahlgren Museum from page 15 um is one of more than a dozen Navy museums across the nation that depends on community support.

The museum features a decades long list of historical items that were built at Dahlgren for use by the Navy including the legendary Norden bombsight, displays of guided missiles and remote controlled airplanes, notes on the triggering device for the first atomic bomb and parts of the world’s first computers.

Currently planned programs to include a First Thursday speaker series featuring speakers former Dahlgren Navy employees and scholars of Dahlgren's evolution and its expected contributions to the Navy of the future. There will also be a presentations about Life at Dahlgren through the decades and a series on Dahlgren Before the Arrival of the Navy presentation by the King George Historical Society.

All special programs are hosted at the museum and are free and open to the public. Upcoming special events and other information about Dahlgren's heritage can be found on line at www.dahlgrenmuseum.org.

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Colonial Beach

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The Future of the County’s Environment Depends on You.