Ohio Valley Outdoor Times 7-2016 by Morning Journal

FINAL WMT EVENT IN THE BOOKS - P.13 Gray Shades Story inside page 6

Early Summer Walleyes

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Outdoor Times July 2016

OV Outdoor Times

Though thought of as a relatively docile fish, walleyes are in fact aggressive predators. During the late spring and early part of the summer flowing waters can provide good action for walleyes if you key in By Jeff Knapp on the right places Fishing Editor with the right tactics. Once walleyes have recovered from the spawn, and water temperatures rise up into the high 60s and low 70s, they will move into current areas, sometimes surprisingly strong current areas. On local free-flowing waters, like the middle portion of the Allegheny River (PA), and the lower stretches of Mahoning and Redbank creeks, walleyes will nose into current spots at the base of heavy riffles, using the protection of the rocks found there to provide proper ambush points to pick off the abundant prey found there. Soft swimbaits outshine most other offerings in their ability to deceive river walleyes in this situation. They are available in a variety of shapes. I’ve found the best ones, walleye-wise, to be pre-rigged baits in the three- to four-inch size range. More specifically, I’ve had success with Storm’s Wild-

Ohio Valley

Turn To Walleyes Page 4

Ohio Valley Outdoors–Photo by Jeff Knapp

Chris and Jeff Leonard of Latrobe, PA display a nice Allegheny River walleye taken earlier this summer from the tailout section of a pool.

INSIDE THIS MONTH

OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES

5 Three Convicted in 6

Increased Access = More Opportunities on Shenango River

ODNR

Vinton County, WV

Gray Shades of Summer

Ralph Scherder

Top Five Inland Lakes for 2016

Ohio’s Boater Education Law

9 Eight Poachers ODNR

COL (Ret.) Grey D. Berrier ODNR

Gwynn & Whitacre Win Final WMT Event WMT

WVDNR

Arrested in WV

RBFF Reveals Top Places to Fish & Boat RBFF

Five Ways to Stretch Your Camping Dollars

OUTDOOR CALENDAR

3D Archery Shoots - 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. Ohio River Catfish Tournaments - July 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. 3-D Archery Shoots - Aug. 6-7; Sept. 4 at Beaver Creek Sportsman Club, 14480 Washingtonville Rd., Washingtonville, OH. Contact Chuck York at 330-978-3253 or 330-716-3964. Explore the Outdoors Day - August 13 (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) at Beaver Creek State Park (also Wildlife Education Center), 12780 Echo Dell Road, East Liverpool, OH 43920; featuring several hands-on outdoor demonstrations for youths and adults. Event is free. Visit website: www.friendsofbeavercreekstatepark.org.

Ohio Valley

Too much copy in this edition is dedicated to poaching arrests and other illegal activities related to hunting in both Ohio and West Virginia. See two stories on the subject: on Page 5, titled “Three Convicted in Vinton By Larry Claypool County (OH) Incident” Editor and Page 9, “Eight Poachers Arrested in WV on 77 Charges”. That’s a lot of wrongdoing! Doing wrong for what reason? Personal gain? Putting food on the table? For thrills, or stupidity? Pick one, they’re all wrong! Are our laws tough enough to quell these illegal activities? They must not be, people keep doing it, and ruining it for those who abide the laws. For the three convicted felons in the Vinton County, Ohio case, two of them received four years in prison, the other six years and all three received a LIFETIME loss of hunting privileges in at least 44 states (part of the Wildlife Violators Compact). These three idiots took spotlighting deer to another level. As they fled into the woods on a dark evening after DNR officers approached them, one of the suspects fired two rounds toward the officers. It got serious from that point. In the West Virginia case the eight men amassed 77 hunting violations involving the illegal hunting of black bears. All of those violations covered just 4-5 months in 2015. The multiple charges included various counts of: illegal trapping of bear, illegal killing of bear, spotlighting bear, hunting without permission, hunting bear during closed season, illegal possession of bear, hunting bear with use of bait and conspiring to violate Chapter 20 of the WV state code.

Most of the charges were filed in Grant and Mineral counties in West Virginia. I’m going to guess this is not the first time some of these hunters have been involved in illegal activities. They are, however, just charges brought against the individuals and are innocent until proven guilty. We’ll see. It’s a good bet some of them will be forfeiting a few weapons and their hunting privileges for a few years. Back in Ohio, I just received the latest “Field Reports” from the ODNR Division of Wildlife. These are little snippets, or reports, the officers have encountered over the past few months. Are people really this DUMB? Atop the list of reports is one about a fisherman at the Hoover Reservoir (Franklin County). The wildlife officer observed the individual fishing and later approached the person. The fisherman saw the officer approaching and set down his pole. Eventually the fisherman was seen trying to leave the parking lot. The officer approached him, asking to see his fishing license. The fisherman stated he was headed to the bait store to “buy his license”. Besides witnessing the fisherman with a pole in his hand he also saw fresh minnows in his possession. “He already stopped at the bait store,” noted the officer in the report. The fisherman was cited and ordered to pay $128 and court costs. Another group of fishermen in Medina County (Spencer Lake Wildlife Area) did not feel they needed to possess a fishing license. Five men were were actively fishing with two poles, again observed by an ODNR officer, but they all claimed to be “simply enjoying the weather” from a fishing dock. Each of the ‘enjoying the weather’ chaps were issued a summons for fishing without a license, were convicted and paid a total of $770 in fines and court costs.

To Advertise CALL 330-385-2243

Outdoor Times July 2016

July 2016

Are People Really This DUMB? OV Outdoor Times

VOL. 8, NO. 07

Ohio Valley Outdoor Times

is published by Ohio Valley Outdoors Magazine©

Offices located at

210 E. 4th Street, East Liverpool, OH 43920 Phone 330-385-2243, Fax 330-385-7114 ohvod@ohiovalleyoutdoors.com www.ohiovalleyoutdoors.com

Publisher/Editor, Larry Claypool lclaypool@ohiovalleyoutdoors.com

Graphics Designer, Linda McKenzie lmckenzie@ohiovalleyoutdoors.com Sales Consultant, Tracy Bissell tbissell@ohiovalleyoutdoors.com advertising@ohiovalleyoutdoors.com

Contributing Editors

Ralph Scherder, Hunting Editor Jeff Knapp, Fishing Editor Brian Miller, Field Editor

QUESTIONS, COMMENTS

Ohio Valley Outdoor Times is all about its readers. We’d love to hear from you. Send us something at ohvod@ohiovalleyoutdoors.com

July 2016

OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES

Walleyes From Page 1

eye Jigging Swim Shad and Curl Tail Minnow; and Northland’s Slurpies Swim Shad and Swim Shiner. Four to five-inch hard jerkbaits, like Rapala’s Husky Jerk, Bomber’s Long A and Smithwick’s Rogue also work well in these types of waters. The best approach is to allow the boat (or kayak/canoe on smaller waters) to drift through the riffle, being poised to cast as soon as you reach the “quality” water. Then make cross-current casts, using the weight of the bait to get it down to the fish. The trick is to work the bait just fast enough to keep it from hanging in the rocks. As the name suggests, you swim this bait. No jigging, no stop-n-go…just a steady retrieve. Continue with this approach as the boat drifts through the run that heavy riffles typically feed in to. And experiment with colors, as walleyes can be color selective. Another early summer location that produces of walleyes is the tailout area of large river pools. This is the area where the pool shallows up, increasing in speed before it dumps into the riffle or run below. Such places often feature clumps of emerging milfoil and eelgrass, providing additional cover. Early and late in the day, and during rainy/cloudy days, it’s common to

OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES

catch river walleyes in a foot or two of water from such spots. And they act like river smallies, fighting hard and sloshing around on the surface. One of the best ways I’ve found of catching these fish is by way of a soft jerkbait like Yum’s Houdini Shad or Winco Custom Baits’ River Darter. Rig the 5-inch bait on a 3/0 hook. Hooks that incorporate a light cylindrical weight to the hook shank, like Mustad’s Power Lock Plus, work well for this, as the weight acts as a keel, toning down the action of the bait, which walleyes seem to prefer. Hold the boat (or anchor) above the shallow tailout zone and make long casts quartering downriver. Allow the bait to swing down with the current as you slowly twitch it back upriver. Once the bait’s swing is complete, and it’s hanging straight downriver, permit it to hang in the current a few seconds, which often triggers a strike. Then continue slowly twitching the bait back to the boat. In warmer water river walleyes like to follow the bait, so let it hang for a second or two before pulling it out of the water. Other lure options that dupe walleyes in river tail-outs are Senko-style worms, the previously described soft swimbaits, and spinnerbaits. The latter can be particularly effective when the water is muddy from recent rain.

July 2016

ODNR to Host Annual Paddle Palooza

COLUMBUS, OH — The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) will host three more Paddle Palooza Festivals at Maumee Bay State Park, Caesar Creek State Park and West Branch State Park. These free events are a great opportunity for people to try a variety of canoes and kayaks and learn how to do stand-up paddleboarding (SUP). Experts will also be available to share information about local paddling activities and resources. The locations are: Maumee Bay State Park Inland Lake Sunday, July 10 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Contact: Sarah Genzman 419-836-6003 Caesar Creek State Park Lake Saturday, Aug. 13 1 p.m.-6 p.m. Contact: Don Siler 937-323-1582 West Branch State Park Lake Saturday, Aug. 13 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Contact: Stephanie Uber 330-644-2265 Paddlesports in Ohio have increased in popularity over the past several years. In 2015, more than 161,000 Ohioans registered canoes, kayaks or other paddle-spe-

cific watercraft. Over the last decade (2006-2015), Ohio’s kayak and canoe registrations (including liveries) have increased 138 percent. Those numbers are expected to grow as the state continues to invest in the paddling community. From 2006 to 2015, more than $7 million was provided through community grant programs and publications. This support provided carry-in and small boat access, as well as hands-on skill development through local education and recreation programs, including Paddle Palooza festivals and the Paddle Ohio program. It also funded publications detailing stream access and paddling opportunities. The ODNR Division of Watercraft is responsible for boating safety, education and law enforcement on all waters of the state. This statewide area includes the near-shore area along 451 miles of the Ohio River, approximately one-third the entire surface area of Lake Erie, more than 605 inland lakes and more than 60,000 miles of inland streams, rivers and other waterways. The Buckeye State is one of only seven states in the nation where admission and parking at state parks are free. Many Ohio families and out-of-state residents turn to Ohio’s waterways for fishing, swimming, boating and paddlesports. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.

July 2016

OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES

Three Convicted in Vinton County (OH) Incident

ATHENS, OH — Three McArthur, Ohio residents recently pleaded guilty to numerous hunting and drug charges in Vinton County, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). On November 13, 2015, ODNR Division of Wildlife Officers in southeast Ohio were working a plane project in Vinton County looking for spotlighting activity. State Wildlife Officer Jared Abele was directed to a vehicle in Swan Township. When the truck finally came to a stop two individuals fled into the woods. The driver was detained and subsequently arrested. State wildlife officers, as well as the McArthur Police Department and the Vinton County Sheriff’s Office, arrived on scene to assist in locating the two suspects. The plane observed a light in the woods and six officers entered to apprehend the suspect. As they searched through the dense forest, two shots were fired by one of the suspects. The officers withdrew and set up a perimeter on the surrounding roads. The Ohio State Highway Patrol brought in their aircraft with Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) technology to help locate the suspects. The search was suspended

after an extensive five hours when the suspects had not been located. The driver, Shawn Barber, was interviewed the following morning and the identities of the two suspects were established. Timothy Ousley was apprehended later that day by the Vinton County Sheriff’s Office. A team of state wildlife officers and investigators gathered information on the second suspect’s possible whereabouts and, with the assistance of The Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (SOFAST) of U.S. Marshals, Kevin Wright was apprehended several days later. The case was presented to the Vinton County Grand Jury and all three suspects were indicted on a total of 25 charges. Through the diligent work of Trecia Kimes-Brown, Prosecutor, all three suspects pleaded guilty to various charges. Trecia Kimes-Brown and the Vinton County Prosecutor’s Office were recently recognized by the ODNR Division of Wildlife for their efforts to help protect and preserve Ohio’s natural resources through their work in prosecuting the individuals involved in the spotlighting project.

Each of the three individuals received a lifetime loss of hunting privileges and were entered into the Interstate Wildlife Violators Compact, meaning they are also banned from purchasing a hunting license in all of the 44 membered states. The Wellston Police Department, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Hocking County Sheriff’s Office also assisted with the case. Anyone observing or suspecting that wildlife violations are occurring may report illegal activity by calling the TurnIn-A-Poacher (TIP) hotline toll free at 1-800-POACHER. ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov. Defendants, charges, and sentences in the case are: Shawn M. Barber, 29, McArthur - convicted of aggravated possession of drugs, improper handling of a firearm, obstructing justice, and one count of jacklighting. Sentenced to 4 years in prison and a lifetime loss of hunting privileges. Ordered to pay $2000 in fines and forfeit all items seized. Timothy A. Ousley, 28, McArthur convicted of aggravated possession of drugs, improper handling of a firearm, obstructing official business, and one

count of jacklighting. Sentenced to 4 years in prison and a lifetime loss of hunting privileges. Ordered to pay $2000 in fines and forfeit all items seized. Kevin J. Wright, 28, McArthur - convicted of aggravated drug trafficking and attempted felonious assault. Sentenced to 6 years in prison and lifetime loss of hunting privileges. All items seized were forfeited to Vinton County Sheriff’s Office, and included a Ford F150 pick-up truck, an AK-47 rifle, two handguns, crystal meth, an iPhone, and various other items.

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OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES

Gray Shades of Summer OV Outdoor Times

As the wails and whines of the Gray Fox Pups In Distress call filled the frosty night air, I trained my flashlight on the real thing heading my way up the tree line. The eyes on this adult gray fox re- By Ralph Scherder flected in the light Hunting Editor like gold coins bouncing up and down as it got closer. I shifted just slightly, enough to better position my shotgun on my knee and the stock against my shoulder so I could take the shot. It was enough that the light moved off of the animal by a few feet. When I shined back where the gray fox had been only a split second earlier, it was gone. This happened last November and I still haven’t forgotten it. No matter how many times you experience success, it’s the little defeats along the way that stand out most. You can rue them or you can use them as fuel for improvement. This

summer, I’ve decided to do the latter. Even though I can’t harvest these animals this time of year, there’s no law against calling them in for the camera. Also, heading afield without a gun and just focusing on my set-ups and calling has been a great learning experience that will help me be more successful this fall. Gray fox are interesting critters. They’re not as famous or as esteemed as their red-coated brethren, although personally I think they’re prettier. By nature, they’re more aggressive and have smaller ranges, which makes them a great candidate for predator hunters. You can do a lot of things wrong and still call in a gray fox. The biggest factor that determines success or failure, of course, is wind direction. That one doesn’t change no matter if you’re hunting predators or whitetails – the wrong wind can foil your hunt quicker than anything. Really windy nights haven’t been all that productive for me when calling fox this summer, and come to think of it, that holds true in the fall as well. Those

blustery, stormy nights when you think game is going to be running hard before a front are typically anti-climactic when calling fox. Calm nights have been much better. Two reasons could play a factor to this. First, on calm nights your scent isn’t blowing all over the place. Considering that most predators will approach from downwind, this means that on windy nights they could hit your scent long before they’re close enough to be seen. Calling fox in the daytime has been an interesting experience in this regard. Calling at night, my field of view is limited to that of my artificial light. During daylight hours, though, you see everything, and several times I’ve seen fox hang up a couple hundred yards out that I never would’ve known were there if I was calling at night. The windier it is, the farther out the fox tend to hang up. Second, sound carries better on calm nights. More importantly, predators can key in on the direction of the sound better on calm nights. This isn’t to say that you should stay home on windy nights. You can still have success during those times, but Turn To Shades of Gray Page 7

July 2016

Ohio Valley Outdoors– Photo by Ralph Scherder

More than anything, calling gray fox is a numbers game. The more stand locations you hit in one night, the better your chances of finding a fox to respond to your calls.

July 2016

Shades of Gray From Page 6

you’ll do better if you adjust your stand locations to fit the conditions. When the wind is blowing hard, I prefer tighter locations where visibility is more limited, and I try to cut off the downwind approach. Hunting higher ground and on ridges can be really productive because your scent will blow out into the wide open. In general, I try not to over-think stand locations, even on windy nights. As hunters, we’re always looking for ways to be more efficient and experience success more often. Truth is, you can do everything right all night long and still not call in a gray fox. Maybe they just aren’t in the mood to respond. Maybe you never got within earshot of a fox that night. Maybe they stayed close to their dens. On any given night, there could be a dozen reasons to explain failure, so don’t take it personally and try not to get discouraged. More than anything, calling gray fox is a numbers game. The more stand locations you hit in one night, the better your chances of finding a fox to respond to your calls. I’m not that picky about locations. If I come across a field bordered by a creek bottom, I’ll pull over

OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES

and get as far off the road as I legally have to before I start calling. It’s that simple. Find a spot, turn on the call, see what happens. If you don’t get a response in 10-15 minutes, move on to the next spot. Because gray fox have much smaller ranges than reds, your next location can be a mile down the road and you’ll be reaching a whole different population. The biggest thing I’ve learned is that once a gray fox enters the scene, keep your light on it. A gray fox will keep coming into a continuous light, but it will spook if that light shifts. Also, if hunting with a partner, you should each have your own light and face opposite directions and make sure you’re in good shooting positions before you even turn on the call. Not all fox calling has to be done at night. Maybe it’s the time of year, but so far this summer I’ve called in quite a few gray fox during daylight hours, especially the first and last hour of light. That’s a time frame I used to overlook when predator hunting, but this fall I’m looking forward to giving it a try. That’s the beauty of the offseason. It gives us time to reflect and experiment and find new tricks that will help us be more successful this fall.

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Jena, Emmerling Take Top UOVSAL Honors

EAST LIVERPOOL, OH — Curt Jena of Hopewell High School and Markie Emmerling of East Liverpool Junior High earned top honors in the second season of the Upper Ohio Valley Student Angler League. Jena claimed the Tim Horton’s Angler of the Year in the high school division and Emmerling was the Protech Electric Junior High Angler of the Year. The top awards were realized after UOVSAL’s final event held on Lake Erie on June 8. Jena, a sophomore, finished third in the Lake Erie event to capture the overall league individual title. Emmerling won the junior high division on Lake Erie to seal his top honor. He also captured the Heritage Thermal Big Bass award in the junior circuit. Danny Gentile of Hopewell won the Lake Erie tournament. Brian Schnell of Springfield Local High School was second. Schnell also won the Heritage Thermal Big Bass award for the largest bass. Stephanie Emmerling, last year’s Angler of the Year, finished fourth. Seth Alford took second place behind Emmerling in the junior high division on

Ohio Valley Outdoors–Photo courtesy of Harry Emmerling

Markie Emmerling, of East Liverpool Junior High, won the UOVSAL 2016 Junior High Angler of the Year award. He’s shown with his Big Bass fish at the recent Lake Erie event.

Lake Erie. Cole Abbott of Columbus Worthington was third. The Upper Ohio Valley Student Angler League, a high school based fishing league is in its second season. Harry Emmerling is the founder and director. — Larry Claypool

OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES

Ohio’s Boater Education Law

Ohio law requires boaters born on or after January 1, 1982, to successfully complete either a boating course or a proficiency exam in order to operate a boat powered by more than 10 horsepower. The boating course must be approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators; and the proficiency exam must be approved by the ODNR Division of Watercraft. The law applies to any operator AND any supervising adult who was born on or after January 1, 1982. The Education Law Does NOT Change Operator Age Laws For PWC (Personal Watercraft, known by the common trade names of Ski-Doo, Waverunner, SeaDoo, etc.): • Children under 12 may not operate PWC, not even with an education certificate. • Children 12 to 15 can operate PWC as long as they are under the direct supervision of an adult (18 or older) who is onboard AND as long as the child AND the supervising adult (if born on or after January 1, 1982) have education

certificates. • Children 16 or older can operate PWC as long as they have an education certificate. Adult supervision is not required.

For Powerboats (besides PWC) greater than 10 HP: • Children under 12 can operate any other type of powerboat greater than 10HP as long as they are under the direct supervision of an adult (18 or older) who is onboard AND as long as the child AND the supervising adult (if born on or after January 1, 1982) have education certificates. • Children 12 and over may operate any other type of powerboat greater than 10HP as long as they have an education certificate. Adult supervision is not required.

72 Hours to Produce Proof of Education Anyone born on or after January 1, 1982, who is operating a vessel powered by more than 10 horsepower and is stopped by a law enforcement officer on Ohio waters must produce a certificate

July 2016

of completion of either an approved course or proficiency test not later than 72 hours after being stopped. Proof that the person holds such a certificate may also be provided within the 72-hour period instead of the actual certificate. Failure of the person to present the certificate or proof of holding a certificate within the 72-hour period is prima-facie evidence of a violation. Rentals: Rental businesses cannot lease or rent a boat powered by more than 10 horsepower to anyone born on or after January 1, 1982, unless the person: • Signs a statement that they have successfully completed an approved boating course or a proficiency exam, OR • Successfully passes an abbreviated exam, with a score of 90 percent or better, administered by the business and valid only for the period of the rental agreement.

of not more than 30 days, or both. If the violation is related to a collision, injury to a person, or damage to property, it is a misdemeanor of the third degree, which is punishable by a fine of not more than $500, a term of imprisonment of not more than 60 days, or both. Any person who operates a boat powered by more than 10HP and commits a violation which involves a threat to the safety of persons or property must be ordered by the court to successfully complete a boating education course approved by the National Association of State Boating Administrators before the offender is allowed to operate any boat greater than 10HP on Ohio waters. Violation of such a court order is punishable as contempt under existing law.

http://watercraft.ohiodnr.gov/coursesear ch https://www.boat-ed.com/ohio/

Violations Violators of this requirement are guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree if the violation is not related to a collision, injury to a person, or damage to property, punishable by a fine of not more than $250, a term of imprisonment

http://www.boaterexam.com/usa/ohio/f aq.aspx http://www.boatus.org/onlinecourse/stat es/ed_requirements_map.asp

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July 2016

OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES

Eight Poachers Arrested in WV on 77 Charges

ROMNEY, WV â&#x20AC;&#x201D; West Virginia Natural Resources Police Officers have completed an investigation that has resulted in the arrest of eight men on 77 charges of violations of West Virginia game laws involving the illegal hunting of black bears. The investigation began in September 2015 when an illegal bear baiting site near Mount Storm in Grant County was reported to the DNR District 2 office in Romney. Lead investigators Sgt. G.M. Willenborg and Senior Natural Resources Police Officer A.D. Kuykendall, assisted by natural resources police officers from Mineral, Grant and Pendleton counties, completed the investigation and filed the charges. The alleged illegal bear hunting violations occurred between May 2015 and September 2015. Charges have been brought against the following individuals and are pending in court. The charges identified are allegations and any defendant is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Mark Allen Lampka, Jr. of Mount Storm, West Virginia, was charged with violations ranging from (2 counts) illegal trapping of bear, (4 counts) illegal

killing of bear, (6 counts) illegal possession of bear, (2 counts) spotlighting bear, conspiring to violate Chapter 20 of the West Virginia State Code, hunting without permission, hunting bear during closed season and other game law violations. These charges were brought in Grant and Mineral counties. Daniel Boddy of New Creek, West Virginia, was charged with (2 counts) illegal killing of bear, (2 counts) illegal trapping of bear, (4 counts) illegal possession of bear, spotlighting bear, conspiring to violate Chapter 20 of the West Virginia State Code and other game law violations. These charges were brought in Grant and Mineral counties. Chad Fridley of Mount Storm, West Virginia, was charged with illegal killing of bear, spotlighting bear, (2 counts) illegal possession of bear and conspiring to violate Chapter 20 of the West Virginia State Code. These charges were brought in Grant and Mineral counties. Steve Thomas Lyons, Jr. of Elk Garden, West Virginia, was charged with illegal killing of bear, spotlighting bear, hunting bear with use of bait, illegal possession of bear and conspiring to violate

Chapter 20 of the West Virginia State Code. These charges were brought in Grant and Mineral counties. Dustin Knaggs of New Creek, West Virginia, was charged with illegal killing of bear, spotlighting bear, illegal possession of bear and conspiring to violate Chapter 20 of the West Virginia State Code. These charges were brought in Mineral County. Terry Kuh of Maysville, West Virginia, was charged with spotlighting bear, hunting bear with use of bait, illegal possession of bear, illegal taking of bear during closed season and conspiring to violate Chapter 20 of the West

Virginia State Code. These charges were brought in Grant County. James Scott Kuhn of New Creek, West Virginia, was charged with hunting bear with the use of a trap, illegal possession of bear, and conspiring to violate Chapter 20 of the West Virginia State Code. These charges were brought in Mineral County. Ronnie P. Bothwell of Burlington, West Virginia, was charged with hunting bear with the use of a trap, illegal possession of bear and conspiring to violate Chapter 20 of the West Virginia State Code. These charges were brought in Mineral County.

OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES

RBFF Reveals Top Places to Fish and Boat

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) and its Take Me Fishing and Vamos A Pescar campaigns recently released the 2016 Top 100 Family-Friendly Places to Fish and Boat. Florida’s Everglades National Park snagged the No. 1 position as the best place to fish and boat in the U.S. for the second consecutive year. Take Me Fishing™ and Vamos A Pescar™ brought back America’s Top Family Fishing and Boating Spots Instant Win and Sweepstakes for its third consecutive year, with the goal of finding great family-friendly fishing areas and getting more families out on the water. More than 300 sites representing all 50 states were pre-selected from across the U.S. and entrants were able to vote daily for their favorite places. Criteria for the Top 100 included having a public body of water within driving distances of a major city, good fishing opportunities and family-friendly amenities. With the newly introduced Spanish-language version of the survey, instant-win prizes and mobile access to the voting process, it’s easy to see why this year’s sweepstakes saw the highest number of votes. Nearly 35,000 different anglers and boaters cast nearly 650,000 votes to support their fa-

vorite fishing and boating locations. Top 10 Places to Drop a Line in 2016: Everglades National Park, Fla. Bahia Honda State Park, Atlantic Ocean, Fla. Blue Springs State Park, St. Johns River, Fla. Kissimmee State Park, Lake Kissimmee, Fla. Clear Lake State Park, Clear Lake, Calif. Brannon Island State Park, Sacramento River, Calif. Dockweiler State Beach, Santa Monica Bay, Calif. Hanging Rock State Park, Hanging Rock Park Lake, N.C. Guntersville State Park, Guntersville Lake, Ala. Lake James State Park, Lake James, Ala. Other Interesting Facts: Places in North Carolina and Alabama moved into the coveted Top 10, displacing Texas and Pennsylvania. In 2016, 29 states are represented in the Top 100, four more states than in 2015. Florida and California are the only states to have placed in the Top 10 three years in a row. “The best way to enjoy fishing and boating is to find a special place to fish with family and friends, so we’re thrilled that so

many people shared their favorite place to engage in this national pastime,” said RBFF President and CEO, Frank Peterson. “With so many states represented in the Top 100, we’re encouraging everyone to get out on the water and enjoy these familyfriendly locations. It’s a great way to enjoy, conserve and restore our nation’s aquatic natural resources.” With National Fishing and Boating Week starting June 4, check out these opportunities to help consumers enjoy fishing and boating this summer: Free Fishing Days 2016 - Most states will offer free fishing days for everyone to fish on public bodies of water without a fishing license. These days are the perfect opportunity for beginners to try fishing for the first time. #ReelFun Fishing Events - Kick-off events will be hosted at more than 1,000 Walmart® stores across the U.S. June 3 5. All ages and skill levels are invited to learn fishing tips from expert anglers, purchase a fishing license, and test their casting skills. #FirstCatch - Create and capture moments fishing with family and friends, then share them with others online using #FirstCatch. #FirstCatch is Take Me F Fishing’s initiative to help anglers come together and revel in the joys of fishing and boating by sharing their first fishing and boating memories - first catch of the day,

July 2016

first fish of the season or even the first catch of a lifetime. For additional details on National Fishing and Boating Week, including your state’s Free Fishing Days, visit TakeMeFishing.org. The site, along with its Spanish language counterpart, VamosAPescar.org, is a one-stop resource for fishing license and boat registration information, fishing and boating locations nationwide and how-to information to help plan fishing and boating adventures. About the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) RBFF is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase participation in recreational angling and boating, thereby protecting and restoring the nation’s aquatic natural resources. RBFF developed the award-winning Take Me Fishing™ and Vamos A Pescar™ campaigns to create awareness around boating, fishing and conservation, and educate people about the benefits of participation. Take Me Fishing and Vamos A Pescar help boaters and anglers of all ages and experience levels learn, plan and equip for a day on the water. The campaign websites, TakeMeFishing.org, and VamosAPescar.org, feature how-to videos, information on how to get a fishing license and boat registration, and an interactive state-by-state map that allows visitors to find local boating and fishing spots.

WV Parks to Offer Electric Car Charging Stations

HINTON, WV (AP) — West Virginia’s state parks will soon feature charging stations for electric cars. The Register-Herald reports that the U.S. Department of Energy provided a grant to the parks system to set up the stations across state parks in West Virginia. The parks system has ordered 11 stations for state parks that have a lodge. They will feature dual chargers and will be able to produce 30 to 80 amps. Paul Redford, the district administrator for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation, says the stations will allow the parks to attract more visitors. “There are not a lot of other states that have this many interstate systems running through it,” Redford said. “We are sitting in an area perfect for more electric car stations.” He said officials don’t plan to charge for using the stations. Redford said the program is in line with the agency’s mission statement to promote conservation.

“We’re trying to be as environmentally friendly as possible,” Redford said. “We are doing our part to reduce emissions and solid waste.” If they’re popular, the parks system says it will work to add more stations to accommodate demand. “I hope visitors plug into a station then go and spend money in the gift shop,” Redford said. “I’m really excited to get this going.”

Have a question for the OVO Pro Staff? Please submit questions on a variety of topics to members of the Pro Staff via email at: prostaff@ohiovalleyoutdoors.com.

OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES

July 2016

More Access = Increased Opportunities on the Shenango River OV Outdoor Times

To most passersby, the Shenango River is simply a road sign marking the first waterway Interstate 80 passes over after entering Pennsylvania from Ohio, a scant two miles from the By Col.(Ret.)Grey D. Berrier II state line. Like many FIN Pro Staff smaller waterways throughout Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, the Shenango River is often overlooked as a potential destination for outdoor excursions, except by the locals, who are in the know. In the past, access to the Shenango River in the middle stretch was extremely limited from where it flows under Interstate 80 in Mercer County downstream approximately 16 river miles to where it passes under Interstate 376 in Lawrence County. That has radically changed in the past few years with the opening of three additional public access points in Lawrence County. This is my “home water” since I am fortunate enough to live along the Shenango River, and it will be my privilege to introduce you to what this smaller river has to offer. The Shenango River derives its name from the Native American Irquoian word “Shaningo”, meaning “beautiful one”. It flows north to south relatively close to the OH-PA state line with its entire watershed draining 744 square miles of Crawford, Mercer, and Lawrence Counties in PA and an additional 285 square miles of Ashtabula, Trumbull, and Mahoning Counties in OH. The navigable portion of the Shenango River starts at the base of the dam at Pymatuning Reservoir and flows south past Greenville. In the upper stretch, active canoe and kayak rentals now operate to allow visitors to paddle the Shenango River for themselves. Further south in Mercer County, the Shenango River is once again impounded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Shenango Reservoir; which like Pymatuning Reservoir offers extensive fishing boating, camping, and other outdoor opportunities. After exiting Shenango Dam, the river flows through downtown Sharon and the adjacent industrial areas of Farrell and Wheatland. As it approaches Interstate 80 and proceeds downstream, the Shenango flows primarily through forests, fields, and pastures with only occasional glimpses of human structures

and the distant hum of passing vehicles. The upper access point on this middle stretch of the Shenango River is the PA Fish & Boat Commission (PF&BC) boat launch in West Middlesex, just off PA 318 along Campground Road, only 3 miles from Exit 4 of Interstate 80 or 2.5 miles from Exit 1 of Interstate 376. From West Middlesex downstream, the Shenango River is typically 30 yards wide with intermittent pools and riffles. The average depth in the summer is three feet with some deeper pools reaching 12 feet and a few riffles a mere 6 inches in depth. The Shenango River is the perfect waterway for canoes, kayaks, and flat-bottom jonboats that draft very little water. There are a few places where larger rocks from former mill or canal dams need to be navigated around, but this is primarily Class 1 flat-water paddling with a few stretches less than one hundred yards that may approach Class 2. Like many narrow waterways, the biggest threat are strainers from large sycamores or maples that fall across the river and that can quickly change from one trip to the next. I strongly encourage all paddlers on the Shenango River to always wear a life preserver and remain highly vigilant to cautiously navigate around or under the branches of fallen trees. High water after recent rains greatly increases this risk, since the river moves significantly faster and paddlers have less time to maneuver around or through strainers. I know of several family members and friends who have inadvertently capsized their kayaks or canoes on the Shenango in the past. Approximately 5.5 river miles downstream of the PFB&C boat launch is the newest access point on the Shenango River at the village of Pulaski. Recently constructed in November 2015, the Pulaski access point is co-located with the parking area for PA State Game Lands 150, just off PA Route 208 and only one mile from Exit 5 of Interstate 376. From there it is a mere 4.5 mile float down to the McQuiston boat access area on Nashua Road, which was just completed back in September 2015. For the first 1.5 river miles between Pulaski and Nashua Road, the property on the east side of the river is PA State Game Lands 150 and offers unique opportunities to hunt deer, squirrel, raccoon, and groundhog from a canoe or jonboat, for those who are inclined to try something different.

From the McQuiston boat access area, which is named after a local high school student and avid outdoorsman, Shane McQuiston, who was tragically lost in an automobile accident, it is another 5 miles down to the Millenium boat access area in Neshannock Township. Constructed in 2012 in an area locally known as the Harbor, the Millenium boat access area at 137 Kings Chapel Road, New Castle, PA 16105 is near the New Castle School of Trades and only a mile from the intersection of Interstate 376 and U.S. Route 422. From the Millenium boat access area, it is a 3.5 mile float to downtown New Castle and approximately 9 river miles down to Mahoningtown, where the Shenango and Mahoning Rivers merge to form the Beaver River. There are plans to eventually construct a boat access area at the point in New Castle where Neshannock Creek flows into the Shenango River. However, at this time, the next available public boat access is 6 miles downstream on the Beaver River at the Bevington boat access area, near Wampum. It was created in 2008 in memory of SGT Allan Bevington, who was killed in action in Iraq. From the Millenium boat access area on the Shenango to the Bevington boat access area on the Beaver River is approximately 15 river miles, so paddlers must be prepared physically and logistically to be on the water for an extended period. The Beaver River flows for another 25 miles before emptying into the Ohio River at Rochester, PA. The 14 river miles between the PF&BC boat launch at West Middlesex and the Millenium boat access area at the Harbor are a somewhat underutilized outdoor resource. For fishermen, there are abundant smallmouth bass and channel catfish. Large carp and flathead catfish found in the deeper pools will test the drag on your reel. Enough walleye, northern pike, and muskellunge are distributed throughout the river to keep your interest and every year some fortunate angler seems to pull out a 50+ inch monster muskie from this stretch. Other species, such as crappie, sunfish, and suckers are frequently picked up as incidental catches while pursuing other gamefish. Depending upon how much you float and how long you stop to fish, any of these stretches on the mid-section of the Shenango River can take several hours or almost an entire day on the water.

This stretch of the Shenango River is also a favorite of waterfowl hunters. Canada geese can be harvested in both the early and regular seasons with some consistency. The primary draw of the Shenango though has to be the opportunity to pursue the abundant wood ducks, since few waterfowl or gamebirds are as majestic as an adult male wood duck with his colorful plumage. Other species that frequent the Shenango River include teal and mallards; and on several occasions when the water level was very high, I’ve found the mallards thick in the flooded timber. Besides seeing and possibly hunting deer squirrel, raccoon, and groundhogs on the river, we also frequently see beaver and muskrat during our float trips. I was blessed to observe my first Shenango River otter in October 2010 and in July 2013, I caught a glimpse of what I believe was my first Lawrence County black bear lurking back in the forest. For the birdwatcher, there is always a strong possibility of getting a good look at a bald eagle or osprey perched in a tree or flying just overhead in search of a fish dinner. Other fishpreying species observed, just about every time out on the water, include great blue herons and kingfishers. Abundant other songbirds keep things interesting during every float trip. The term “hidden treasure” is an often over-used expression frequently employed to describe garage sale finds, remote tourist destinations, or quaint restaurants off the beaten path. While others may delight in finding those things in life, my passion is finding high quality fishing, hunting, wildlife-watching, and paddling prospects few others know about. The mid-section of the Shenango River in southern Mercer and northern Lawrence Counties is one of those outdoor opportunities that are there for all of us to enjoy. Why not take advantage of the new public access area recently constructed on the Shenango River during an upcoming outdoor excursion? I’ll be the one in the dark green kayak with a tan mesh men’s sun hat. Hope to see you on river!

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Contact Sales Consultant Tracy Bissell at 330-385-2243

OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES

Top Five Inland Lakes for 2016

COLUMBUS, OH — Ohio offers many fantastic opportunities for the public to fish, including 124,000 acres of inland water, 7,000 miles of streams, 2.25 million acres of Lake Erie water, and 481 miles of the Ohio River, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). Here are a few areas in central Ohio anglers may want to check out. The ODNR Division of Wildlife has numerous resources available to assist anglers, including lake maps, fishing tips by species, and fishing forecasts based on survey data. New this year, is an interactive fishing map which allows anglers to select features to customize their own fishing maps for Ohio’s inland lakes. The interactive map is even mobile friendly so anglers can access information right on the water. For more information, click the fishing tab at www.wildohio.gov. Black Bass Knox Lake (Knox County, located outside Fredericktown) — Knox Lake has a high abundance of largemouth bass that consists of many large fish (61% of fish are 15 inches or longer). It’s recommended to fish structures along the shoreline below the Old Mansfield Road access. The section of lake above the Old

Mansfield Rd. boat ramp is a stump field and can be difficult to navigate; caution is advised in this area. Shore anglers can access the lake at the marina, dam, the Old Mansfield Rd. boat ramp on the north side of the lake, and a pull off on Old Mansfield Rd located on the south side of the lake. Boats with motors larger than 9.9 hp are restricted to idle only speeds. Crappie Delaware Reservoir (Delaware County) — Delaware is one of the most recognized crappie fisheries in central Ohio, with a good population of both white and black crappies. In the spring, the best areas to focus on will be larger coves with brush and wood in the water. Delaware Lake is surrounded by a wildlife area and state park so anglers are able to access the lake in many areas. Fishing maps provided by ODNRDOW will show the most popular fishing access. There are three boat ramps on the lake and a marina that has fuel and boat slips. Delaware is subject to substantial water level fluctuations following rainfall that can affect access and fishing. Be

sure to check the Army Corps. of Engineers website after recent rains. Sunfish Indian Lake (Logan County) — Year in and year out Indian Lake has been one of the best bluegill fisheries in central Ohio with large fish and high catch rates in comparison to other lakes. Focusing on the northeast section of the lake known as the game preserve can be beneficial. There are miles of backwater channels and bays that offer great habitat for sunfish. Shore anglers should start fishing around the Moundwood area. During late spring and summer try fishing the lily pads for large bluegill. A map of Indian lake is located on the ODNR- DOW website showing anglers where boat ramps and shore access exist. Channel Catfish Hoover Reservoir (Franklin County) — Hoover has a large abundance and large number of channel catfish. Flathead catfish are not extremely common here, but there are some present. Recently the Division of Wildlife had started stocking blue catfish in this lake to create a trophy fishery. While these fish are not trophy size yet they are doing very well and are being caught by anglers. The reservoir has many access points,

July 2016

but generally the northern portion of the lake is where the best catfishing takes place. The oxbow boat ramp is a popular access for shore fishing in the northern pool of the lake. Hoover has a 9.9 hp boat restriction. There are five boat ramps on Hoover, but only two of them (Walnut Street and Maxtown) are usable when water level decreases during late summer. Note: Hoover Reservoir provides water for the City of Columbus; causing water levels to decrease tremendously during the summer months. Saugeye Indian lake (Logan County) — Indian Lake has a large population of saugeye. Anglers seeking saugeye at Indian Lake need to look for areas that are wind swept with current. Saugeye will typically be in areas that have rip-rap or rocky substrate. When the wind and waves are hitting these areas the fishing can be even better. When the wind is blowing, fishing water between islands where a current is forming can be a good place and time to use blade baits. For more fishing forecasts and a list of other top inland lakes by species, visit www.wildohio.gov. Visit the ODNR website at www.ohiodnr.gov.

July 2016

OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES

Gwynn and Whitacre Win Final WMT Event

GENEVA, OH — A sold-out field of 50 boats launched out of Geneva on what would be a beautiful day on Lake Erie. Boats spread out over the area from Fairport to Ashtabula looking for the right fish. Taking top prize was Jim Gywnn and Matt Whitacre with 44.72#, good for $3400. Jim and Matt fished Ashtabula in 60 feet of water pulling single Colorado worm harnesses 55-70 back on 3 oz. inlines. They also pulled fish on Dipsey Divers on 3.5 setting at 80 back. Pink back and nickel back Colorado blades were their best colors. Runners-up Jason Kopf and Rodger Riggs pulled a nice bag of 42.18#. They fished in close to Geneva pulling worm harnesses with single willow blades worked best. They also brought in the Buckeye Sports Center big fish of the day monster 10.72# fish for a total of $1900. Kopf and Riggs also won the previous event at Lake Erie Lorain in late May with a 40.92# bag.

Sam Cappelli and Ted Jackson took third with a great bag of 40.42# and also was the highest finishing Mercury Marine equipped boat good for $1150. Cappelli and Jackson won the first WMT event on Mosquito Lake. During the April 24 event the pair also pulled in the Big Fish award. Mitch Shipman and Chad Fenstermaker grabbed 4th at Geneva with 38.82# for $800. Rounding out the top 5 was Don Lint and Greg Clayton 35.54#. Don and Greg also captured the Lund Boats Bonus and a paid 2017 NTC spot. Bob McLuckey and Ryan Persutti win 2nd place NTC Side Pot. The Geneva event wraps up another amazing year for Walleye Madness Tournaments. Walleye Madness Tournaments are sponsored by Buckeye Sports Center, Lund Boats, Mercury Marine. The series offers no-membership fee required 100% payout tournaments, plus $700 per event in sponsor bonuses. The Ca-

Ohio Valley Outdoors–Photo courtesy of WMT

Jim Gywnn and Matt Whitacre won top honors during the Walleye Madness Tournament’s final 2016 event on Lake Erie. The pair netted 44.72# of fish near Ashtabula, Ohio.

bela’s National Team Championship qualifying is provided by the series affiliation with the national organization, The Walleye Federation. Other sponsors

are: Mepps, Reef Runner, Surf Monkey Gear, Oakley, Opti-Tackle, Vibe, Rednek Outfitters and AirWave Pedestal.

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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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Five Ways

OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES

July 2016

to Stretch Your Camping Dollars OV Outdoor Times

Camping can be an economical way to explore the outdoors, or it can be expensive, depending on gear selection and the extent of the adventure. If you prefer to lean more to the conser- By Robert Loewendick vative side with Field Editor your camping funds, a few tweaks to trip planning and actions keeps your camping finances at a minimum. Following are five tips that will save you a few bucks for the next camping excursion. 1. Pack extra items to avoid leaving camp for more. Gear, such as batteries, can easily be packed for the trip without taking up much space, as long as you’re not backpacking. Buying batteries and similar supplies, such as lantern and stove fuel at the campground or nearby convenience store, will cost a premium price. A small piece of gear can take a big bite out of the weekend camping budget. 2. Plan meals to prepared at the campsite. For many campers, cooking over an open fire is a highlight of the camping outing. But for some campers, a short drive from the campground to a local restaurant is a culinary option. That’s acceptable as a backup plan in case of foul weather and no dining canopy on hand. The key to inexpensive camp cooking is having a plan, even on paper if that helps you remember. Create a checklist of ingredients and a basic recipe book, either purchased or compiled notes. Resist the urge to grab extra grub when grocery shopping for the campout, which results in a longer grocery receipt and shorter savings. 3. Discover free activities to explore or participate in. Finding activities of amusement that doesn’t involve a fee is easy while camping. The mainstays of camping such as hiking, biking, fishing or canoeing are enjoyed without any additional cost unless bikes and canoes are rented. Visiting local sites that charge a nominal fee can be saved for another day when camping budget is more giving. Select a pursuit that you are already equipped to do so. If a good pair of binoculars is owned, then consider

wildlife observation as an activity, lots of fun for all ages. 4. Stay close to home, or actually, at home. The backyard campout that was a common activity among kids in the 70s is making a comeback. The “staycation” trend remains strong and camping is a worthy option. State parks and other government owned campgrounds are bargains compared to private campgrounds typically. Free camping exists and with a quick Internet search, public camping options will surface. 5. Create and follow checklists. Checklists can be the most useful camping tool when used. A master checklist will keep each factor of the camping trip in order; from preparation to campsite fun. An item left behind by mistake or another that was overlooked while planning the packing list, demands additional costs to either retrieve the item or purchase a similar at a nearby source.

The Versatile Campfire Cooking Tripod While on the subject of economical camping, selecting a camping tool that can multi-task eases the camping budget. One such gear item is a cooking tripod, but more campers go without one than those who do. A cooking tripod consists of three sturdy steel legs, a supporting hook attached to the center of the joining legs at the top, and a length of chain to connect a pot or grill to the tripod. A cooking tripod provides options for cooking over an open fire. Advantages of a cooking tripod, in addition to easy packing and handling, are the ability to quickly and easily adjust the cooking temperature. Simply shorten the supporting chain to raise the cooking surface or kettle to lower the temp and lengthen the chain to put the target closer to the campfire for more heat. Before starting the cooking chores, and before building the campfire, set the tripod up and adjust the legs to ensure there is ample space between the forthcoming fire and where the pot, pan, or grill will hang. A cooking tripod will support a suspended Dutch oven efficiently. A popular campfire cooking practice is to slowly stew a soup in a Dutch oven hanging from a tripod over an open

Ohio Valley Outdoors - Photo by Robert Loewendick

A cooking tripod provides options for cooking over an open fire. Advantages of a cooking tripod, in addition to easy packing and handling, are the ability to quickly and easily adjust the cooking temperature.

flame. It looks and smells great as well. Or, hang a Dutch oven from a tripod to keep a previously cooked meal warm for later. Other, more modern design pots also work well with tripod cooking techniques. Heating water for use in creating other dishes is easily accomplished by hanging from a tripod, saving on propane use. Available as a cooking accessory for tripod campfire cooking is a grill grate that is suspended by three chains to the

tripod’s center hanging hook. The tripod grill takes a few seconds of effort to find the balance to provide a level grilling surface. Experiment with adjusting the chain and hook points (with leather gloves) to enhance your campfire cooking talents. Either for grilling or simmering a hanging pot of chili, a tripod works well. After a few camping trips, your skills at setting up a tripod strategically and centered over the campfire will sharpen.

July 2016

OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES

Bassmaster’s Pick Best USA Bass Lakes

BIRMINGHAM, AL — For the first time since the creation of Bassmaster’s 100 Best Bass Lakes rankings, a fishery has reclaimed the No.1 spot in the nation. Toledo Bend Reservoir, which straddles the Texas and Louisiana border, keeps the crown and is the only lake to earn the title more than once. “More than three months of research went into this year’s rankings,” explained Bassmaster Magazine editor James Hall, who noted that the initial pool of top fisheries was developed with input from B.A.S.S. Nation members across the country, state fisheries biologists, the 3,500-member B.A.S.S. Council and some of the 650,000 Facebook fans of B.A.S.S. “Then, we scoured the Internet for current catch-rate data, using the results of more than two dozen tournament organizations and several state ‘lunker’ programs to narrow the field to 100. It’s a brutal process, but the results give bass anglers the ultimate bucket list of lakes for 2016,” Hall said. There is one big difference in the rankings this year. The Top 10 lakes in the nation are ranked regardless of location, but instead of ranking the remaining lakes through 100, as has been done in the past, Bassmaster divided the nation into four regions: Northeast, Southeast, Central and Western. Now, readers will see the Top 25 lakes closest to them. This also created four No. 1 regional fisheries. In the Southeast division, Santee Cooper lakes earned the top spot (it’s also ranked No. 2 in the nation). Clear Lake took the No. 1 spot in the Western division (No. 3 nationally), while the New York portion of Lake Erie was named No. 1 in the Northeast (No. 4 in the nation). Of course, Toledo Bend was the Central division’s No.1 fishery. “Our panel of judges who finalized the rankings were absolutely blown away by the production of Toledo Bend the past 12 months,” Hall noted. “The lake has yielded 139 certified bass over 10 pounds with a 14.15-pounder topping the list. Plus, a 38-pound limit and countless limits in the 30-pound range have been weighed in during tournaments over the past year.” The 185,000-acre impoundment was the site of the A.R.E. Truck Caps Bass-

master Elite at Toledo Bend in May, which Kevin VanDam won with almost 100 pounds, even though the anglers were fishing in tough conditions after regional flooding had occurred. A couple of other highlights from the rankings include Texas’ Falcon Lake climbing back into the nation’s Top 10 with a No. 9 ranking. This lake was ranked No.1 in 2012 and then very nearly fell off the list when drought plagued the region. Plus, a couple of new lakes have cracked the rankings, including Mississippi’s Okatibbee Lake, Arizona’s Saguaro Lake and Florida’s Lake Rousseau. Texas earned bragging rights for the state with the most ranked lakes, boasting eight fisheries on the list. Florida and California tied for the second most with seven ranked lakes, while New York and Michigan each have six lakes in the Top 100. Bassmaster’s 100 Best Bass Lakes will be published in an eight-page section of the July/August issue of Bassmaster Magazine. The complete rankings will also be featured on Bassmaster.com. The Top 10 In The Nation 1. Toledo Bend, Texas/Louisiana [185,000 acres] 2. Santee Cooper lakes, Marion and Moultrie, South Carolina [110,000 acres and 60,000 acres, respectively] 3. Clear Lake, California [43,785 acres] 4. Lake Erie, New York [30-mile radius from Buffalo] 5. Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California [1,100 square miles] 6. Mille Lacs Lake, Minnesota [132,000 acres] 7. Lake Berryessa, California [20,700 acres] 8. Rodman Reservoir, Florida [13,000 acres] 9. Falcon Lake, Texas [83,654 acres] 10. Lake St. Clair, Michigan [430 square miles] Northeastern Division 1. Lake Erie, New York 2. Lake St. Clair, Michigan 3. Lake Erie, Ohio [30-mile radius from Sandusky] 4. Thousand Islands (St. Lawrence River), New York [50-mile stretch] 5. Saginaw Bay, Michigan [1,143

square miles] 6. Lake Charlevoix, Michigan [17,200 acres] 7. Bays de Noc, Michigan [Escanaba to Little Summer Island] 8. Lake Champlain, New York/Vermont [490 square miles] 9. Grand Traverse Bay, Michigan [32 miles long, 10 miles wide] 10. Presque Isle Bay, Pennsylvania [5.8 square miles] 11. Oneida Lake, New York [79.8 square miles] 12. Cayuga Lake, New York [43,000 acres] 13. Burt/Mullett lakes, Michigan [17,120 acres and 16,630 acres, respectively] 14. Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire [20 miles long, 9 miles wide] 15. Cobbosseecontee Lake, Maine [5,540 acres] 16. Candlewood Lake, Connecticut [5,420 acres] 17. Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia [20,600 acres 18. China Lake, Maine [3,845 acres] 19. Lake Cumberland, Kentucky [65,530 acres] 20. Chautauqua Lake, New York [13,156 acres] 21. Upper Chesapeake Bay, Maryland [The entire bay is more than 64,000 square miles, but the best fishing is in the top one-third.] 22. Pymatuning Reservoir, Pennsylvania/Ohio [17,088 acres] 23. Stonewall Jackson Lake, West Virginia [2,630 acres] 24. Squam Lake, New Hampshire [6,791 acres] 25. Kezar Lake, Maine [2,510 acres] Central Division 1. Toledo Bend, Texas/Louisiana 2. Mille Lacs Lake, Minnesota 3. Falcon Lake, Texas 4. Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Texas [114,000 acres] 5. Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin [from Little Sturgeon Bay to Fish Creek] 6. Lake Palestine, Texas [25,560 acres] 7. Caddo Lake, Louisiana [25,400 acres] 8. Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, Oklahoma [46,500 acres] 9. Lake Ray Roberts, Texas [29,350 acres] 10. Newton Lake, Illinois [1,775 acres] Southeast Division 1. Santee Cooper lakes, Marion and Moultrie, South Carolina 2. Rodman Reservoir, Florida 3. Chickamauga Lake, Tennessee

[36,240 acres] 4. Kentucky/Barkley lakes, Tennessee/Kentucky [160,309 and 58,000, acres respectively] 5. Lake Guntersville, Alabama [70,000 acres] 6. Lake Istokpoga, Florida [26,762 acres] 7. Pickwick Lake, Alabama/Mississippi/Tennessee [43,100 acres] 8. Falls of the Neuse Reservoir (Falls Lake), North Carolina [12,410 acres] 9. Ross Barnett Reservoir, Mississippi [33,000 acres] 10. Lake Murray, South Carolina [50,000 acres] Western Region 1. Clear Lake, California 2. Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California 3. Lake Berryessa, California 4. Lake Havasu, Arizona/California [19,300 acres] 5. Dworshak Reservoir, Idaho [17,090 acres] 6. Lake Casitas, California [1,100 acres] 7. Tenmile Lake, Oregon [1,626 acres] 8. Lake Washington, Washington [21,747 acres] 9. Don Pedro Reservoir, California [13,000 acres] 10. Saguaro Lake, Arizona [1,267 acres]

About B.A.S.S. B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), social media programs and events. For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing. The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, B.A.S.S. Nation, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Costa Bassmaster High School Series, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.

OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES

July 2016

Keith Cummings longbeard Lee County, VA

OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES

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Don Hall 8-pt., muzzleloader Hardin County, OH

Deonte Stradwick 8-pt., 131", crossbow Licking County, OH

Chase Stradwick 146", 12-pt., muzzleloader Licking County, OH

Bill Hall, Jr. & Hannah Hall, age 10 38lbs. male coyotes - Hannah's 1st coyote Licking County, OH

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Gauge & Wyatt Wise 6.5lb. sheephead Middle Beaver Creek, OH

Bill Hall 147", 21-pt., crossbow Franklin County, OH

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No Special Permits Required at Wingfoot Lake

AKRON, OH – Recent changes have increased waterfowl hunting opportunities at Wingfoot Lake in Portage County according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). A drawing will no longer be held and special permits are no longer

required to hunt waterfowl on the ODNR Division of Wildlife-owned portions of Wingfoot Lake. Interested hunters are encouraged to view a map of Wingfoot Lake which designates where waterfowl hunting can take place. The map can be viewed and printed at wildohio.gov by clicking on “Hunting, Trapping, and Shooting Sports,” then click on “Hunting Resources by Species.”

Call Wildlife District Three Headquarters in Akron at (330) 644-2293 with questions. For additional information regarding waterfowl hunting in Ohio, visit wildohio.gov. ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.