escape to outdoors 2014

Escape To TheGreat OutdoorsEscape To The

Great Outdoors

A Gazette Newspapers Publication 2014

2 Week of Wednesday, May 21, 2014Escape To The Great Outdoors

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Tractor Sales, Inc.5042 Center Rd. (Rt. 7)

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Week of Wednesday, May 21, 2014 3Escape To The Great Outdoors

Publisher Emeritus ........................ John Lampson

President/Publisher ....................... William Creed

Senior Editor ................................Stefanie Wessell

Page Design ............................................. F. Hilger

A Gazette Newspapers Publication

Editorial Office46 W. Jefferson St., Jefferson, Ohio 44047

440-576-9125 • Fax: 576-2778Toll-Free: 1-800-860-2775

E-mail: [email protected]

Escape To TheGreat Outdoors

Cover photo courtesy of Mike Mainhart

BY ZACHARY DZURICKGazette Newspapers

No matter what kind ofcamping experience you aresearching for, AshtabulaCounty has something foreveryone.

“We have 16 activecampsites in AshtabulaCounty with 2,000 camp-sites.” Ashtabula Conven-tion and Visitor’s BureauExecutive Director MarkWinchell said. “We haveeverything from the fullphase RV sports to primi-tive camping. We havesomething for everyone -whether you have a top-of-the-line, expensive RV or a$35 tent.”

The campsites venturefrom the Lake Erie to LakePymatuning and every-where in between.

“Our campgrounds arespread out as well,”Winchell said. “We havegreat spots out byPymatuning Lake, othersalong Lake Erie and somegreat spots in the middle ofthe county. So whether youwant to pond fish, playbeach volleyball, swim inpools or in the lake. Wehave lots of hotel levelamenities in a campgroundsetting.”

There are two stateparks in the county. GenevaState Park features acampground right acrossthe street from Lake Eriewith access to a marina anda sandy beach. GenevaState Park offers 93 year-round electric campsites.There are 12 deluxe cabinsfor rent. Six miles of multi-use trails traverse the park

Camping opportunities abound in Ashtabula County

PHOTOS COURTESY OF the Ashtabula County Convention& Visitors Bureau

and are used by hikers,snowmobilers, cross-coun-try skiers and hunters.

Pymatuning State Parkhas 331 electric campsitesand 21 primitive sites alongwith 32 standard cottagesand another 22 that areavailable year round. Thereare five boat launch sitesand 360 docks available forseasonal rent. There is asmall beach in the center ofthe park.

There are 14 active pri-vate campgrounds in thecounty. Each has somethingdifferent to offer.

Ashtabula RecreationalUnlimited Marina & Camp-grounds, Kister Marina &Campgrounds and Luoma’sSurfer’s Point Camping arelocated near the AshtabulaHarbor. Each provides op-portunities for boaters whodon’t want to have to com-mute back and forth. Thereare also close to growingBridge Street neighborhoodof restaurants and bars.

Willow Lake Camp-ground has a stocked fish-ing lake, a swimming lake,a bird sanctuary and is justtwo miles away from all ofthe fun that is the Strip inGeneva-on-the-Lake.

Kenisee Grand RiverCampgrounds in Genevahas easy access to theGrand River allowing op-portunities to fish, boat,kayak or canoe.

Kenisee Lake RV camp-ground has a lake and threeponds. There are a varietyof campsites ranging fromwooded areas to scenic sitesoverlooking the lake pro-viding a more relaxedcamping experience.

Ashtabula County Campground list•Ashtabula Recreational Unlimited Marina & Camp-grounds, 440.992.9445, 1420 Great LakesAvenue, Ashtabula

•Bayshore Campgrounds 440.293.7202 or 800.222.7202,7124 Pymatuning Lake Road, Andover

•Equity Life Style Property-Kenisee Lake Pre-serve 440.576.9030, 2010 Mill Creek Rd, Jefferson

•Evergreen Lake Park 440.599.8802 703 CenterRoad, Conneaut

•Geneva State Park Campground 440.466.5069 or440.466.8400, 4499 Padanarum Road, Geneva

•Heritage Hills Campground 440.298.1311 6445 LedgeRd., Thompson

•Holiday Camplands 440.293.7116 4273 PymatuningLake Rd., Andover

•Indian Creek Camping Resort 440.466.8191, 4710Lake Road, Geneva-on-the-Lake

•Kenisee's Grand River Camp & Canoe 440.466.23204680 Route 307, Geneva

•Kister Marina & Campground 440.997.5676 or440.812.1662, Marine Drive Ashtabula Harbor

•Luoma's Surfers Point Camping 440.964.2956, 5654Lake Road West, Ashtabula

•Northeast Ohio 4-H Camps, Inc./Camp Whitewood 440.272.5275 or 1.800.967.2267 7983 WiswellRoad, Windsor

•Pine Lakes Campground 440.437.6218, 3001 HagueRoad, Orwell

•Pymatuning State Park - Campground 440.293.6329,Park office: Lake Rd. S of SR 85 Andover

•Willow Lakes Campground 440.466.0150, 3935 N.Broadway, Geneva Women’s Getaway

Weekend will be heldJune 6-8, 2014, at CampWhitewood in Windsor,Ohio in AshtabulaCounty.

All women 18 andolder are welcome.

Dr. Seuss is this year’stheme with lots of fun-filled activities. Come torelax and meet

new friends. Therewill be a tour of Amishstores on Friday, classesin stained glass and

glass etching, makingbiscotti and other crafts.

Women’s Getaway Weekend at CampWhitewood is June 6-8

We offer boating, riflery,hiking, massages, and acampfire along withmany surprises and timeto enjoy the lovely sur-roundings.

The fee of $110 for theweekend covers meals,snacks, lodging and mostactivities or $40 tosample camp for Satur-day only. Don your favor-ite Dr. Seuss attire andjoin us.

Contact Terry Gatrell,3 3 0 - 2 2 2 - 2 7 4 [email protected],for more information.

BY STEFANIE WESSELLGazette Newspapers

JEFFERSON - The hunt-ing season for most animalsruns through the fall andcolder months in Ohio, butthere are a few animals thatcan be hunted during thespring and summer months.

These animals includecoyote, wild boar andgroundhog. There is noclosed season for hunting ortrapping of coyote, and thereis no daily bag limit, either.There also is no closed sea-son for hunting of wild boar,and there is no daily baglimit for those animals.

Wild boar have estab-lished breeding popula-tions in several locationsaround Ohio, according toODNR officials. They cando extensive damage to theforest habitat in a shortamount of time competingwith native wildlife specieslike wild turkey and deer.The Division of Wildlifedoes not want wild boar inOhio and encourages eradi-cation. Ohio hunters areencouraged to kill wildboar in areas where theyhave permission to hunt.Hunters are encouraged tocall 1-800-WILDLIFE and

Limited hunting in spring, summer monthsreport the knownlocation(s) of wildboar.“The groundhog sea-son is only closed duringdeer gun season, so if thoseanimals are a nuisance toyour property during thespring and summermonths, there is no law for-bidding you from huntingthem. There also is no dailybag limit.“If you were hop-ing to hunt wild turkey,you’re just out of luck. Thehunting season for wildturkey ended on May 18 forthe year.

Hunters can visit theOhio Department of Natu-ral Resources to learnwhether a hunting licenseis needed for the animals,and how and if they needto check their game.

The Ohio Division ofWildlife now uses a systemthat allows hunters andanglers to engage in Web-based license and game-check systems.

If anyone notices illegalhunting during thesemonths, they are encour-aged to report the incidentto the Ohio Division ofWildlife. If someone wit-nesses a violation andwants to report it, they cancontact 1-800-POACHER.

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Ashtabula County parks, beachesAl Cummins Sunset Park

Located at SR 531, one mile east of SR 193, in NorthKingsville Trail down to the lake, small beach, picnic pavil-ion, playground and rustic restrooms

Ashtabula County MetroParksConneaut Creek Metropark, located at South Ridge Road

in Conneaut. Conneaut public hunting and fishing on thismetropark area.

Harpersfield Covered BridgeLocated east of SR 534, north of SR 307 on Harpersfield

Road in Harpersfield Township. Several canoe liveries pro-vide portage from this area, fishing for bass, steelhead andother species from the dam and surrounding area is a favor-ite past time for locals. Walking trails along the state-desig-nated scenic Grand River provide hours of wildlife watching -Great Blue and Green Heron, species of ducks and other birdshave been seen. Several pavilions, playgrounds a fishing con-cessions, baseball field, and rustic restrooms are available.Motor-coaches are not recommended to pass through bridge.

Western Reserve Greenway TrailThe Western Reserve Greenway is a paved rail trail ex-

tending 43 miles through Ashtabula and Trumbull countiesin northeast Ohio, roughly paralleling SR 45. AshtabulaCounty is home to 27 of these miles, stretching from the cityof Ashtabula southward to the county line where it continuesfor 16 miles into Trumbull County.

Mostly rural, Ashtabula County’s portion of the trail runsalong farms and through abundant wooded areas. Many us-ers tout the beauty of the thick tree canopy providing coolshade on hot summer days. Nicely maintained by a dedi- catedcrew of volunteers, the trail is dotted with benches, intersect-ing road names and mileage are well-marked, and 12 inter-pretive signs along the way detail the proud history of theUnderground Railroad in Ashtabula County.

In the summertime activities include biking, hiking,rollerblading, and other non-motorized activities, while in thewinter the trail is used for cross-county skiing andsnowmobiling. Motorized wheelchairs are always permitted.

Lake Shore ParkLocated at Lake Road and Manola (east of SR 11) in

Ashtabula Township. Set in lush vegetation and rolling hillswith abundant natural wildlife, Lake Shore Park is a refresh-ing, relaxing place for the whole family. More than 100 picnictables, many charcoal grills and the clean restrooms are closeto the four spacious and scenic pavilions. Play- ground, sandbeach, boat launch, and the site of disc golf. Kid friendly.

Cedarquist ParkLocated in Ashtabula. Hiking trail through the wooded

area, access to river.

Conneaut Township ParkLocated at Lake Road and Grove Street in Conneaut. Sand

beach with lifeguards, concession stand, picnic pavilions, play-ground, basketball, tennis courts, volleyball, soccer, and theConneaut Lighthouse Cruise-in every Thurs- day night fromMid-May through September, featuring classic and antiquecars. Located on Lake Erie at Lake Road and Grove Street,west of SR 7. Hours: Dawn to Dusk. Free, kid friendly.

Geneva State ParkLocated at 4499 Padanarum Rd in Geneva. Seasonal hunt-

ing for small game, waterfowl and deer. Fishing for walleye,bass, salmon, steelhead, yellow perch can be done via charterboats and from the shoreline or breakwall. Three- mile hik-ing trail, Sand beach, picnic pavilions, marina, fresh- watermarshes and estuaries located along the lake. Also the loca-tion of Ohio’s newest state park resort and conference center.Located west of SR 534. Open dawn - dusk, cottages andcampground seasonal. Accepts credit cards. Kid and pet

friendly.

Geneva Township ParkLocated at SR 531 and Austin Road in Geneva-on-the-

Lake. Pavilions, volleyball courts, horseshoe pit, concessionstand, playground. No lifeguards. Concerts Tuesdays in sum-mer. Open 9 a.m. to dusk.

Indian Trails ParkLocated in Ashtabula/ Plymouth townships. Home to the

longest covered bridge in the United States, the Smolen-GulfBridge. Overlooking pavilion.

Point ParkLocated on Walnut Street in Ashtabula. Overlooks the

Ashtabula Harbor, river, coal conveyor, shipping docks, liftbridge. Visit the historic Hulett Ore Unloader on display andthe Merchant Marine Memorial.

Pymatuning State ParkPark office located at Lake Road south of SR 85 in Andover.

Picnic shelters, boating, swimming, fishing, hiking, cottages,camping and beach. Located east of Andover. Open season-ally, daily. Contact about permit hunting areas.

Saybrook Township ParkLocated at SR 531, two miles west of SR 45, in Ashtabula/

Saybrook. Pavilions, grills, playground, restrooms, baseballdiamonds, trail down to small, unguarded beach.

Walnut BeachLocated at Walnut Boulevard and Lake Avenue in

Ashtabula. Offers concession stand, tennis, basketball andvolleyball court. Plank walkway to beach. Nature trail throughwetlands area and sand dunes. Lifeguards until 6 p.m. Kidfriendly.

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OPENMEMORIAL

DAY!


BY MARTHA SOROHANGazette Newspapers

Ashtabula County offersboth traditional and non-tra-ditional day camps for kids.

In the non-traditionalcategory, kids who are intothe arts have several choicesthis summer.

The Ashtabula Arts Cen-ter, 2928 W. 13th Street, isoffering two half-day musicand theater camps in July.

The “Music In Me” campruns 1:30 to 4 p.m. July 7through 11. Directed by KimGodfrey and CaitlinWoerner, “Music In Me” in-troduces campers in secondthrough fifth grades to mu-sic and dancing. The weekculminates in a performance7:30 p.m. July 11 on stage atthe Ashtabula Arts Center’sStraw Hat Theater, a pre-lude to the Straw HatTheater ’s 8 p.m. perfor-mance of “High School Mu-sical 2.” Each camper willreceive a free ticket to theshow. Cost of this camp is$90.

“Musical Theater Experi-ence Camp” is for studentsin sixth to ninth grades, andis held 1:30 to 4 p.m. July 21to 25. Exploring music, the-ater and dance, campers willprepare a Broadway cabaretto be performed 4 p.m. July25. Instructors are KimGodfrey and CaitlinWoerner. Call 964-3396.

The Ashtabula Arts Cen-ter also offers a three-week“Multi-Arts Summer DayCamp” 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June23 through July 11, or July21 through Aug. 8. Childrenin first through sixth gradeswill explore the world of thearts – dance, music, art andtheater -- and perform themusical “Rats!” at 10 a.m.the final day of camp. Showadmission is free. Kids bringa packed lunch each day anda white T-shirt to decoratethe first day of camp. Cost is$195 non-AAC members or$175 AAC members. Call964-3396.

Over in Conneaut, theConneaut Arts Center, 1025Buffalo Street, offers “Sum-mer Arts Camp” for childrenkindergarten to fifth grade.Two sessions are offered 9a.m. to 3 p.m. June 16 to 20or 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 23to 27. Kids dabble in everyaspect of the arts, frompainting, drawing and craftsto theater, movement, andcomputer animation. Cost is$85. Some scholarships

available. The program fillsquickly. Reservation dead-line is May 30. Call 593-5888.

For traditional day campexperiences, Ashtabula resi-dents have two options: 4-HDay Camp at Camp White-wood in Windsor, andSheldon Calvary Day Camp,4411 Lake Road, NorthKingsville.

Run by the Episcopal Dio-cese of Pittsburgh, and situ-ated on the shores of LakeErie, Sheldon Calvary Campoffers children one week ofDay Camp this summerfrom 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June30 through July 4 for chil-dren ages 7 to 12.

Extended care is avail-able for one hour before andone hour the day camp hoursfor $6 per hour.

“We can accommodateabout 70 kids, and we werefull last year,” said TimGreen, Camp Director.

Calvary Day Camp offersa full recreational programwithin a faith-based commu-nity where participants of alldenominations build friend-ships with campers andcounselors from the sur-rounding community andbeyond.

afternoon ends with a teamdiscussion about the day anda celebration of the day'sevents.

“Christian faith and spiri-tuality are integrated intoall aspects of our life to-gether,” Green says.

The camp also offers a“Ready, Set,” three-nightfour-day camp that gives lo-cal children ages 7 to 12 ataste of the traditional over-night camps offered all sum-mer.

Designed to meet needs ofchildren and families whoare apprehensive aboutspending a full week awayfrom home, the camp offersmany activities, from morn-ing games and songs toteam-building, environmen-tal appreciation, arts andcrafts, group athletics, swim-ming, archery, horsebackriding. Three meals plussnacks are provided daily.Each day ends with anevening campfire and reflec-tion. Campers are housed inwooden cabins.

Sheldon Calvary Campfees are $100 for day camp,with lunch included, and$200 for Ready, Set” camp,with all meals included.Call (440) 593-4381 for infor-

mation.In southern Ashtabula

County, Camp Whitewood,7981 Wiswell Road, offerseight sessions of “Young Ad-venturers Day Camp” forages 6 to 12, with swimming,boating, crafts, hiking, sing-ing and exploring from 8 a.m.to 3 p.m. Camper-to-staffratio is 8:1.

To accommodate childrenof working parents, “NatureNuggets” is offered 3 to 5 p.m.daily for an additional $25per week.

Each week offers a differ-ent theme. Three of the ses-sions offer one overnight,with campfire, s’mores andother fun. Kids stay in tents,weather permitting, or thecamp building, then join theusual camp activities follow-ing breakfast the next morn-ing.

Special features of the daycamp include a Thursdayvisit to the camp store,“Camp Mercantile,” to pur-chase souvenirs, priced from$3 to $30, including T-shirts,sweatshirts, healthy snacksand other treasures. A specialParent & Family Programwill conclude CelebrationWeek, July 28 to Aug. 1, only.

This summer’s Day Camp

will be held in the MainCamp Lodge as Camp White-wood constructs a larger DayCamp building to accommo-date the growing program.Children bring a waterbottle, packed lunch anddrink. Day camp fee is $125per week, with one exception.Fees during Celebration

Week only (July 28 to Aug. 1)are $74 in honor of CampWhitewood’s 74th anniver-sary. The overnight is anadditional $25 to cover din-ner, snack, breakfast, andbox lunch.

For more information, callCamp Whitewood at (440)272-5275.

Ashtabula County Day Camps offer arts, outdoor experiences

PHOTO COURTESY OF CAMP WHITEWOODA variety of day camp experiences is open to children from grade school throughmiddle school in Ashtabula County this summer.

Each day begins with acamp theme and activity.After morning games, songs,and Team Time stations --Team Building, Environ-mental Appreciation, andArts and Crafts -- campershave lunch in the dininghall, followed by a swim(with swim instruction) inthe camp pool. They choosean hour of tennis, pony rides,or archery, followed by groupathletic competitions. Each

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Beneficial Critters

Praying mantises are a benefit to any garden, preying onaphids and small flies, as well as anything else they cancatch. They use their strong legs to seize and hold insectsthat pass by, and will tackle other large insects as well.Sold in egg cases, they may hatch up to 400 insects afterbeing fastened to a sturdy plant for a few days. Two or threecases are enough for an average garden.

FILE PHOTOSWhen released at night,when they do not fly,ladybugs are effective ineliminating aphids andspider mites fromperennials.

BY DORIS COOKGazette Newspapers

For boaters and fishingfans in Ashtabula Countyand NE Ohio area, there areplenty of opportunities toenjoy the waters in LakeErie, Pymatuning Reservoirlake, neighboring ConneautLake in western Pennsylva-nia plus smaller lakes innearby counties.

On the Ohio side ofPymatuning Reservoir thereare a number of shorelinefishing spots and boat launchsites. Pymatuing Liveries,Inc. in the Andover area hastwo boat rental sites-BirchesLivery on S. PymatuningLake Road and at the northend at Padanaram Livery, lo-cated off N. PymatuningLake Road.

NE Ohio inland lakes and Lake Erie arechoice spots for boaters and fishing

There are rowboats, sev-eral different sizes of pon-toon boats and even canoesif you do now any watercraft.The rental liveries offer spe-cial day rates Monday-Fri-days, but not on holidays.The two liveries are openfrom 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. so call440-293-5154 for informa-tion.

Ohio Department of Natu-ral Resources Division ofWatercraft and U.S. CoastGuard station located in theAshtabula Harbor area of thecity enforce boating regula-tion in this area of NE Ohio.Boat dealerships,Pymatuning State Park mainoffice on S. Pymatuning LakeRd. plus many marine sup-ply businesses stock theODNR Division of WatercraftBoat Operators Guide Book

available to pick up.Be sure you have a

proper fishing license forage on the Ohio side ofPymatuning Reservoir forshoreline fishing or in a boatto fish. If you fish on thePennsylvania side of the res-ervoir, which is a larger areaof the lake, have a PA. li-cense. If you are in a boatto fish on the reservoir lakean Ohio license is permittedon the PA. side, but do nottry to step on land there oron an island on the PA. sideto fish without the properstate license.

The local ODNR Divisionof Watercraft oversees boat-ing on Lake, Geauga, andAshtabula waterways evenon large privately ownedlakes like Lake RoamingRock in the village of Roam-ing Shores. Be sure yourwatercraft has the properhull identification number(HIN) in the proper location.There are some recent up-dates pertaining to floattubes and paddleboardsused on Ohio waterways.

There are some recentupdates to ODNR rules forFloat tubes andpaddleboards, according tothe ODNR and the CoastGuard. Check out these newregulations so you are not li-able for citations and fines.Call the ODNR Division ofWatercraft office inAshtabula at 440-964-0518or the U.S. Coast Guard Sta-tion in Ashtabula Harbor tobe on the safe side.

Lake Erie boat ownerscan find a number of openlaunch areas without payinga fee. These include GenevaState Park marina; LakeShore Park in AshtabulaTownship; Conneaut PortAuthority public dock and

boat ramps, plus a few in theAshtabula Harbor area havepublic dock launching forlimited hours.

From the ODNR Divisionof Watercraft the followingare a few good tips or Boatercode of Conduct to remem-ber:• Always wear a life jacket.Be sure to have a sufficientnumber of personal flotationdevices (PFD or life jackets)on board your boat. If pas-sengers are on the craft,have enough for everyoneand the proper sizes for chil-dren and adults.•Take a boating educationcourse or a refresher course.• Be courteous at the launchramps or public launch ar-eas.• Plan ahead to your desti-nations and know the areafor any potential hazards.Also file a float plan.• Get a vessel safety checkbefore starting a long orshort trip with your water-craft.• Obey the boating laws.• Most important is boat so-ber. Get on board a craftwith a sober boater.• Be sure to share the wa-terways and maintain aproper lookout.• Don’t overload your water-craft.• Remember to protect thewaterways and don’t throwgarbage, papers, bottles etc.into the waterways. Remem-ber what you carry on board,you should carry out andhome.• Be a good judge of yourboating skill level and abili-ties.

If you run into choppywater everyone on boardshould don a PFD in casethe craft should overturnand you can’t safely get to

shore or a cover in case astorm brews up suddenly.

Among safety equipmentboaters should have aboardare an anchor, fire extin-guisher, some type of dis-tress signals like hand heldorange smoke or floatingsmoke devices or an orangeflag, ref flares and electricdistress signal for night timeemergencies. All these typesof distress gear or devicesshould be U.S. Coast Guardapproved.

If you are a new boat

owners and have questionsor need information on statewatercraft regulations, callthe ODNR Division of Wa-tercraft office at 440-964-0518 or go online or stop atthe U.S.. Coast Guard Sta-tion at Ashtabula Harbor,located just west of theRoute 531 lift bridge.

If you remember a fewtips and be a safe boater,then enjoy your summer onAshtabula County’s water-ways and neighboring in-land lakes.

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Airport Greens28980 White Road

Wickliffe(440) 944-616418 holes, public

Andover Golf Course5762 Route 7 South

Andover(440) 293-71559 holes, public

Berkshire Hills CountryClub

9760 Mayfield RoadChesterland

(440) 729-9516www.berkshirehills.com

18 holes, public

Black Brook Country Club8900 Lake Shore Blvd.

Mentor(440) 951-001018 holes, public

Bristolwood Golf Course7108 Route 45

Bristolville(330) 889-37719 holes, public

Bronzwood Golf Club9645 Route 7

Kinsman(330) 876-530018 holes, public

Chapel Hills Golf Course3381 Austinburg Road

Ashtabulawww.chapelhillsgolf.com(440) 997-3791/(800) 354-

960818 holes, public

Erie Shores Golf Course7298 Lake RoadMadison Twp.

(440) 428-3164/(800) 225-ESGC

www.lakemetroparks.com/golf/erieshores18 holes, public

Fowlers’ Mill Golf Club13095 Rockhaven Road

Chesterland(440) 729-756927 holes, public

Geneva-on-the-LakeGolf Course

4902 Al Mraz DriveGeneva-on-the-Lake

Lost Nation Municipal GolfClub

38890 Hodgson RoadWilloughby

(440) 953-428018 holes, public

Madison Country Club6131 Chapel Drive

Madison(440) 428-2641

www.madisoncountryclub.org18 holes, private

Manakiki Golf Course35501 Eddy RoadWilloughby Hills(440) 942-250018 holes, public

Maple Ridge Golf Course8921 Route 45 South

Austinburg(440) 969-1368 / (800) 922-

1368; www.mapleridgegolfcourse.com18 holes, public

Painesville Country Club84 Golf Drive, Painesville

(440) 354-3469www.painesvillecountryclub.com

18 holes, public

Pepperidge Tree GolfCourse

6825 N. Ridge RoadMadison Twp.(440) 428-13989 holes, public

Pine Ridge Country Club30601 Ridge Road

Wickliffe(440) 943-1010/(800) 254-

7275; www.lakemetroparks.com/golf/pineridge

18 holes, public

Powderhorn Golf Course3991 Bates Road

Madison Twp.(440) 428-5951/ (800) 863-


Punderson State Park11755 Kinsman Road,

Newbury(440) 564-5465

www.dnr.state.oh.us/parks/parks/punderson18 holes, public

Quail Hollow Country Club11080 Concord-Hambden

Painesville(440) 372-0813

18 holes (2), semi-private

Rolling Green Golf Club15900 Mayfield Road

Huntsburg(440) 636-5171/ (888) 833-


Thunder Hill Golf Course7050 Griswold Road

Madison Twp.(440) 298-347418 holes, public

Village Green Golf Course7048 N. Main St.North Kingsville(440) 224-093118 holes, public

Walnut Run Golf Club601 E. Main St.

Cortland(330) 638-4653

www.walnutrun.com18 holes, public

Wicked Woods Golf Club14085 Ravenna Road

Newbury(440) 564-796018 holes, public

Windy Hill Golf Course& Campground

6231 Weaver RoadConneaut

(440) 594-5251www.windyhillgolf.com

18 holes, public

(440) 466-879718 holes, public

Grandview Golf Club13404 Old State Road

Middlefield(440) 834-182418 holes, public

Green Ridge PublicGolf Course

30601 Ridge RoadWickliffe

(440) 943-00779 holes, public

Harbor Golf Club4338 Lake Rd. W.

Ashtabula(440) 964-2800

18 holes, private

Hemlock Springs GolfCourse

4654 Cork Cold SpringsRoad

Harpersfield(440) 466-4044

(800) HEMLOCK18 holes, public

Hickory Grove Golf Course1490 Fairway St., Jefferson

(440) 576-3776www.hickorygrovegc.com

18 holes, public

Hidden Valley Golf Course17261 Thompson Road

Thompson(440) 298-39129 holes, public

Johnnycake RidgeGolf Course

7134 Mentor Ave.Willoughby

(440) 946-31549 holes, public

Kirtland Country Club39438 Kirtland Road

Willoughby(440) 951-8422

18 holes, private

Little MountainCountry Club

7667 Hermitage RoadConcord Twp.

(440) 358-7888www.lmccgolf.com

18 holes, public

Summer is Tee-Time GOLF COURSES ofNORTHEAST OHIOEvery year, Ohio hosts PGA,LPGA and Senior PGAevents. Even the Ryder Cupand Solheim Cup competi-tions have taken place in thestate that possesses numerousaward-winning courses. GolfMagazine ranks six of Ohio’sprivate courses among the100 best in thenation, and twopublic courses,Fowlers MillGolf Course andQuail HollowResort and CountryClub, are amongthe 100 bestpublic sites.

BY BYRON C. WESSELLGazette Newspapers

ASHTABULA COUNTY -Golfing is one of the raregames that can be played asa sport, a hobby, or just a pasttime to unwind and relievestress.

Whatever someone’s rea-son to pick up a set of clubsand tee-off this year, thereare dozens of golf coursesaround Northeast Ohio tochoose from. Some of the lo-cal courses are: HickoryGrove Golf Club in Jefferson,Maple Ridge Golf Course inAustinburg, Chapel Hill inAshtabula, Village Green inKingsville, Andover GolfCourse in Andover, HemlockSprings in Geneva, WindyHill in Conneaut, Geneva-On-The-Lake Municipal GolfCourse in Geneva-On-The-Lake and Harbor Golf Clubin Ashtabula.

A new golfer can realisti-cally get used equipment foraround $100 and start play-ing immediately. New golfsets start anywhere from$300 up to over $2,000. A newgolfer will want a golf setwith three woods: a driver, athree-wood and a five-wood.They will also want nineirons 3-9, a pitching wedge,a sand wedge and a putter.Some other equipment agolfer will need are tees, golfballs, ball markers, golfshoes, gloves and sometimesproper golf clothing. Somegolf clubs have a dress codeof a polo or collared shirt withpants or shorts.

As a good rule of thumb;it is good to call golf coursesahead of time to set up a tee-time. A lot of golf courses of-fer specials throughout theweek days. For instance,Hickory Grove has an 18holes with a power cart spe-cial on Thursdays through-out the summer for only $16.Another local deal can befound at Hemlock Springs,which offers a special onTuesday featuring 18 holeswith a cart for senior playersfor only $14. The course alsooffers the same deal to non-seniors on Tuesday for only$18. Some golf courses alsooffer online deals with dis-counts if golfers registeronline and sign up for a tee-time. The average price fornine holes is around $15 and$25 for 18 holes Monday-Fri-day. Weekend prices are alittle more expensive, start-ing around $30 for 18 holes.

Many golf courses sellequipment and everything agolfer needs in their pro shop.

Plenty of places to golf in the area

However, a couple other goodplaces to get started areDick’s Golf and Golf Galaxy.PGA pros are on hand to helpgolfers find the right clubs forthem and they can get fittedand tested out on machines.

Most golf courses gothrough some type of renova-tions year in and year out.Hemlock Springs has re-cently gone through an al-most complete over haul withnew sand traps, new tees, arevamped kitchen, pro-shopand equipment building.

“We worked all winter,”Hemlock Springs Golf Courseowner Jim Maruna said.

Golf can also be a way toconduct business and social-ize.

“My understanding isthere are far greater businesscontracts confirmed on thegolf course than in executiveoffices. It’s (a golf course) agreat place to carry on busi-ness,” Maruna said.

“The golf situation is notjust strictly competitive. Golfis good for conducting busi-ness and interacting with cli-ents,” Greg Del Prince ofHickory Grove Golf Coursesaid.

Some other great aspectsof picking up the game of golfinclude that it’s relativelyeasy to play and almost anyage group can pick it up.

Golf can be fun for all agesfrom just being able to pickup the clubs to the twilightyears of someone’s life. Aslong as someone is relativelyhealthy golf can be a game ofa lifetime.

Another benefit of golf isthat it can be a great form ofexercise regardless of if youenjoy the luxury of riding ina powered cart or not. In fact,some golfers enjoy walkingthe course just as much asthey enjoy playing the course.

Hitting the driving rangesis another aspect most golfcourses offer if someonedoesn’t have time to play afull nine or eighteen holes ofgolf.

Most golf courses also of-fer private lessons and someeven put on golf clinics.Hickory Grove has an annualjunior golf clinic in June.Hemlock Springs offers freegolf lessons (with a reserva-tion) to new golfers inter-ested in seeing if they willlike the game of golf. Geneva-On-The-Lake Municipal GolfCourse may even be in theprocess of starting a juniorgolf league. A lot of golf

courses already offer, seniorleague night, men's league,women's league and acouple’s league.

Golf courses are also agreat form of fundraisingfrom memorial golf outings,to raising money for sportsteams or other charityevents.

“It’s great for fraternalgroups, alumni groups and agreat form of social media,”Maruna said.

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BY KIM PICKARDGazette Newspapers

Even if you have nothingmore to dig in than a pot of dirton your windowsill, you canstill enjoy the flowers that arestarting to bloom. Winter isover, spring is here and sum-mer is only about a monthaway. Now is the time to go towhere the flowers are.

Lake Shore Park inAshtabula Township, locatedjust east of the northern endof State Route 11, is beautiful- and free - if you are lookingfor a local place to wanderamong flowers.

The hillside rock gardennext to the waterfowl pond isjust beginning to wake upagain after the long winter.

The daffodils are almostfinished, but there are plentymore flowers to come. Rhodo-dendrons and azaleas are onthe way and so are severalvarieties of hostas and day-lil-ies. You will see chipmunksscampering among the stonesas you wander the dirt pathsthat criss cross the hillside.Ducks and geese also like tovisit the shady garden.

There are benches for sit-

Where the flowers are

PHOTOS BY KIM PICKARDHostas, creeping myrtle and a tiny tree in bud at LakeShore Park.

More beauty is on the way after the daffodils fade atLake Shore Park.

Hershey Children's Garden at the Cleveland BotanicalGardens.

ting and footbridges to takeyou across the streams thatwind their way through thetrees, plants and rocks.

This area is still undersome development, but eachyear brings more beauty tothis special place.

Lake Shore Park is closeenough to home for just a shortvisit, but after you go once youwill want to go back when youcan stay while.

For more informationabout Lake Shore Park, visitlakeshoreparkashtabula.org,or call (440) 964-3819.

If you have more time, takea drive to 9500 Sperry Rd. in

Kirtland, Ohio, and visit theHolden Arboretum. Opendaily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.,Holden is among the largestarboreta in the United Statesand covers 3,600 acres.

Besides forested walkingtrails, Holden Arboretum hasflower gardens throughout theproperty, showcasing a multi-tude of varieties of flowers,flowering shrubs and flower-ing trees.

If you don’t want to walkfar, you can easily spend allyour time at the Butterfly Gar-

den conveniently located be-hind the Warren H. CorningVisitor Center. This gardenboasts dozens of plants specifi-cally chosen as host plants forvarious types of butterfly andtheir larva.

There are also ponds withwaterfalls, benches for relax-ing and labels on the plants forthose who want to learn aboutthe beauty around them. Ad-mission to Holden Arboretumis $10 for nonmembers, $4 forchildren 6-18-under five years

are free, and seniors 60+ are$5 on Tuesdays. For more in-formation, visit holdenarb.orgor call 440-946-4400.

For those who are willingto go even farther from home,The Cleveland Botanical Gar-den is the place to visit.

Located in the city at 11030East Boulevard on Wade Oval,this oasis maintains elevendifferent styles of gardens plusa glasshouse with dozens ofplants naturally found inMadagascar and Costa Rica.

A family favorite is theHershey Children’s Garden.Designed with kids in mind,this garden has places to playand explore. There are fasci-nating garden sculpturesmade from unexpected mate-

rials and hidden pathwaysthat wind through grassestaller than mom and dad.There is the kind of treehousethat every child dreams of,right next to a pond with col-orful fish to feed. Thechildren’s garden grows a va-riety of plants including veg-etables that kids can help wa-ter.

To add to the fun, the va-riety of flowers is continuallychanging as the perennialstake their turns throughoutthe seasons at the HersheyChildren’s Garden.

For more information,visit cbgarden.org, or call216-721-1600. There is anadmission fee for non-mem-bers.

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COLUMBUS, OH – TheOhio Department of Natu-ral Resources (ODNR) isasking the public to partici-pate in the surveying of wildturkeys and ruffed grouseby reporting sightings ofthese two iconic Ohio gamebirds.

Every year, the ODNRDivision of Wildlife con-ducts a turkey and grousebrood survey to estimatepopulation growth. Thebrood survey relies on thepublic to report observa-tions of all wild turkeys andruffed grouse seen duringMay, June, July and August.Wildlife watchers and hunt-ers can report observationsat the Turkey Brood Surveypage at wildohio.gov.

Information submitted tothe brood survey helps topredict future wild turkeypopulations and also guidehunting regulations. Morethan 3,000 turkeys were re-ported during the 2013 sur-vey, with an average of 2.54young turkeys (poults) peradult hen turkey. This aver-

Wildlife watchers asked to report wildturkey and ruffed grouse sightings

age was slightly higher thanthe long-term average of 2.5poults per adult hen. Turkeypopulations are usuallyhigher the next year whenmore poults are seen perhen.

State and county infor-mation is available frompast wild turkey or ruffedgrouse observations online.Biologists began trackingsummer observations ofwild turkeys in 1962. Ruffedgrouse were added to thesurvey in 1999.

Ohio’s spring wild turkeyseason is enjoyed by thou-sands of hunters annually.

The 2014 spring huntingseason continued throughSunday, May 18. The 2014fall wild turkey huntingseason is Monday, Oct. 13,through Sunday, Nov. 30.Ohio’s ruffed grouse hunt-ing season is Saturday, Oct.11, through Saturday, Jan.31, 2015. Find more infor-mation about wild turkeysand ruffed grouse atwildohio.gov.

ODNR ensures a balancebetween wise use and pro-tection of our natural re-sources for the benefit of all.Visit the ODNR website atohiodnr.gov.

BY MARTHA SOROHANGazette Newspapers

Ashtabula County offersfishing charters on two lev-els: the vast waters of LakeErie or the smallerPymatuning Lake.

Lake Erie fishing char-ters are the best known andone of the county’s touristdraws. Taking off fromGeneva, Conneaut, orAshtabula harbors, they of-fer fisherman a full day onthe lake and a bountifulcatch, leaving the “work” tothe charter captains.

The Lake Erie fishingseason officially begins inJune, once the water tem-perature reaches 55 or 60degrees.

As a general rule, fisher-men go after perch, plenti-ful almost year-round, andwalleye, whose season kicksin around mid-June andgoes until early October.

“It depends on the lake,”said T&V Charter Capt.Tim Caruthers, of RockCreek. “What we call ‘roll-ing over’ of the lake can oc-cur in September, when weget a weather front and itblows for three days. That‘rolls it over,’ and the water

Here’s the Catch: Charter fishing offers relaxed recreationgets cooler, and it affects thefish at that point.”

Due to this year’s coldwinter, Caruthers said fish-ing is a little slow gettingstarted.

“It may not be as gooduntil the middle of June, butit’s not great until June any-way,” he said.

Most Lake Erie chartersoffer nine hours of fishingon Lake Erie seven days aweek. The busy months areJune, July, and August.

“That’s when the walleyeare biting,” Caruthers said.

Supplied with rods,reels, bait, tackle and ice,the T&V Charters boatleaves the Ashtabula dockat 5 a.m..

“Customers bring theirown food and they have tohave a fishing license,” hesaid.

Non-resident fishing li-censes are $11 per day. An-nual fishing licenses forOhioans are $19.

Charter captains knowwhere the fish are and willtake the boat to the spot,even if it means heading toFairport Harbor or themouth of the Chagrin River.

“We take people fishing– not boat rides,” said

Caruthers. “If the fish aren’tbiting in Ashtabula, we gowhere they are biting.”

Caruthers’ boat accom-modates six to eight custom-ers. Five is a good numberfor walleye fishing becausefishermen sit and wait.Perch fishermen, on theother hand, usually standup, so one or two more canbe accommodated.

“There is not room for sixto sit in the boat the entiretime,” Caruthers said.

And don’t forget room forthe catch.

“Most of them are goingto be taking home 60 or 70pounds of fish. Divide it sixways, and each of them has10 to 12 pounds. Of fillets,”Caruthers said.

Yet Mother Nature oftenhas the last word. On occa-sion, bad weather forcescancellation of a trip.

“If I think it’s fishable,and people can fish, then Iwill take them out,”Caruthers said. “If a stormcomes up, I have Sirius sat-ellite weather, so I can seewhere a storm is, and if Ithink it will miss us, I stayout. Sometimes I leave it upto the people. If they’vespent time on Lake Erie,

and have no problem withfour-to-five-foot waves, it’sno problem. But if they’renew, I won’t push them intogoing. Once we leave thedock, however, we pay forthe whole day. And once wehave to come in, we’re in. Itbecomes a safety issue.”

T&V Charters cost $520for perch trips and $700 forthe walleye.

“I don’t like to mix-and-match trips,” Carutherssaid. “And most of my busi-ness, about 85 percent, isrepeat business.”

At the other end of thecounty, Norm Brakeman of-fers fishing trips onPymatuning Lake.

A 30-year bass tourna-ment fisherman, Brakeman– known as the “YankeeHooker,” takes clients outon the lake four or five daysa week in what he calls a“fishing taxi” with a prom-ise to exceed his clients’ ex-pectations

Though crappie are plen-tiful in the lake, and soughtby fisherman, Brakemanand his clients have discov-ered –almost by accident –that walleye are plentiful aswell.

Brakeman offers fisher-

men more than water trans-port. He assists them withthe proper technique, a“light line, small bait” tech-nique which he says suc-cessfully pulls in fish whichhave learned to ignoreheavy sinkers and a ball ofnight crawlers.

Brakeman’s boat accom-modates three adult passen-gers or two adults and twochildren.

He loves first-timers.“Just come with a smile,”

he said.

Brakeman offers anotherside benefit. Fishing li-censes along with fishingequipment are sold at Hill’sCountry Store, which heruns with his wife, Leslie, inWilliamsfield.

The Fishing Taxi runsevery day once the lake isthawed, and in all weatherexcept lightning.

“I strive for a good day. Iwant to have fun,” Brake-man says.

Call Hill’s Country Storeat 440-293-8960.

The sport of fishing is a great way unwind, relax and getaway from the everyday stresses of life.

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BY DORIS COOKGazette Newspapers

ASHTABULA-From al-most at Lake Erie and southfor more than 40 miles is theaccessible Western ReserveGreenway Trail for hikers ofall ages. It is a beautiful sce-nic paved trail for the mostportions all the way fromAshtabula south to Orwelland down to the TrumbullCounty line and furthersouth. It was built on anabandoned railroad right ofway with federal/stategrants and local donationsin the last decade.

It is one of many hikingtrails close to AshtabulaCounty residents. Not onlywalkers, but bicyclists areseen on this stretch used by

Hikers can enjoy miles of trails inAshtabula & state park areas

PHOTOS BY DORIS COOKTwo friends Barbara Lose of New Lyme and JackieCatanese of Orwell enjoy a recent Saturday morninghiking the Western Reserve Greenway Trail section inOrwell Village. A small car parking area off Route 322on the east end of the village is provided at the Pennimanand Route 322 intersection.

outdoor enthusiasts.The WR Greenway Trail

has entrance to the east ofRoute 45 on side roads inAustinburg, Rock Creek,Roaming Shores, RomeTownship and south ofOrwell Village. At severalmain or country roads asthe trail continues southand parallel to Route 45,there are also some carparking areas for folks towalk or bike shorter dis-tances.

The WR Greenway Trailhas mile markers andbenches along the scenicwooded section. There arealso benches to sit and rest

a spell. Volunteers for theAshtabula CountyMetroparks, which main-tains the WRG Trail, ridetheir bikes on patrolling sec-tions of it weekly.

Ashtabula CountyMetroparks also has a fewhiking areas near theSmolen Gulf CoveredBridge off State Road. TheMetroparks has the IndianTrail Park System, which isaccessible from TanneryHill with a small startingare for parking and then apaved trail all the way tothe Smolen Gulf CoveredBridge.

One can then traversedown to the Ashtabula Rivertributary under the SmolenBridge to walk along theriver bank area.

On the Ohio side ofPymatuning State Park inAndover Township the statepark has several small hik-ing trails -Beaver Dam andWhispering Pine Trail. Theyare located in the main parkarea just off S. PymatuningLake Road.

In Harpersfield Town-ship by the HarpersfieldCovered Bridge over theGrand State Scenic Riverare some walking trailsalong the river banks. Thecovered bridge is part of theAshtabula CountyMetroparks system. It’s agreat place to not only hike,but do some bird watching

and catch other wildlife inthe vicinity.

Geneva State Park alsohas a few hiking trails and

one connecting to theGeneva Lodge & ConferenceCenter right on Lake Erieshoreline at GOTL.

This is an entrance way in the Rock Creek Village areafor hikers and bike riders to access the Western ReserveGreenway Trail, which is part of the Ashtabula CountyMetroparks.

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COLUMBUS, OH –Lake Erie anglers can ex-pect to enjoy another yearof diverse fishing opportu-nities in 2014, according toOhio Department of Natu-ral Resources (ODNR) bi-ologists.

“While fishing successalways varies among spe-cies and seasons, we expectthat anglers will find suc-cess on the waters of LakeErie this year,” said JeffTyson, Lake Erie fisheriesprogram manager for theODNR Division of Wildlife.“The lake’s population ofwalleye, yellow perch,

2014 Lake Erie sport fishing outlook should please anglersWalleye, yellow perch bag limits announced

black bass, white bass andsteelhead remains stable,with a very broad distribu-tion of sizes for each spe-cies.”

Lake Erie walleye andyellow perch fisheries aremanaged through an in-teragency quota systemthat involves Ontario ,Michigan, Pennsylvania,New York and Ohio. Eachjurisdict ion regulatestheir catches to complywith quotas and to mini-mize the risk of over-fish-ing these species. Quotasfor the upcoming fishingseason are determined

through a consensusagreement by these juris-dictions through the LakeErie Committee of theGreat Lakes Fishery Com-mission, which were re-cently announced for2014.

Currently, the dai lywalleye bag limit is fourand the daily yellow perchbag limit is 30 per anglerin Ohio waters of LakeErie until April 30. As aresult of the 2014 quotaallocation, the daily baglimit will be six walleyefrom May 1 through Feb.

28, 2015. From March 1,2015, through April 30,2015, the daily walleyebag limit will be four. A 15-inch minimum size limit isin effect during the entireseason for walleye. Thedaily yellow perch baglimit is 30 from May 1through April 30, 2015,with no minimum sizelimit. Lake Erie anglerscan find walleye and yel-low perch bag limit infor-mation at ODNR offices,in special publications atbait and tackle shops andonline at wildohio.com.

Walleye

Ohio walleye anglers in 2014 will catch fish from the 2010,2009, 2007 and 2003 hatches, with some fish from the 2011,2008 and 2012 year classes. Walleye from the 2012 hatch willbe present in the fishery with most individuals near or overthe 15-inch minimum size limit fairly early in the 2014 fishingseason. Walleye from the moderate 2010 hatch will range from18 to 23 inches, while walleye from the 2007 hatch will be morethan 20 inches. The 2003 and 2007 hatches are likely to carrymost of the Central Basin fisheries. These walleye will contrib-ute to the population that has a good number of fish over the26-inch range. Large walleye from the strong hatch in 2003will continue to provide “Fish Ohio” opportunities (greater than28 inches), with this year class nearing the size that may giveOhio a new state record walleye.

Yellow Perch

Expect good perch fishing in 2014, with the largest fish inthe eastern areas of the Central Basin. Perch anglers shouldencounter fish ranging from 7 to 13 inches from the 2012through 2007 hatches in this year’s fishery, with major contri-butions from the 2010, 2008 and 2007 year classes. Fish fromthe average hatches in 2007 will contribute fish in the 10 inchand greater range. In 2013, yellow perch fisheries flourishedin the eastern portions of Ohio’s Lake Erie, and ODNR biolo-gists expect this trend to continue into 2014.

Black Bass

Smallmouth bass fishing in 2014 is expected to be fair butimproving. Smallmouth bass catch rates in 2013 were slightlybelow those seen in 2012, but were still some of the highestobserved since the mid-1990s. Smallmouth bass caught shouldbe an excellent size (14 to 22 inches, weighing up to 6 pounds).The best fishing for smallmouth bass will continue to occur inareas with good bottom structure, which is the available habi-tat across much of the entire Ohio nearshore and islands ar-eas. Continuing the trend from previous years, largemouth bassfishing should be excellent in 2014. This emerging fishery isproducing high catch rates and some large fish in nearshoreareas and harbors across Ohio’s Lake Erie shoreline. All blackbass (smallmouth and largemouth) must be immediately re-leased from May 1 through June 27 of this year. BeginningJune 28, the daily bag limit for bass is five, with a 14-inchminimum length limit.

Steelhead

Steelhead anglers should enjoy another year of great fish-ing in 2014 on Ohio’s Lake Erie open waters and tributaries.Peak summer steelhead action on Lake Erie can be found off-shore from June through August between Vermilion andConneaut, with catches measuring 17 to 29 inches. Most LakeErie anglers troll for steelhead in deep waters using spoonswith dipsy divers or downriggers until fish move close to shorein the fall. The daily bag limit remains five fish per angler fromMay 16 through Aug. 31, and two fish per angler between Sept.1, 2014, and May 15, 2015. A 12-inch minimum size limit is ineffect throughout the year.

White Bass

White bass continue to provide excellent seasonal fishingopportunities in the Maumee and Sandusky rivers and in theopen lake. The 2014 catch will be dominated by fish from the2012, 2011 and 2010 year classes. Fish from 2006 could be aslarge as 16 inches. Anglers should focus on major Western Ba-sin tributaries during May and June and nearshore areas ofthe open lake during the summer. There is no daily white bassbag or size limit.

Other Species

Bays, harbors and main lake shorelines offer excellent fish-ing for panfish, as well as the occasional northern pike andmuskellunge in vegetated areas.

Anglers are reminded that fishing conditions on Lake Eriecan change hourly, and adjustments are often necessary to im-prove success. Anglers should take into account factors such aswater temperature, cloud cover, water clarity, boat traffic, waveaction, structure, currents and the amount of baitfish in thearea. Anglers are also reminded to carefully monitor the LakeErie weather and to seek safe harbor before storms approach.

Updated Lake Erie fishing reports are available atwildohio.com or by calling 888-HOOKFISH (888-466-5347).Information is available from ODNR Division of Wildlife stafffrom 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays at the Fairport Harbor station(440-352-4199) for the Central Basin and at the Sandusky sta-tion (419-625-8062) for the Western Basin.

Information on the ODNR Division of Wildlife’s Lake Erieresearch and management programs, fisheries resources, fish-ing reports, maps and links to other Lake Erie web resourcesare available at wildohio.com.

ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protectionof our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNRwebsite at ohiodnr.gov.

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BY AMY JONESGazette Newspapers

ASHTABULA COUNTY -There is something abouthorses, and for those whoappreciate their beauty andspirit, there is no place bet-ter than in the saddle. Thefeeling of controlled powerand corroborative minds isunparalleled, and it is one ofthe most popular outdooractivities of summertime.

Horseback riding is a fan-tastic means of enjoying na-ture and escaping the pres-sures of the world around us.An ancient Arab proverbreads, “The wind of heavenis that which blows througha horses ears.”

Looking for inexpensive

Happy trails in Ashtabula County

PHOTO BY AMY JONES

therapy? Try a horse. Themental and emotional ben-efits of riding in camarade-rie and solitude have beenestablished. Internationalstudies have shown that thepositive emotion and senseof esteem produced throughhorseback riding can en-hance an overall outlook andsense of calm not emoted inconnection with other activi-ties. This mindset has beenutilized by many physicianswho recommend therapeuticriding.

Therapeutic riding hasbeen used to develop basicphysiological and mentaland emotional skills forthose with disabilities. Itrelies heavily upon the rela-tionship between horse and

rider and the impact that ithas. This relationship is keyto the benefits of riding.

“I think riding and work-ing around horses can betherapeutic for some people.As an adult you learn thereare a lot more to horses thenkicking them to go and pullto stop. It provides a newvocation for people to ex-plore. Depending on a per-sons goals, generally you getwhat you put into it. So youradvancement is up to therider,” says Brad Kemp,from Blue Nile Farm inHarpersfield.

Riding also is an out-standing physical exercise.It is estimated that an hourof horseback riding can burnapproximately 650 calories.

According to AlexisBennet fromBodyBuilding.com, “Ridinghorses regularly will testyour preconceived notions offitness and strength. You'llfeel uncoordinated whileyou're in the saddle and soreand tight after you're done.This challenge isn't a questto make you feel inadequate;there are some serious ben-efits to gain from going outfor a horseback ride throughthe hills. If you're up to it,saddle up!”

For many in a ruralcounty such as Ashtabula,access to horses and trails iseasy. There are over 160,000horses statewide, but forthose who don’t have a horseof their own or trails in theirbackyard, the county offersplenty of options for horselovers to saddle up and ride.There are boarding facilitiesthroughout the county, someof which also offer riding les-sons and riding facilities aswell as trails to put alllearned into practice.

There are a variety of op-tions for those looking fortrails to ride. The WesternReserve Greenway Trail thatruns 41 miles throughAshtabula and Trumbullcounties is a great day’s trailride. Both Equine Now andthe Ohio Horseman’s Coun-cil have listings and contactinformation to point ridersin the proper direction.State Parks also have horsetrails available.

Wherever you chose toride be prepared to get agreat workout and to enjoythe unique bond that growsbetween a horse and itsrider.

"No hour of life is wastedthat is spent in the saddle,"once said Winston Churchill.

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BY BYRON C. WESSELLGazette Newspapers

ASHTABULA COUNTY -To many individuals, fishing isa lot more than just a hobby.Fishing is a chance to get awayfrom the everyday stress of life,relax and clear your mind.

Northeast, Ohio offers a lotof opportunity to do just thatwhen you decide to pick up apole and head out to your fa-vorite fishing spot. Whetheryou decide to go out on LakeErie on a charter, fish along theshorelines, in a nearby creek,or a back yard pond. It doesn’tmatter where someone decidesto fish just that they are out-side enjoying nature instead ofstuck inside playing videogames or watching TV.

Some good spots are theAshtabula River, Grand Riverand Conneaut Creek. Anylittle creeks in the area are finespots as well. The shorelinesat Lake Shore Park, WalnutBeach and along the river atthe lift bridge are also possi-bilities.

While fishing can be chal-lenging from baiting a hook,learning to cast, hooking a fishand reeling them, the basicscan be learned relatively eas-ily.

Fishing is also a great op-portunity to spend with fam-ily and friends. It can be a ben-

Fishing can help you unwindeficial bonding experience.

The cost of fishing is rela-tively inexpensive, especiallyonce you get the initial cost ofa fishing license out of the way.A fishing license is now $19 foranglers ages 16 and over.

If a child is under 16 yearsof age, they do not need a fish-ing license. A fishing license forthose 65 and older is only tendollars. A non-resident fishinglicense in Ohio is $40. Non-Ohio residents can also get aone-day fishing license for $11or a three day for $19.

Kids can start enjoying thesport of fishing at a young ageand can break into the sportfor under $30. Fishing rod andreel combos start around $20and when you add in jigs, bob-bers and hooks, a soon-to-beangler can get other accesso-ries for around $10-$15.

All you really need is a validfishing license, if required, afishing pole, some bait, such asnight crawlers or minnows,and potentially a bobber andsome split weights or sinkers.

Some bait and tackle storesin the area are Conrad’s Baitand Tackle, located at 1500Great Lakes Ave. inAshtabula.

Most bait stores offer fish-ing licenses and the latestwalleye lures, including differ-ent colors and techniques. Livebait is also available in most

places such as minnows andnight crawlers.

Another fishing shop is theLakeshore Bait and Tackle lo-cated at 81 Minnesota Ave. inAshtabula. Lakeshore Baitand Tackle is operated by Su-san Smith and Vince Allen.

“We’re the quickest accessto the central basin,” VinceAllen said.

The store offers a wide va-riety of bait including, worms,flies, minnows, flies, maggotsand countless others.Lakeshore Bait and Tackle of-fers a quick access to Lake Erieand the boat launch fee is $6for the entire day. LakeshoreBait and Tackle also offersfishing charters on the week-ends.

“Right now the fishingseason is kicking into highgear. Small mouth bass fish-ing is on fire,” Vince Allensaid.

Some of the boats arebringing in 40-50 fish a day,while others are bringing inover 100.

At the end of the night thestore leaves a Lake Erie con-ditions report on their an-swer machine, which in-cludes the wind report andwave report.

They also tell anglerswhere the fish are hitting andwhat they are hitting on.Customers can call anytime

during business hours to findout the fishing conditions too,which is ideal for those trav-eling from further away. Thecontact number forLakeshore Bait and Tackle is(440) 964-3174.

The shop is open from 6a.m. to 8 p.m., but openaround 4:00 a.m. during wall-eye season, which startsaround the end of June orearly July.

Another fishing shop inthe area is The Gateway Baitand Tackle, which is run byRuss Williams, located at6517 State Route 85 inAndover. The store’s numberis (440) 293-7227.

Some good places to fishin the southern part of thecounty are New Bowers,Popular Grove and theCause-way. PymatuningLake is a big seasonal areaand a lot of campers visiteach year and fish there.

The shop offers small, me-dium and large fat head min-nows, maggots, mealworms,night crawlers, wax worms,green worms, golden shiners,and sometimes creek chubsand leeches.

Conneaut Creek is a greatspot to catch trout and steelhead.

One fishing shop inConneaut is the Snug HarborBait & Tackle. The store can

SUBMITTED PHOTOJeremy Graham takes a picture with his first catch of theseason-a large mouth bass caught in a backyard pondin Jefferson.

be reached at (440) 593-3755.Conneaut Creek is one of

the top trout fishing spots inthe country, and anglerstravel from around the worldfor the experience.

Some other accessoriesanglers might need are a setof pliers to take hooks out ofthe fish and a good knife tocut the fishing line and forother uses.

It may also be wise to bringsunglasses and sun- screen tohelp children combat the sun.

It is also a good idea topack a lunch or picnic and

make a whole day out of theexperience.

Another fishing shop inAshtabula County is Debo’sBait & Tackle in Geneva. Theshop can be contacted at(440)-466-0088. The store of-fers plenty of bait and gear tohit several different fishingspots in the area, includingthe Geneva State park oralong Lake Erie. The GenevaState Park Marina (440) 466-7565) is another place to takecare of all your fishing needsas well as other fishing re-lated services.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ASHTABULA COUNTY CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAUA family canoes on the Grand River.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MIKE MAINHARTFishing in Conneaut

Fishing on Lake Erie

BY ZACHARY DZURICKGazette Newspapers

In the last decadekayaking and canoeinghave doubled in popularityin the State of Ohio. Accord-ing to the Ohio Division ofWatercraft, in 2003 therewere 60,065 registered kay-aks and canoes in Ohio andnow in 2013 there are126,504.

As the number of kayakenthusiasts grow, they arediscovering that AshtabulaCounty is one of the bestplaces in the state to enjoytheir new pastime.

Ashtabula County Con-vention and Visitors BureauExecutive Director MarkWinchell said there is no-where better in Ohio forkayaking.

“In the State of Ohiothere are 14 designated sce-nic rivers,” Winchell said.“We have three of them inAshtabula County - thatleaves the other 88 countieswith just 11. We have trulyworld-class experience forkayaking and canoeing.

Ashtabula County is great for kayaking

There is something for ev-eryone. We have smallwhite waters for the moreadvanced and small, mean-dering rivers if you want totake the family. There issomething for every skilllevel.”

Mike Mainhart is awriter and photographer.He is also an experiencedkayaker. He loves visitingAshtabula County to takeadvantage of its waters.

“There is lots of greatkayaking in Ashtabula,”Mainhart said. “The GrandRiver is the most accessibleand the Ashtabula Riverhas some great spots, butyou need to stay down riverby the mouth.”

Mainhart stresses safety.“Kayaks are very safe

and stable, but you need tobecome experienced,”Mainhart said. “It is likeriding a bike. It doesn’t takelong to get comfortable, butyou when you first start itis easy to get into trouble.”

Mainhart encouragesfirst timers to start in shal-low water.

“Then if you turn overyou can just stand up andstart over,” Mainhart said.“I would not have first tim-ers start on a river float.There is a lot in the waterthat an inexperienced per-son can get in trouble with.”

Mainhart suggests start-ing in a farm pond or inshallow water.

“A parent can even walkalongside holding the kayakas a child learns the hangout it,” he said.

Mainhart suggests thelaunches at Harpersfieldand Hidden Valley but saidthe beauty of kayaking isyou can start almost any-where.

“You don’t need a boatramp,” Mainhart said. “Youcan pull over anywhere andget in the water. It reallyopens up the amount of wa-ter you can access.

Winchell said that avidfishermen like Mainhartlove Ashtabula for its kayak

fishing.“In the State of Ohio, the

bottom of the river is privateproperty,” Winchell said. “Soif you touch the river bend andwalk, you’re on private prop-erty. The river itself is public.You can float anywhere. Guyslike Mike come in the springand fall to fish Steelhead.Canoes and kayaks allow ac-cess to otherwise inaccessible

spots.”Mainhart equates kayak

fishing to almost a spiritualexperience. For Mainhart,fishing off a kayak is compa-rable to driving a motorcycleinstead of a car.

“It is hard to explain tosomeone who hasn’t experi-

enced it,” Mainhart said. “Youare able to get so much moreaccess to water. Kayak fish-ing is so relaxing and it is verypersonal. You don’t have torely on anyone else. You cango anywhere you want to go.It becomes a part of you, anextension of yourself.”

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Ashtabula County boating sitesAshtabula County is home to a number of bodies of water, and each one has its own

specifications.To find out details about each one, check out this chart provided by the Ohio Depart-

ment of Natural Resources.

KeyE - Electric Motors OnlyFee - Ramp-use fee may be collectedNM - No MotorsU - Unlimited* - Horsepower unlimited, but craft may be restricted due to water depth

COLUMBUS – As the boatingseason begins, the sun may beshining, but the water tempera-tures are still cold, making it moreimportant than ever for Ohioansto wear their life jackets. The OhioDepartment of Natural Resources(ODNR) will kick off National SafeBoating Week, May 17-23, byholding nine “Ready, Set, WearIt!” life jacket safety awarenessevents at eight Ohio State Parkmarinas and the Cabela’s storein Columbus.

“Don’t just have your life jacketclose by, wear it,” said GaryObermiller, chief of the ODNR Di-vision of Watercraft. “If an acci-dent occurs and you suddenly

Ohio kicks off National Safe Boating Week May 17-23end up overboard, a life jacket willkeep your head above water andcould save your life.”

The fifth annual “Ready, Set,Wear It!” Life Jacket WorldRecord Day was held Saturday,May 17. The goal was to educatethe public about the importanceof wearing life jackets and safeboating for all ages. Each eventalso showcased the comfortableand versatile options available intoday’s modern life jackets.

Last year, 5,747 people gath-ered at nearly 200 events heldaround the world, including Ohio,to set a new record for the num-ber of participants who inflatedtheir inflatable life jacket or wore

an inherently buoyant life jacket.According to the National SafeBoating Council, Ohio had thehighest participation rate in thenation, with 897 total participantsattending one of 16 eventsaround the state. Ohio alsohosted the largest U.S. event lastyear at Stillwater Prairie Reserve,sponsored by the Miami CountyPark District, with 408 partici-pants.

Additional information on lifejacket safety is available from theODNR Division of Watercraft atwatercraft.ohiodnr.gov. For moreinformation about the NationalSafe Boating Council, visitsafeboatingcouncil.org.

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BY STEFANIE WESSELLGazette Newspapers

ASHTABULA - Spring is a good time for bird watching, espe-cially in Ashtabula County, with its access to Lake Erie.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources lists five locationson the Ashtabula Loop of its Lake Erie Birding Trail.

Tucked in the extreme northeastern corner of Ohio, this sec-tion of the Lake Erie Birding Trail features the least developedshoreline on the trail, according to the ODNR. One of the five siteson the trail, Conneaut Harbor, has produced an inordinate num-ber of very rare birds. The total species list for this loop is 313, andtwo of those – Red-necked Stint and Black-throated Sparrow –have only been found in this region.

“This region can produce outstanding birding and rarities sel-dom seen elsewhere,” ODNR officials said.

Conneaut Harbor is legendary among Ohio birders and regu-larly draws people from all over the state. Conneaut boasts a lengthylist of rarities, and an impressive list of migrant shorebirds.

All of the sites included in the Ashtabula Loop contain beach dune plant communities, a habitatthat has become quite rare in Ohio. A number of threatened and endangered plant species occur atthese sites. All of the five stops on the loop can also be very good for butterflies and dragonflies. Someof these insects are highly migratory, and just as birds do, tend to stop their northward flights whenthey meet Lake Erie. Lakefront habitats can be good places to look for unusual species such as theStriped Saddlebags dragonfly (Tramea calverti). Many southbound Monarch butterflies cross LakeErie and can collect in large numbers in September along the lake, ODNR officials said.

The following information is provided by ODNR and describes the stops on the Lake Erie BirdingTrail.

Lake Erie Birding Trail

1 - Conneaut HarborPublic Access: Open daily, dawn until duskAmenities: Hiking Trails, Restrooms, Visitors CenterGPS Coordinates: N 41° 58'1.27"; W 80° 33'12.36"Driving Directions: Take I-90 east to State Route 7. Follow State Route 7 north to Broad Street.Continue north on Broad Street. Follow signs to marina.

What to Look ForThe harbor of Conneaut is one of Lake Erie's legendary birding hotspots. Scores of rarities have beenfound here over the years, and good numbers and diversity of more common migrants routinelyoccur.The most productive birding is probably from mid-summer until early winter, with the first south-bound shorebirds kicking off the parade. By early July, plovers and sandpipers are already appear-ing; probably birds who failed in their nesting attempt in high Arctic breeding grounds. This may bethe best spot on Lake Erie to catch up with a Whimbrel.As fall rolls into winter, large numbers of gulls can concentrate in the harbor, and rare species oftenare found within these flocks. Conneaut also attracts lots of ducks of many species. Snowy Owls turnup in many winters, and can be seen perched on rock breakwalls around the harbor. Watch for SnowBuntings around the parking lots.

2 - North Kingsville Sand BarrensAmenities: Hiking TrailsGPS Coordinates: N 41° 55'52.61"; W 80° 38'50.10"Driving Directions: Take I-90 East to exit 235 (OH-84/OH-193) and go north on 193 into the town ofNorth Kingsville. Turn right onto E. Center St., go 2.5 miles, then turn left on Poone Rd. the preserveis on the left after the railroad tracks.

What to Look ForNorth Kingsville Sand Barrens was acquired by the Cleveland Museum of Natural History in 1990.It is only 118 acres, but the preserve is one of the most interesting and significant natural areas inthis region. Originally protected to conserve the dry sand barrens and its complement of rare spe-cies, the preserve also includes some mature swamp forest.Spring and summer are the best times to visit, when resident breeders are present. Over 80 specieshave been found nesting locally. Many woodland birds typical of northeastern Ohio can be found.Interesting species in the area include Purple Finch, Blue-headed Vireo, Yellow-breasted Chat, andCerulean Warbler.

3 - Lakeshore ParkPublic Access: Open daily, dawn until duskAmenities: Restrooms, Picnic Area, Picnic ShelterGPS Coordinates: N 41° 54'12.27"; W 80° 46'36.70"Driving Directions: From I-90, take State Rte. 11/46 north into Ashtabula. Turn east on State Rte.531, and proceed about one quarter mile. The park entrance is on the left, at the junction of StateRte. 531 and State Rd., 1.6 miles east of Walnut Beach Park.

What to Look ForSee BIRDING TRAIL pg 18

PHOTOS BY STEFANIE WESSELLLook for birds such as thisOrchard Oriole this spring inAshtabula County.

Five Ashtabula sites locatedon the Lake Erie Birding Trail

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Lakeshore Park offers a commanding view of Lake Erie, and thebluff at the park’s west end allows for sweeping views of the har-bor, breakwalls, and open lake waters. Good numbers of migrantwaterfowl, loons, grebes, gulls and other waterbirds can be seenfrom Lakeshore Park, especially in late fall and early winter. Theextensive beach sometimes attracts shorebirds such as Ruddy Turn-stone and Sanderling. Heavy use by people in the warmer monthsdeters bird usage, and Lakeshore Park is best birded in fall, win-ter (especially if Lake Erie is unfrozen), and spring. Gulls oftenroost on the roofs of industrial buildings just west of the park.

4 - Walnut Beach ParkPublic Access: Open daily, year-roundAmenities: Hiking Trails, Restrooms (seasonally), Picnic AreaGPS Coordinates: N 41° 54'4.42"; W 80° 48'19.15"

Driving Directions: From State Route 2, exit onto North Ridge Road/U.S. Route 20. Follow U.S.Route 20 as it becomes West Main Street. Turn left at West Avenue, then make a slight left at LakeAvenue. Cross Walnut Boulevard to continue on West First Street.

What to Look ForWalnut Beach offers excellent access to Lake Erie, and protects an extensive sand beach. The bestbirding occurs in fall and early winter.Late summer through September brings migrant shorebirds that stop in to rest on the beach. Manydo not linger long, especially Whimbrel, which is notorious for its brief stopovers. October is a goodtime to watch for several species of sparrows lurking in vegetation behind the beach.November and December bring large numbers of birds moving offshore over Lake Erie. Huge num-bers of Bonaparte's Gull and Red-breasted Merganser can be tallied, along with large passages ofCommon Loons. Early mornings are an especially good time to catch flyover loons, and productivemornings can produce several dozen or more.Although spring does not bring the diversity and numbers of species that fall does, March is a goodtime to watch for migrant raptors. Migrant hawks tend to hug the shoreline of Lake Erie, and largenumbers of Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawks can be seen. Rough-legged Hawks, NorthernHarriers, Bald Eagles, and even Merlin and Peregrine Falcon might also be recorded.

5 - Geneva State ParkPublic Access: Open daily, year-roundAmenities: Hiking Trails, Restrooms, Visitors Center, Picnic Area, Handicap Accessible Trails, Camp-ing, Outdoor Feeders, Binocular Rentals

GPS Coordinates: N 41° 50'45.33"; W 80° 57'34.53"Driving Directions: Take I-90 East to State Route 534 North. Park entrance is six miles north onState Route 534 (turn left).

What to Look ForOhio's state park system gained its ninth lodge in 2004, when the lodge and conference center openedat Geneva State Park. The lodge provides a good base of operations for birders visiting this region.Geneva State Park encompasses nearly 700 acres, and lengthy bird lists can be tallied at nearly anyseason. Habitats include older-growth woodlands, beaches, and a small amount of marsh. Springand fall migration can produce lots of songbirds in wooded areas, and occasional shorebirds on thebeach.As the park harbors one of the larger woodlands that is accessible to birders in this region, summeris good for finding diversity of breeding forest species. Possibilities include Barred Owl, EasternScreech-Owl, Great Horned Owl, and several species of vireos, flycatchers, and warblers, as well asScarlet Tanager and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Purple Martins use nest boxes in the area and can't bemissed.Late fall and early winter bring lots of migrant waterbirds moving along the lake shore, includinglarge numbers of ducks and gulls.

6 - Arcola Creek ParkPublic Access: Open daily, sunrise to sunsetAmenities: Hiking Trails, Restrooms, Picnic AreaGPS Coordinates: N 41° 50'58.65"; W 81° 0'28.93"Driving Directions: Take State Route 20 to Dock Road and go north for 3.5 miles. Arcola Creek Parkis located on the right (east).

What to Look ForThe main feature of this 153-acre park is the small estuary of Arcola Creek, formed where thestream joins Lake Erie. Low marshy areas attract rails in migration, as well as large numbers ofsparrows of many species in migration. Woods surrounding the estuary can be good for a variety ofmigrant songbirds, especially in April/May and September.An impressive 77 species have been recorded at Arcola Creek during the breeding season, and manyof them have been confirmed as nesting. Some of the more significant breeders include CommonMoorhen, Alder Flycatcher, and Marsh Wren. Rarer wetland species that have been observed but notconfirmed as nesting include Virginia Rail, Red-headed Woodpecker, and Sedge Wren.Diversity drops way off in winter, but Bald Eagles are always possible, as are several species of gullson nearby Lake Erie, including Great Black-backed Gull and Glaucous Gull. If open water is avail-able, possible waterfowl include Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, and possibly scoters.

BIRDING TRAIL: From page 17

Eastern Kingbirds can befound along Lake Erie.

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