Anyone who wishes to have tackle identified or appraised can bring it to the shop during clinic hours. If there is a large amount, call ahead to make an appointment.
Lures, reels, rods, and anything else related to fishing — antique or contemporary — will be evaluated. There will be a different appraiser each day of the show. So you may come as many days as you like to see what each appraiser has to say about your tackle.
There will also be an opportunity to swap tackle with collectors.
For more information, call Mike at (937) 475-7997.
Know ice safety
With temperatures dropping into the teens on recent evenings, folks have already started ice fishing around Ohio. But this early in the ice fishing season lakes are not always safe. Over the years, I have picked up the following safety tips from state natural resources agencies in the northern Midwest states:
- No ice is 100 percent safe. Always use caution, no matter how thick you might believe the ice to be.
- Beware of ice on moving water, such as streams or lakes that have open dam areas or are wind-swept. They will not freeze as quickly as more stable lakes.
- Always check ice conditions with a local source by phone or Internet before making the trip to fish at a lake.
- Never go out on the ice alone. Go in groups of two or more and always walk with good spacing between each other.
- Carry a long pole or rope for possible rescue. Also carry ice picks or even screwdrivers tied together around your neck that can be used to pull yourself out in case you fall in.
- Tell someone on shore where you are going and when you should be expected back.
- Dress warmly, with lined, waterproof boots. Wear some kind of ice traction device on your shoes. If fishing from a shanty, wear warm clothing in layers. You can shed clothing when inside a heated shanty.
- Carry a cell phone sealed in a plastic bag.
- Wear a life jacket.
- Avoid cracked areas, snow-covered ice, bubbled and dirty ice and ice that has pulled away from the bank.
- — While no table is absolute, the Minnesota DNR offers the following minimum clear ice thickness guidelines: 4 inches for walking; 6 inches for ATVs and snowmobiles; 8-12 inches for cars and light trucks.
- And one last tip: if there is ever any question about ice safety, stay on shore.
Short shots
Kids day: The group Ice Fish Ohio will have its annual Kids Day at the Cranberry Resort on Indian Lake on Jan. 13 starting at noon. There will be prizes and free lunch for kids. A fishing derby will be held if ice conditions allow. It starts at noon. Cranberry Resort is located at 9667 Ohio 368. For information, contact: david@h2hsales.com.
Under way: Ohio's deer hunting muzzleloading season is under way. The four-day season began Saturday and will conclude at dusk on Tuesday. Last year hunters killed 19,459 whitetails during muzzleloader season. So far during the overall current deer hunting season hunters have taken 188,853 deer in Ohio.
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