Past Events
					Click Here ! For Member Photos, by Jim Faddoul
			Review of Woods and Waters Activities for The Past Year Overnight Trout Fishing, Sport Shooting - Rockwell Springs Trout Club – April 3 & 4, 2002: Submitted by Scott Poffenberger. As I left Cleveland in sleet and drizzle on April 3rd, I reminded myself that this was the price we paid for being outdoorsmen in Northern Ohio. We had such beautiful weather for our December "Cast & Blast" outing It was time to pay our dues. Luckily the sleet and rain had relented by the time we reached Rockwell Springs, but the slate skies and occasional gusts of cold reminded us that it was, indeed, early spring. The skies slowly began to brighten, however, and by Thursday the sun was shining, even if the temperatures stayed chilly. The weather did not stop a capacity group including past Presidents Lou Nagy and Ed Walsh and Activities Chairman Les Demaline from enjoying two great days of fly-fishing. Once again Wid Lynn, brandishing an Alaskan egg pattern tied by an obscure fly tier known only as "thumbs", slammed over ten trout on Wednesday morning alone. Following happy hour, Chef Frank and his crew served an excellent supper accompanied by Willoway wine provided by Chairman Demaline. Many of the crew then repaired to the Rockwell bar for conversation, beverages and the occasional cigar. On Thursday morning, several of the crew convoyed to W & R shooting club where they were joined by President Joe DiGiacomo who drove up from Cleveland for a round of sporting clays. Thanks to all who participate, the Rockwell Springs outings are some of the most popular and successful events each year. We look forward to continuing this tradition in December and beyond. Pheasant Hunt and Lunch – January 2, 2002: – Submitted by Les Demaline. On a rainy, cold Wednesday 18 hunters and guests of members from the Woods and Waters Club arrived at the Beaver Creek Club. The hunters broke into groups of four and they were ready to hunt. They were all pleasantly surprised when the sun came out and the temperature began to rise. It was a great day for hunting pheasants. Everyone got their limit of pheasants and they were all ready for a great lunch catered by Smith Catering of Avon. What a delicious lunch they served, roast beef and gravy, fried chicken, veggies, potatoes au gratin, salad and rolls. After lunch most of the hunters went out sport shooting on the five-stand course and the skeet field. We ended the day around 3:30 PM. Everyone said they had a great day! See the pictures on our website. Remember next years date for this outing will be on January 8, 2003. Goose & Sandhill Crane Hunting Trip - January 5-7, 2002: Submitted by John Murphy. The trip scheduled for Jan. 5-7, 2002 has been cancelled because of lack of interest. Contact John Murphy (440-247-8614) if you would like information on this activity for your own use. Cast & Blast - December 5 & 6, 2001: Submitted by Scott Poffenberger. Weather more fitting early October greeted Woods and Waters members including President Joe DiGiacomo, past Presidents Bill Switaj and Lou Nagy and Activities Director Les Demaline, who gathered at Rockwell Springs Trout Club on December 5 & 6, 2001 for two days of fly fishing and pheasant hunting. Wooly worms, weasels and even egg sucking leeches flew as members enjoyed varying levels of angling success. Wid Lynn was seen landing eighteen trout on the first day alone. Happy hour began on the patio about 4 PM and was accompanied by smoked steelhead and dove provided by Les Demaline. As the sun set and the mercury dipped back into the 60's, the party moved to the Rockwell bar for a pre supper beverage. At seven PM, we adjourned to a private dining room for prime rib, chicken breast picatta and trout filet. Many adjourned later to the lounge where companionship and the large fireplace warmed the room. On the second day, the predicted rains held off as seven of the group enjoyed a morning pheasant hunt at the W & R Club in nearby Clyde. It seemed that everyone enjoyed themselves this trip. One of our more perceptive members may have said it best when he remarked, "What a great place to get away from it all." Sandusky Bay Duck Hunt – Nov. 14 & 15, 2001: Submitted by Bill Switaj. Members attending the November 14 & 15, 2001 duck hunt were Jim Batke, Wendall Babson, John Harkness, Dick Van Hella & Bill Switaj. Unfortunately we had two Blubird days with very few ducks flying. However, the breakfast served by the guides was out-of-this-world. Hearing from the guides, the next two day provided excellent shooting. How many times have we heard that story? We did talk to the guides about moving the dates to December. December can be very iffy because of freezing weather. We all did enjoy each other's company. Hope to see more of you next year. Sporting Clays League Wrap-up – Sept. 5, 2001 thru Nov. 2, 2001: Submitted by Jim Faddoul. On Nov. 2, 2001 34 Shooters gathered at Beaver Creek Hunt Club to participate in the last of 6 rounds of sporting clays. The weather forecast was grim but the light/intermittent rain didn't keep anyone away. It was an exciting end to a great season as at least 10 shooters were in the running for the Top Gun prize. In the end, Bill McCabe and Jim Faddoul made up considerable ground to finish in a virtual dead heat. Bill edged out Jim via a drawing, which was appropriate as Bill had been shooting a 410 all season compared to Jim's 12 gage. David Mann had another solid round to finish as the Top Shooter (Scratch). David and Rusty Abel are always neck and neck and consistently shoot 40+ rounds. Congratulations also to Jim Calogeras who finished as the leagues most improved shooter. The League would like to thank the Clubs that host this activity; Grand Valley Ranch, Hill N Dale Club and Beaver Creek Hunt Club. These are GREAT places to shoot and their facilities are only exceeded by their warm hospitality to our League. The close of the activity was a delicious steak dinner catered by Smiths Custom Catering, always the highlight of our season. Nobody seemed to care about the weather once the T-bones were served! Come out and join this fun group next year, you won't be disappointed. Family Clam Bake & Hay Ride – Oct. 27, 2001: Submitted by Ken Kuentz. It was a beautiful autumn afternoon, a little chilly perhaps, but that did not deter 84 adults and 13 children from attending the clambake held at Willoway Nursery. After a hayride around Willoway's vast plantings of shrubs and trees, the children painted pumpkins, broke a pinata and bobbed for apples - all organized by Mr. Kit Kimmich. The adults enjoyed the clam broth and beer as Jay and Cathy Kowalczyk tended to the steamers located immediately outside the indoor dining area. The beer was donated by Beverage Distributors Company through the crafty manipulation of Mr. Bill Switaj. The clambake was outstanding with the traditional chicken, yams, corn on the cob and of course clams (as many as you could eat). The children all received gifts coordinated through the efforts of Mr. Paul Karla and the looks on their faces when holding a new fishing rod and reel outfit made it obvious that this event was one to be repeated. A special thanks to Mr. Les Demaline for providing the location and hosting the event with several bottles of his own Willoway Chardonnay. Deep Springs Outing – October 22, 2001: Submitted by Jim Deacon. On October 10, 2001 over 40 of our Woods & Waters members enjoyed a nice Autumn day of trout fishing followed by a great dinner at the Deep Springs Trout Club. Deep Springs located in Chardon, Ohio, is a beautifully manicured club which offers both lake fishing and stream fishing for Rainbow and Brown trout. The fish were a little more finicky than they were at the Spring outing, however many members had good success with both the fly rod and spinning rod. Even when the fish are not jumping in the creel, it's always a treat to sit back and enjoy the beauty of Deep Springs and the Fall. Joe DiGiacomo was our photographer for the day and took some great memories of the outing. Joe will have his photos on display at the next Woods & Waters luncheon, so if you had your photo taken, stop and see Joe for a copy! Even if you didn't get your photo taken, check them out to see how fun Deep Springs is! Tom Montagna and his staff capped off the great day of fishing with a superb dinner featuring fresh pan fried trout along with a tasty filet mignon, fettuccini alfredo and pasta with marinara sauce. It's always a meal to die for! A special thanks to Tom Montagna, his mom, Bea, and the rest of the Deep Springs staff. Woods & Waters always appreciates the invite out and the hospitality received. We hope to see you in Spring, 2002! Canoe Trip-Camp High – September 22, 2001: Submitted by Chuck Belt. On Saturday 09/22/2001, the club sponsored a canoe trip on the Cuyahoga River. We had only four canoes, but, everyone had a very nice time. We departed Camp Hi Livery near Hiram at about 9:30 AM and put in at where 422 crosses the Cuyahoga. The total trip was about seven river miles and took most of us a leisurely three hours to complete. We were all surprised by the beauty of the river. I would guess most of us thought of the Cuyahoga, at least I did, the same as we know it around Cleveland. The reality is that it is very scenic with both banks completely wooded and for most of the trip there was very little that was not natural within sight (homes, farmland, etc.). Along with the beauty of river, we had a perfect weather day of 65 - 70 degrees and sunny. After the trip was completed four of us had a very nice luncheon in the nice little town of Garrettsville. We all had such a good time that we would like to see this continue. Of course, we would like to have more people participate, then we would have more options available to us such as hiring a naturalist to go along with us to discuss points of interest along the way. So, with that in mind, I am willing to set up another trip next spring or fall. If you have an interest in participating, you can call me and let me know. That way, I will contact you directly should we have another trip. My telephone Number is 440-427-1250. Perch Fishing Trip - September 9th 2001: Submitted by Jack Gregg. At 8:00 AM on this sunny early September morning, six eager kids, (4 boys and 2 girls), accompanied by their dads or grandfathers, arrived at Captain Ray Henry's trailer at West Harbor Lagoons. The strong winds from the previous day had become a gentle southerly breeze and we left the harbor and headed Northeast toward the Southeast corner of Kelley's Island. We dropped the anchor at about 9:00 AM and, wjthin five minutes, hoisted our first perch aboard. The fish bit actively for the next four hours and we caught at least a dozen double headers. By the time we raised the anchor for our trip back to the harbor in advance of some ominous looking clouds, we had accumulated 124 perch in the cooler. The crew of Captain Jerry, in the second boat, stayed out a little longer and accounted for another 162 perch. Our thanks to Ray and Jerry for making this a memorable trip for some young fishermen. Annual A & A Shoot – August 8, 2001: Submitted by Dick Deacon. The annual Woods and Waters A &A shoot was a big hit on Wednesday August 8, 2001. Twenty-seven members and twenty-one guests enjoyed a day of trap, skeet and sporting clays. A great steak dinner with all the trimmings and the presentation of trophies closed out an excellent day. Winners were: Steve Sakal – Trap 50 birds Hank Vavrik – Skeet Garry Janson – Sporting Clays Al Thomas won the Annie Oakley and Matt Burda was Top Gun in the Smoke Shoot. Thanks to Les Demaline for his Willoway Wines. Youth Fly Fishing & Sailboat Contest – July 2, 2001: Submitted by Cathy & Jay Kowalczyk, Chairmen. The 2nd Annual Youth Event was held at Rockwell Springs Trout Club in Clyde on July 2, 2001. The day started off with 17 young men & ladies, ages 9-18 trying their skills at the trout streams. Many of the kids had done fly fishing before and for some of them it was their very first time. The weather was outstanding and most of the kids netted some trout. After several hours of fishing, we held two contests for the kid's that had completed a wooden sailboat for the day's competition. The wooden boat kits were donated to the kids by the North Coast Chapter of the Antique & Classic Boat Club. Eleven boats were launched in the stream for the sailing contest. The winners were: 1st place – Conner Ruppelt, age 9 from Cleveland, Grandson of George Vosmik. 2nd place – Chris Michel, age 13 from North Olmsted, Son of Mark & Mary Kay Michel. 3rd place – Kelsey Gundel, age 11 from Elyria, Granddaughter of Jim Faddoul. Next we held a design contest for the boats, based on painting & decorating the boat & sail. We were honored to have Mr. Chip Judd for our judge. Chip is a local artist/photographer. He placed the boats as follows: 1st place – Karen Demaline, age 10 from Avon, Granddaughter of Les Demaline. 2nd place – Eric Demaline, age 10 from Avon. Grandson of Les Demaline. 3rd place – J.P. Deacon, age 13 from Chesterland, Son of Jim Deacon, Grandson of Dick Deacon. All winning boats will be eligible to be displayed at the January 2002 IX Boat Show. Plaques were given to all place winners in both categories for the boat contest. All other participants were given an honorable mention plaque as well. Thanks to Les Demaline for making the wooded plaque bases that we then had engraved. Also, a big thanks to Les for giving the kids a brief fly fishing safety session before they went out to fish. The afternoon ended with a great lunch on the patio of Rockwell's clubhouse. Many thanks to Rockwell Springs for allowing us to hold this event at their facility. Lake Erie Walleye Fishing – June 20, 2001: Submitted by Wid Lynn. You "purists" missed another great trip! Our June, 20, 2001 walleye fishing and "shore dinner" was great. 14 members and guests ventured out on a beautiful day. One car was delayed about an hour due to a traffic back-up caused by a truck accident. So, Ray's boat had a late start. The catching was a little slow in the morning. After a long move clear out to northwest of West Sister Island, we finally found the fish and the action picked up. As usual, when the catching gets better, we had to pick up and head back to the dock. We ended up with 35 nice :eyes". While the fish were being cleaned, Ray and Ann set up for a fantastic fish fry and dinner. Everyone ate their fill of fresh fish and other goodies including a delicious desert prepared by Ann. There was plenty of fish for dinner and some left over for everyone to take some home. "It doesn't get any better than this!" was heard from everyone who attended and enjoyed this outing. The Club wishes to thank Ray and Ann Henry for preparing, cooking and serving another fine meal. "It doesn't get any better!" Youth Sport Shooting – June 13, 2001: Submitted by Cathy & Jay Kowalczyk, Chairmen. The 4th Annual Youth Sport Shooting event was held on June 13,2001 at Beaver Creek Hunt Club in Amherst. Twelve young ladies & young men, ages 8 – 16 attended. The afternoon began with a Gun Safety session presented by Dave Shinko, Lorain Co. Wildlife Officer. We thank Dave for offering to conduct this part of the event. The group then was split up by experience level for the shooting portion of the day. Four young men tackled the Sporting Clays course and shot some great scores!! The rest of the group took turns with shooting on the rifle range & trap/ skeet fields. The afternoon ended with refreshments & some great door prizes for the kids. Many thanks to Malley's Candy & Dick's Sporting Goods of North Olmsted for providing the door prizes. We had a great group of kids for this event. They were very eager to learn & were very safety conscious. Many thanks to Beaver Creek Club for providing the use of their facility & supply of soft drinks. Hill n Dale Sporting Clays – June 6, 2001: Submitted by Larry Koverman. There were 18 members and 1 guest that took the challenge of shooting sporting clays on a tricky course at Hill n Dale near Medina, Ohio. Weather is always a factor in outdoor functions. The rain held off while lunch was served inside the clubhouse, but a steady light rain followed everyone throughout the wooded clay course. Everyone enjoyed the day however, and a prize for high score went to member, Tom Polen. Special prize targets were thrown. James Liebel and Kathy Kowalczyk picked up a box of shells for bursting them. Thanks to all those that participated and for the support of the staff of Hill n Dale Club. Lake Erie Walleye Fishing – May 30, 2001: Submitted by Wid Lynn. On Wednesday May 30, 2001 only 6 members were sighned up for the annual walleye fishing trip with a shore dinner. Since there was only 6 men this trip, this cookout was delayed until our June 20th date. We started out drift fishing with very little success, even though the weather was ideal – sunny with light winds and 1-foot waves. After several hours with only 4 eyes, we voted to go to plan "B" (trolling). From noon until 3P.M. we had steady action with everyone catching fish. We ended up with our limit of nice size eyes. Deep Springs Trout Club Outing – May 16, 2001: Submitted by Jim Deacon. A nice spring day greeted a full house of Woods and Waters members at one of Geauga County's most picturesque locations, Deep Springs Trout Club. After an enjoyable afternoon of fishing, Tom reports over 200 trout were caught. Our congratulations to Denny Kuback who caught a 28" - 10 ½ # Rainbow Trout. Dan Forrester and Frank Gron caught 30 trout between them with spinning rods and the fly fisherman held their own. Then we sat down to a sumptuous dinner prepared by Bea and her staff. Every one of the Deep Springs staff are so efficient and thoughtful. Tom, everyone thought your stuffed trout and pate was exceptional. A special Thank you to the Montagnas (Bea, Joe and Tom), for allowing us to use their club and the support they give to us.