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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1998-02-25, Page 14rf.J jtiH.u,Y1, ..� NcrtlitvjesxB ik+C1l:YitR,.1 Second Section -February 25, 1998 Ice fish all year round at Springhaven Above, clockwise: Something's fishy. Springhaven Trout & Tree Farm's _Jerry Giesen with some of his over 15,000 trout by one of his seven ponds on the 110 -acre farm south of Denfield. Ice fishing in July? That's right, says Giesen. You can ice fish, or at least fish in these floating ice huts, 12 months of the year at Springhaven Trout & Tree Farm. The water's the key. The water spouting out of this pipe at Springhaven Trout & Tree Farm is from an artesian spring and is about as -pure naturally as you can get, Giesen said, the secret to his happy and healthy trout. ' By Craig Bradford. T -A Reporter DENFIELD — Those in a funk because El Nino has put the -kibosh on - their ice fishing with this milder than normal winter have friends over at Springhaven Trout & Tree Fann. . In fact, those -who love ice fishing can practice their passion all Year round at .Springhaven. located on 13 Mile Rd. south of Denfield. Instead of the huts resting on top of ice; Springhaven's three heated ice fishing huts float on top of-thc water 365 days a year. Springhaven owner Jerry Gicsen started the year round fishing business in '86 after moving to the 110 -acre trout and Christmas/landscaping tree farm from St. Marys in '81..Artesian springs feed Springhaven's seven fish ponds with. the purest water around. per- fect for supplying thc ideal habitat for Springhaven's main attraction — rainbow trout. Those artcsian•springs originate) cot an underground source ,that sup- . These a half million_ titres of water ; aay that winds its way tlirnugh Springhaven's pond system before cmptying into Duncrief Creek.,a tributary of the Ausablc. River. O Before Giesen bought the farm, the OO artesian spring water wasn't being used at all - it was just flooding adjacent fields. Gicsen said: Now the water keeps 15:00{) fish alive and well for ilio angling'enjoyment Of the young and old. Giesen, said he restocks about 5.000 fish a year he hatches himself — -he squeezes or 'strips' female Rainbow trout of their eggs then 'milk.' the males over the spawn. . ' . Five of the ponds contain rainbow trout only while one contains only bass. One pond is. nixed with both fish species. None of Gicsen's fish are marketed . hc}ond diose who visit the farm to fish. THE EXETER TIMES -ADVOCATE HAS WEDDING INVITATIONS Our gift To You... For ordering your invitations, your engagement or wedding photo will be printed in our paper at NO CHARGE - Value $27.29 - PLUS - Take 10% OFF YOUR WEDDING INVITATION ORDER WHEN YOU BRING IN THIS ADT° �fr 'Weill re" 424 MAIN ST. EXETER (519) 235-1331 • FAX (519) 235-0766 The pure water is key to Gicsen's operation. Trout require the highest quality of water with high. oxygen content to thrive which thc artesian spring water supplies in abundance. "This is the very best," Giesen said of the water quality. One glitch to the conservation -minded is all trout caught at Springhaven must he taken away. Giesen. said about 95 per cent of trout caught and released in the summer die (the fish are heartier in the- winter). The reason trout perish aftcr'being handled by humans is because a trout's scales aren't Iikc those of other -fish. What essentially protects their outer skin is a layer of mucus -like stuff Giesen called "slime." .. "You cannot throw back trout." Giesen underlined. •"It simply doesn't work." The lack of pollutants that bodies of water Tike Lakc Huron contain rnakcs kir "the cleanest and healthiest fish you, can boy anywhere.' Gicsen said. While fishing at Springhaven isn't exactly roughing it, Giescn said his farm has a lot to offer. especially for families. Those with little fishing skills. can hook and land a sizable trout without leaving the comfort of a park bench or off a freshly, Town lawn. Gicsen said Springhaven is a great place for three generations of aspiring anglers to share their. hobby. "We encourage families to come." he said. "It's a good experience for kids." - The. die-hard llyfisherman'can also have fun al Springhaven and those who want to head out into the muddle of the pond in a rowboat can do so. Gicsen-said. To those hardenedoutdoorsmen which may find Springhaven's- angler-friendly atmosphere too easy for their liking. Giesen said there's still some difficulty in snagging a rainbow or bass. "Yon still have to catch then(." he:said. "They don't jump into the bucket." . - Giesen cleans all fish caught for his customers and said all his'clients become repeat customers.- . When asked how. the former real estate agent became. a fish farmer. Gicsen smiled -and -said he and his wife Helen basically. chanced upon the business. The couple had bought what they had thought their last house 'in St:Marys whcn_Giesen realized no one was going to tackle the challenge of making -something out of ,the artesian spring on the 13 Mile Rd. property.. Already experienced in stocking small ponds at their two former homes' for personal use. Gicsen finally gave into,Hclen's prompting to take a chance of pursuing a dream. , "We basically talked ourselves into accepting the challenge." Giesen • said. "It's a lot of work but everyday is an enjoyable experience." The pure water made Giesen think of another possible spin-off business beer brewing. But when he approach Labatt officials about the oppor- tunity to use his water; the Labatt people told him they were content with purifying the Lake Huron water they use now. ' 'Those wanting to fish at Springhaven. must bring their own angling equipment -and bait (no minnows allowed duc to threat of disease and escaped minnows breeding). Giesen said niblet corn is the trout's favorite. He suggests -booking fishing time. in. advance for weekends. It costs :$25/family to fish at Springhaven with a five fish minimum. with Gicsen adding everyone catches their limit. Extra fish caught Over the five mum cost $5 each (for example. catching eight fish would Cost $40). Adult ,friends are charged $25 each to fish, sho.wing the Gicsen's push for a fam- ily atmosphere. Boats -arc provided free of charge (so is friendlyfadvice). Springhaven is open seven days a week from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. The Giesens are Members of the Ontario Trout.Fatmers Association and Gicsen received the '86 Ausablc Bayfield Conservation Authority Conservation Award. For ore.31. information or to hook fishing time. call the Giescns at (519.) 666- m13 - - Police Briefs ' London man busted in string of B&E's , . - TUCKFRSMITH TWP. - Brian John Rosso. 371 of London is charged with break and enter. - possession of stolen property and possession of break-in tools after a string 01 break-ins in the Lucan/Exeier arca on Saturday morning. London OPP Const. Donna Shulist said thc-crime spree started at Legg's Variety Store in Birr at about 4:15 a.m. Thieves made off with a quantity of cigarettes and gained entry by breaking through a door causing $500 damage. - At about 4:30 a.m. an alarm went off at the North Star Restaurant in Elginftcld. Some cigarettes and cash were discovered stolen. The Exeter Esso Gas Station was the next target. At about 5:15 a.m the front door was smashed but • nothing was reported stolen. When police tried to stop a car along Hwy. 4 in during traffic checks in the area, the driver refused and a pursuit ensued. The chase continued northbound on Hwy. 4, then west along Ushorne/i'uckersmith Townline. The driver got out of the car while it was still moving slowly and fled on foot, police in pursuit. The car, stolen from London, ended up in a ditch and stolen property; including cigarettes and money, was recovered. Assisted by OPP officers from Exeter, Lucan, . Huron and Sebringville, a K-9 unit (including :r dog named Kilo) tracked the suspect for about .me and a half hours in Tuckersmith Township till he was found hiding under a bush at a farmhouse on Conc. Rosso is still in custody and will appear in Go derich Ci►urt for a hail hearing ort Fch. 23. Bumstead glass smashed EXETER - Bumstead Fuels located south of Exeter waS broken into on Saturday morning. London OPP . Const. Donna Shulist said. The glass in the kiosk was smashed but nothing was stolen. • - Prospers busted into GRAND BEND - A cement slab was thrown through a door at Prospers Garage just north of Grand Bend on Feb. 17. The owners found the damage when they arrived for work that morning. A -fax machine, four tires and a cash register wcrc stolen, stolen property and damage totalling about $1.500. - Team work theft at Triangle EXETER - A pair of thieves teamed up during a theft at Triangle Discount in Exeter on Feb. 16, London OPP Const. Donna Shulist said. At about 6:20 p.m. two me » entered the store. One kept the clerk busy while them icr made off with some money. The first suspect is -described as white, about age 25, between 5'8"-5' 10", slim build with short straight brown hair and acne scars on his facc. The second suspect is described as white, between age 20-30, 5'6", average build with short dark hair. Sports Den break-in EXETER - RSI) Authentics Sports Den in Exeter was broken into on Feb. 16. London OPP Const. Donna Shulist said a quantity of sports clothes and hats were taken.