By Rob Sexton, POMA Executive Director and Buckeye State Resident
Let’s face it. The field trips are one of the best features of the Annual Meeting of the Professional Outdoor Media Association. It’s a day out of a meeting room having fun at one of the host state’s most notable features all while having the opportunity to produce some useful content. It’s a definite win-win.
For the 2025 POMA Annual Meeting at Maumee Bay, we’ve really stepped it up with a slate of field trip choices that will not disappoint. It all begins with registering for the Annual Meeting to unlock your keys to these excursions.
Charter Boat Fishing on Lake Erie
The most famous of the four choices is a day of charter boat fishing on Lake Erie for its most prized game fish. The Western Basin of Lake Erie is the Walleye Capital of the World. Grouped into six person boats, participants will board at daybreak and run out on one of earth’s most amazing wonders. The Great Lakes are hard to wrap your mind around once you are out there. The term “lake” never seems so misapplied as the moment when you can barely see land, but the fishing is among America’s best.
Bait, tackle and fishing gear is all furnished. All you will need is a fishing license, which come in one day, three day and annual varieties, maybe sunscreen, and for many a dose of non-drowsy Dramamine. For those raising an eyebrow, keep this in mind. Lake Erie is the shallowest Great Lake, and as a result is the choppiest. It has made for a miserable day for many who have not experienced sea sickness on previous excursions elsewhere. I take it, and I have fished Lake Erie more times than I can count. But that’s a personal decision.
Don’t sleep on signing up for this one. There are only 60 slots for this incredible day.
Island Getaway on Ohio’s Lake Erie
One of Lake Erie’s most visited islands, Kelleys Island provides a lot to see that recalls ancient history, American history and incredible geology. The morning begins with a ferry boat ride from Marblehead over to the island.
Your first stop is Inscription Rock, a fascinating site featuring ancient Native American petroglyphs. This will be followed by a visit to the Glacial Grooves, the world’s largest accessible glacial striations, where the Kelleys Island State Park manager will be on-hand to teach you about the geologic history of the site. From there it’s a short hike to the historic limestone crusher plant and a window into the island’s quarrying past.
There is room for 25 participants on this awesome island excursion sponsored by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Parks and Watercraft.
Castalia Fish Hatchery Tour and Trout Stream Fishing
Ohio’s premier fish hatchery is just a short ride from Maumee Bay. The 90-acre Castalia Hatchery includes 70 indoor rearing troughs, one covered outdoor raceway building and three outdoor raceways. The indoor troughs and covered raceways are supplied with water from one of the area’s many blue-hole aquifers (2,500 gallons per minute capacity). The remaining outdoor raceways are supplied with water diverted from Cold Creek (10,000 gallons per minute capacity). This cold water supply allows the hatchery to raise steelhead and rainbow trout. All of the state’s steelhead production occurs at this hatchery. Rainbow trout are raised to catchable size before being stocked in Ohio lakes and Cold Creek.
Participants will get a tour of the hatchery, the “Blue Hole” spring and try their hands at stream fishing. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife is providing the tour and the fly fishing expertise. So whether you’re an experienced angler or someone who has never quite gotten the hand of stream fishing, all will be welcome and have a great time! Similar to the walleye trip, participants will need to purchase a fishing license to go on this excursion prior to Wednesday, June 25.
There is room for 25 participants for this fun day sponsored by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife.
Explore Maumee State Park from Land and Water
For those who do not want to get out of bed quite so early, POMA 2025 is also offering a tour of one of Ohio’s most visited state parks. Even this excursion will feature time on the water as participants will gear up with expert kayak instruction and life jacket fitting before gliding across the water during open kayaking or even stand up paddleboarding.
Following your time on the water, you will meet Ohio’s four-legged natural resources law enforcement with a K9 demonstration by a Natural Resources Officer. K9 officers assist with search and rescue, drug detection, suspect apprehension and more.
The tour will wrap up with a visit to the newly renovated Trautman Nature Center where you will meet the center's educational animals and a short walk to get a bird’s eye view of the area from the brand-new viewing platform, the Eagle’s Nest. The area is nationally renowned for its bird watching opportunities, and this viewing platform pays tribute to the success of bald eagle restoration in the area where the nation’s bird is frequently seen.
There is capacity for 25 people on the Maumee Tour, which is sponsored by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Parks and Watercraft.
These are four great options providing both fun and content for any outdoor media professional. We’re so grateful for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for providing these awesome excursions. The only thing missing is you! Register today for the POMA Annual Meeting at Maumee Bay hosted by our friends at Destination Toledo!