Category: Misc

The final event of 2021 is our 9^th Annual Minnow Fund Outing at West Branch on Saturday September 25^th and Sunday September 26^th.  Given that we are in a pre-turnover period, the fish should be feeding heavy to begin bulking up for the winter.  The tournament will run from 7:00 am Saturday to 2:00 pm Sunday.  Tournament registration is online at

https://bit.ly/2021MinnowFund

You can also register in person at the West Ramp of West Branch from 6:00 am to 8:00 am on Saturday.  All fish must be turned in to the tournament director by 2:30 pm on Sunday at the West Ramp.

All entries fees will go directly into the Minnow Fund.  We will not be having any raffles, so any donations also would be very much appreciated and would go directly into the Minnow Fund.  Entry fee is $20 with a Big Fish pool of $5 if you chose to participate.  First and second place will receive trophies at our banquet in 2022.  Scoring will be based on points with each fish 30” or greater getting 4 points for the fish and additional points for every inch over 30 inches.   For example, a 42.5” fish would earn 4 points plus 12.5 points for a total of 16.5 points.  The winner will be the highest total points for the weekend.  All fish entered will be based on a honor system, no pictures are required but please take some pictures of your fish for our Instagram and Facebook pages.

What a fun weekend for the Summer Contest at West Branch.  Saturday was a calm nice summer day with a few weekend boaters to increase the  drama.  Sunday kept them away with fairly steady rain from 9 am until closing a 2 pm.  We had 45 anglers sign up to fish the event, with a total of 28 fish caught.   Leading the way with 8 fish, and winning not only the event but the Big Fish pool was Chase Gibson.  This was Chase’s first time fishing one of Ohio’s program lakes, and he was very impressed with the quality and size of the muskie.   He hopes West Virginia DNR can take a page from the Ohio book.  Chase caught his fish casting and jigging deeper waters.  Second place was captured by Neil Butara with 4 fish.  Unlike Chase, Neil was able to find his fish shallow, fishing weed beds.  Congratulations to Chase and Neil for their success over the weekend.  Here is a list of the fish reported and some pictures:

Chase Gibson 37″, 41″, 31.75″, 40.5″, 40″, 38.75″, 36.75″, 43.25″.

Neil Butara 36″, 38″, 41′, 40″

Bob Basic  43″ and 38″

Adam Boneham  37″

Phil Ringenbach  41.75″

Chris Daniels 42″

Chad Harmon 36″

Rick Thorp 37″

Tim Smith 38″

Brian Luttmer 38″ and 32.5″

Graham Hardesty  32″ and 33″

Brad Clement  42.5″

John Ringenbach  35″

Tim Grant  31″ and 36″

OHMC’s 60th Anniversary Banquet took place on June 12th at the SYB Party Center.  The date was moved to allow for COVID, but 57 people participated in the celebration.  We were fortunate to have 4 representatives from the ODNR join us for the event.

• Curt Wagner, District Three Fish Management Supervisor
• Kevin Page, Fisheries Biologist, Inland Fisheries Research Unit
• Scott Hale, Executive Administrator of Fish Management & Research
• Kevin Kayle, Fish Hatchery Program Administrator.

Also are newly elected slate of officers and trustees were recognized:

• OHMC Officers
• President – Jeff Ferjutz
• 1^st Vice President – Chad Harmon
• 2^nd Vice President – Rich Daniels
• Secretary – Ken Proffitt
• Treasurer – John Ringenbach

• Trustees
• Paul Anderson Past President
• Fred Lederer Past President
• Phillip Jarvis
• Kyle Jones
• Mike Reed
• Phil Ringenbach
• Tim Smith
• David White

• Social Media
• Maggie Butara

We also presented and honored the winners of our Awards for 2020

Joe Blackwell “Mr. Muskie” Award 2020

Jerry Rice

June 12^th, 2021

Woman of the Year Award 2020

Maggie Butara

June 12^th, 2021

Matthew Smith Memorial Award for Juniors

Boys

Noah Visger

49”

Piedmont Lake, June 17^th, 2020

Girls

Lucy Marshall

37”

Leesville Lake, June 16^th, 2020

Fifty Inch Award

Sharon Potvin

50”

Piedmont Lake, May 27^th, 2020

1. E. “Pooch” Curry Award 2020

Chuck Harmon

52.5”

West Branch, Dec. 23^rd, 2020

Patrick Klingensmith

52.5”

Milton Lake, August 6^th, 2020

Queen Release 2020

Sharon Potvin

50”

Piedmont Lake, May 27^th, 2020

Ten or More Release Award 2020

Dr. L.G. Dunmire Muskie Award 2020

2020 Event Awards

Lungefest

June 13^th, 2020

Leesville Lake

1^st Place – Rick Simpson

46” Muskie

50^th Annual Summer Contest

July 11^th & 12^th, 2020

Piedmont Lake

1^st Place – Scott Donohew

12 Muskies

111 Points

2^nd Place – Rick Simpson

4 Muskies

44.5 Points

8^th Annual Minnow Fund Outing

September 26^th & 27^th, 2020

West Branch

1^st Place – Jeff Belcher

3 Muskies

29.75 Points

2^nd Place – John Proch

2 Muskies

21.0 Points

Muskie Munch

October 24^th, 2020

Piedmont Lake

1^st Place – David Cross

37.5” Muskie

2020 Overall Tournament Champion

Scott Donohew

12 Muskies

Finally, here are some pictures of the award winners: