Category: Events

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:

June is a busy month for the OHMC.   The Leesville LungeFest will be held on Saturday, June 19th from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm.  This is a one-day event where the longest muskie 30 inches or over by length wins the event.  All fish must be turned in no later than 5:30 pm at the launch ramp parking lot.  Registration will be from 6:00 am -7:00 am at the launch ramp south of the dam.  You can also register online at

http://bit.ly/Lungefest

Entry is $15 with an optional $5 Big Fish pool.

Just a reminder, the Saturday before, June 12^th, is our banquet at the SYB Party Center.  Please try to get your reservations in before June 8^th.   You can register online at

https://bit.ly/OHMCBanquet

or you can mail in your reservation using the form on our website at

https://ohmci.org/

We look forward to seeing you at the LungeFest and the Banquet.

So…Who’s ready for 2021?  Here is all the information about our upcoming year’s events

2021 Banquet

June 12, 2021 at the SYB Party Center, 4157 Hudson Dr, Stow, OH 44224

IceBreaker

March 27, 2021 at Piedmont Lake

One day tournament with winner being longest fish caught.

May Madness

May 15, 2021 at Salt Fork Lake

One day tournament with winner being longest fish caught; also special cash pool for those interested.

LungeFest

June 19, 2021 at Leesville Lake

One day tournament with winner being longest fish caught.

51st Annual Summer Contest

July 10th and July 11th at West Branch Reservoir

Two day tournament with winner being total points for the event.

9th Annual Minnow Fund Outing

September 25th and 26th at West Branch Reservoir

Two day tournament with winner being total points for the event.