2015 54th Annual Banquet
The 54th Ohio Huskie Muskie Clubs Annual Awards Banquet was held on March 28, 2015 at McCalls Banquet Center in Canton, Ohio. The attendance remained steady compared with the last two years and all those in attendance were treated to good food, friends and laughter. A total of 90 OHMC members and 6 vendors were in attendance. Every person in attendance received a complimentary ‘Fish Ohio’ boat towel provided by the ODNR and a fishing bait as a door prize. We had a trivia contest as extra entertainment again this year.
During the business meeting, members voted on the lake nominations for our 46th Annual Open Summer Contest in 2016. The winner was West Branch Reservoir, with the event to be tentatively held on July 9th and 10th pending park approval. Elections for officer positions were held during the business meeting. The OHMC officers for 2015 are as follows; Paul Anderson, President; Jeff Ferjutz, 1st Vice-President; Rick Simpson, 2nd Vice-President; Tim Smith, Secretary; John Ringenbach, Treasurer. There are currently several vacancies on the board of trustees, so if you are interested, we could sure use the help. Please see any trustee or officer.
Before the banquet meal started there was a pause for a moment of silence for all the club members whom had passed last year and for those individuals that are in the military and may be away from their families. Next, we took a moment for a blessing of the meal by club member Dennis Mitchell. The food was very good with a buffet that included Baked Chicken, Sausage and Peppers, McCalls Signature Potatoes, Green Beans, Rigatoni, a Garden Salad, Rolls, and Sherbet. We all had a great time and lots of fun with the fish stories that were being told.
ODNR attendees were Mr. Scott Hale, Inland Fisheries Program Administrator; Mr. Curt Wagner, Fish Management Biologist District Three; Mr. Phil Hillman, Fish Management Supervisor, District Three; Ms. Deb Walters, Fish Management Supervisor District Five; Mike Greenlee, Fish Management Supervisor District Four; Kevin Page, Inland Fisheries Research Unit Research Biologist. Phil spoke about his personal observations from attending OHMC banquets over so many years. Also, Scott presented information about the development of fisheries in Ohio, and highlighted the most recent addition to the list of program lakes; East Fork. The presentation showed a comparative analysis of historical fishery development in Ohio and was very insightful. Also, the importance of participation in the Muskie Angler Log (MAL) was prominently highlighted.
A special thanks goes out to all the vendors that set up a booth at the banquet this year, and also all of the Ohio Huskie Muskie Club supporters who donated to the club. Please patronize these companies as they make our events a success. The following were supportive of raffle and door prizes. Xtreme Muskie Lures, Marshall Custom Tackle, Musky Fisherman Specialties, Jerry Rice, Jimmy’s Bucktails, and Tuff Shad.
AWARD RESULTS FOR OHIO LAKES, MUSKIES CAUGHT
Ohio Huskie Muskie Club Inc. Annual Banquet Awards Winners, for club member’s recognition of outstanding catches and achievements in the 2014 season.
H.E. Pooch Curry Award (Largest musky by length only) was presented to Tom Johnson with a 51.00” musky caught at Salt Fork Lake.
The Matthew Smith Memorial awards for juniors were as follows:
Boys Release—Charles Neville with a 45.50” fish.
Girl’s Release—Ashley McCartney with a 45.00” fish.
The Royalty Awards
King Trophy Division, a kept muskie, length plus weight by point system. (None)
Queen Trophy Division, a kept muskie, length plus weight by point system. (None)
King Release — Tom Johnson with a 51.00” muskie caught at Salt Fork.
Queen Release –Kathy Mitchell with a 47.00” caught at Piedmont.
Mr. Muskie Award – Guy Bechter
Woman of the Year Award – Charlotte Fuchs
Overall Tournament Champion – Charles Neville
First Ever 50-Inch Award
Tom Johnson with a 51.00” from Salt Fork.
David Baio with a 50.50” from Leesville.
Dr. Dunmire Plaque Awards
There were (23) Dr. L. G. Dunmire Plaque Awards recognized by the club for those anglers whom caught at least three Huskie muskies measuring 42.00-inches in length or longer. Patrick Klingensmith (37), Greg Bozick (29), David Baio (25), John Ringenbach (10), George Weber (10), David Brown (9), Bob Marshall (9), Chuck Harmon (8), Dennis Mitchell (8), Sam Reichenbach (7), Bill Schultz, Jr. (7), Ray Hinchcliff, Sr. (6), Ray Elkins (5), Nick Smith (5), Chuck Land, Sr. (4), Kathy Mitchell (4), Dennis Braun (3), Sherman Champlin (3), Chad Harmon (3), Joe McManes (3), Charles Neville (3), Philip Ringenbach (3), Tim Smith (3)
10 Or More Release Awards
There were (37) Plaques Awards recognized by the club for those anglers whom caught 10 or more muskies 30-inches in length or longer and released all of them. Pat Klingensmith (211), David Baio (123), Bob Marshall (110), Greg Bozick (96), Bill Schultz, Jr. (87), Ray Elkins (53), Sam Reichenbach (46), Robert Basic (38), Chuck Harmon (38), George Weber (38), David Brown (37), Tim Ritter (37), John Ringenbach (34), Nick Smith (33), Ray Hinchcliff, Sr. (31), Chad Harmon (27), Josh Marshall (27), Jason Basic (26), Dennis Braun (23), Kathy Mitchell (23), Bill Brant (22), Charles Neville (21), Dennis Mitchell (20), Sherman Champlin (18), Beau Chumley (17), Linda Hannen (17), Jack Worline (16), Tom Morris (16), Chuck Land, Sr. (15), Tim Smith (15), Tom Johnson (14), Tom Hannen (13), Tony Crisp (12), Jeffery Ulanich (12), Ashley McCartney (11), Paul Anderson (11), Dave Nabb (10),
Raffles:
The Business Meeting 50/50 was won by Greg Eischen. The Banquet 50/50 was won by Barb Dickson. The Lure board was won by Mike Reed. The Rod and Reel was won by Chuck Land, Sr. The Trivia contest was won by Rick Simpson.
The banquet is now history and it is now time to start some actual muskie fishing, Thank you to everyone that attended and to all of those people that helped make the event such a great success.