Monster Catfish at Miami Whitewater Forest
On April 18, Erik Frondorf used bluegill to catch a giant 38-pound blue catfish. Congratulations!

Sharon Woods Bass League
The first tournament of the Sharon Woods Bass League was on April 17. We had 15 teams go out to test their skills, gear and luck. The winners, Brian Short and Mike Hoefker, caught three bass weighing over nine pounds! Jody Andrzejewski and Curtis Pendergrass finished in second place with just one fish: a 5.30 pound fish that was the biggest of the tournament!

The next Sharon Woods Bass League tournament with be on April 24 at 6 p.m.

Hybrid Bluegill Stocking
The Hamilton County Park District Stewardship Department raised hybrid bluegill to stock the many lakes within the Hamilton County Park District, including: Miami Whitewater Forest Lake, Triple Creek Lake, Lake Isabella and Campbell Lakes Preserve. The hybrids range in size from 6-9 inches.

The Bite is on for Panfish!
More than 200 pounds of fish were caught between the nine teams that entered the April 21 Panfish Tournament. The winning team, Frank Yates and D. J. Huegel from Cincinnati, caught over 46 pounds of crappie and bluegill on small jigs. About seven of the hybrid bluegill that they caught were stocked the Friday before.

 

Frank Yates said, “I could immediately tell when we hooked into a hybrid using lightweight spinning gear. They would make the rod double, and it felt like a bass was on the other side of the line. They were really fun to catch!”

Bill Smith and Del Meece finished in second place with 25 pounds. Jonathon Keller and Tom Doersam finished in third with 23.5 pounds.

The fifth tournament of the Panfish Cup series will be held at Winton Woods Lake on May 4. Sign-ups will be held the morning of the tournament beginning at 7 a.m.

 Michael Brech, Harbor Manager