For Immediate Release

2022 Ohio Walleye Federation

Qualifier #2 Pymatuning

The Ohio Walleye Federation held their second tournament of the year on 5/1/2022 at Pymatuning Reservoir. 27 teams were faced with a late April cold front that took temperatures from the 80s the weekend before the event to lows in the 20’s in the week leading up to the event. The teams had nice weather for a Friday and Saturday prefish, but weren’t so lucky on tournament day. Heavy rain and thunderstorms moved into the area around 8:00 a.m. and stuck around most of the day making the competitors as wet as the fish that they were chasing.

The big fish at Pymatuning seemed to be in a tough spawn pattern with the sublegal 13-14 7/8ths fish being on the chew on the regular from what was reported during prefish. Many teams reported having an issue getting a solid pattern together as the fish were biting 1 way at one time and on something different at others. The Pennsylvania team of Andy Travis and Joe Papalia, last year’s Pymatuning champions were able to repeat there finish from a year ago and won it this year with a weight of 21.68 good for $2700 and some awesome plaques. Andy and Joe credit their teammates for finding the fish that they caught during prefish on the south end of the lake in 22-25 fow. Joe reported that they caught all of their fish on leadcore and they had a particular shad dancer that they “couldn’t keep in the water.”

The 2^nd place team of Erick and Ed Williams trolled leadcore in 16-18 fow to pull in a 5 fish limit that weighed 20.04 pounds good for 2^nd place plaques and $1350. Erick and Ed reported pulling  leadcore and planer boards with #7 flicker shads with fire tigers and purple’s as their best baits throughout the day.

In 3^rd place, that paid out $1000 was the team of Anthony Naples and Chris Durkin with 5 fish that weighed 16.99 pounds. Chris reported catching all of their fish in 3-6 fow with a jig and a minnow or a jig and a crawler. Chris said jig color did not matter, they started with 1/16^th oz jig and moved to a 1/8^th oz when the wind and rain picked up.

In 4^th place with 5 fish for 16.61 pounds was the brother team of Chad and Justin Fenstermaker they won $700. They stated that they caught their fish on a combination of leadcore and boards in 16-18 fow with purples also good for them throughout the day.

The 5^th place team of David Lander and Arloe Tonks won $550 with a 5 fish limit weighing 15.84 pounds. They also reported catching their fish with leadcore and Jr. Thundersticks in 16-18 fow.

Rounding out the top 6 was the team of James Roberts and Dave Jenco with a 5 fish limit of 14.89 pounds. James stated that they slid into the 12-14 fow range in order to get their fish to bite. He stated that they started the day pulling planer boards with #7 flicker shads but made an adjustment to pulling leadcore in the afternoon and caught there fish that way.

Big fish honors with a check for $400 went to the team of Matt Cook and Ron Wachter with a 7.29 pound Pymatuning monster, caught trolling worm harness 6 feet down in 16 fow.

2^nd big fish honors good for $50.00 FishUSA gift card with a 6.67 pound walleye was the team of Bob Honaker and Kevin Kalinowski. Their fish came on a custom painted #7 flicker shad 13 feet down on a planer board in 16 fow.

The OWF season is in full swing with our 3rd qualifier in 2 weeks on May 15th at Lake Milton. After a year away from Lake Milton, the reports are already coming in that the fishing is good with lots of fish to be caught on the lake. Don’t miss out on the chance to fish with us.

The Ohio Walleye Federation would like to thank our title sponsor Erie Marine Sales for all of the support that they provide to us. If it weren’t for them we wouldn’t be able to provide 100% payout at all tournaments. We are also very grateful to be associated with sponsors like, Whitetails Unlimited, Snakebite Snap Weights, World Wide Marine Insurance, Sydmor’s Jewlery, RS Nets. Please support those whom support the club.

For additional information or to sign up for an event please check us out on Facebook – Ohio Walleye Federation or on our website; www.ohiowalleyefederation.com.

For Immediate Release

2022 Ohio Walleye Federation

Qualifier #1 Mosquito Lake

The Ohio Walleye Federation held their first tournament of the year on 4/10/2022 at Mosquito Lake. Teams were faced with an early April cold front while trying to find the spawning and post spawn walleye that inhabit Mosquito Lake. All teams were faced with a variety with weather conditions during the pre-fish. With weather in the 60s early in the week leading up to the tournament, and a cold front moving in on the Friday before the event. Saturday, while teams were making last minute preparations on the water teams were faced with a cold rain and snow, with pictures going around of competitors boats covered in snow from passing showers while on the lake.

With the cold weather and fish in a post spawn pattern, many teams were reporting tough conditions and very few fish caught while pre-fishing. The team of Jim Gwynn and Matt Whitacre powered their Erie Marine Sales, the OWF’s title sponsor, Warrior boat to the top of the weigh-in list with a 5 fish limit of 17.02 pounds, good for 1^st place plaques and $2300. Jim and Matt reported that they caught there fish using a couple of different jigging techniques, 2 of their fish were reported to come vertical jigging deep water with blade baits while the other 3 came with a jig and a minnow in 2-5 fow.

The 2^nd place team of Matt Cook and Ron Wachter trolled leadcore in 16-19 fow to pull in a 5 fish limit that weighed 15.91 pounds good for 2^nd place plaques and $1200. Matt and Ron reported pulling #7 flicker minnows with green baits being their best colors.

In 3^rd place, that paid out $900 was the team of Jim Leigh and Shane Doughty with 4 fish that weighed 14.59 pounds. Jim and Shane were also fishing in an Erie Marine Sales, Warrior boat and caught there fish trolling leadcore in 18-22 fow. They used a green jointed flicker shad and also a purple and gold to do all of their catching.

In 4^th place with 3 fish for 12.88 pounds was Mitch Shipman and Rick Mulraney, they won $700 and had 2^nd big fish honors which won them a $50.00 FishUSA gift card. They also reported trolling leadcore in 18-22 fow with green as a hot color for them.

Rounding out the top 5 was Anthony Naples and Christopher Durkin with 5 fish for 11.65 pounds good for $500. They reported catching all of their fish jigging in shallow water anywhere from 1.5 to 6 feet of water.

Big fish honors with a check for $400 went to the team of Brian Davies and PJ Kerr with a 5.21 pound Mosquito Walleye that they caught early in the morning vertical jigging blade baits in 25 feet of water.

The OWF season is in full swing with our 2^nd qualifier right around the corner on May 1^st at Pymatuning Lake. The tournaments at Pymatuning Lake usually include lots of fish to be caught and big bags to win. Don’t miss out on the chance to fish with us.

The Ohio Walleye Federation would like to thank our title sponsor Erie Marine Sales for all of the support that they provide to us. If it weren’t for them we wouldn’t be able to provide 100% payout at all tournaments. We are also very grateful to be associated with sponsors like, Whitetails Unlimited, Snakebite Snap Weights, World Wide Marine Insurance, Sydmor’s Jewlery, RS Nets. Please support those whom support the club.

For additional information or to sign up for an event please check us out on Facebook – Ohio Walleye Federation or on our website; www.ohiowalleyefederation.com.