Immediate Press Release

For more information, contact:

Jon Siembor-OWF Committee

(440)344-0145

fishowf@gmail.com

Shipman/Mulraney “Hit Rock Bottom” at Berlin Lake

BERLIN CENTER, Ohio -The Ohio Walleye Federation held its second tournament of the 2017 season on Sunday May 7^th at Berlin Lake.  Thirty teams took the water hoping to win their share of the $4500 in prize money.

The team of Mitch Shipman of Kent, Ohio and Rick Mulraney of Cleveland, Ohio had the five key bites needed to win the day.  The winning team weighed in five fish at 14.93 lbs. and also won Big Fish at 5.03 lbs.  Mitch Shipman stated that “The fish came off a transition of rock and mud.  We pulled into our key spot in the morning, and our sonar screen was blank, unlike the day before.   We motored around on the structure looking for fish, and caught our first keeper.  We moved back to our key spot and once again, the sonar was loaded with fish.  We hooked our biggest fish of the day at 5.03 lbs, and then caught two 21” fish back to back.  It took us until just after noon to catch the last keeper”.  Their persistence and patience paid off to the amount of $2000 in prize money.  Shipman and Mulraney were the only team to bag a full creel of five fish.

Second place honors were earned by Erick Williams and Todd Ishee with two fish at 6.64 lbs.  Williams and Ishee caught the 2^nd Big Fish of the day at 4.50 lbs.  Third place went to Collin Murphy and Pat Smith with one fish at 2.39 lbs.  The teams of Marion Erb and Robert Burkholder 2.25 lbs(one fish) and Mike Manfull and  Brian Hetrick 2.06 lbs(one fish) rounded out the top five.

Anglers experienced a difficult week of prefishing due to rising water, declining water temperatures, and an uncooperative weather pattern of cold, wind and rain.  In addition, the mild Ohio winter did not kill off the baitfish as expected.  Pods of baitfish are providing easy meals for non chasing walleyes.

The winning team reported catching their fish vertically jigging Vibes in 16’-20’ of water.  Their best colors were clown and blue and silver.  Other teams reported using orange jigs tipped with livebait and being fortunate enough to drop the jig right in front of the walleye triggering the much needed bite.

The Ohio Walleye Federation will hold its next event on Pymatuning Lake  May 21st at New Bowers Launch.   The OWF events are possible because of our sponsor support from Ravenna Marine, Vic’s Marine, Haine’s Marine, Worldwide Marine Insurance, Goschinski’s Fin Feather and Fur, and Warrior Lures along with many others.  For more information please visit www.fishowf.club or e mail fishowf@gmail.com.  Check us out on FACEBOOK- Ohio Walleye Federation.

The general public is welcome to attend our weigh-ins beginning at 3 pm the day of the event.  The OWF promotes “Fishing, Family, Friends and Fun!”

Ohio Walleye Federation-Berlin Lake Tournament:

1^st  Place $1800 Mitch Shipman and Rick Mulraney

2^nd Place $900    Erick Williams and Todd Ishee

3^rd Place $700    Collin Murphy and Pat Smith

4^th Place $500    Marion Erb and Robert Burkholder

5^th Place $300    Mike Manfull and Brian Hetrick

6^th Place $200    David Jenco and Mike Seesan

Big Fish  $200     Mitch Shipman and Rick Mulraney

Special Thanks to all of our sponsors:

Ravenna Marine-OWF’s ILC Title Sponsor

Vic’s Marine-OWF’s Lake Erie Title Sponsor

Haine’s Marine

Fin Feather & Fur

Worldwide Insurance

Warrior Lures

Domka Outdoors

Reef Runner

Kerr Automotive

Fish D Funk

Snakebite Snaps

Les’s Bait

Kames

Cisco

Fish USA

Church’s Tackle

Traxstech

These sponsors make our tournaments possible!!!!

Results

Immediate Press Release

For more information, contact:

Jon Siembor

OWF Committee

(440)344-0145

fishowf@gmail.com

Booher/Burns feel the “Vibe” at OWF Mosquito Lake Tournament

CORTLAND, Ohio-The Ohio Walleye Federation held its first tournament of the 2017 season on Sunday April 23rd at Mosquito Lake.  Thirty eight teams took to the water to compete for $6000 in prize money.

Mosquito Lake once again challenged anglers.  The Walleye were in a postspawn transition, sitting and watching most angler’s presentations with little or no interest throughout the week.  Fishing reports indicated scattered fishing.  Competitors were kept off balance as an emerging pattern one day lead to no fish the next the day.  Sunday brought temperatures in the mid 60’s with blue bird skies and little cloud cover, and a lot of hope from competitors looking to win the day.

The team of Steve Booher of Wadsworth, Ohio and Donnie Burns of Austintown, Ohio took top honors with a 1^st place finish with 5 fish at 13.19 lbs.   The team caught their fish in 13’-16’ of water. They vertically jigged ¼ oz vibes in chartreuse and lime green colors.  Steve Booher stated that “A friend gave us information the night before the tournament.  We fished a break in 13-17 foot of water.  The smaller fish were in shallower and the bigger fish were on the deeper edge of the break.  We had 15 keepers from 7:30 am to 9:30 am.  Our 2 biggest fish came back to back.”   Booher and Burns also weighed the second big fish of the contest at 22” and 4.27 lbs.  This was the team’s first win in the Ohio Walleye Federation circuit, and as Steve stated, “It is a sweet feeling”.

Second place was earned by Collin Murphy and Pat Smith with 11.71 lbs.  They jigged Vibes lures 50-75 yards away from the 1^st place team.  Third place went to Mitch Shipman and Rick Mulraney with a creel of 11.66 lbs.  Shipman and Mulraney trolled leadcore with Flickershads in the north end of the lake.  The teams of Marion Erb and Robert  Burkholder 11.51 lbs and Jim Gwynn and Matt Whitacre 10.51lbs rounded out the top five.  Big fish weighed in at 4.41lbs and belonged to Dave Yoder and Rick McIntyre, who caught the fish trolling monofilament line and perch color Flickershads .

Teams reported catching fish leadcore trolling, trolling harnesses snap jigging, jigging live bait, and using blade baits.

The Ohio Walleye Federation will hold its next event on Berlin Lake May 7th.    The OWF events are made possible because of our sponsor support from Ravenna Marine, Vic’s Marine, Haine’s Marine, Worldwide Marine Insurance, Warrior Lures, and Goschinski’s Fin Feather and Fur along with many others.  For more information please visit www.fishowf.club or e mail fishowf@gmail.com.

The general public is welcome to attend our weigh-ins beginning at 3 pm the day of the event.  The OWF promotes “Fishing, Family, Friends and Fun!”

Ohio Walleye Federation-Mosquito Lake Tournament:

1^st  Place $2350 Steve Booher and Donnie Burns

2^nd Place $1150 Collin Murphy and Pat Smith

3^rd Place $800    Mitch Shipman and Rick Mulraney

4^th Place $600    Marion Erb and Robert Burkholder

5^th Place $400    Jim Gwynn and Mat Whitacre

6^th Place $200    Bret Berkey and Michael Porter

Big Fish  $250     Dave Yoder and Rich McIntyre

Special Thanks to all of our sponsors:

Ravenna Marine-OWF’s ILC Title Sponsor

Vic’s Marine-OWF’s Lake Erie Title Sponsor

Haine’s Marine

Fin Feather & Fur

Worldwide Insurance

Warrior Lures

Domka Outdoors

Reef Runner

Kerr Automotive

Fish D Funk

Snakebite Snaps

Les’s Bait

Kames

Cisco

Fish USA

Church’s Tackle

Traxstech

These sponsors make our tournaments possible!!!!

Results

Yough Walleye Association

Deep Creek Lake, Maryland – April 23, 2017

The fishing was a bit harder with a cold front that moved in but one team strived to be the best on Sunday.  Most of the fish were caught on jigs and minnows.  There were a total of 21 teams that fished with 76 total walleye caught.

First place (pictured) – Brian and Xavier Murray – 5 Fish 8.57 pounds

Second Place – Tommy and Tim Lonce – 5 Fish 8.34 Pounds

Third Place- Mike and Kevin Siesky – 5 Fish         7.83 Pounds

Big Fish – Bobby McLuckey – 2.48 pounds

  Payouts:

1^st – $420.00

2^nd – $250.00

3^rd – $170.00

Big Fish – $210.00

Remaining Schedule for the year:

5/13/17 – Youghiogheny Reservoir, PA (Open to Public) 23^rd Annual Yough Open

5/21/17 – Youghiogheny Reservoir, PA

6/18/17 – Monongahela River, LaBelle Ramp, PA

9/10/17 – Youghiogheny Reservoir, PA

10/8/17 – Deep Creek Lake, MD

10/22/17 – Pittsburgh, South Side Ramp, PA

 www.youghwalleye.com