Walleye lovers always angling for ways to fish

Good friend and great angler Dick Kotis of Kent, Ohio, once told me his secret to a long and enjoyable life.

Kotis, a world traveler who headed the famed Arbogast lure company, the makers of such legendary lures as the Jitterbug and Hula Popper, said that in his opinion each of us are born with a lifetime gift from above of so many days on earth. A certain and set number of days, he surmised.

But, Kotis said, “days spent fishing don’t count.”

Works for me

Thus guys and girls who spend a great deal of time in pursuit of creatures like walleyes, bass, and all the others are in for a long life. Hey, Kotis’s sermon may or may not be fact, but it does give hope and a basis for argument each and every time we skip chores to dip worms.

Walleye winners. So give credit to father-son team of Ron and Chris Bradway who fished their way to top point champions on the 2012 Inland Circuit of the Ohio Walleye Federation (OWF), the recognized organization for northern Ohio walleye tournaments.

The federation held its awards banquet recently honoring two-person teams who won top spots in each of the club’s contests and overall point champs.

Ohio-bred

The Ohio Walleye Federation was created in 1998 replacing an aging Western Reserve Walleye Association. The OWF is structured without individual or figurehead leadership and relies on a strong committee and shared duties.

OWF tournaments draw strong entries and interest grows each year as more walleye anglers want additional reasons to be on the water.

According to OWF committee member Steve Baylor, one reason the OWF has drawn so much interest is that the events are all in the area, which eliminates the need to travel long distances.

Another advantage is that membership in the OWF is open to weekend anglers as well as serious walleye chasers and that membership qualifies winners for national championship contests.

The OWF sponsors one-day contests on inland lakes and on Lake Erie’s central basin followed by two-day championships. Several of the tournaments feature big payouts for winning teams.

All events, registrations, and other information is available on line at www.fishowf.com.

Workshop on tap

A highly skilled team of successful national walleye pros will hold a three-day, in-depth walleye fishing school on April 11, 12, and 13, that will turn weekend angler into walleye killers.

Taught by Ross Robertson, Johnnie Candle, and Bruce Samson, the school will be held at Marblehead, Ohio, Lighthouse Resort where class participants will spend three nights. Rooms are included in the price.

For information and registration go to www.hightechfishing.com.