Charles Mill results

After driving through nasty thunderstorms around Mount Vernon and Bellville, I wondered what kind of conditions we would have to deal with in our Southern Ohio Bassmasters club tournament at Charles Mill Saturday, June 5. Surprisingly, the weather settled down and most of the day wasn't bad at all. But about 1:30 or so, Mother Nature decided to make up for that.
The tournament wasn't over until 2 p.m., but an approaching storm sent most of us heading for the ramp early. I beached the boat and was in line with the trailer before the worst of the rain hit. Watching the rain from inside the truck was far better than being out in it, but I sure wish I could have turned on the bilge pump. By the time it was my turn to load the rain had eased off, but by that time there was a lot of water in the boat. The bilge pump was still pumping long after I had the boat back in the parking lot.
When we started at 6 a.m., the lake was muddy down to the bridge near the ramp. By the time I came back up the lake i'd say it had advanced at least a third of the way from thee to the dam. After the afternoon storm, it looked like the lake was rising and a lot of debris was coming down the lake. The road back to Rt. 603 was even blocked by high water when we left. By Sunday night, the lake was 2.83-feet above normal, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Despite al that, the fishing was quite good. Alan Fulks of Nashport won the event with a catch of five bass weighing 10 pounds, 10 ounces. He also took big bass honors with a 2-pound, 12.8-ounce fish.
Randy Brownrigg of McConnelsville was less than three ounces behind with five bass weighing 10 pounds, 7.4 ounces. Terry Kimble, fishing with Alan, finished third with five bass weighing 7 pounds, 13.2 ounces, while Greg Montgomery took fourth with five bass weighing 7 pounds, .6 ounce. Kenny Fulks of Nashport was fifth with five bass weighing 6 pounds, 7.2 ounces.
I have no idea where any of the top finishers caught their fish as I didn't see any of them all day except Kenny, who I passed about mid-day.
A total of 47 bass were weighed in by 15 of the 19 members competing.
As for me, I finished sixth with four fish as I couldn't complete my limit. I caught one fish in the muddy water near the ramp and three in the cleaner water downlake. All of my fish hit Senko-type lures, either a Yum Dinger or the hand-poured version from Bob's Outdoor Supply in Newark.
Our next tournament is this Saturday, June 12, at Pleasant Hill. I just hope the lake has a chance to settle down, although it promises to be a busy day on that lake, thanks to the 2010 North Central Ohio Safe Boating and Fishing Festival, which will include free boat rides and fishing activities at the park.
Boating and Fishing Festival
An announcement about the festival was sent out by the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District and included the following information:
Admission to the park (which I believe includes the marina and beach area across the bay from the boat ramp) will be free for the festival, which will be held from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the park located at 3431 Rt. 95 at Perrysville.
The festival will feature free pontoon boat rides, free motorboat rides and free sailboat rides. Free kayak rides also will be available courtesy of Fin Feather and Fur. Safe boating displays and information also will be presented and officials from numerous organizations will be on hand to answer questions and distribute information.
The Ohio Division of Wildlife will provide an area near the marina for free fishing for children, providing poles, bait and instruction. A casting contest also will be held for children ages 7 to 14.
The Mansfield Power Squadron and the Division of Watercraft will offer an opportunity to pass the Ohio Boater Education exam. Ohio law requires that all persons born on or after Jan. 1, 1982, to complete an approved safe boating course in order to operate a powerboat of greater than 10 horsepower. Successful completion of the test at the festival will fulfill the legal requirement.
For more information or a complete schedule of activities all summer at Pleasant Hill Lake Park, contact the park at (419) 938-7884. More details about the park also are available at www.mwcd.org on the Internet. Pleasant Hill Lake Park is located at 3431 State Rt. 95, Perrysville, and is easily accessible by Rts. 39 or 603.