GREAT OUTDOORS: Fremont man catches record smallmouth bass

Word began circulating last weekend on social media of a massive smallmouth bass that was caught on Lake Erie. Gregg Gallagher of Fremont was fishing in Ontario waters with his son Grant near Pelee Island. Grant became a bass specialist while fishing on the Adrian College bass fishing team and is well-versed on what to look for to pinpoint likely bass-holding locations. When Gregg tossed out his lure, it was inhaled by the giant fish before reaching the bottom. But based on the heavy weight, he assumed that a freshwater drum (aka sheepshead) had been hooked. Upon landing the fish, they knew it was something special as their scales showed it to be in excess of 9 pounds -- the equivalent of catching an 18-pound walleye --but as it turned out, it was even bigger. They contacted Travis Hartman, Ohio Division of Wildlife's Lake Erie administrator, who formally identified the fish and accompanied the weighing on a certified scales at the Port Clinton Fisheries Company to officially document the 23¾-inch, 10.15-pound beast. Since it was caught in Ontario, Gallagher will hold the new record there. Ohio's state record will remain the 9.5-pound fish caught near Green Island in 1993. The world record smallmouth bass was caught in Dale Hollow Reservoir, Tennessee in 1955, weighing 11 pounds, 15 ounces. Gallagher's fish will reportedly be displayed at the Ohio Division of Wildlife Sandusky Fisheries Research Unit, while having a replica mount made for his home. DU hosts 20th Partnership Hunt in Port Clinton On October 25-26, staff from Ducks Unlimited, Ohio Division of Wildlife, Toledo Metroparks and private marsh owners gathered for the 20th time in Port Clinton to celebrate their partnership that benefits area waterfowlers, Ohio's original conservationists. Ducks Unlimited CEO Adam Putnam and President Chuck Smith were in attendance. They spoke to about 130 participants, many of them fellow waterfowl hunters, at Camp Perry about DU's mission in northwest Ohio. This event allows DU and the others to share success stories of the ongoing acquisition, restoration and construction of thousands of acres of wetlands near Lake Erie's coastline. This region has long been recognized as an important migratory flyway used by waterfowl and other species of birds. These partners are slowly returning some of this former great Black Swamp region into its original landscape. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative through NOAA and the state's H2Ohio Initiative are funding much of this work. The guests were given a tour of the Toledo Metropark's Howard Marsh Phase 1 and the just-completed Phase 2 by Tim Schetter, their director of conservation. Phase 2 is a 243-acre, $2.5 million project designed by DU engineers and primarily funded by NOAA. Guests then toured one of North America's oldest hunt clubs, the Demars Point Hunting and Fishing Club, founded in 1882. One of its founders was former President Rutherford B. Hayes, who served as its secretary/treasurer for two years after leaving the White House. On the second evening, Adam Putnam, Ohio Division of Wildlife Chief Kendra Wecker and Port Clinton waterfowl call-maker and decoy manufacturer Fred Zink were the featured speakers at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Port Clinton. They spoke of the importance of events like this Partnership Hunt and the support hunters generate for Ducks Unlimited. The progress that the H2Ohio Initiative is having was a main theme, as this program is unlike any other in the country. Chief Wecker spoke about the Division of Wildlife support of the Fall Flights program and presented DU with a $150,000 check, similar to past years. The fact that these "ducky" habitats serve as "nature's kidneys" to filter surface water before it goes into Lake Erie is well understood by the participants. Mark Reineck received the Ohio Hunt MVP award, given annually to an individual who promotes the preservation of duck habitat and conservation in the region. Reineck conducts aerial duck surveys and reports on the population status of the birds.