JACK WOLLITZ River grabs kids' attention

Muddy shoes and big grins were the order of the day last Saturday as dozens of children lined the banks of the Mahoning River for the first "Reeling by the River" fishing derby.
Staged to focus attention on the recreation value that would be gained by cleaning up the Mahoning, the kids' fishing contest was a big success. It was held in the amphitheater area of Perkins Park in Warren.
The river was a bit unruly due to heavy rain the day before the Aug. 21 event, but the conditions didn't dampen the enthusiasm and determination of the young anglers.
Kim Mascarella, of Eastgate Regional Council of Governments and secretary of the Mahoning River Consortium, was busy snapping pictures. Chris DiPaulo of Austintown, an officer in the Cleveland Chapter of Muskies Inc., carefully scored each fish brought to the measuring stick by lucky anglers. A number of his fellow club members volunteered to help bait hooks, cast lines and identify likely hideouts for the river's fish.
The sporting kind
Interestingly, the catch of the 50 contestants was 100 percent rock bass, evidence of the potential for the Mahoning River to support populations of desirable species.
A recent study of the river, in fact, shows good numbers of fish like smallmouth bass, walleyes and other sport fish. In addition, the Mahoning supports an abundance of minnow species, along with the expected fish like carp and catfish.
The study, by the Ohio EPA, failed to yield any muskies, but they most definitely do swim its waters, and a number of adult fish are caught every year within the city limits of Warren.
Reeling by the River's kids, meanwhile, dabbled bits of nightcrawlers hanging under an assortment of multi-colored bobbers, all intent on winning prizes that were awarded at the conclusion of the contest.
Phil Hillman, fish management supervisor for Ohio Department of Natural Resources' Division of Wildlife, coached the kids in casting to Hula-Hoop targets arrayed on Perkins Park's lawn. Even the youngest and most inexperienced casters got a big kick out of lobbing Hillman's dummy plug at the targets.
Once the fishing concluded, CASTLO Executive Director and Mahoning River Consortium official Bill DiCicco turned the rock tossers loose for a stone-skipping contest.
The event certainly fulfilled its mission: to raise awareness about the river's recreation potential. The big grins, muddy shoes and kids lugging prizes home was proof positive that a good time can be had on the ol' river bank.
Bassin' 'Bachelor'
Professional bass fishing will again be in the national limelight from 9 to 11 p.m. Sept. 22 when ABC's "The Bachelor" airs its season premiere.
Byron Velvick, whose pro bassin' accomplishments include holding the record for the single heaviest three-day BASS tourney weight of 83 pounds 5 ounces, is one of two bachelors in this season's show.
Velvick, 40, from Nevada, has fished professionally for 13 years and his resume includes the CITGO Bassmaster Tour and Western Opens. He also has qualified for the CITGO Bassmaster Classic presented by Busch Beer.
ABC says a twist in this season's series is the women contestants will get a chance in the first episode to pick between two bachelors -- Velvick and Jay Overby, also 40, a New Jersey native who sells residential real estate.
Can you say location, location, location?
Velvick and Overby know that's what it takes to succeed in catching bass and moving real estate. It will be interesting to see whether the women prefer East or West -- the western, outdoorsy type or eastern businessman.
Should Velvick prevail, it may persuade a bunch of young men to dabble with a new line -- "I'm a bass angler" -- to impress the ladies.
jwwollitz@aol.com