JACK WOLLITZ Bass masters square off

A field of top local bass anglers is taking shape for the Youngstown-Mahoning Valley United Way Bass Classic on June 5 at Evans Lake.
The popular tournament benefits the local United Way. Past events have raised $30,000, which is used to assist approximately 30 agencies in the Mahoning Valley.
Operating under a pro-am format, the tournament pairs veteran bass tournament competitors with amateur anglers whose entry fees are earmarked for the United Way.
Entrants so far include past champions George Prvonozac of Warren and Mike Bolevich of Austintown, along with other well-known area anglers like Dave Williams, George Byers, Matt Johnson, Bob Goricki, Steve Zarbaugh and Bob Bowman.
"While everyone tries their hardest to win the United Way Bass Classic, the focus of our event truly is on raising money for the United Way and creating a fun day for our amateur patrons and sponsors," said Jennifer Johnson, tournament co-chair and communications coordinator for Aqua Ohio.
Aqua Ohio has served as host and organizer of the Classic, which marks its fifth anniversary this year.
Anglers and businesses interested in learning more about how they can participate in and support the tournament may contact Johnson at (330) 726-8151, extension 550.
White bass on the move
White bass, a species often overlooked by local fishermen, are making a major appearance at several nearby reservoirs, including Mosquito.
Nick Uroseva of Austintown, who works as assistant manager at Dick's Sporting Goods in Boardman, said his two most recent fishing trips at Mosquito demonstrated the white bass are biting.
"They're all over the lake," he said. "We were walleye fishing and hooked up with a bunch of white bass with jigs and minnows."
Uroseva said the whites are schooled in big packs and are easy to see on sonar screens.
"You can't miss them," he said. "They're not on the bottom like the walleyes, but instead are one-third of the way down in the water column."
Uroseva said most of the white bass were in 12 feet of water, but some were up around 6 feet. He was fishing mostly on Mosquito's west side.
Several of the whites he caught Tuesday topped 2 pounds.
Pro anglers cheer children
On the pro bass tour, meanwhile, a group of the nation's top anglers has banded together to cheer up patients in children's hospitals in cities hosting the Bassmaster Elite 50 series of tournaments.
The idea is the brainchild of 2004 CITGO Bassmaster Angler of the Year Gerald Swindle of Alabama. The group is known as Angel Anglers. Swindle noted the increasing number of fans at Elite 50 tournament weigh-ins sparked his idea.
"There are probably some kids out there who can't come to us," he said. "Why not go to them?"
Swindle, along with Skeet Reese, Peter Thliveros, Randy howell, Kevin Wirth and Tim Horton, recently visited a children's hospital in Arkansas. The Angel Anglers baked cookies with the children, praised their coloring and chatted with parents. The visit was a big hit.
"We were all a little nervous at first," Swindle said. "The kids were kind of shy. At first they had to warm up to us, but Skeet's wife got things going and next thing you know, they're all smiling. One lady came over and said, 'My son hasn't smiled in a long time.'"
Their next stop is May 15 at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Columbus, Miss.
jwwollitz@aol.com