Area lakes to be featured in Outdoor Channel series

Staff report

Youngstown

The Outdoor Channel will begin broadcasting Major League Fishing’s “Select” series episodes filmed in the Youngstown area at 2 p.m. next Saturday.

Six episodes will be broadcast on consecutive Saturdays featuring five area lakes. Twenty-four Major League Fishing anglers and the MLF crew and officials spent nine days in the Youngstown area in July 2015 filming this event.

As with all Major League Fishing events, competing anglers were not allowed to practice or research fishing venues. They were chauffeured by boat officials to their daily fishing sites and were not told actual locations until they reached a staging area. They competed to earn spots in the Major League Fishing Challenge Cup.

The Mahoning County Convention & Visitors Bureau was a sponsor of the event and helped arrange lodging and dining options for the group, plus worked with producers to film video highlights that will showcase Mahoning County during all six episodes.

The 24 anglers gathered on the deck of Lanterman’s Mill in Mill Creek Park for a group shot, which will be seen on all of the broadcasts.

“This event gave us an incredible opportunity to put Youngstown and Mahoning County in the national broadcast spotlight,” said Linda Macala, executive director of the Mahoning County CVB.

“Our wonderful outdoor recreation options and local attractions will be featured in these segments. The cast and crew really enjoyed themselves, and, in particular, raved about the wonderful food offerings. The hospitality extended by lodging and dining partners was exceptional, and the group really felt at home here. Some of the anglers brought their families along, and they really loved being in a metropolitan area with plenty of activities for their children to enjoy. Handel’s Ice Cream became one of their favorite end-of-day spots.”

“It will be very exciting,” said Jack Wollitz, Vindicator fishing columnist and bass tournament competitor. “The bass community here is very proud that Major League Fishing selected our community and our lakes for this competition. The shows will showcase not only the Youngstown area, but the lakes with which we are familiar. It’s like having the U.S. Open at Mill Creek Golf Course. The pros loved our food, our shopping, our culture and our hospitality.”