Muransky Bass Classic returns to Mahoning Valley

Judges Harry Emmerling, Jim Cyphert, Tyler Woak, Rich Durochia and scores of others will be issuing distinctly fishy rulings June 1.

They are among the more than 50 volunteer judges who will board bass boats at the 20th annual Muransky Companies Bass Classic, benefiting the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley.

As judges, they will score each pro-am team’s largemouth bass catches on Aqua Ohio’s Evans and Pine lakes.

The tournament couldn’t happen without them. Their ruling is law aboard each competition boat.

Four years ago, the United Way tournament switched to the Major League Fishing scoring format that enables each team to score every bass they catch.

The unique scoring system helps improve fish survival, but the fish aren’t the only beneficiaries. The judges get a front row seat to learn valuable fishing tactics and techniques.

Openings remain for judges in this year’s tournament. Action aplenty awaits those who volunteer for the job, as last year nearly 400 bass were scored on Pine and more than 200 were scored on Evans.

Fin Feather Fur Outfitters in Boardman helps make the scoring system work. Developed by Bass Classic competitor Ricky White of Canton, the Fin Feather Fur ActionTally is a web app that judges access via their smartphones. After weighing a fish, the judge adds the weight to the team’s tally.

Harry Emmerling, of East Liverpool, leads the Student Fishing League, which helps high school and middle school boys and girls gain experience in bass fishing. He also encourages his student anglers to participate in community service.

He recruited more than a dozen SFL members to serve as judges in each of the three previous Bass Classics.

“The SFL looks forward to helping with the United Way fundraising tournament every year,” he said. “We talk with our student anglers about how it’s important to give back to our area. The United Way event is a great learning experience for them and they get onboard lessons from some of the best bass fishermen in northeastern Ohio.”

In addition to Harry’s students, judges come from all walks of life. Durochia, of Poland, is retired. Cyphert, of Austintown, is public relations director at Innis Maggiore in Canton and the craft beer writer for the Vindicator. Others are teachers, sales reps, engineers, technicians, accountants and health care professionals.

Tyler Woak, of Niles, is a clubhouse manager for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers and works for the Toronto Blue Jays during spring training. An avid angler who is interested in tournament fishing, he has a deep concern for the welfare of the bass.

“I started fishing when I was about 3 for bluegills and then by high school I began watching bass fishing on YouTube and TV, and became fascinated with the species,” he said as he looks forward to his first year as a judge in the United Way tournament.

“The catch-weigh-release-style tournaments allow fish to be quickly weighed and released so they can get back to their routines. I take great pride in releasing bass and it definitely saves a lot of fish and puts them under very little stress.”

Now in its 20th year, the Muransky Companies Bass Classic has generated more than $400,000 for the education and service programs that receive funding from the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley.

People interested in volunteering as a judge in this year’s event can contact Whitney Winch at the United Way in Youngstown, 330-746-8494. All judges also are invited to the pretournament dinner party for anglers and sponsors May 31 at the Vineyards at Pine Lake.

Jack Wollitz enjoys writing about fishing almost as much as fishing itself. He has written the Vindicator’s fishing column weekly since 1988. After more than 1,600 columns, he’s still looking for ideas, so go ahead and send yours to jackbbaass@gmail.com.