CONNEAUT LAKE — A public weigh-in event takes place today at 1 p.m. at the Iroquois Boating & Fishing Club, 10733 Konneyaut Trail.
The free event is the culmination of the Bass Classic Team Tournament, now in its 21st year of raising funds for the United Way of Western Crawford County and its network of local nonprofit organizations working to strengthen the community.
“We encourage everyone to come out and cheer on the teams, enjoy the weigh-in, and show support for a great cause,” said Eric Marsh of Bassmasters of Crawford County, which hosts the event.
The competition, which begins at 7 a.m., pairs seasoned anglers with amateur teammates for a unique team-based, catch-and-release tournament. The weigh-in is expected to feature catches from 29 competing boats, with a chance for giveaways for attendees as well.
Last year’s weigh-in proved among the more exciting in the catch-and-release contest’s history. The team of pro angler Cody Ahmadian and amateur John Hilson hauled in eight fish weighing a combined 25.83 pounds, 1.22 pounds more than the previous record haul established by Ben Lipiec and T.J. Pennino in 2017.
The new record did not last nearly as long as the previous one: After occupying the leader’s seats for much of the weigh-in, Ahmadian and Hilson watched as the team of pro angler Cody McClenahan of New Galilee and amateur Phil Passilla of Meadville weighed in with an eight-fish haul of their own. Their total of 30.46 pounds proved a whopping 4.83 pounds heavier than the record catch Ahmadian and Hilson had set moments earlier.
“That is insane!” exclaimed Marisa Lines, executive director of the United Way of Western Crawford County.
The record-setting win was the second consecutive victory in the contest for McClenahan and Passilla, who reported getting off to a slow start on the day with just one catch in the first 40 minutes.
“Then we just started jumping around (the lake),” Passilla said after the weigh-in, “and it seemed like every time we moved we caught a fish.”
• More information: Contact the United Way of Western Crawford County at (814) 337-1251.