Ray Hale, a local angler and self-appointed mayor of Spring Lakes Park, had quite a battle with the 24-pound, 37-inch fish during a Tagged Fish Bonanza on May 2.
“When he first hit my line, I thought I was hung up on a rock. Then he took off and headed to the other side of the lake,” said Hale, who was using a 9-foot Ultra-Light rod, with a 4-inch Replica bait on a 6-pound fishline. “I just had to play him and play him until he was tired out, and I could get him in.”
This took a full 30 minutes, and by that time Hale was worn out too. He enlisted the help of a fellow fisherman to bring him to shore. He was fishing off the bank on the east side of the 7-acre lake. The experienced angler has been fishing for the past 50 years and also likes to try his luck at Dale Hollow and Norris Lake in Tennessee.
According to Sgt. Bill Nickell, a park ranger at Greene County Parks & Trails, Old Whiskers is quite the legend at Spring Lakes Park. He received his moniker from the late Wally Turner, who named him about nine years ago. Old Whiskers is mighty, but he has competition as well. Old Fred is the largest catfish in the lake at 45-inches long and 48 pounds.
“Years ago when we decided to stock the lake we had a lot of shad, so we ordered some Shovel-head catfish to eat up the shad,” said Sgt. Nickell. “We also have Moby, a 14-pound albino catfish we put in about three years ago.”
These fish have seen a lot of action during this time, as Old Whiskers has a scar above his left eye, and Fred has a piece missing from his tail. GCP&T started the tagged fishing contest this year as an incentive for people to visit the park. Anyone with a 2014 fishing permit who catches a tagged fish can turn in the tag for a free 2015 fishing permit.
“Four volunteers come in and make coffee in the Spring Lakes Bait House every day, and we sit around and tell stories,” said Nickell. “We also have fun with Old Huey, a goose who likes to eat donuts.”
Join in the camaraderie at 2191 Ferry Road near Bellbrook. For more information, call GCP&T at 937-562-7440, or visit gcparkstrails.com.
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