Winners announced for 2024 Great Miami Riverway Fishing Challenge
Dillon Browning and Gabe Knapke tied as the winners of the largest smallmouth bass caught with conventional tackle in the 2024 GREAT Miami Riverway Smallmouth Bass Fishing Challenge, coming in at 20 inches. In the Fly-Fishing category, Eric Wirick landed the largest smallmouth bass at 19 inches. The tournament began on June 15 and concluded July 21.
The challenge is a catch-and-release virtual tournament hosted by the Great Miami Riverway. This year’s sponsors included Molson Coors, Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife, the International Game Fish Association, ReelFlyrod, Fisherman’s Quarters, and the Miami Conservancy District. Participants use the iAngler app to register and send in their catches.
“The tournament attracted 43 anglers competing, logging more than 500 bass during the challenge”, according to Ginger Clark, Manager of the Great Miami Riverway. “We are happy to see this tournament grow, and the length of fish get bigger every year”.
Of the fish logged - 25 qualify as “trophy size” for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Fish Ohio recognition program, which recognizes a noteworthy smallmouth bass as measuring 18 inches or more.
When anglers submit their catches for approval to tournament judges, they note the nearest Great Miami Riverway city to where that specific fish was logged. More bass were caught on the Great Miami River in or near the City of Hamilton, City of Piqua, and the City of Dayton.
Full List of Winners
Random Drawings for each Slot for 1st ($100), 2nd ($75) and 3rd ($50)
Spin Division
Slot 1: 12” to 13.75”
|
1st |
Jonathan Junkins |
|
2nd |
Gabe Knapke |
|
3rd |
Eric Fitzgerald |
Slot 2: 14” to 15.75”
|
1st |
Brad Whitaker |
|
2nd |
Michael Horn |
|
3rd |
Eric Fitzgerald |
Slot 3: 16” to 17.75”
|
1st |
Derek Pyles |
|
2nd |
Dustin Burns |
|
3rd |
Gabe Knapke |
Slot 4: 18” and greater
|
1st |
Tim Wiley |
|
2nd |
Michael Horn |
|
3rd |
Dustin Burns |
Largest Smallmouth Bass caught conventional (spin) fishing
Tie for first
|
1st place |
Dillon Browning |
20" |
|
1st place |
Gabe Knapke |
20" |
|
3rd place |
Michael Horn |
19.75" |
Competitive Spin Series – Top 5 bag caught conventional (spin) fishing
|
1st place |
Michael Horn |
95.75" = 19.75", 19.75", 19.25", 18.5", 18.5" |
|
2nd place |
Bryan Slaton |
94.00" = 19.75", 19.25", 18.75", 18.75", 17.5" |
|
3rd place |
Eric Fitzgerald |
90.25" = 19.75", 19", 18.75", 16.5", 16.5" |
Random Drawings for each Slot for 1st ($100), 2nd ($75) and 3rd ($50)*
Fly Division
Slot 1: 12” to 13.75”
|
1st |
Connor Maschino |
|
2nd |
Jake Minesinger |
|
3rd |
Luke Maschino |
Slot 2: 14” to 15.75”
|
1st |
Connor Maschino |
|
2nd |
Luke Maschino |
Slot 3: 16” to 17.75”
|
1st |
Eric Wirick |
Slot 4: 18” and greater
|
1st |
Eric Wirick |
Largest Smallmouth Bass caught fly fishing
|
1st place |
Eric Wirick |
19" |
Competitive Fly Series – Top 5 bag caught fly fishing
|
1st place |
Luke Maschino |
68.5" = 15.5", 13.5", 13.5", 13", 13" |
IGFA Bass Grand Slam
– 3 species bass (smallmouth, largemouth, rock, white, whiterock (hybrid striper), spotted) ANY size in 24 hours*
*Pertains to both conventional and fly
1st to record Grand Slam – Full IGFA Membership* ($50 value) plus $50 gift card
|
1st |
Dustin Burns |
6/15/2024 |
06/15/2024 - 11:55am EST |
LMB |
SMB |
RB |
2nd to record- Full IGFA Membership* ($50 value) plus $40 gift card
|
2nd |
Dlyan Hicks |
6/15/2024 |
2024:06:15 17:29:51 |
RB |
SMB |
LMB 18.5" |
3rd to record- Full IGFA Membership* ($50 value) plus $30 gift card
|
3rd |
Eric Fitzgerald |
6/18/2024 |
06/18/2024 - 9:41am |
LMB |
SMB |
RB |
4th to record- Full IGFA Membership* ($50 value) plus $30 gift card
|
4th |
Michael Horn |
6/23/2024 |
06/23/2024 - 11:30am |
SMB |
HyB |
RB |