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