Heavy rain throughout the weekend may have bothered but not discourage participants in the 13th Annual Ohio River Valley Cats Catfish Tournament on Saturday and Sunday on the Ohio River in Rising Sun.
A total of 141 teams registered for the 2018 two day tournament with 98 of those teams recording weights according to James McCracken.
The event marked the end of Frank McIntosh’s reign as coordinator as he announced Stephen Hannan as his replacement
A total of 3,996.8 pounds of fish with a total of weight of 2771.6 on opening day with the big fish of the day weighing in at 49.6 pounds and the top team weight of 88 pounds. The total for day two was less than half (1225.2 pounds).
The big fish of the weekend was caught by Marty Knaus and his partner Ginger Chapman of Brookville weighing in at 50.4 pounds. The biggest catch netted the team a $5,150 prize. They finished third as a team with a total of 105.4 pounds and an additional $2,382 earnings
The $10,000 grand prize went to a team from Bloomingdale, Indiana with a total weight of 121.4 pounds after having the opening day best catch. The team included Johnny Marshall, Jeff Schmeltz and Allyson Buffo. They received an additional $1000 for being the best team with a woman on board. Buffo said she has been fishing all her life but only seriously the last seven years.
The runner up team was Tulson/Strange of Union, KY. After just 13.4 pounds on day one, the team had a single day best of 101.8 pounds on day two. Their total was 115.2 and earned them $2,971.
Fourth place through 20th received a percentage of total with 21st through 25th finishers received $100.
The Ohio River Valley Cats awarded $33,718 in cash prizes and numerous other prizes including a rod rack and rod holders from Driftmaster.
Ginger Chapman and Marty Kraus and overall winning team of Allyson Buffo, Jeff Schmeltz and Johnny Marshall.