NEW LEXINGTON – Year five for the annual Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs (HOFNOD) event at the Perry County Gun Club Lake followed a script that could not have been written any better. Sponsored by the Perry County Sheriff’s Office and Perry County Transit, the event featured perfect weather and fish that couldn’t wait to make bobbers disappear for the 245 young anglers who ringed the lake.
The Perry County Gun Club lake’s appearance on June 17, 2023, was a far cry from how the lake looked five years ago when Perry County Sheriff William R. Barker gave the green light for the project to move forward. Shoreline access was restricted back then, due to high grass. The dam was covered with small trees and shrubs that made casting a line nearly impossible. To make a difficult situation worse, the weeds that covered the shoreline area extended into the lake in the form of matted vegetation.
Five years later, the lake has seen massive improvements. The shorelines are mowed, the dam has undergone $300,000 in upgrades, and the lake has been increased in size. It has also been stocked with a variety of gamefish. Perry County Soil and Water Conservation District Program Administrator David Snider, attended the HOFNOD event and said more improvements are on the way.
“We are adding a handicapped fishing pier as well as a handicapped accessible parking area much closer to the water than now exists,” explained Snider. He further added that a kayak launch is also in the plans for the lake that is owned by Perry County Soil and Water Conservation District. Snider said that an agreement has been made with the Ohio Division of Wildlife (DOW) for them to maintain litter control, manage the fish population, and control weed growth in the lake.
A challenge even more daunting than lake improvements or young anglers trying to catch the winning fish fell on the shoulders of Sheriff Barker. He was in charge of providing and preparing lunch for the kids and their parents.
“There’s 200 kids here with their parents and grandparents, and I brought 400 hot dogs for lunch,” said Sheriff Barker who was obviously pleased with the day’s turnout. “I’ll be satisfied if we have 200 kids here.”
“You had 245 as of 10 minutes ago.” That was Dan Perko from Ohio Division of Wildlife informing the sheriff that the day’s goal of 200 kids had been easily surpassed. Mark Basinger, Perry County state wildlife officer, and Morgan County Wildlife Officer Ben Smith were also on hand for the fishing day.
Every young angler attending the event received a free fishing rod and reel, a t-shirt commemorating the day, a bag of fishing tackle, and even a container of bait. While a hook-impaled worm under a bobber was the day’s favored angling method, many of the youngsters were plying the waters with a plethora of lures.
Four-year-old Bentley Mercer of Crooksville was one of the many anglers who dunked a worm to entice the finny critters. It didn’t take him long to land a bluegill all of three ounces. Soon-to-be a seventh grader at New Lexington Kadence Radigan was another successful angler at the HOFNOD day.
When Ean Linkous brought a 1.58-pound channel catfish to the scales being operated by Fred Redfern of the Perry County Anglers, he took the lead for the biggest fish in his age group. As the clock struck 12 noon, the fishing contest was declared over. A second weigh-in station was manned by two members of the Southern Buckeye Bass Club. Damien Schmersal and Tanner Koons have weighed fish for this event every year since the first Perry County HOFNOD day five years ago.
With the worm slime all but dry, four young anglers stood taller than the rest. Two year old Axton Love took home the first place prize package for the five and under anglers with a 1.25 pound largemouth bass. The 6-9 winner was Emma Thomas with a 1.43 pound bass that fell for a chunk of shrimp.
The catfish caught by Ean Finkous held on to take the first place position in the 10-13 age group. The 14-17 age group champion was Damien Lovallo who made the drive all the way from Newark.
“I heard about it on Facebook and I was hoping to win,” explained Damien. His 2.70-pound catfish was also the biggest fish brought to the scales for the 2023 HOFNOD event.
No community project like the fishing day at the Perry County Gun Club lake is possible without an incredible amount of support from adult volunteers. Sheriff Barker had high praise for deputies Brandon Forester and Adam Newlon and Jeff Wilson, the lead dispatcher for the sheriff’s office. The Sheriff also recognized Makala Hamilton, Sandy Leckrone, Amanda Danison, and Dana Wilson for their efforts.
Larry Hatem made numerous trips to tackle shops like Vance Outdoors, Maxwell’s in McConnelsville, Downs Tackle Shop in Logan, and New Lexington’s own Whitlatch Bait & Carry-Out to collect donations that outfitted the young anglers.
Nurses and medics from Genesis were on hand as well as Jim Mickey astride a four wheeler most of the day as he packed first aid equipment that fortunately was not used. The bright orange shirts with the HOFNOD logo were provided by Perry County Transit.
Further community support came from Jared Holman, owner of Newlon Tire. Jared closes the shop for the day and pays his usual Saturday crew of employees to “work” at the HOFNOD day.
Following the awards ceremony where the day’s winning anglers were recognized, Dan Perko from the Ohio Division of Wildlife presented Sheriff Barker a plaque from the Division for his tireless efforts over the five-year span of sponsoring the Perry County HOFNOD day.
Sgt. Brandon Forester of the Perry County Sheriff’s Office offered his own view of Sheriff Barker as it pertained to the very successful event.
“If it wasn’t for the sheriff, this day would never happen,” Forester stated. He could have said the same for the parents, grandparents, aunt, and uncles who brought the kids to the lake that day. One statement that rang true five years ago at the outset of this angling endeavor aimed at kids echoed in my head as the day drew to a close.
“We can’t arrest ourselves out of the drug problem.” Sheriff Barker’s statement five years ago as he outlined the motivation behind the HOFNOD program is as true today as it was then.
This article originally appeared in the Perry County Tribune.