There's something about setting a goal that makes every cast feel more intentional.

I've been fishing Ohio waters most of my life, but 2025 is the year I'm officially chasing the Fish Ohio Master Angler Award. Four trophy fish. Four different species. All in one calendar year. That's the mission.

The Fish Ohio program recognizes anglers who land trophy sized fish across more than two dozen species. You earn a pin for any qualifying catch, but to become a Master Angler, you need to submit four qualifying fish of different species in one year. Sounds doable until you realize how many guys have been trying for years without hitting it.

What sparked this whole thing? A bowfin I landed back in April. Thing crushed a spinnerbait in some nasty backwater like it had a personal vendetta against me. That fish broke the 23-inch mark needed to qualify, and just like that, I was hooked on this crazy challenge.

So here's my hit list:

✅ Bowfin (got it)
A bass (largemouth or smallmouth)
A panfish (probably crappie or bluegill)
Still torn between carp or catfish for number four

Each one's got its own headaches, which is exactly why this whole thing has me obsessed.

Species #1 — Bowfin (Mission Accomplished)

Started on one of those crappy gray April mornings in a marsh up in Northeast Ohio. I was chucking a white and chartreuse spinnerbait for bass, slow rolling it through some submerged weeds when something nearly yanked my rod into the drink.

First thought was pike. But when I saw that dinosaur head roll up near the surface, I knew I had something special. Bowfin don't mess around.

Bowfin minimum for Fish Ohio: 23 inches
Mine measured: 23 inches on the nose

Lucky? Maybe. But I'll take it.

Here's the thing about bowfin nobody really targets them. That's exactly why they're perfect for this program. Less pressure, solid size potential, and they fight like they're pissed off at the world. I was throwing that spinnerbait on a 7-foot medium-heavy with 20-pound braid, which turned out to be perfect for muscling it out of that weedy mess.

That fish locked in my first qualifying species and taught me something important: don't sleep on the weird stuff. Sometimes the fish everyone ignores are your best shot at the pin.

Species #2 — Bass (The Grind Continues)

Now I need a decent bass. Should be easy, right? Wrong.

Largemouth: 20 inches
Smallmouth: 18 inches

I've been hitting my usual spots - West Branch Reservoir, Mogadore, LaDue, Lake Hodgson. These places have clear water and the kind of structure that grows big fish, but that also means the fish are educated as hell.

My go-to tactics have been Texas-rigged creature baits in the thick stuff, Ned rigs for smallies on rocky points, and the occasional topwater frog when I can't help myself. Clear water makes everything harder though. Fish see you coming from a mile away.

This year I'm forcing myself to slow down. Fish smaller baits. Actually trust the process instead of just burning through spots like I usually do. Bass are smart, but I'm betting patience can outwork them.

Still working on this one. Had a few close calls but nothing that measured up yet.

Species #3 — Panfish (Deceptively Tough)

People think panfish are easy. Those people haven't tried to catch a 9-inch bluegill or 13-inch crappie lately.

Fish Ohio panfish minimums:

Bluegill/Sunfish: 9 inches
Crappie: 13 inches
Yellow Perch: 13 inches

I'm leaning toward bluegill. Come June when they're spawning, I'll be out there with my 3-weight fly rod throwing tiny poppers and bead-head nymphs. Sounds simple, but big bluegill are spookier than most bass. You've got to be sneaky, patient, and your presentation better be perfect.

The other option is crappie, but they're so damn unpredictable. One day you can't keep them off the hook, next week they've vanished like they never existed.

Species #4 — The Great Debate: Carp vs. Catfish

This is where I'm stuck. Can't decide between going after a carp or catfish for my fourth species.

Carp (28 inches minimum): Pro: They're everywhere in Ohio. You can sight fish them in shallow water. Absolute freight trains on light gear. Con: Requires all kinds of bait prep, corn, pack bait, the whole European carp fishing setup. Plus you might sit for hours without a bite.

Catfish (Channel: 26 inches, Flathead: 35 inches): Pro: Night fishing is fun. They fight like trucks. Good excuse to get the guys together for some social fishing. Con: Gear heavy. Sometimes they bite, sometimes they don't. Can be a real crapshoot.

Right now I'm leaning catfish. Got some solid night spots picked out and a heavy spinning rig ready to go. But those early morning carp cruising around urban creeks keep calling my name.

Still haven't made up my mind on this one.

How This Changes Everything

Chasing the Fish Ohio Master Angler Award completely changes how you fish. You stop just going out hoping for "a bite" and start fishing with actual purpose.

You start paying attention to patterns. Taking notes. Fishing spots at specific times for specific reasons instead of just winging it.

There are brutal days. Days when you get completely skunked. Miss fish you should have landed. Lose big ones that would've sealed the deal. But somehow that makes the successes even sweeter.

And in those quiet moments when the lake's glass calm and the sun's just breaking through the trees, you remember why you fell in love with this stupid, addictive sport in the first place.

My Arsenal

Rod setups:

Bowfin/Catfish: 7-foot medium-heavy baitcaster with 40-pound braid
Bass: 6'10" medium spinning rod with 10-pound fluoro, or baitcaster with braid to fluoro leader
Panfish: 5'6" ultralight with 2-pound mono
Fly rod: 3-weight for bluegill

Essential gear:

Ketch measuring board (Fish Ohio requires photo proof)
Phone camera and Fishbrain app to log everything
Tackle organized for quick species switches

Confidence baits:

Weightless Senkos (because they always work)
Z-Man TRDs on Ned heads
Gulp minnows for everything
Beetle spins when all else fails

Why I'm Doing This

The Fish Ohio Master Angler Award isn't just about a pin you can stick on your hat. It's about proving something to yourself. About becoming a more complete angler instead of just a guy who throws the same three baits at the same five spots.

I'm in it for the challenge. The learning curve. Those breakthrough moments when everything clicks.

Whether I actually hit all four species this year or not, this chase is already making me a better fisherman. More patient. More prepared. More intentional about every trip.

Your Turn

If you're chasing your own fishing goals this year, I'd love to hear about it. Drop a comment or shoot me an email. Always cool to connect with other Ohio anglers grinding toward something bigger.

And seriously if you had to pick between carp or catfish for a fourth Fish Ohio species, what's your move? I could use the help making this decision.

Chasing the Pin: My Plan to Earn the Fish Ohio Master Angler Award in 2025

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