Taking a look at the unique Ohio way of keeping state record fish

I love fish stories. Regular readers figured that out about 25 years ago.

I would love records kept for even all Illinois native suckers, chubs and sunfish.

According to fisheries biologist Nerissa McClelland, keeper of Illinois fishing records, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources currently recognizes 58 species/hybrids (listed in the fishing regulations book).

When I suggested expansion of the records to IDNR fisheries chief Mike McClelland, he took it seriously but nixed it.

“Strictly with new record establishment, to provide a fair process, I think we would have to consider what a standard would be for the species we would incorporate,” he noted. “If an individual catches a fish not currently listed in the records, do they automatically get the record, or do we have a minimum standard that has to be bested? That likely requires a data-analysis approach for a weight standard by species and then setting the records policy for all the species we would consider. Along with that, we would expect some species’ records to be broken more frequently, since they are new, which adds to time spent verifying and processing records by our staff.

“We do have staff priorities and time limitations to always keep in mind, [and] establishing and maintaining new records may take away from other priorities. Not to say it couldn’t happen in the future!”

I suggested something similar to Ohio, where the Outdoor Writers of Ohio organization keeps the fish records.

“Hey, I like that idea, Dale!” McClelland replied.

The OWO began keeping the record fish in the late 1940s, said Fred Snyder, a past OWO president and chairman of the OWO state record fish committee since 2011. He’s a professor emeritus in fisheries at Ohio State.

“It’s a point of pride with us,” Snyder said. “We consider it one of our premier programs.”

The basic requirements are similar to those in Illinois: Fish are weighed on a certified scale with two witnesses. The scale must be certified by an auditor. There must be visual confirmation and species identification by a fisheries biologist of the Ohio Division of Wildlife.

Here’s the difference: Snyder receives the record application and checks it. Once clean, he sends it to a committee of five.

“They often have questions,” he said. “I insist on a unanimous vote. No shadows over the record, no questions. I really work it over hard. I am satisfied it is good before I send it to the committee.”

To add a category, the committee makes a recommendation for a full OWO membership vote.

When I said I’d like Illinois to expand its record listing to include all native suckers and chubs, Snyder cracked, “If it gets to that, I will give [the job] to someone else.”

I need an ally.

Illinois hunting

When deer harvest numbers come, I will post at chicago.suntimes.com/outdoors.

Wild things

Snowy owl sightings have started in the collar counties. Don’t be surprised to spot one around the Chicago lakefront.

Stray cast

The International Game Fish Association’s world-record Wels catfish (297 pounds, 9 ounces, Attilla Zsedely, River Po, Italy, March 11, 2010) is easier to comprehend than Juan Soto’s $765 million deal with the Mets.