It all started in 1944

Sunday marks the 75th year of a Bluffton institution - the trout derby

Posted by Fred Steiner on June 7, 2019 - 2:27pm

The photo, taken by Leland Gerber, shows Kimmel Marshall (left) and an unidentified sportsman promoting the 1955 trout derby.

• CLICK HERE for details on this year's derby.

Sunday is the 75th anniversary Bluffton Sportsmen's Club trout derby. Eugene Benroth once said that the derby, which he played a huge part of promoting, was started during World War II as a way to bring the community together during a trying time.

It must have worked because it's still going on each year. Over the years the derby became a Bluffton instutition. Little has changed since 1944.
• The derby is still on the first Sunday of May
of course, this year it moved to June due to flooding).
• The derby is still at the Buckeye
• Trout is the featured fish
• There's a number 1 tagged trout, that since the mid-1950s is named to recognize a Bluffton institution or person
• There are lots of prizes for tagged fish caught
(another Eugene Benroth marketing attraction)

In case you wonder about all those tagged number ones, Here's a list - not quite complete – and we are still working on the missing years. There's certainly someone you know on this famous Bluffton list. As soon as we complete the list, we will share it with Icon viewers.

2019
Bluffton Sportmen's Club's 75th anniversary
Big 75

2018
Ronald "Guppy" Montgomery
Guppy

2017
Sam Diller
Sudden Sam

2016
Bluffton Slaw Cutter
Ole Cutter

2015
Andy Herrmann
Big Andy

2014
Southgate Lanes
The King Pin

2013
Bluffton Peerless Ohio Glove Factory
Big Glove

2012
Tom Augsburger
Ole Augie

2011
Bluffton's 150th anniversary
Grand Shannon

1997 to 2010
We are missing these years

1996
Edgar Cook
Big Ed

1987 to 1995
We are missing these years