Angler Recognition Program

2024 Awards

Angler Name Species Image Weight Length Date
Caught		 Body of Water Comments
Tim Steele Brown trout a man holding a Brown trout a Brown trout 4 lbs., 8 oz. 20.5 inches 3/30/2024 Lake Jocassee This beauty hit a #61 Sutton spoon trolled 38 feet deep using downriggers in 160 feet deep water.
Sawyer Stanley Crappie a boy holding Crappie a Crappie N/A 16 inches 3/17/2024 Lake Marion Sawyer was drift fishing a Santee catfishing rig and caught this big crappie by surprise! This fish was caught in approximately 16 feet of water on Blueback Herring cut bait.
Reid McGraw Blue Catfish a boy holding a blue catfish a blue catfish 18 lbs., 6 oz. 32.5 inches 3/1/2024 Lake Moultrie We were anchored up in a cluster of Cypress trees when the rod on the back right corner of the boat slammed down. Reid, who had been watching the rods vigilantly, grabbed the rod and set the hook. Reid, at 10 years old, fought the fish like a seasoned angler as it zigzagged out of the trees. When he finally got it to the net, he had landed his personal best catfish at 18.6 lbs and 32.5 inches in length.
Casey Jones Brown trout a man holding brown trout a brown trout 6 lbs., 2 oz. 22 inches 2/14/2024 Lake Jocassee We caught this 6 lb. Brown trout trolling a Sutton spoon 60 feet deep right at sunset on Lake Jocassee. The fish was released.
Nathan Leslie Brown trout a man holding brown trout a brown trout 8 lbs., 13 oz. 28.5 inches 2/10/2024 Lake Jocassee Nate's trophy trout was caught on a large minnow pulled behind a planer board rig. This trout put up an epic fight and is Nate's personal best. The fish was caught at 1:30 in the afternoon and placed first in the Jimmy Orr Trout Tournament Series.
Jeff Lamb Brown trout a man holding brown trout a brown trout 6 lbs., 10 oz. 25 inches 2/2/2024 Lake Jocassee This beauty was caught trolling a Sutton spoon 45 feet deep in the Toxaway River channel.
Casey Jones Brown trout a man holding brown trout a brown trout 5 lbs., 6 oz. 24 inches 1/23/2024 Lake Jocassee This nice Brown trout was caught trolling a Sutton spoon at 35 feet deep in 100 feet of water. The fish was released successfully.
Brian Bowen Brown trout a man holding brown trout a brown trout 6 lbs., 5 oz. 23.5 inches 1/22/2024 Lake Jocassee Brian caught this Brown trout trolling a silver/copper spoon 45 feet deep with a downrigger.

2023 Big Fish of the Year Winners

Angler Name Species Image Weight Length Date
Caught		 Body of Water Category
Samantha Stanley Blue Catfish a child holding brown trout a brown trout N/A 33 inches 4/2/2023 Lake Marion Youth
Parker Lane Brown trout a young lady holding brown trout a brown trout 6 lbs., 5 oz. 24 inches 7/6/2023 Lake Jocassee Youth
Kevin Martin Brown trout a man holding brown trout a brown trout 10 lbs., 4 oz. 26 inches 6/3/2023 Lake Jocassee Adult

2023 Awards

Angler Name Species Image Weight Length Date
Caught		 Body of Water Comments
Brian Bowen Brown trout a man holding brown trout a brown trout 6 lbs., 5 oz. 23.5 inches 12/27/2023 Lake Jocassee Brian caught this Brown trout trolling a cracked glass Krocodile spoon 50 feet deep with a downrigger. He was on the Toxaway River across from Jumping Off Rock. When the trout hit the fight was so strong Brian thought it was a bass. It took him three attempts to get the fish netted.
Brian Bowen Brown trout a man holding brown trout a brown trout 5 lbs., 4 oz. 23 inches 12/27/2023 Lake Jocassee Brian caught this Brown trout trolling a cracked glass Krocodile spoon 50 feet deep with a downrigger. He was on the Toxaway River across from Jumping Off Rock. When the trout hit the fight was so strong Brian thought it was a bass. It took him three attempts to get the fish netted.
Linda Rogalsky Brown trout a woman holding brown trout a brown trout 6 lbs., 2 oz. 24 inches 10/23/2023 Lake Jocassee Linda caught this 6 pound Brown trout trolling a Sutton spoon 100 feet deep in 250 feet of water.
Mark Sparling Brown trout a man holding brown trout a brown trout 7 lbs., 6 oz. 24 inches 7/25/2023 Lake Jocassee Mark caught this Brown trout while trolling a spoon 110 feet deep in 250 feet of water on Lake Jocassee.
Donald Rossberg Brown trout a man holding brown trout a brown trout 5 lbs., 13 oz. 23 inches 6/18/2023 Lake Jocassee This big Brown trout hit a flutter spoon trolled on a downrigger 68 feet deep in 135 feet of water.
Steve Xoxakos Brown trout a man holding brown trout a brown trout 5 lbs., 6 oz. 22 inches 6/4/2023 Lake Jocassee Steve caught this 5 pound Brown trout early in the morning while trolling a Sutton spoon 60 feet deep near the dam on Lake Jocassee.
Donnie Lanier Brown trout a man holding brown trout a brown trout 5 lbs., 2 oz. 22 inches 6/3/2023 Lake Jocassee Donnie caught this 5-pound Brown trout in the main cove near Devils Fork State Park landing ramp. The fish hit a spoon being trolled on a flat line on the surface.
Sherri Odlevak Brown trout a woman holding brown trout a brown trout 3 lbs., 8 oz. 20 inches 5/31/2023 Lake Jocassee Sherri caught this fish while trolling on Lake Jocassee. The fish hit a Brown trout colored Apex spoon at 45 feet deep.
Andrea Redding Brown trout a woman holding brown trout a brown trout 9 lbs., 4 oz. 27 inches 5/14/2023 Lake Jocassee This Brown trout was caught on Lake Jocassee while trolling with downriggers. It hit a Sutton spoon being trolled at 45 feet deep while we were fishing contour lines about 50 yards off the shore.
Casey Jones Brown trout a man holding brown trout a brown trout 7 lbs., 5 oz. 24 inches 5/9/2023 Lake Jocassee This large 7 pound Brown trout was caught on Lake Jocassee while trolling in 300 feet of water. Trolling and using downriggers the big brown hit a spoon trolled at 45 feet deep. After putting up a fantastic fight for over 10 minutes she finally rolled over and we were able to land her.
Jacob Souva Brown trout a man holding brown trout a brown trout 5 lbs., 7 oz. 21 inches 4/30/2023 Lake Jocassee This 5 pound Brown trout was caught using downriggers while trolling Lake Jocassee around the dam on a rainy morning. This fish hit an Apex spoon trolled at 55 feet in 200 feet of water.
Marco Staples Brown trout a man holding brown trout a brown trout 4 lbs., 3 oz. 20 inches 4/11/2023 Lake Jocassee This young angler caught his 4 pound Brown trout on Lake Jocassee. The fish hit a Sutton spoon lure 28 feet deep in 150 feet of water while trolling with downriggers.
Mamie Webster Brown trout a child holding brown trout a brown trout 5 lbs., 2 oz 21 1/2 inches 3/17/2023 Lake Jocassee Mamie caught this Brown trout on conventional tackle while trolling in the lake. The fish was weighed on a handheld scale and measured using a SCDNR approved ruler.
Sam Jones Brown trout a man holding brown trout a brown trout 4 lbs., 4 oz. 21 inches 1/27/2023 Lake Jocassee This Brown trout was caught trolling a Sutton spoon 28 feet deep in 220 feet of water.

2022 Big Fish of the Year Winners

Angler Name Species Image Weight Length Date
Caught		 Body of Water Comments
Timothy Pfaffenroth
(Adult)		 Brown trout a man holding brown trout 6 lbs., 1 oz. 23 inches 7/30/2022 Lake Jocassee This Brown trout was caught off a Sutton spoon trolled on a small downrigger approximately 90 feet deep in 240 feet of water.
Jack Mowinski
(Youth)		 Brown trout a kid holding brown trout 7 lbs., 2 oz. 24 inches 7/9/2022 Lake Jocassee The Brown trout was caught off a spoon trolled on a downrigger 73 feet deep in 300 feet of water. This was the first time the young angler went fishing, he's hooked now!
Aiden Wilson
(Youth)		 Blue Catfish Smiling kid holding a huge blue catfish 33 lbs N/A 6/11/2022 Lake Wateree While only his second time fishing from a boat, the young angler landed this big Blue catfish on live bait early on a cool, foggy morning. The boat captain said it was the biggest fish ever caught from his boat!
Ashton Tate
(Youth)		 Black Crappie Smiling kid holding a black crappie 2 lbs., 6 oz. 16 inches 5/6/2022 Lake Thurmond The crappie was caught trolling a hand tied jig

2022 Awards

Angler Name Species Image Weight Length Date
Caught		 Body of Water Comments
Carter Miller Brown trout a kid holding brown trout a brown trout 3 lbs., 02 oz. 19 3/8 inches 10/29/2022 Lake Jocassee This Brown trout was caught at 100 feet trolling spoons using downriggers in 150 feet of water.
Mason Parmelee Brown trout a kid holding brown trout a brown trout 3 lbs., 12oz. 18.75 inches 10/23/2022 Lake Jocassee This Brown trout was caught on a blue Apex lure trolled on a downrigger 101 feet deep in 280 feet of water.
Mason Parmelee Brown trout a kid holding brown trout a brown trout 3 lbs., 6 oz. 18.5 inches 10/23/2022 Lake Jocassee This Brown trout hit a Rainbow trout lure trolled 90 feet deep with a downrigger in 300 feet of water.
Horace Walpole, Jr. Brown trout a brown trout 5 lbs., 2 oz. 22 inches 8/8/2022 Lake Jocassee This Brown trout was caught in 100 feet of water in the Bad Creek area of Lake Jocassee, late morning on a Krocodle cracked glass silver spoon.
Benjamin Hursh Brown trout a kid holding brown trout 4 lbs. 18.75 inches 7/31/2022 Lake Jocassee This Brown trout was caught off an Apex lure trolled 117 feet deep in 300 feet of water at the intake dam.
Ollie Morgan Brown trout a kid holding brown trout a brown trout 6 lbs., 4 oz. 23 inches 7/18/2022 Lake Jocassee This beauty was caught trolling 88 feet deep in 290 feet of water. It followed a spoon released from the downrigger and hit it right behind the boat.
Linda Huggins Brown trout a woman holding brown trout 5 lbs., 2 oz. 20 inches 7/9/2022 Lake Jocassee The Brown trout was caught off a spoon trolled on a downrigger 83 feet deep in 260 feet of water.
Holden Montgomery Brown trout man holding brown trout Gregg Thompson's qualifying Brown trout 6 lbs., 6 oz. 22 inches 7/1/2022 Lake Jocassee The Brown trout was caught off a spoon trolled on a downrigger 53 feet deep in 280 feet of water.
Tyler Fiscus Brown trout man holding brown trout 5 lbs., 15 oz. 21 inches 5/29/2022 Lake Jocassee The trout hit a blue Apex lure 61 feet deep on a downrigger
Sam Jones Brown trout Photograph of Sam Jones with qualifying Brown trout 4 lbs., 10 oz. 21 inches 5/14/2022 Lake Jocassee This fish was caught in Lake Jocassee on a Sutton spoon in 43 feet of water while trolling.
Gregg Thompson Brown trout Gregg Thompson's qualifying Brown trout Photograph of Gregg Thompson with qualifying Brown trout 5 lbs., 2 oz. 21 1/4 inches 3/30/2022 Lake Jocassee This fish was caught in Lake Jocassee on a downrigger in 55 feet of water while trolling.

2021 Awards

Angler Name Species Image Weight Length Date
Caught		 Body of Water Comments
James Soltisz Blue catfish Photograph of James Soltisz with qualifying Blue Catfish   48 inches 10/26/2021 Lake Wylie The fish was caught just before sunset off the end of my dock, in a small cove just north of the Route 49 bridge, on Lake Wylie in approximately 30 ft. of water with a single piece rod and bait cast reel, 30 lb. test line, 6/0 hook, slip sinker and a small Bluegill as bait.
Sawyer Stanley Blue catfish Photograph of Sawyer Stanley with qualifying Blue Catfish   33 inches 7/9/2021 Lake Wylie
Keira Gardner Blue catfish Photograph of Keira Gardner with qualifying Blue Catfish 26 lbs., 1 oz. 38 inches 5/27/2021 Lake Marion
Cole Thomas Brown trout Photograph of Cole Thomas with qualifying Brown trout 3 lbs. 5 oz. 20.5 inches 1/18/2021 Lake Jocassee
Jim Houlihan Brown trout Photograph of Jim Houlihan with qualifying Brown trout 4 lbs. 2 oz. 21.5 inches 1/19/2021 Lake Jocassee

2020 Awards

Angler Name Species Image Weight Length Date
Caught		 Body of Water
Hunter J. Lineberry Blue catfish   29 lbs. 9 oz. 36 inches 8/14/2020 Lake Marion
Hayden A. Lineberry Blue catfish   27 lbs. 13 oz. 33 inches 8/13/2020 Lake Marion
Jim Houlihan Brown trout Photograph of Jim Houlihan with qualifying Brown trout 5 lbs 4 oz 21.5 inches 3/25/2020 Lake Jocassee

2019 Awards

Angler Name Species Image Weight Length Date
Caught		 Body of Water
Jim Houlihan Brown trout Photograph of Jim Houlihan with Brown trout   23 in 1/10/2019 Lake Jocassee
Gavin Hampton Brown trout Photograph of Gavin Hampton with qualifying Brown trout   18 1/8th inches 6/30/2019 Lake Jocassee
Charles Faulconer Striped bass   22 lbs 2 oz 39.00 in 4/23/2019 Little River, SC

2018 Awards

Angler Name Species Image Weight Length Date
Caught		 Body of Water
Chandler Ethan Icard Blue catfish   21 lbs 5 oz 35.75 in 4/22/2018 Lake Marion, SC
Bill Lewis Brown trout Photograph of Bill Lewis with 2nd qualifying Brown trout 5.92 lbs 23.25 in 4/29/2018 Lake Jocassee
Bill Lewis Brown trout Photograph of Bill Lewis with Brown trout 4.76 lbs 22.25 in 4/21/2018 Lake Jocassee
Roger Kendrick Brown trout Photograph of Roger Kendrick with Brown trout 9.36 lbs 28.25 in 4/21/2018 Lake Jocassee

2017 Awards

Angler Name Species Image Weight Length Date
Caught		 Body of Water
Jeff Dillard Blue catfish Photograph of Jeff Dillard with Blue catfish 42 lbs 8 oz 40.5 in 9/1/2017 Lake Marion

2016 Awards

'Fintastic' Youth

Angler Name Species Image Weight Length Date
Caught		 Body of Water
Quade Lindler Blue catfish     40.5 in 4/23/2016 Clarks Hill Lake
Faith Alexandra Makayla Embry Blue catfish     32 in 4/4/2016 TawCaw Creek
Lake Marion

2015 Awards

'Fintastic' Youth

Angler Name Species Image Weight Length Date
Caught		 Body of Water
Glen J. Gerringer Blue catfish   83 lbs 4 oz 44 in 6/29/2015 Congaree River
Brodie Lee Blue catfish   50 lbs 14 oz 43.31 in 12/31/2015 Lake Moultrie
Braelyn Lee Blue catfish   22 lbs 3 oz 35.04 in 12/31/2015 Lake Moultrie
Preston White Crappie Photograph of Preston White with Crappie   16 in 4/3/2015 Lake Secession
Peter Coyle Giebeig Brown trout   5 lbs 22 in 3/31/2015 Lake Jocassee
Joseph and Katelyn Illenze Brown trout Photograph of Joseph and Katelyn Illenz with Brown Trout 6 lbs 4 oz 23 in 3/30/2015 Lake Jocassee
Gavin Hampton Largemouth bass Gavin Hampton and his monster Largemouth Bass caught in Lake Robinson 10 lbs 2 oz 26.75 in 1/19/2015 Lake Robinson

Adult

Angler Name Species Image Weight Length Date
Caught		 Body of Water
Will Kubler Brown trout   8 lb 0 oz 27.25 in 12/12/2015 Lake Jocassee
Timothy Keith Tate Crappie Photograph of Timothy Tate with Crappie 2 lbs 13 oz 17.5 in 3/28/2015 Lake Russell
Sam Jones Brown trout   7 lbs 5 oz 25.5 in 3/24/2015 Lake Jocassee
Ben Collins Brown trout Photograph of Ben Collins with Brown Trout 10 lbs .52 oz 26.25 in 3/18/2015 Lake Jocassee
Benjamin Hart Brown trout  Photograph of Benjamin Hart with Brown Trout 7 lbs .02 oz 24.5 in 1/19/2015 Lake Jocassee

2014 Awards

Angler Name Species Image Weight Length Date
Caught		 Body of Water
Sam Jones Brown trout 7 lbs 4 oz 24 in 8/20/2014 Lake Jocassee
Robbie Rish Blue catfish 35 lbs 41 in 7/26/2014 Rediversion Canal
Will Kubler Brown trout     25 in 2/15/2014 Lake Jocassee

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