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Hustosky reflects on lifelong love for fishing

Al Hustosky was bitten by the fishing bug early, and his resulting angling affliction manifested itself in ways that no doubt raised a few eyebrows. A former resident of Lisbon and Salem, Hustosky resides today back in his childhood town of Maple Heights, where he first experienced the magic of bluegill fishing. He recently reflected on the “why” that drives his passion for fishing and how he became transfixed by muskies and bass. “My passion for fishing started with early memories, but I did not come from a fishing family,” Hustosky said. “I was around 6 years old and Dad ...

Listening, learning, delivering key for Waikem

Businessman and angler Dave Waikem is living proof that the key to success is listening, learning and delivering what the customer wants. Whether the “customer” is a car buyer, fishing tackle shopper or smallmouth bass, Waikem knows he will not win the sale by force-feeding them inferior or undesirable products. Long known for the six Waikem family-owned car dealerships in Massillon, Dave juggled managing businesses with his passion for bass fishing. The Waikem car dealerships now under new ownership, he is focusing full time on building the retail Fisherman’s Central stores ...

Gradishar’s selection a long time coming

It’s over. It’s finally over. It might be 35 years overdue, but the wait for one of football’s greatest linebackers, Champion alumnus Randy Gradishar, has finally come to an end. The cynic in me wants to point out that if Gradishar were a Cowboy or a Steeler, he would have been enshrined in Canton a long time ago. Or how it took his fourth time as a finalist to be selected. But this isn’t a moment for complaining about what should have been. I’ve complained each of the last few years. I want to take this time to celebrate a local legend and someone who has played ...

Muransky sees competitive side of angling

The Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers suiting up for tonight’s Super Bowl have something in common with anglers that the casual observer might not realize. But Youngstown businessman Ed Muransky can see it clearly. He is a passionate angler who happens to own a Super Bowl XVIII championship ring earned when his Los Angeles Raiders toppled Washington 38-9 in the 1984 NFL title game. Our series of columns exploring the “Why?” behind anglers’ passion for fishing brought us to Muransky on Super Bowl Sunday. We asked him about football and fishing – two sports in ...

Schrader’s ‘why’ is enjoying nature, learning

Intuition driven by the experience Bill Schrader of Canfield gained across the Great Lakes region prompted him to flip the switch last June to win the Muransky Companies Bass Classic, hosted by Aqua Ohio at Pine and Evans lakes. Schrader and teammate Eric Sevenich blew up the scales with more than 22 pounds of largemouths to win the Pine Lake half of the 2023 tournament benefiting the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley. Fishing aboard Schrader’s vintage Ranger boat, the winners made a mid-day move that proved pivotal in their pursuit of the victory. The defending ...

A blessing in disguise leads Doyle to fishing

A defining moment in Rich Doyle’s fishing life came in 1962 when the Little League baseball team manager posted a roster that did not include his name. To cushion the disappointment, young Doyle’s dad took him to a local hardware store and bought him a fishing rod and reel. The father and son then went to Pine Lake south of North Lima, and the rest is history. The stinging cut and the subsequent fishing trip certainly contributed to the “Why?” that lit the fire for fishing that burns in Doyle’s soul. “I was an OK ball player, but I was the last guy cut,” he said, ...