Southgate Lanes honored with tagged trout number one derby day
Southgate Lanes bowling alley will be recognized by the Bluffton Sportmen's Club during this year's Sunday, May 4, 70th annual trout derby at the Buckeye, according to Tom Augsburger of the club.
Trout 1, "The King Pin," will be worth thousands in cash if caught between 2 and 4:30 p.m. on derby day. The jackpot is built with $5 donations. Last year's jackpot was worth $1,715 and one-half went to John Towsey of Lima, who held the winning ticket. The other half of the pot either goes to the club, if no one catches trout number 1, or to a person whose ticket is drawn following the derby,
Should The King Pin not be caught during the derby it has a consolation prize value of $200 until Labor Day.
Persons may purchase Sportsmen's Club memberships at derby headquarters, Family True Value Hardware, 108 N. Main St., Bluffton. Other locations where memberships may be purchased includes Kibbee's Carryout, and Ted's Market, Pandora. Memberships are $10 for youth through age 13 and $30 for persons 14 and up.
During this year's derby there are over $4,000 in cash and prizes on tagged trout in the Buckeye.
Other sigificant prizes include:
• Longest trout caught during the derby - $25 cash
• Two split sides of beef, donated by Montgomery farms
During the derby is a chicken barbecue at the Sportsmen's Club depot starting at 11 a.m. catered by Ted and Don's.
Sportsmen's officers are:
• Tom Augsburger, president
• Jerry Edinger, vice president
• Treasurer, Ron Schmutz
• Andy Herrmann, secretary
Directors are: Marvin Maag, Mark Zimmerman, Lucas Herrmann, Ron Neidemire, Dale Neidemire, Wilbur Bracy and Roger Hoffman.
Stories Posted This Week
Sunday, November 8, 2026
Saturday, November 7, 2026
- Pirates Essinger and Gatchel finish cross country season at OHSAA Championships
- Nov. 7 Bluffton Schools athletics lineup, streaming
- Pirate football hits Archbold roadblock in playoff loss
- Forum: Vaughn explores biblical and multicultural accounts of spirits and exorcism
- Bluffton University relaunches Leadership Development Program with NetVUE grant support
- Weekend Doctor: When distraction becomes the default
Friday, November 6, 2026
Thursday, November 5, 2026
Wednesday, November 4, 2026
- Klausing graduates from Ohio Bankers League Bank Management School
- Joellen Kay Lehman, 46, owned and operated Folly Faces
- Dec. 4-5 Messiah performances continue holiday tradition at Bluffton and Findlay
- Future Beaver Saturdays invite students to experience Bluffton University
- Ellie Bogart named BHS Student of the Month for October 2026
- Walter "Steve" Suter, 73, worked at Kirtland’s Auto Repair
- Grab an afterschool snack at the Bluffton Public Library