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Fishing University stars test Mosquito Lake bass

Bass anglers looking to pursue higher education about Mosquito Lake will have an opportunity to earn their master’s degree when they view the Fishing University TV show in 2021.

Professional bass anglers Charlie Ingram and Ray Brazier traveled to Trumbull County on Thursday and prepared for their first day of filming their popular television show Friday morning.

Their first stop was the popular Clubhouse Brewing on North River Road in Warren. There they greeted local media to explain their choice of venues for a 30-minute show that will air in 2021 on the Outdoor Channel, World Fishing Network and Sportsman Channel.

“We’re always on the lookout for interesting lakes, and we started seeing social media posts about Mosquito Lake’s bass fishing,” said Ingram, a Tennessee angler who has been fishing professionally since the early 1980s. “We saw a lot of Facebook pictures of what the local anglers were catching, and we reached out via Messenger and learned Mosquito is a pretty good lake.”

The Fishing University TV series is viewed by more than 120 million households in all 50 states and 51 countries. Episodes typically feature a friendly competition between Ingram and Brazier, the two stars of the show. Joining them will be Paul Renaldo, owner of BALSAX fishing lines, and Rodney Jacoby.

Brazier said Thursday evening that he and Ingram were really looking forward to hitting the water Friday morning.

“We’ll be heading out there cold turkey to see what we can catch and film all the action,” Brazier said. “What the viewers will see will be the way we experienced our day. It will all be real.”

Brazier was optimistic but hesitated to venture a guess about the action they might capture on video Friday.

“Sometimes you catch them. Sometimes you don’t,” he said.

Local dignitaries and fishing fans greeted the Fishing University crew Thursday at Clubhouse Brewing, a craft brewery. The establishment is themed in recognition of those who have served in the military, law enforcement and first responder jobs.

Trumbull County Commissioner Dan Polivka and Mosquito Lake Marina operator Joe Sofchek both noted the important role the big lake plays in the local economy and look forward to the increased awareness the Fishing University TV show will generate.

“When Fishing University reached out to us with this opportunity, we knew it would be a natural fit,” said Beth Kotwis Carmichael, executive director of Trumbull County tourism. “We will not only be able to put a spotlight on the world-renowned fishing opportunities in our region but also feature the community, culture and activities that guests can experience while visiting.”

The Fishing University episode featuring Ingram and Brazier on Mosquito will include a 90-second segment showcasing popular Trumbull County attractions. Viewers will get an up-close look at the fishing success of Ingram and Brazier. They offered a few hints about what they expected to encounter during their day on the water.

“I understand the lake has lots of grass, so I would think we’ll be looking at topwater action of some form and then looking for bass out on the edges of the flats and in the mats,” Ingram said.

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