The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1949-02-03
Gaping
the CAPITAL
With BEN HAYES

COluf1DUS,-l LaSLCu IIOuL IOI
the first time recently. 1t was
delicious. Really good fish! They
were Ohio trout, | saw them
caught at the Zanesfield Rod and
Gun Club. The club is in the
Mad river valley between Colum-
bus and Bellfontaine.
went to GAINESVILLE with Haz
Okey. This man, who loves the
outdoors, is a cousin of the Cald-
well Okcys. Judge John w. Okey,
Haas father, sat on Monroe coun-
ty first court lin log house) and
later was judge on the state su-
preme court. Haz is 73 and di-
rects the firm Of Armstrong &
Okey which provides shorthand
reporters to Columbus courts.
Haz and his long time crony,
Billy Ireland, the late great car
toonist Of the Columbus Dispatch,
have fished and hunted through
out this country and Canada, But
Haz wanted trout fishing near
home, so he, promoted the Zanes-
field club. He was the instigator
and is its perpetual president.
He says: Il wish l could just be
a member of something
But Haz does not mean it. He
enjoys the responsibility of Of
flee. He recently solicited the
club members for money, and di-
rected the drilling of three wells
that provide more water for the
fishing stretches and pools. One
we'll flows, but the others must
be pumped.
The we'll water and the output
of springs flow through willow
shaded ditches-up and down and
arOund-befOTe it OVerflOWs in
the river. The freshness Of the
water probably adds to the
trout's tastiness.
The club house is an old rail
road station with the 'Zanes-
vile" signs still on its ends. 1t
has oVerhanging roof, -bellied
stove and hanging oil lamp. Even
the telegrapher's key is still there
Several members arrived the
day l was there. Haz and l had
driven over through MarysVille
Raymond and West Liberty. They
fish the year around.
I'VE close the club from April
80 to sun-up May l." Haz eX-
planned. I'VE just close it SO we
can have an opening"
l saw beautiful speckled trout
swimming in the clear water
There were great big ones in the
fishing water. One long stretch is
the nursery" Hundreds Of fin
gerlings made this water dark
they were so thick. The clut
raises some trout and buys some
at Castalia.
At the clubhouse, Haz put or
wool underwear, hunting pants
and coat, wool shirt and rubber
| boots-then tied a nymph tly or
his flyrod. He was ready for the
stretches. He took along his little
black dog "Oke." Haz is teaching
"Oke" to be a retriever. Wher
Haz hooked trout, "Oke'
plunged into the water grabbed
the fish in his mouth and brought
| it to HaZ.
| But "Oke's" behavior is not
yet polished The dog runs aheac
of Haz, barking and splashing
This scareS the trout and Haz gets
fewer strikes.
| Other club members say Ha2
takes "Oke" along to save money
Members must pay $l.00 pei
pound for the trout they catch
l didn't catch any-but Haz anC
"Oke' landed two. Haz gave me
these to take home.
Most club members are from
Columbus - but some live ir
Springfield, Urbana and Belle
fontaine. The dues are $500 pei
year. The trout are guarded tc
outsiders from fishing. There is
a watchdog almost as big as 6
pony.
l also know Haz' brother, Perry
Okey, who is mechanical genius
Perry was among Americas first
auto makers. He built Haz a two
cylinder auto about 1900 In 1905
he built what probably was the
first auto trailer. 1t was Of hick-
Dry and they called it a "taga,
long" Haz hooked it to the little
car, and seven or eight could &C
fishing.
Perry will not fish. He says
people who do fish are crazy
But he always has helped Haz
enjoy his sport. The two Okeys
are among Columbus most in
teresting people. There is no ar
gument when you say that Haz is
the towns best story teller.