Watch a Fish Predict the Weather at Buckeye Lake Winterfest

On the last Saturday of January, thousands of people bundle up and head to Buckeye Lake before dawn, excited to see a fish predict the change of seasons. Yes, you read that right. 

Buckeye Lake Winterfest’s tradition dates to 2014, and now nearly 25,000 visitors make their way to the boat ramp along the north shore of the 3,100-acre lake to watch it unfold each year. 

“The first year, it was about 10 below zero [and] we thought we made a horrible mistake, but about 200 people showed up at 6 a.m.,” says Timothy Ryan, president of the Buckeye Lake Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the festival. 

The main attraction of the one-day Buckeye Lake Winterfest is Benny the Bass. Like Punxsutawney Phil or Buckeye Chuck, Benny predicts the timing of spring. Benny’s 150-pound aquarium is fit into a 1961 boat that arrives at the ramp on a truck. At 7 a.m. sharp, organizers drop live bait into the aquarium and Benny has three minutes to decide whether to take it. 

“Somebody came up with the idea of having a bass decide whether or not he would take the bait, and if he took the bait, it would be an early spring,” Ryan says. “If he didn’t, it would be six more weeks of winter.”

After the results, Benny retires to Buckeye Lake Brewery for the rest of the day, where visitors can grab a beer and see him up-close in his aquarium. His name is worked into food and brews served at the festival, and there’s even a Benny the Bass mascot. An art show and a polar plunge are set for the following day, Feb. 1. 

“The way the region has really taken it on and gotten involved,” Ryan says, “that just keeps it exciting for me year after year.”  Hebron and Walnut roads, Buckeye Lake 43008, 740/398-7205, escapetobuckeyelake.com/winterfest 

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