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Local Vt., Anglers Take Cash Top Prizes in Rotary Fishing Classic
PLATTSBURGH, NY __ After Jim Hallock weighed his 8 lb. 4.5 oz. salmon at the Apple Island (VT.) weight station early Friday afternoon, he hoped it would keep him in first place in the 23rd Annual Plattsburgh Rotary International Fishing Classic on Lake Champlain. He didn’t have much to worry about for the rest of the competition. The Fairfax, VT., man’s fish held on to the lead throughout the weekend netting him a first-place cash prize of $1,604. The leaders in the lake trout and salmon divisions changed several times throughout the competition. Mark Lorenzini, weighed in his 12 lb. 9 oz. lake trout Saturday morning at the Essex Weigh Station (Essex Marina) and it remained the top fish in that division through the remainder of the weekend. Rick Boutah of St. Albans, VT., moved into first place in the walleye division with his 8 lb. 11.5 oz. catch early Sunday morning-- besting second place finisher Dave Bressette of Swanton, VT. Both fish were weighed in at the Apple Island Weigh Station.
Northwestern’s Harlow, Quackenbush Win Team Competition
Northwestern teammates Jon and Linda Quakenbush of South Hero, VT., and Andy Harlow of Amesbury, MA., charged into the lead Saturday afternoon in the team competition. Jon Quackenbush’s 5 lb. 11.5 oz. salmon combined with Harlow’s 11 lb. 4 oz. laker paid out $1,280 for first place. Northwestern’s 753.28 points bested Priority One’ 749.34 points and third place Storekeepers, which ended with 747.09 points. Another consecutive win for the Fishheads, which had won the team competitions the past two years, dwindled away after the team landed a trout and walleye the first day of the competition. This year, 508 anglers and 54 teams participated in the three-day event. The total payout for the Plattsburgh Rotary Club’s tournament this year was $11,545. Bonnie Black, tournament chair, said, “Although we didn’t see any record-breaking fish this year, the competition was the tightest we have had in awhile with some fish weights differing only ounces, and even half ounces, among the top five places.” Black added, “What we did see were consistently larger and healthier fish being weighed throughout the weekend. After 14 years of chairing this event, it is a delight to see our fishery getting stronger. We hope that this is a trend that will go on for years.” ------------------------------------------ The Annual Rotary International Fishing Classic, which was sponsored in part by the Adirondack Coast Visitors and Convention Bureau, brings anglers from across the Northeastern United States to the shores of Lake Champlain for three days of nonstop competition. The Plattsburgh Rotary Club distributes proceeds from the fishing tournament among many of the club’s beneficiaries. Half of the annual tournament revenue and 25 percent of the team category revenue are returned to the community through academic scholarships for SUNY Plattsburgh, Clinton Community College and CVPH Medical Center Radiology School; monies to assist the Beartown Ski Area, Boys Scouts, Girl Scouts, Plattsburgh Little League, YMCA, Literacy Volunteers, North Country Mission of Hope, and other worthy causes. The tournament provides an enjoyable, quality tournament early in the fishing season in which anglers of all ages can participate, win cash prizes and enjoy the camaraderie and fellowship among all of those participating during the weekend. This year’s tournament began at midnight on Friday, May 30 and ended on Sunday at 12 p.m. The tournament headquarters and primary weight in site were located at Clare and Carl’s Dockside, adjacent to the Plattsburgh Boat Basin. Hometown Radio WIRY (1340 AM) aired live updates throughout the weekend. The Plattsburgh Rotary Club would like to thank Clare and Carl’s Dockside, City of Plattsburgh, Sportmen’s Pier (Rouses Point), Indian Bay Marina (Willsboro), Essex Marina (Essex), Apple Island Marina (South Hero, VT), New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (Port Henry Boat Ramp), and the City of Burlington Recreation Department (Perkins Pier, VT.) for the use of their facilities for the three-day event. -- 30 --
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