Charron Takes Top Salmon, Team Prizes in Fishing Classic
Dattilio’s Record Laker Holds on in Trout Division, Walleye Prize Goes to St. Croix

Dave Charron (r) of Colchester, VT, weighed in a 7 lb. 13.5 oz salmon minutes after 8 o’clock Sunday morning to take the lead in the salmon division in the annual Rotary International Fishing Classic on Lake Champlain Charron’s catch also pushed the Cold Water Wizards into the lead in the team competition. With Charron is co-team member Bob Miller of Colchester.

2010 Fishing Classic HomePage Day 1 Release Day 2 Release 2010 Fishing Classic Results 2010 Official Weights 2009 Fishing Classic Results 2009 Official Weights   A LITTLE HISTORY… In 1986, this tournament began as the first spring tournament on Lake Champlain, which was sponsored by the American Lung Association. The Plattsburgh Rotary Club took over sponsorship of the tournament from the American Lung Association in its third year. That was 1989 and was steered by the Rotary Club's Past President Tim Ayres until 1995 when Joan LaPier and Bonnie Black replaced him as co-chairs. When Joan became Club President, she was replaced by Dennis Cregan who co-chaired for three years. In 2005, Jack Prim stepped in as Bonnie’s co-chair for the year. Since 2006, Bonnie has chaired the Tournament and the committee.

PLATTSBURGH, NY __Dave Charron climbed to the top of the salmon division early on the final day of the 25th annual Rotary International Fishing Classic on Lake Champlain. The Colchester, VT., angler also moved the Cold Water Wizards into first place in the team competition with his 7 lb., 13.5 oz. salmon. His teammate, Todd Rockwood, also of Colchester, VT, caught a 14 lb., 7.5 oz. laker on Friday in his team’s quest for the team competition. It also landed Rockwell in third place in the lake trout division. (More Results)

Vincent Dattilio of South Burlington, Vt. held on to the top spot in the lake trout division through the final day with a record-breaking 15 lb. 12 oz. laker he caught Saturday morning. (More Photos)

Dattilio has fished the annual Rotary International Fishing Classic since its inception in 1986. He said, “We love this tournament, and we fish only the ones we like.”

Anglers were out again in force Saturday evening for the third and final night in search of the elusive walleye. Although the weights are no way near those last year, the walleye was finally found. Eric St. Croix of Northfield, VT took the top spot in the walleye division with a 5 lb., 5.0 oz. fish weighed in just after 9 a.m. today at the Apple Island weigh station.

The Fishheads won the $250 cash prize for the first ever Three Fish Combination Competition in the tournament. The team, composed of Steve Crider of Lake Clear, Rick Reyor of Malone, Bruce Baker of Saranac Lake, and Doug Kipping of Paul Smith’s, had a combined weight of 15 lb., 1 oz. Anglers in this competition weighed in a trout, salmon and walleye without going over 25 pounds.

Kipping has been participating in the Rotary International Fishing Classic for several years. “It’s a fun tournament,” remarked Kipping.

Bonnie Black, tournament chair and president of the Plattsburgh Rotary Club, said, the club is very pleased with the turnout during the weekend even with less than perfect weather conditions. “This year has been another phenomenal year for anglers, teams and the tournament. We saw a record-breaking trout for the second consecutive year, and the competition remained intense with the walleye category being so light for two days.”

Black added, “The Three-Fish Combo special for our 25th seemed to have kept anglers on the lake – all chasing the walleye. We couldn’t ask for anything more than three good days of fishing this early in the year.”

This year, 71 teams and 545 anglers including 17 youths under the age of 16 from eight states and the Province of Ontario, participated in the three-day tournament. The total payout for the Rotary club’s tournament was approximately $13,500, which is slightly more than last year. First place in the individual competition netted each division winner $1,762.50 while the first place team earned $1,375.
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The Annual Rotary International Fishing Classic, which was sponsored in part by the Adirondack Coast Visitors and Convention Bureau and Monaghan Medical Corp., brings anglers from across the Northeastern United States to the shores of Lake Champlain for three days of nonstop competition.

This year’s tournament began at midnight on Friday, June 4 and ended on Sunday at 12 p.m. The tournament headquarters and primary weigh-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 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.

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.

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