Ballston Lake Angler Leads Salmon Division in Fishing Classic
Lake Trout Tops 14 Lb. 7.5 Oz., Walleye Missing in Action

William Stewart of Ballston Lake leads the Salmon Division after Day 1 with a 7 lb., 11.6 oz. catach taken off Port Henry Friday.

2010 Fishing Classic HomePage Day 1 Release Day 2 Release 2010 Individual Rules & Regulations 2010 Team Rules & Regulations 2010 Web Registration Form 2010 Registration Outlets   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 __ It’s going to take a nearly 8 lb. fish to push William Stewart of Ballston Lake, NY, out of first place in the salmon division in the 25th annual Rotary International Fishing Classic on Lake Champlain. After the first day of competition, Stewart was on top of the leader board with a 7 lbs. 11.5 oz. salmon. That’s nearly 13 ounces more than last year’s top fish. (More results)

In the lake trout division, Todd Rockwell’s 14 lb. 7.5 oz. catch on Friday put the Colchester, Vt., angler in the lead. It is still more than a pound lighter than last year’s record-breaking 15 lb. 10 oz. trout hauled in by Spencer Hathaway from Willsboro. (More Day 1 Photos)

Anglers will be out again tonight in search for walleye. With only one 4 lb. 7.5 oz. walleye, caught by Ben Boileau of Burlington, Vt., appearing on the board, some are questioning where they are this year.

At the end of the first day, the team “Warden and the Rod Buster,” comprised of Mike Barber, Brian King, Dean King and Tim Reynolds, all of Willsboro, NY, are leading the team competition with 596 points.

Bonnie Black, tournament chair, said it was a spectacular first day for the tournament. “We were blessed with sunshine all day around the lake – it was almost as if Nature knew we were celebrating our 25th year!”

The number of anglers registering for the tournament this year exceeded 530 and a study stream kept Rotarians at the weigh stations busy throughout the day.

Club Seeking Long-Time Tourney Anglers
In honor of the 25th anniversary of the Fishing Classic, Black said the club expects to see a handful of diehards who have participated in the three-day event for all or many of the 24 past tourneys. “We are hoping that a few veterans of the tourney will be fishing that weekend. If so, we will have some special awards to hand out to them during the final awards ceremony.”

In 1986, this tournament began as the first spring tournament on Lake Champlain, 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.

Tournament Headquarters at Clare and Carl’s Dockside
The Fishing Classic began at 12:01 a.m. Friday, June 4, and runs until 12 p.m. (noon) on Sunday, June 6. The tournament headquarters is located at Clare and Carl’s Dockside next to the Plattsburgh Boat Basin . All weigh stations are open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 8 a.m. and close for the day at 6 p.m. both Friday and Saturday (open until 8 p.m. at Clare and Carl’s). The weigh stations will officially close at noon on Sunday. The final awards ceremony will also be held at Tournament Headquarters at 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 6.

For more information, call the Rotary Fishline Toll-Free 877-519-7942 or check back here. Updates and changes will be posted on the Rotary Fishline after 6 p.m. and on this webpage each evening of the Tournament.
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Rotary Fishing Classic Benefits Youth Organizations, Academic Scholarships
The Rotary Club of Plattsburgh sponsors the Fishing Classic for several reasons. The tournament provides an enjoyable, quality tournament early in the 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 Rotary Club also raises funds which are distributed 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 as well as Clinton Community College and CVPH Medical Center Radiology School; monies to assist the Beartown Ski Area, the Boys Scouts, the Girl Scouts, Plattsburgh Little League, the YMCA, Literacy Volunteers, the North Country Mission of Hope, the Battle of Plattsburgh Weekend Committee, the Christmas Bureau, Salvation Army, North Country Lifeflight and other worthy causes.

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