Rotary International Fishing Classic Cancelled for 2011
High waters, debris on Lake Champlain avert annual fishing event
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Dave Charron (r) of Colchester, VT, weighed in a 7 lb., 13.5 oz salmon minutes after 8 o’clock Sunday morning inlast year's 25th Annual Rotary International Fishing Classic to take the lead in the salmon division. 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.
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PLATTSBURGH, NY __For the first time in 26 years, the Rotary Club of Plattsburgh has had to cancel its annual Rotary International Fishing Classic, which was scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 3 - 5, 2011.
Bonnie Black, Rotary Fishing Classic chair, said the Rotary club has called off the annual fishing tourney due to the dangerous high water level and large objects floating or submerged on Lake Champlain.
Black said, “This spring’s unprecedented high lake level coupled with debris throughout the Lake Champlain basin is a dangerous situation. The Rotary club has decided it would be better to call off the tournament than risk harm to any anglers who would be participating in the tourney this year.”
The Plattsburgh Rotary Club will be crediting anyone whose charge card was processed, mailing a refund to those who paid in cash at their outlets or whose checks have already cleared the bank and returning any unprocessed checks via mail. Rotarians will be meeting with all registration outlets to assure all funds are processed through the Plattsburgh Rotary Club and then returned to potential anglers.
Black said she hopes anglers will return for next year’s annual Rotary International Fishing Classic, which will be held June 1-3, 2012.
For more information, call the Rotary Fishline Toll-Free 877-519-7942 or info@plattsburghrotary.org
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HISTORY OF THE ROTARY FISHING CLASSIC . . .
n 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.
(Posted Wednesday, May 25, 7:35 p.m.)
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