By Tim Thomas
The NYS Winter Classic Fishing Tournament (Jan. 1st through Feb. 28th) is underway and gaining momentum as the season progresses with over 475 anglers currently competing for over $80,000 in cash and prizes. I would like to thank all those who have helped make this year so successful, including the current anglers, weigh-in stations, and all of our amazing sponsors. Registrations continue to come in and anglers will be able to register throughout the event and need to do so before 7am on the first day they wish to start entering fish. The event is currently paying cash prizes for the Top 3 fish entered in each division, however if registrations top 500, the event will pay out the Top 5 in each division.
Currently, Lynn Thompson from Camillus, NY has the largest overall fish weighed-in with a 21.85 lb Lake Trout he brought in to Chaumont Hardware. It was caught on Chaumont bay ice fishing and brought topside after a 30+ minute fight on 4 lb test line. If his fish remains the largest for the event, Lynn will receive a $5,000 Case Canoe package along with his cash and prizes.
Topping the leader board for female anglers is Elaine Supp with an 8.00 lb northern pike. She will receive an Arctic Armor Lift Suit if her pike can remain the largest fish entered by a female angler. There is still lots of time to get into the event and join the largest tournament in NY state this year! Registration is only $25 and offers an optional Lunker Pool (now over $2,500) for $10 more and a shot at even more prize monies. Simply stop in to any of the 54 weigh-in locations that accept registrations, or register online off of the tournament website: www.NYSwinterclassic.com
While the main mode for fishing this event is via ice fishing, anglers can also take to the open water in boats, hit the tributaries/river systems, shore fish, or use any other legal angling method to target the 7 categories of fish in the event. Live leaderboards keep anglers in the field up to date on the latest standings, and every day an angler stops in to a weigh-in location with a fish (even if it doesn’t place) they can acquire an entry into that station’s shanty raffle – there’s a shanty at every location being given away this year!