By Tim Thomas, Summer Classic Director
“A tournament event for the masses” – that is what the NYS Summer Classic is being referred to all across the state as this event does not require anglers to have a boat to participate, covers the entire state, allows anglers to fish 24 hours a day, and features species anyone can target from shore or the piers! Sparked from the recent success of the NYS Winter Classic, the Summer Classic has the potential to become NY’s largest fishing event. It’s unique design and expansive network of supporters continues to build the foundation attracting more and larger sponsors adding to the prize pool.
Unlike traditional fishing events where the largest fish of a particular species is awarded the Grand Prize, the NYS Classic Tournaments pool all the 1st place finishers into a blind drawing for the Grand Prize allowing each fish division winner a shot at the top prize! While 10,000 anglers may seem like an ambitious number of anglers to get involved, when you consider all the big lake trollers, bass fishermen, shore fishermen, Finger Lakes anglers, perch and walleye anglers on Erie, Adirondack fishermen, anglers on Lake George and Champlain, and all the charter clients, added all together across the entire state, that number becomes very attainable quickly! At 10,000 anglers the Grand Prize would be $50,000 cash with the Top 20 placing for each fish species! Plus cash awards for the overall largest Rock Bass ($500) and Bowfin ($250).
This 10-week long event is only $25/angler to join (with an optional $10 Lunker Pool), or $5/youth angler (16 years old and younger). Sponsor prize packages along with cash awards will be awarded to the Top 3 anglers in both the adult and youth divisions across all the species with additional cash awards and door prizes rounding out the prize structure. The excitement starts June 17th this year (opening day of Bass Season), and runs all the way through August 31st. Weigh-in/Registration locations are located all over the state (over 60 in total). Registration, live leaderboards, etc. can be found at: www.NYSsummerclassic.com
