Rotary Club of Plattsburgh to hold 39th Annual Fishing Classic May 30 - June 1, 2025
PLATTSBURGH, NY __ The 39th annual Rotary International Fishing Classic will be held on beautiful Lake Champlain Friday, May 30 through Noon on Sunday June 1, 2025. This is the oldest fishing event on the lake, the earliest each year and features all cash individual and team prizes. The On-Line Registration Process is open for all individual and team competitions. Register online at https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Plattsburgh/Plattsburghrotaryfishingclassic or by phone at 1-844-588-7788.
Major sponsor for the annual fishing classic is Brennan Buick GMC of Plattsburgh. Other sponsors include The Northeast Group, Rock Trailer Sales, Crown Home Mortgage, Positively Living, and the Financial Guides of the Northeast.
The annual Rotary Fishing Classic is a fundraising event for the Rotary Club of Plattsburgh and attracts anglers from all over the Northeastern United States and Canada to the shores of Lake Champlain for three days of nonstop competition fishing for the largest fish among salmon, steelhead, brown trout, lake trout, and walleye! Cash prize amounts are determined by the pool of registration fees – 50 percent goes to the 1st through 5th place winners and the remaining funds raised support charitable community efforts of the Rotary Club of Plattsburgh.
The individual registration fee remains at $50.00, with prizes for fish in three categories: lake trout, walleye and landlocked salmon (including brown trout and steelhead). Youth up to and including age 15 as of June 1, 2025, pay just $25.00, thanks to a generous sponsor, The Northeast Group of Companies. Adults and youth all compete in the open division. Prizes are based on weight as well as time weighed in.
The team competition remains at $50.00 for a team of two-to-four anglers. All team members still pay their individual registration fee. Each team will enter two fish from different categories.
Things to remember, include:
- The On-Line Registration Process is open for all individual and team competitions. Register online at https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Plattsburgh/Plattsburghrotaryfishingclassic or by phone at 1-844-588-7788.
- Participants in a Boat. All participants in a boat must be registered in the Fishing Classic. An unregistered individual within a boat will cause all other registered anglers to forfeit their eligibility for prizes.
- “Registered Witness” category. All fish caught during the event must be witnessed by another person registered for the event (who understands and agrees to event rules). The "Registered Witness" category is available again for this year's classic. An adult member of a registered angler’s household with the same residential address may register for $25.00 and serve as a "witness-only." (This is a holdover from COVID-19 for those concerned about exposure to possible infection from someone out of their “pod.”)
- Weigh Station closing times. Weigh stations hours will be open until 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 on Sunday.
- Online Updates. We will continue to release standings to anglers via marine radio, our toll-free number and the Fishing Classic’s Facebook page located at www.facebook.com/PlattsburghRotaryFishingClassic
- NEW THIS YEAR -- Anglers will be able to opt-in to receive standings via text messages when registering online or via phone.
- Merchandise. T-shirts and caps will once again be available: $15.00! Shirts and caps ordered by May 23rd will be mailed directly to registrants.
- 50/50 Raffle. We will sell 50/50 tickets for $5.00 at weigh stations all weekend, giving registered anglers and witnesses another chance to win.
- Announcement of awards. An awards ceremony will be held at the Naked Turtle Sunday at 3:30 p.m. (Winners are not required to appear in person to collect their prizes.) Winners will be broadcast on Facebook live, a final FISHLINE recording, a marine radio announcement and press release. Checks will be mailed to winners who are not present.
Half of the annual tournament net revenues 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 other organizations and school districts, such as the Beartown Ski Area, Boys Scouts, Girl Scouts, Plattsburgh Little League, YMCA, Literacy Volunteers, and other worthy causes.
So, come on and complete your registration before 6 p.m. Thursday, May 29, 2025 or you'll have to wait 'til next year to participate. For more information contact Tournament Chair Peter Cadieux at 518-569-2188 or rotaryfishclassic@gmail.com.