sHAFTSBURY, Vt., ANGLER big winner with top LAKE TROUT

PLATTSBURGH, NY __ Garrett Gerity took first place in the Lake Trout division Sunday in the 33rd Annual Plattsburgh Rotary International Fishing Classic.  The Shaftsbury, VT, angler's  14 lb. 10.5 oz.  catch came in a pound and a half more than the second place fish in the trout division.  Rick Boutah of St. Albans, N.Y., weighed in a 10 lb. 3.5 oz. Walleye Sunday in Apple Island putting him in first for the Walleye Division. Paul Dupuis from Salem, N.Y., held on to the lead to win the Salmon division with his 6 l.b 12.5 oz. Brown Trout weighed in Saturday in Port Henry.  “Mega Bass Charters” (Bryan and Jakob Labelle of Hinesburg, VT) won an extremely close team division.      
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Tournament Co-Chair Peter Cadieux said the Rotary club was very pleased with this year’s fishing classic. “Even with the high lake levels, we weighed more fish the first day than we did the whole tournament last year.” said Cadieux. “On behalf of the Rotary Club of Plattsburgh, I want to thank those anglers who have continued to participate in this fishing classic year after year.” 

 

This year, 385 anglers from eight states, as far away as North Carolina and West Virginia, participated in the three-day tournament. The total payout for the Rotary club’s tournament was $12,215. First place in the individual competition netted each division winner $1,523.33 while first place in the team competition earned $2,050.00.
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The Annual Rotary International Fishing Classic brings anglers from across the Northeastern United States to the shores of Lake Champlain for three days of nonstop competition. This year’s tournament began at midnight on Friday, May 31st, and ended on Sunday at 12 p.m.  The tournament headquarters and primary weigh-in site were located at the Plattsburgh City Marina. 

 

The Rotary Club distributes proceeds from the fishing tournament among many of the club’s initiatives and other civic organizations.  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, Clinton Community College and CVPH Medical Center Radiology School; monies to assist the Beartown Ski Area, Boys Scouts, Girl Scouts, Plattsburgh Little League, YMCA, Literacy Volunteers, North Country Mission of Hope and other worthy causes.  

 

The tournament provides an enjoyable, quality tournament early in the fishing 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 would like to thank sponsors NBC5, Hometown Radio WIRY and SeaComm F.C.U. We also thank the Champlain Valley Amateur Radio Club, City of Plattsburgh, Indian Bay Marina (Willsboro), Essex Marina (Essex), Apple Island Marina (South Hero, Vt.), New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (Port Henry Boat Ramp), and the City of Burlington Recreation Department (Perkins Pier, VT), Clinton County Emergency Services, Homeland Security and the Naked Turtle for use of facilities and equipment for the three-day event.