Lake lures pro anglers back for bass tourneys

Local News

TOURNEY SCHEDULE

June 11: ABA Weekend Series.

June 18: Walmart BFL Tournament.

June 23, 24, 25: FLW EverStart Series.

June 25: FLW National Guard College series.

July 30: Northern Bass Supply.

Sept. 14, 15, 16, 17: Walmart FLW Tour.

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April 7, 2011

DAN HEATH Press-Republican The Press Republican Thu Apr 07, 2011, 03:28 AM EDT

PLATTSBURGH — Plattsburgh and Lake Champlain will host six professional bass-fishing tournaments this season.

The schedule, announced this week by the Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau, starts June 11 with the American Bass Anglers Weekend Series and culminates Sept. 14 through 17 with the Walmart FLW Tour.

This marks the 10th year that Plattsburgh will host professional anglers on Lake Champlain. City of Plattsburgh Mayor Donald Kasprzak said this year's schedule is a testament to the lake and people who host the events.

"Lake Champlain is one of the North Country's most prized assets and a world-renowned fish hatchery, providing outstanding fishing and recreational opportunities," he said in a statement. "For Plattsburgh to be a professional bass-fishing destination for a decade is a testament to not only Lake Champlain but also to the wonderful people involved with the tournaments all these years."

A PREMIER FISHERY

Since that first tournament in 2001, Lake Champlain has earned a reputation as one of the best smallmouth bass fisheries in North America. The City of Plattsburgh has hosted more than 50 tournaments and welcomed about 25,000 pro anglers.

This year's events are expected to draw more than 3,000 of the top bass anglers from around the world, who will compete for $1.8 million in cash and prizes.

FLW Outdoors President of Operations Kathy Fennel said Lake Champlain is considered one of the premier fisheries in the United States.

"Lake Champlain is always a favorite stop among our anglers, and we couldn't be more thrilled to be visiting with the Walmart BFL, EverStart Series and National Guard College Fishing events in June and the Walmart FLW Tour stop in September.

"The tremendous hospitality extended to FLW Outdoors and our anglers is one of the reasons we continue to come back year after year," she said. "Our anglers love the tremendous smallmouth and largemouth fishing opportunities that it offers, and fans love the exciting weigh-ins produced by such a prolific fishery."

She said Lake Champlain is home to the FLW Tour's top three all-time opening-round catches.

CONSERVATION

To keep up with its increasing reputation as a fishing destination, the city has continued to improve infrastructure. That includes construction of two boat launches and nearby parking areas.

Plattsburgh also continues to focus on conservation, the release said. It has worked with tournament officials, the National Sea Grant Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Lake Champlain Basin Program to maintain and improve the resources of the lake, which features more than 80 species of warm- and cold-water fish. Those includes walleye, lake trout, brown trout, land-locked Atlantic salmon, perch, carp, steelhead and bowfin.

Still, it is the bass population that has Lake Champlain recognized as a top fishing destination. It has been named one of America's 25 hottest fishing spots by Field and Stream magazine.

FLW Outdoors Magazine said it is one of the hottest bass-fishing destinations, and fishing organization B.A.S.S. said, "Champlain ... bass paradise."

Email Dan Heath at:

dheath@pressrepublican.com