Event Description

35th Annual Rotary International Fishing Classic on Lake Champlain

PLATTSBURGH, NY __ The 35th annual Rotary International Fishing Classic will be held on beautiful Lake Champlain Friday, June 4 through Noon on Sunday June 6, 2021. This is the oldest fishing event on the lake, the earliest each year and features all cash individual and team prizes. 

 The annual Rotary Fishing Classic is sponsored by 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!  

Even though the pandemic dampened the enthusiasm for the annual fishing classic in 2020, some 353 anglers were enthusiastic to get out and fish. We are hoping the 2021 fishing classic will draw more people to the shores of Lake Champlain during this three day event.  

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 adult registration fee will remain at $50.00, with prizes for fish in three categories: lake trout, walleye and landlocked salmon (including brown trout and steelhead). 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.

 Last year, the event was held with several new procedures that limited contact between individuals. These safety procedures will remain in place during the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. Further changes in 2021 include:

• New Online Registration Process opens April 15. We are rolling out a new streamlined online registration system for the individual, youth, and team competitions. In the past, teams with more than two members had to register a maximum of two members, log out of our site, then log back in to register the other one or two members. Now, a team of four will be able to register together online or you can register by phone at 1-877-519-7942 (FISHLINE).

• New “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). Last year, several anglers did not participate because they, understandably, did not want to spend three days fishing with someone from another household. 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

• New “Youth Division.” Anglers 14 years of age and under (as of June 4, 2021), who pay a $20.00 fee will be eligible to compete with other youth for prizes separate from the open competition. These prizes will be based on the pool of registration fees from the youth participants. Youth can compete in the open competition by choosing to pay the $50.00 registration fee.

• Weigh Station closing times. The Rotary club will strive to keep all five weigh stations open until 8:00 p.m., but this will depend on the number of Rotarians and friends of Rotary who volunteer. In the past, only Rotarians have staffed the weigh stations. Due to COVID, we are encouraging Rotarians to staff weigh stations with family members or other persons from their “pods,” expanding our pool of volunteers. Anglers participating in the Classic will need to keep posted on the closing times for the weigh stations as this is not a promise, but a goal.

• Online Updates. We expect to offer new options to anglers on leaderboard contenders and other important information during the tournament. Details are still being worked out, so look for the option when you register on-line for the tournament. We will continue to share standings via Facebook, the 1-800-FishLine and marine radio as in the past.

• Merchandise. T-shirts will once again be available for $10.00 per shirt (with a new logo and color) and we will be adding caps this year for$15.00! Shirts and caps ordered by May 21st will be mailed directly to registrants. They will also be available for purchase and pickup at weigh stations.

• 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. Last year we eliminated our awards ceremony and the requirement that winners had to appear in person to collect their prizes. Once again, winners at this year’s Classic will be announced on Facebook live, a final FISHLINE recording, a marine radio announcement and press release.  Checks will be mailed to winners.

OH! Did I forget to mention cash prizes? The total payout for the 2020 tournament was $11,287.50, and first place in the individual competition netted each division winner $1,412.50 while first place in the team competition earned $1,875.00.

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.  

So, come on and complete your registration before 6 p.m., on Thursday, June 3, 2021. OR you'll have to wait 'til the following year to participate. 

For more information contact Tournament Chair Peter Cadieux at 518-569-2188 or rotaryfishclassic@gmail.com