Fishing Tournaments

With an abundance of fishing lakes, ponds and rivers in the St. Lawrence County, more than 200 to give an estimate, tournaments throughout the year add a little extra thrill to the catch. Some offer a great opportunity for youngsters to learn more about fishing and to have a day-out with the family, while others are world-class tournaments for professional anglers with large prize purses.

One of the longest running fishing tournaments that lasts the longest in duration if the Black Lake Panfish Marathon. Starting in mid-May and ending in early-July, this tournament can be fished every day at a entry fee of $15, or for just a week for $7. Anglers who catch tagged panfish, win cash or prizes corresponding to that fish’s tag. In 2009 there was more than $50,000 in cash and prized assigned to more than 800 tagged fish. For more information, visit Black Lake Panfish Marathon.

The St. Lawrence County Chamber hosts the annual St. Lawrence International Junior Carp Tournament on the third weekend in August. This tournament is open to youth age 11-18 and their parents or guardian. This event has grown to a large event with youth traveling from all over New York, as well as several other states to compete. A school is provided on Thursday, with fishing on Friday and Saturday. For more details, click here. 

The St. Lawrence Carp Challenge is hosted by Specialist Tackle and is an adult tournament held annually in July along the banks in Waddington. For more information visit the RiverView of Waddington.

In 2011, the County will host the world again in an International Carp Fishing Association (ICFA) sanctioned carp tournament – The Carp Angling World Championship which will be held from Massena to Ogdensburg. The Carp Angling World Championship was held here in 2005, and since then the community and the carp anglers have been looking to repeat the event. For more information about the Tournament, visit the Catch and Release Professional Tournament Series (CARPTS) website.

The Walleye Association also hosts The Opening Day Walleye Derby in May and the Smackdown in July. The Fall Classic is held in September.

There are a number of ice fishing derbies in the early parts of the year, including St. Lawrence River Walleye Associations Northern Pike Challenge, held in Waddington. While contestants are fishing for pike, there is a prize for someone who catches the largest walleye. The Black Lake Fish and Game Club hosts an ice fishing derby each year. For more information visit the BLFGC site. For additional tournaments check the St. Lawrence County Online Events Calendar.