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Monday, May 31, 2004
Yongsters Picked For Contest
Five area youths have been picked from among the hundred-plus entries in the 2004 Clayton-1000 Islands Take-A-Kid Fishing Contest. The event is sponsored by 1000 Islands Fishing Charters and Thousand Islands Inn, in cooperation with the Clayton Chamber of Commerce.
Area contenders in Saturday's qualifying tournament in Clayton, who entered the contest as a result of reading about it in the Watertown Daily Times include: Dale Livermore, 14, Henderson; Michael Pleskach, 9, Watertown; Brandon Raymo, 13, Antwerp; Matthew Turcotte, 11, Clayton; and Erin Woodley, 10, Canton.
In all, 20 young anglers will fish competitively for 4 hours to earn the right to represent New York state in the IGFA (International Game Fish Association) Junior National Championship Fishing Tournament to be held July 11-14, 2005, in Key West, Fla. The 26-year-old Clayton event is one of only 40 IGFA sanctioned qualifying events in the United States.
Ten young anglers will fish on 1000 Islands Fishing Charters' 15-passenger boat, A.B.'s Office, with charter captain Allen Benas and his first mate, Dave Goetz, from 8 a.m. to noon. The other 10 will fish from noon to 4 p.m. The youngster catching and releasing the largest northern pike of the day will win top honors.
The winner and his or her adult traveling companion will be flown to Key West and stay at the luxurious Grand Key Resort, compliments of the Clayton Chamber of Commerce, local Clayton civic organizations and the Thousand Islands Inn. Accompanied by their non-fishing adult companions the two youngsters per boat will fish for two days with a professional Key West fishing guide. Last year's contest winner finished fifth overall in the IGFA national event.
Additional prizes, including fishing outfits and tackle, will be awarded to runner-up anglers in the Clayton event.
