Lake Ontario Pro-Am

Lake Ontario’s first tournament occurred out of the Niagara County ports of Wilson and Olcott 23 years ago – in 1985 to be exact. Thanks to a vision by Lowrance Electronics and the Niagara County Fisheries Development Board, led by Board Chairman Walter “Skip” Hartman, the tournament became a reality and it’s been going strong ever since. Hartman might not be with us physically any more with his passing just two days before the 2004 event, but tournament anglers paid him the ultimate tribute by naming the event after him.

Dates for this year’s Skip Hartman Memorial two-day extravaganza are May 31 - June 1, 2008, with Olcott’s Krull Park designated to be the official weigh in site for the tournament. Last year, 84 teams competed for more than $50,000 in total money and prizes involved with the competition, using a unique format and scoring system. To help up the prize ante, the professional division entry will once again be $500. The amateur class will be $250 and the format has been changed a bit to allow for smaller teams and more overall entries.

It takes two days of consistent fishing to win this tournament and last year was no exception. The core sponsors are back, with Maui Jim Sunglasses and Lowrance Electronics sharing the spotlight as returnees. AES Somerset is the headline sponsor this year and we welcome them with open arms.

These tournaments don’t just happen and there are many unselfish people who work diligently behind the scenes to ensure their success. People like Dr. John Syracuse with the Newfane Business Association who handles the finances; Tom Danaher, the salty weigh master for all four events last year; Bob Cinelli and Paul Czarnecki, tweaking the rules (the same for all four events this year again), soliciting sponsors and establishing the prize structure (the same basic structure for all four events); Wayne Peters, the pre-check judge; Penny Hartman, the numbers lady around the scales; and many, many more. Take the time to recognized their efforts and shake their hand.

This year’s tournament promises to be another exciting event that will undoubtedly go down to the wire for bragging rights in the Western Basin. For more information call toll-free at 877.FALLS US. Mail in entries can be sent direction to the Newfane Business Association at P.O. Box 174, Newfane, NY 14108. See you there! – Bill, Jr.