Welcome to our Rotary Fishing Derby web site!
Welcome to our Rotary Fishing Derby web site, this is an event of The Rotary Club of Albion, NY. As our derby launch time is getting close – don’t miss your opportunity to fight the big fish for our $4000 grand prize; the derby pot is over $10,000 in cash and prizes. Our derby begins Saturday, August 3, 8:00 AM running through until Sunday, August 18 at 1:00 PM. Following the close of the fishing, you’ll have time to pack up and, then come and join as at the Carlton Fire Company Recreation Hall, on Route 98, Carlton Station; just watch for the very large salmon.
Let’s address the elephant in the room or in the case of a 2019 fishing derby on Lake Ontario, let’s re-phrase that old adage to read, “THE GREAT BIG CARP IN THE ROOM.” Yes, Lake Ontario water levels are high, were actually at the record flood levels. Daily we are seeing significant lower water levels now. It doesn’t matter whether it is all the fault of Mother Nature, climate change or the IJC (International Joint Commission). The water was high and now is going down. However, here is the good news – the south shore of Lake Ontario is open for business – that’s the fishing and tourism businesses. Early on, a few boat launches just closed for the summer, however, since we are resilient lot in Western New York – most marinas and boat launches raised docks and added extensions on to their boat launches. Previously, closed launches are now open at many sites. We look forward to the excitement you anglers add to our communities when you arrive to enjoy your sport of choice. Come and share some time in our little piece of heaven.
PSST…the word on the lake is that no one told the fish that all this high water meant they could just laze around and have a relaxing summer. Instead, everyone is telling me here at this Point Breeze (Named the 2013 Ultimate Fishing Town by the World Fishing Network) that the fish are biting and they put up a worthy fight. Many of the anglers are coming in having caught their limit. Sounds like the recipe for a great fishing derby, doesn’t it? Now, as I rationalize this, if Point Breeze is doing well, I guess most other sites are having equally good fishing on Lake Ontario. We suggest you call first to check on launch availability. We are working on developing a launch site list. Check back to our web site often for the latest developments and for our list of registration and weigh-in sites and times.
On behalf of the Rotary Club of Albion and its Rotary Fishing Derby committee we hope you come, bring your friends and family and thoroughly enjoy your tournament experiences and our Orleans County hospitality!
Marlee Diehl
Rotary Fishing Derby Chair
585-755-4334
marleediehl@gmail.com
This year’s Rotary Derby is August 3rd-18th, 2019
Here are images from the 2018 Derby:
Kent Morgan, owner of Let It Ride Charters in Carlton, holds the grand prize fish, a 29-pound, 14-ounce salmon caught by his customer, Joseph Miller of Harrisburg, Pa. The big fish won the $4,000 grand prize. Courtesy Tom Rivers.
Michael Grager of Lyndonville holds the first place brown trout at 14 pounds, 13 ounces. Grager is the charter boat captain of “Get Hooked” based at Point Breeze. He noticed the leaderboard didn’t have many brown trout more than midway through he derby so he made a concerted effort to catch them. In the beginning of the derby he thinks most anglers are focused on catching big salmon. He used a spoon in shallow water just east of the Point to catch the first place brown trout. Courtesy Tom Rivers- Brian Gambell of Hilton holds the first place lake trout at 17 pounds, 12 ounces.
- Dane Ballard, 14, of Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland holds a 26-pound, 3-ounce salmon he caught with his grandfather, Denny Jackson of Ogdensburg, Pa. The fish was the second place salmon in the derby. Courtesy Tom Rivers
- The first place winner for steelhead also was on Morgan’s boat, Let It Ride Charters. Kent Morgan holds the fish with his first mate, Jack Rossman. Glenn Weber of Harrisburg, Pa., caught the 12-pound, 2-ounce fish which won first place. Courtesy Tom Rivers
- Mike Waterhouse, retired sports fishing promotion coordinator for Orleans County, served as the emcee of the awards program at the Carlton Recreation Hall. Courtesy Tom Rivers
- Becky Karls, left, sold raffle tickets and Marlee Diehl, back right, handed out prizes. About 75 people attended the awards program. Courtesy Tom Rivers
- Bill Downey, chairman of the derby, also distributed some of the prizes at the awards event. Many local businesses donated for the event. Courtesy Tom Rivers
