2008 Tournament Events Results & Pictures
 by Bill Hilts Jr. [A compilation]

Roger Tobey Memorial Niagara River Anglers Steelhead Contest February 16, 2008 - The Niagara River Anglers Association will be holding their winter steelhead classic at Lewiston Landing with entry fee set at $10 for member; $25 for non-members - but that includes your yearly membership. Loads of fun. For information check out the website at www.outdoorsniagara.com or www.niagarariveranglers.com

New York's Free Fishing Days 2008 - June 28-29 - No license is required by anyone for these two days, resident or non-resident (although all the rules and regulations must be followed), in an effort to promoted this popular pastime. This is a great time to get the whole family on the water and see how much fun it can be. This is also the weekend that the Town of Newfane sponsors a kids fishing derby at the Town of Newfane Marina in Olcott. Set for June 28th this popular kids derby will be held from 8 a.m. to noon. For more information, call (716) 778-8531.

Lewiston Smelt Fest - May 2 & 3 2008

Lake Ontario Counties (LOC) Spring Trout and Salmon Derby May 2-11, 2008 - This premier spring kick-off classic, offering a $10,000 Grand Prize for the largest trout or salmon caught overall, also sports over $30,000 in cash and prizes overall. Niagara County is still the place to be with more than 50 percent of the winners in the 2006 event coming from Niagara's waters. Cost is $25 for adults; $12 for kids. Sign up for season pass for both spring and fall events for just $45. Weigh stations include The Boat Doctors and The Slippery Sinker, both in Olcott; the Gristmill in Youngstown; and the Gas Shack in the Wilson Boat Yard. For more information, call (888) REEL-2-IN or visit their website at www.loc.org 

Lake Ontario Counties (LOC) Summer Derby- May 24-July 20, 2008 - Grand prize is $7,500 for biggest fish. Check out their website for all the details for this new summer event at www.loc.org  or call (888) REEL-2-IN.

24th Annual Skip Hartman Memorial Lake Ontario Pro-Am Salmon Team Tournament May 31 - June 1, 2008 - This prestigious fishing competition pits teams of anglers against one another using a unique scoring system over two days of fishing. Held out of the Niagara County ports of Wilson and Olcott, the local community also coordinates special events to make it a fun filled weekend. Last year, more than $60,000 was paid out in cash and prizes. This year, that prize structure is already over $30,000 in cash, including a $10,000 first place prize package for the pros; $5,000 first place prize package for the amateurs (based on a minimum number of registrants). For more info call (877) FALLS US or log onto the tournament website at www.lakeontarioproam.com  for rules and sign up information.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service "Fish and Wildlife Festival" at Hyde Park in Niagara Falls June 7, 2008 - This popular event will tentatively be held in Hyde Park from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. In conjunction with this event will be a kids fishing derby at Hyde Park Lake from 8 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. Loads of displays, special activities and live entertainment. For more information contact USFWS at (716) 691-5456.

2nd Annual Point Breeze/Orleans County Pro-Am Salmon Team Tournament June 7-8, 2008 - This third annual tournament will kick off the circuit this year as the Lake Ontario Pro-Am series continues to expand. For more information, contact (585) 589-3103 or visit www.lakeontarioproam.com.

First Annual Lake Ontario Counties Trout and Salmon Summer Derby May 23-July 20, 2008 - For more information, contact www.loc.org  or call (888) REEL-2-IN.

Wagon Wheel Opening Day Bass Kick-off Classic June 21, 2008 - This is the opening of the regular season for bass and it's open to all waters in WNY. For more info contact the Wagon Wheel Restaurant at (716) 283-9861. You can also sign up at some area tackle shops in Niagara County.

Erie Canal Fishing Derby July 8-20, 2008 - The Erie Canal is spotlighted for this family-oriented fishing competition offering up more than $8,000 in prizes. Eligible waters include from the Niagara River to the Main Street Bridge in Albion (Route 98). For more information visit their website at www.eriecanalderby.com  (Bass is included.)

Lower Niagara River Big Bass Contest August 2 2008 Sponsored by Outdoors Niagara.com & A-1 Bait in Lewiston. 100% payback after expenses and a voluntary cash bash for largest bass. Lower Niagara & Lake Ontario & tributaries. Shore picnic to follow. Details & signup at www.OutdoorsNiagara.com or at A-1 Bait in Lewiston.

22nd Annual Niagara River Anglers Association Open Smallmouth Bass Classic (To Be Determined) - Fishing takes place in Lake Erie, the Niagara River and in Lake Ontario for this fun contest. Cost is $25 per person, which includes a Cash Bash for $5. For more info contact www.niagarariveranglers.com for a registration form and rules.

Orleans County Rotary Derby August 2-17, 2008 - Fish Lake Ontario and tributaries from the Niagara River to the Genesee River for salmon and trout. For more information call (585) 589-9881. Olcott does have a weigh station in this local derby, located at The Slippery Sinker.

Lake Ontario Counties (LOC) Fall Trout and Salmon Derby August 15 - September 1, 2008 - Over $50,000 in cash prizes including a $20,000 Grand Prize for the largest trout or salmon caught during this 18-day event. Help anglers celebrate the return of the mighty king salmon on Lake Ontario! Cost is $25 for adults; $12 for kids under 16. Sign up in local tackle shops or call (888) REEL-2-IN. You can also visit their website at www.loc.org  for more info or to register.

32nd Annual Greater Niagara "Fall Classic" Derby - 2008: A Fish Odyssey September 20-28, 2008 - The journey continues with another great event set for 2008. Last year, over $10,000 in cash and prizes were handed out to winning anglers at the New York Power Authority's Wildlife Festival. Specie categories included salmon, rainbow/brown trout, lake trout, smallmouth bass, carp and walleye. All have a chance to win the Grand Prize. For more information, call (877) FALLS US or visit www.fishodyssey.net  or www.outdoorsniagara.com 

Walleye Classic - Lower Niagara River - September 20th. Details:  http://www.outdoorsniagara.com/walleyeclassic2008.htm

New York Power Authority's 23rd Annual Wildlife Festival - September 27-28, 2008 - A fun filled family event with lots of hands-on displays, live animals and shows. Held at NYPA's Visitor's Center in Lewiston (adjacent to Niagara University). Visit their website at www.nypa.gov  or call (716) 286-6661 for more info.

For the Kids - Every year, there are numerous fishing competitions designed specifically for the kids. For example, the LOC and Fish Odyssey derbies have youth components to them. Check out the information above and find out the details for those respective competitions. Here's a few other youth competitions that are normally held every year: " June 28 - Town of Newfane Kids Derby at the Town of Newfane Marina, Olcott from 8 a.m. to noon. " June 21- Wilson Kids Fishing Derby sponsored by the Wilson Conservation Club and area merchants.

Other kids derbies will also be held at Hyde Park Lake in Niagara Falls in June; the Erie Canal at West Canal Marine Park in Pendleton in June; in Youngstown in conjunction with their Community Faire in August; and in the Town of Niagara at their community in July.

2008 Tournament Events Results & Pictures
 by Bill Hilts Jr.