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Maple Weekends are BACK! March 18th-19th, and March 25-26th
2/1/23 UPDATE: 14TH ANNUAL WALLEYE CHALLENGE: FISHING PORTION CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS
2/1/23 UPDATE:
14TH ANNUAL WALLEYE CHALLENGE: FISHING PORTION CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS
Due to the unusual and historically warm weather conditions and with recommendations from the Fulton County Emergency Management Team and neighboring counties, The Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce announces that the Walleye Challenge fishing tournament will be cancelled for February 18th.
Even with this cold snap 2/2-2/4, the future weather forecast shows warmer weather and rain that will not freeze safe ice throughout all areas of the lake. After careful consideration due to the unusual weather systems this winter, the fluctuating water levels on the Great Sacandaga and hazards under the snow cover, the Chamber will be following the recommendations that the Walleye Tournament not be held this year. Safety is the upmost importance.
However, the grand prizes, hourly monetary prizes and door prizes will be in-person. Raffle drawing will begin at Lanzi’s on the Lake (1751 State Highway 30, Mayfield) on Saturday February 18th, starting at 12pm. Food and drink will be available, with live music from Steve Cowles and Diane Eames.
There are so many variables that can affect how safe the ice is including moving water, springs, and even snow that insulates certain spots on the ice. Please consider downloading the Send It – HDR III app, available on iPhone and android smart phones.
This is a real time recreational GPS based app which allows users to mark potential hazards or alerts on our lakes, trails and everyday places often overlooked. The app will mark the GPS location giving all users the visibility. It is free to download and it’s available for use anywhere. Our emergency management team will be updating the app as they will continue to review conditions as the season progresses.
Thank you in advance for understanding.
Walleye Challenge 2023 Updates!
Dear Fishing Enthusiast:
Thank you for your interest in the Walleye Challenge! It is a welcomed tradition in Fulton County NY, and we are glad you are a part of it.
The Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the 14th Annual Walleye Challenge on the Great Sacandaga Lake on Saturday, February 18th, 2023.
Things will look a little different next year, But the best parts remain the same- fishing, fun, hourly cash prizes, and big UTV and ATV raffle.
Cash prizes and recreational vehicles will be announced at 4:00pm day of contest AT LANZI’S ON THE LAKE, ROUTE 30, MAYFIELD. We are going to have a heated tent with food, drink and fun. Door prizes will be awarded throughout the day at the LANZI’S Weigh Station. At the LANZIS, Weigh Station, there will be a list of all of the numbers of the winners throughout the day (corresponding to tags).
Please like and Follow Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce Facebook and Instagram pages for updates on Walleye Challenge.
Thank you to our legendary and supportive Premier sponsors: Fuel-n-Food (3006 State Highway 30, Gloversville), Franks gun shop (3831 State Highway 30, Amsterdam), Saratoga Eagle (https://saratogaeagle.com/) , and newcomer Wiggly Worm Bait Supply (885 State Route 50, Ballston Lake). Thank you to Manny at Screen Designs for sweatshirt design and production. Big thanks to Frank N Sons for tags, trailer, and sweatshirt orders!
Please take a moment to read the rules: they are posted on our Fulton County Tourism Website: https://www.44lakes.com/category/fishing/
It is a privilege to continue this premier event in Fulton County and looking forward to seeing familiar and new faces at the tournament. See you in 2023 and good luck! Any questions please call 518-725-0641 or email tourism@fultonmontgomeryny.org
Sincerely,
The Staff at The Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce
2023 Walleye Challenge- Rules
2023 Walleye Challenge Rules
Entry fee is $50 with pre-registration required. Payment and registration is due NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 31, 2021 with NO EXCEPTIONS. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.
- The contest is limited to 2,000 entrants on a first-come, first-served basis with NO EXCEPTIONS.
- All fishing to take place ONLY on the Great Sacandaga Lake.
- Contestants may fish anywhere on the Great Sacandaga Lake.
- Contest runs from 7:00am to 3:00pm on Saturday, February 18th, 2023. Contestants may be on the ice, holes drilled and cleaned, but there are no tip-ups allowed in the water prior to 7:00am
- All New York State DEC laws apply.
- You will be issued a tag after registration that MUST be worn on the day of the contest. Anyone fishing without a tag will be disqualified. If someone without a tag is fishing in a group, the entire group will be disqualified. There can be as many people in your group as you want who are not participating in the contest as long as they are not fishing. Those not fishing may bring in a contestant’s fish to the weigh-in stations for entry.
- Only one entry per registrant’s name is allowed. You may purchase multiple tags for multiple people, but each entry form MUST have an exclusive name to it.
- TAGS MUST BE PICKED UP AT FUEL-N-FOOD, 3006 State Highway 30, Mayfield, NY starting January 16th, 2023 through Friday, February 17th, 2023. You can have your tag mailed to you, return receipt requested, for an additional $20 fee. Please do not lose your tags as they cannot be replaced. There will be no tags available on the day of the contest. The event committee is not responsible for tags that are picked up by someone other than the contestant assigned to the tag.
- Once you receive your tag you are registered to fish in the Walleye Challenge. There will be no need to check-in or register the morning/day of the contest. There is NO transferring of tags.
- There will be three weigh stations for the contest; one in front of Lanzi’s on the Lake (Route 30, Mayfield), one in front of Sport Island Pub (108 Riverside Drive, Northville) and one in front of the New York State Boat Launch in Broadalbin (Lakeview Road).
- All fishing must be done in the open view of officials or contestants will be disqualified. Contestants can be in an ice shanty, but there will be no fresh holes in the ice under your shanty and no fishing will be allowed inside closed shelters.
- There will be official clocks at both weigh stations that can be viewed by everyone. All start times and end times and hourly changes will go by those clocks with no exceptions. You must be at either weigh station with fish no later than 3:00pm and zero seconds to qualify. PLEASE SYNCHRONIZE YOUR WATCHES TO THESE CLOCKS.
- A total of seven (7) lines are allowed per each person with a contest tag; any seven (7) line combination of jig poles and tip-ups is allowed.
- All fish must be weighed in on the official scales at weigh stations by event officials. In the event of a tie in weight, the first fish entered will win. NO DEAD FISH WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR ENTRY. Bags are the best way to transport fish.
- All fish entered become the property of the event officials who will release the fish back into the Great Sacandaga Lake.
- Entry times for fish will be determined when the fish arrives at the weigh station NOT when it is caught. If the hour changes while you are en route to the weigh station it will be entered for the next hour’s contest.
- Fish may not be held for entry within another contest hour. When fish is caught, it must either be entered for that hour or released immediately back into the Great Sacandaga Lake.
- There will be $2,149 in prizes per hour awarded: $599 1st prize; $500 2nd prize; $400 3rd prize; $300 4th prize; $200 5th prize; $100 6th prize; $50 7th prize.
- FOR 2023 ONLY: Cash prizes will be announced throughout the day, and recreational vehicles will be announced at 4:00pm day of contest LANZIS ON THE LAKE, MAYFIELD. Door prizes will be awarded throughout the day. Door prizes not picked up by 5:00pm will become the property of the event committee. At the LANZIS ON THE LAKE, MAYFIELD Weigh Station, there will be a list of all of the numbers of the winners throughout the day (corresponding to tags).
- You must be present to win contest door prizes (except for the recreational vehicles). Identification may be required to claim prizes. Again– prizes not picked up by 5:00pm will become the property of the event committee. You may pick them up at the LANZI’S ON THE LAKE, MAYFIELD weigh station throughout the day.
- In the event that an hourly prize is not awarded due to the lack of entries, money will be awarded as determined by event officials.
- If a tagged Walleye is caught during the 8-hour contest, an additional $300 will be paid (yellow tag).
- IN CASE THERE IS NO ICE ON THE GREAT SACANDAGA LAKE, all prizes will be given away at (NEW FOR 2023 ONLY)- LANZIS ON THE LAKE, ROUTE 30, MAYFIELD in a RANDOM DRAWING (contest tag numbers).
- Any unsportsmanlike conduct, as determined by the event officials, will be cause for disqualification. All winning entrants may be subject to a polygraph test before awarding of cash prizes.
- The event committee reserves the right to revise contest rules as necessary.
- Part of the event proceeds will be donated to the Great Sacandaga Fisheries Federation for Walleye stocking on the Great Sacandaga Lake.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL
THE FULTON MONTGOMERY REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE at
(518) 725-0641
Fall In Love with Fulton County
Path Thru History Weekend! June 18 & June 19
Path Through History Weekend
The 2022 Path Through History Weekends will take place June 18-19 and October 8-10. We invite you to explore the weekend events listed below as well as the year-round events that can be found here.
Folklore Storytelling
– A family friendly storytelling event that will highlight folklore from two cultures present at Johnson Hall in the 18th century. This event will feature an hour-long performance of Haudenosaunee stories at 10 AM by Perry Ground and an hour-long performance of African/Caribbean stories at 1 PM by Dr. Linda Humes and Sanga of the Valley.
Free Museum Day & Colonial Cemetery Tour – Join the Johnstown Historical Society for NYS Path Thru History Weekend.
The Museum located at 17 N William Street in Johnstown will be open to all for FREE from 12pm-4pm on Saturday, June 18th as a part of the state historical weekend. Visit the museum and get a guided tour of the Elizabeth Cady Stanton room, the research library, the military room and more!
We will also be offering our Colonial Cemetery tour across the street for FREE at 12:30pm and 2:30pm.
Remember to social distance and wear a mask as required by state guidelines. Call ahead and check websites and shttp://here.ocial media of event organizers and venues when making plans to learn most up-to-date event details. Advanced tickets or reservations may be required.
Parkhurst Field Groundbreaking Scheduled for Saturday June 18th
The Parkhurst Field Foundation will be holding a ground breaking ceremony at Parkhurst Field to kick-off their $3.5M Renovation Project on Saturday June 18th at Parkhurst Field (50 Harrison Street, Gloversville). The ceremony will take place at 9:30am and will mark the start of Phase I of the $3.5M project set to start in July. Phase I will include the creation of a brand new premier field with turn of the century period specific grand stands that will seat 500 spectators. The project will transform one of the oldest baseball grounds in America into a destination and economic diamond for Upstate New York that will continue to service the local Little League teams and travel teams from around the country. On hand will be Gloversville Little League organization players and board members, Parkhurst Field Foundation members and political dignitaries who have been influential in assisting with the project. All former players and families are urged to attend and have a “final catch” on the fields they grew up playing on. The Parkhurst Field Museum, which chronicles the complete history of the park dating back to professional days in 1906 up to the Gloversville Little League era will be open. Following the ground breaking ceremony, the Fulton County Baseball & Sports Hall of Fame will be holding their 2022 Inductions. Set for induction is the Undefeated 1951 Gloversville High School Varsity Baseball Team and its four members who went on to play professionally; Jack Sanford, Don Shoblom, Joe Kobuskie and Frank Ricco.
The Parkhurst Field Foundation, a 509(a)2 non-profit foundation, was formed to help promote and preserve Parkhurst Field in Gloversville, NY, one of the oldest baseball grounds in America. Our mission is to chronicle its rich history dating back to its opening in 1906, promote its historic significance through media and events, attain grants and donations to fund the revitalization and preservation of the park’s infrastructure to ensure its sustainability and to serve as a success model for other communities looking to preserve their athletic parks. www.parkhurstfield.org
For More Information about the Parkhurst Field Foundation, contact David Karpinski at 518-461-9250.
Maple Weekends are BACK! March 19th-20th, and March 26th-27th.
Walleye Awakening Scheduled for Friday, February 18th!
The Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Fulton County Board of Supervisors are proud to announce that the “Walleye Awakening” is back and is scheduled for Friday, February 18th from 5pm-8pm. This will be a Free Fun Family-oriented event, starting at 5pm at Lanzi’s on the Lake, 1751 State Highway 30, Mayfield. There will be a bonfire, food specials, and a FREE fantastic firework display at 6pm by Santore World Famous Fireworks. Vinny Michaels will be performing outside, starting at 5pm.
“We are happy to showcase our beautiful area with this event for our local and visiting fishing enthusiasts,” Mark Kilmer, President of the Chamber said. “It is a great start to a wonderful weekend at the Great Sacandaga Lake.”
Fulton County Administrative Officer Jon Stead commented about the upcoming event. “The Walleye Awakening is going to be a fun winter beach party for area residents and visitors as a pre-lude to the fabulous Walleye Challenge fishing tournament. I encourage everyone to gather up their families and drive, hike, or sled to the Awakening on Friday night. It will be a great big Fish-a-palooza party to kick-off the weekend festivities.”
“This is going to be a great tourism event for our area,” Chamber Tourism Director of Development Anne Boles said. “It is a great kick off to the 13th Annual Walleye Challenge, that will be held on Saturday February 19th. When you are out and about, stop at Lanzi’s to eat and watch a great winter firework show with your family and friends- It’s a great way to start your President’s Day weekend!”
Please visit www.44lakes.com or https://www.facebook.com/VisitFultonCountyNY/ for more information.
Ice Fishing Fun in the 44 Lakes
Photo by Jerrod Vila, NYSOWA
Even though winter grips our region, the number of outdoor activities to partake in are bountiful to say the least. There is snowshoeing, downhill and cross-country skiing, snowmobiling…the list goes on and on. However, one of the most popular, family-friendly winter activities occurs on our frozen lakes: ice fishing!
What more could an eager angler ask for in the Land of 44 Lakes? There are so many options to choose from for ice fishing, plus our area has a multitude of different species of fish to pursue. Whatever your specialty is, there is an opportunity for you to target that particular species of fish here within the southern Adirondacks. Here in Fulton County we have lakes and ponds filled with panfish to keep the kiddos interested and having fun, as well as deep water lakes gleaming with lake trout and other coldwater fish species. Great Sacandaga Lake is definitely a highlight, well known as a world-class Northern Pike fishing spot. In fact, it still holds rank as the largest northern pike ever recorded in the entire United States!
Photo by Jerrod Vila, NYSOWA
Ice fishing brings a camaraderie like no other. It really is more of a social event where folks just happen to be fishing at the same time. What could be better? More than just another “fishing trip,” ice fishing in Fulton County always seems to rank more along the lines of an event.
Jerrod Vila comes from generations of avid outdoorsmen. He started out rock hopping pint-sized Adirondack streams in onesie pajamas while pursuing four inch brook trout from the time he could walk. A CDL-A driver by trade, Jerrod is the outdoor columnist for the Amsterdam Recorder, feature writer for New York Outdoor News and member of NYSOWA (New York State Outdoor Writers Association). Jerrod has a passion for eclectic and elegant cuisine from all over the globe and a palate to match. He perhaps dabbles in way too many entities; but always seems to be able to make time for fishing and everything outdoors.