Syracuse.com - Cayuga County 'epicenter' of Elite Series bass tournament and Governor's Challenge

[HuntingNY-News]

The tournament is scheduled for Aug. 21-24. A total of 108 of the best bass anglers in the country are expected to compete.

Cayuga County will be the epicenter of this summer's prestigious Bassmaster Elite Tournament on Cayuga Lake, a B.A.S.S. official confirmed this week.

The tournament is scheduled for Aug. 21-24. A total of 108 of the best bass anglers in the country are expected to compete.

Each day, the anglers will launch from Frontenac Park in Union Springs. Weigh-ins will take place there the first two days and will then be moved to the parking lot at the Finger Lakes Mall on the last two, said Cara Clark, communications manager at B.A.S.S. The awards ceremony will also take place there.

Initial plans called for using Stewart Park down in Ithaca for a launch and weigh-in site. That plan was scrapped.

"B.A.S.S. and the city partners in Ithaca mutually agreed that the timing of the tournament during college move-in weekend wasn't advantageous," said Michael Mulone, director of event and tourism partnerships for B.A.S.S. " We truly think the Ithaca would be a great host for an Elite Series Tournament in the future, and we look forward to those discussions."

On Aug. 20, the day before the tournament starts, the anglers will register and get briefed on the tournament rules at the Hilton Garden Inn in Auburn. A tournament social is also scheduled there.

The anglers will be competing for a $100,000 cash prize. The field will be cut to the top 50 for Saturday and down to 12 on Sunday.

The tournament waters, according to Clark, will include "Cayuga Lake and all rivers, creeks and canals connected to Cayuga Lake. Only water open to all public fishing will be considered tournament waters."

The anglers will be banned from the lake starting July 21 until the first practice day on Aug. 18. They can start getting a feel for the waterway that day, along with Aug. 19 and 20.

Clark said "The Governor's Challenge," which will feature Gov. Andrew Cuomo and other state and local public officials fishing for bass, will be held on Saturday, Aug. 23 on Owasco Lake.

"As we get closer to the event, more details will be announced," she said.

Cuomo plans to invite state legislative leaders and members of the public to attend the event.

During last his State of the State address last month, Cuomo said, "I once again hope that (Senate Republican Leader) Dean Skelos and (Assembly Speaker) Sheldon Silver and (Senate Independent Democratic Conference Leader) Jeff Klein are there for the competition.

"It will be all in good sport. We'll have some fun and we'll promote some tourism," he said.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog