Finders Keepers

Anyone can stop by at any time, no sign-up is necessary - it is an open format style event so we'll run demo's whenever anyone has a question or would like to see something done in person. Sign-ups for the Summer Classic will be going on the whole time with the free goods on a first come basis until gone (same for the free line spooling - one reel per person who signs-up for the Classic).

Due to the incoming rains forecast for today, the promo event planned for Cabela's has been canceled. The next scheduled event will be next Sat at the Henrietta Field & Stream.

Once again anglers from across the state will compete in the largest open water event of the summer! Anglers can fish any time between July 1st and August 31st on any NYS waterway using any legal angling method for a variety of fish species! This year's weigh-in network will feature over 75 locations for anglers to bring fish in to. Registration is only $25/angler ($35 if entering the optional Lunker Pool) and $165/boat or guide for the Captains Pool (includes Summer Classic registration for the Captain with the Lunker Pool). As the statewide Classic events continue to grow, so will the prize structure - this summer the awards ceremony will occur at Batavia Downs where we will be awarding the Grand Prize award of up to $25,000 or more, all Top-3 anglers will be hosted overnight, and 50 lucky anglers will have a chance at a $34,000 2018 Qwest Adventure Boat from Captain Ken's Bayside Boats with alternate prizes valued up to $400! Running alongside the LOC events, Challenge events, and other Lake Ontario tournaments, this year's Summer Classic has a focus on Lake Ontario offering full salmon and lake trout categories, a $200 monthly award for the largest brown trout, and a new Captains Pool event specifically designed for the charter and guide services on Lake Ontario where every trout or salmon caught is eligible to enter. Now charter services and guides can compete all season and not have to worry about who's entered in the events and who is not - every fish can count! Plus there are additional $500+ cash awards for the Captain(s) with the largest salmon/trout/steelhead caught by a Summer Classic angler! Summer Classic Details: Full categories this year include: *Salmon *Lake Trout *Walleye *Catfish *Bass *Yellow Perch *Rock Bass *Crappie *Panfish $200 Monthly Cash Awards: *Largest Brown Trout *Carp *White Perch/Silver Bass Additional Prizes and Awards: *Largest fish entered by a female angler (Okuma Trolling Combo) *Largest fish entered by a youth angler (Free Mount) *Monthly Largest king salmon award at each Lake Ontario station (salmon gear package inc. an exclusive Koyote Ugly Summer Classic Flasher) *Random Placement Prizes *Lunker Pool Cash Awards (Top 3 in each category) *Door Prizes *Youth Angler Awards Follow the event on Facebook for all the updates, announcements, sponsor highlights, and much more! All the rules and regs can be found at: www.NYSsummerclassic.com along with online registration, weigh-in station map, the leader boards, prizes up for grabs, and much more! Make every day a tourney day this summer and get into the NYS Summer Classic - sign-up at one of the promo days coming up and score a $10 Free Play Card to Batavia Downs (first 250 anglers) plus some free gear and/or swag items (while supplies last): Cabela's (Cheektowaga) - May 19th 10-4pm Field & Stream (Henrietta) - May 26th 10-4pm **Get a reel spooled up for free with registration (while supplies last, one reel per sign-up, line types and weights vary and subject to availability) Bass Pro Shops (Auburn) - June 9th 10-4pm (Additional sign-up prizes/gear available at select shops) *Reminder*: All Top-3 fish must be kept and will be required at the awards ceremony for scanning, verification, pictures, to be on display, and possible mounting.

This a statewide, 2-month-long fishing event where anglers can fish any NYS waterway using any legal angling methods for a variety of fish species. This year's event will offer over $40,000 in cash and prizes, 50 chances to win a new 2018 Qwest Boat, a Grand Prize up to $50,000 cash or more, youth angler prizes, door prizes, giveaways, a sportsman show, awards ceremony at Batavia Downs, and much more!! Anglers have over 75 weigh-in locations to bring fish in to and a protocol is in place for anglers to follow while fishing at night allowing the tourney to run 24 hours per day. Registration is only $25/angler ($35 if entering the optional Lunker Pool). Website: www.NYSsummerclassic.com Main Category Fish Species: Salmon, Lake Trout, Walleye, Catfish, Bass, Crappie, Yellow Perch, Panfish, Rock Bass Other Species Awards: Brown Trout, Northern Pike, White Perch/Silver Bass, Carp Captains Pool: Event specifically for Lake Ontario charters and guide services where every fish caught on the registered boat or with the registered guide is eligible to be entered regardless of who caught the fish. See rules and regs on the main website for full details! Any questions or media inquiries please contact Director Tim Thomas at: (585) 330-0494

The Finders Keepers Team will be holding 3 seminar/demo days where we will have our tournament boat on-site for live demos for how to run gear, how to outfit boats for various applications, mounting electronics, and running various spreads on a smaller boat. We'll also have displays set-up for Okuma, Savage Gear, Cannon, Humminbird, Minn-Kota, OceanLED, Frabill, Plano, Aqua-Vu, Water Wolf, Fish Hawk, Atommik, Koyote Ugly, and Fillet Away Fish Mats with the latest gear to check out, brochures, etc. This is a great way for those just getting into the sport to learn firsthand how to set-up and run various applications for targeting trout and salmon. Last year much of our success was from running cut bait - stop out and learn the ins and outs of running cut bait this season and increase your chances at putting up a Top-20 king on the NYS Summer Classic or LOC leader boards!! Also, we will be signing up anglers for the 2018 Summer Classic Tournament event with sign-up bonuses to give out! The first 250 anglers to sign-up at these events will receive a $10 Free Play Card to Batavia Downs plus other gear from our sponsors (while supplies last). Those who visit the Field & Stream event can also get one of their reels spooled up for free (various lines to choose from) when you sign up for the tournament! Limit of one reel per person, while supplies last! This year's event will be giving away over $30,000 in cash and prizes and will offer 50 anglers the chance to win a $34,000 Qwest boat before the awards ceremony on Sept. 22 at Batavia Downs! Go to www.NYSsummerclassic.com for all the details. Seminar dates and locations are: May 19th - Cabela's (Cheektowaga, NY) 10am-4pm May 26th - Field & Stream (Henrietta, NY) 10am-4pm June 9th - Bass Pro Shops (Auburn, NY) 10am-4pm These are open-format style, so stop by and we'll help answer any questions you may have! Been wondering how to run multiple wires on a side without tangles? New to running planer boards or downriggers and want to see how they work and how to attach the lines? Want to know how to attach and run various fixed and free sliders on a rigger line? This is a perfect time to stop out and learn!! We look forward to seeing many of you there!!

Very cool!!

Looking forward to it!!

**SAVE THE DATE** For those that have heard about and seen the new Koyote Ugly Spoons Inc flashers, the first retail store to have them in stock in NY will be Field & Stream in Henrietta on March 17th. They are hosting a Guide/Charter Day and unveiling the new line-up of Koyote Ugly flashers and spoons to the market. Simulator tested and designed, painted like no other flasher on the market, these flashers are going to produce! Here is just a sample of some of the available designs (14 of the 27 designs) under normal light, then under UV light... Yeah, they're sha-weet! More to come - stay tuned!! If you are a charter captain/guide and would like to gain not only some great exposure, but would also like to make some great connections and network at the event, please contact me via PM or call the Field & Stream store and ask for Kyle Jenner.

I will be there manning the NYS Classic Tournaments booth and taking registrations, where we will also have our Dockside Dealer gear for sale (limited quantities): *Fillet Away Fish Mats *Koyote Ugly Products *Deep Freeze Products (1-shot skimmers, Blue Tipz signal devices) *Nautic Sport power packs *Celox Products (first aide pads, granules) *Custom Painted Shark Weights I will also be conducting several seminars on Ice Safety, Electronics for the Ice, Rigging and running Cut Bait, and assisting Frank Campbell using the Fillet Away Fish Mats. If you haven't seen the mats yet, definitely a fantastic item to make sure to see that weekend! We will also have them for sale at show-only pricing! This show is fantastic and i highly recommend coming to check it out!! Get all the details of the show at: http://niagarafishingexpo.com/

There are 3 events coming up in NY State: Dec. 9 - Field & Stream Ice Event (Henrietta Store)(10am - 5pm) - Company Reps/Pro-Staff, giveaways, special deals, registration for the NYS Winter Classic Dec. 16 - Fish307 Open House Ice Event (Lake George)(8am - 5pm) - Company Reps/Pro-Staff, seminars, demos, giveaways, special deals, registration for the NYS Winter Classic Jan. 19-21 - Greater Niagara Fishing & Outdoor Expo (Niagara Falls) - Lots of great seminars, demos, specials, Salmon School, registration for the NYS Winter Classic

They have had skim ice in the north country for the past two weeks, but nothing to fish on yet. They will be on soon - maybe as soon as the end of next week. It'll be a while before we see any safe ice down this way...But I have faith for a good ice season!!

Right On!!!!

Can't wait - let's hope for a great ice season this year!!