Area fishing tournaments bring big revenue

TICONDEROGA | As water temperatures continue to rise and boats begin to propagate on the surfaces of Lake Champlain and Lake George, a timeless area favorite pastime has already kicked off- fishing tournaments. And with each tournament, a tsunami of cash flow washes into the area, more than many people may realize. "Focusing on the southern end of Lake Champlain, the Ticonderoga Area has established itself as a premier competitive fishing hub, driving millions in local revenue," said Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce (TACC) President & CEO Matt Courtright. Six years in the rear view mirror, the summer of 2020 and the new lifestyle that came with it seems surreal. With many businesses in the area reliant on summer revenue to survive throughout the year, the pandemic summer threatened to pull the rug out from many mom-and-pop establishments. However, the area's annual fishing tournaments held their ground and wound up being unexpected saviors, preventing businesses from sinking. "I had many, many of our members tell us that had it not been for the fishing tournaments, they wouldn't have made it," said Courtright. TACC recently launched its "Small Towns - Big Fishing" campaign to highlight the significance of the pastime to the area and draw attention to the many assets and offerings host towns bring to the table for anglers. As 2020 demonstrated, fishing tournaments on the New York side of Lake Champlain bring with them massive positive economic impact. The area is flooded with visitors May through October as tournaments launch out of the southern end of Lake Champlain, and local hotels/motels, gas stations, restaurants, and shops are direct beneficiaries. According to Courtright, prior to 2010, tournaments were coordinated by the Town of Ticonderoga with roughly 12 tournaments held per season; that number has grown to 30-45 annually through TACC's leadership and strong collaborative partnerships with the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) and the Town of Ticonderoga. This year, 31 tournaments are on the books. "TACC serves as the local liaison and coordinator for the Ticonderoga Area and Lake Champlain Region tournaments," Courtright explained. "We work directly with tournament leaders to book in the Ticonderoga area, provide sponsorships, assist with event logistics, and assist all participants with their local needs like lodging, gas, and dining." ROOST and the Town of Ticonderoga provide funding to support the tournaments and sponsorships and allow TACC to coordinate with them. To ensure all tournaments are fully permitted, TACC works closely with the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), who issues all permits. The two also collaborate in creating the Ticonderoga Area/Lake Champlain Area Region Fishing Tournament schedule yearly, which is issued to the local business community for planning purposes. "We have consistently scheduled two or three of our events in Ticonderoga each year," said Albany Area Bassmasters Vice President and Tournament Director Paul Pflieger. "What we have found is that it is a great place to visit with excellent accommodations and places to eat. Our members frequently travel with family members and in addition to housing and food, we find local businesses readily accessible for other needs." A comprehensive economic survey is conducted yearly by ROOST and TACC, serving to highlight how the area's focus on sport fishing sustains local businesses, strengthens the economy, and is part of the area's long-term economic growth. In 2016, the very first survey indicated an estimated direct spend of $1.5 million dollars in Essex County using a sample size of 184 respondents out of 1,850 total participants. "In 2023, the estimated direct spend was $2.3 million, and in 2024 that rose again to $3.5 million," Courtright revealed. "We are waiting on numbers from 2025, but we expect that number to follow the same uphill trajectory." In 2024, fishing tournaments participants traveled an average of 450 miles to the area, with 66% taking advantage of Ticonderoga's lodging options for their stay. The top reported properties were Stone House Motel & Motor Lodge, Best Western Plus Ticonderoga Inn & Suites, Circle Court Motel, and Super 8 by Wyndham. "Joe at The Stone House was an incredible host and their facility was incredibly easy for our members to get in and out of (even with trucks and boats and trailers)," said Scott Doughty of NH Last Cast TOC, whose group holds its tournament every October. "The Ticonderoga Country Club was a gracious host to our banquet (and eight of us played golf there), and the food was fantastic. Stewart's Shops was our stop every morning for coffee and gas for the boats and trucks, and Montcalm Liquors provided all our members with their favorite liquor." While in town, 90% of those visitors reported dining at local establishments, and another 82% said they shopped while here. The estimated average spend on lodging per trip for visitors total was $1,022,912, $570,687 on dining, $527,098 on shopping, $707,874on equipment, and $710,720 on fuel. And perhaps most importantly, 100% of respondents said based on their experience, they would opt to once again visit the Ticonderoga Area/Lake Champlain Region in the future. "I can not say enough good things about Ticonderoga except we will be back," said Joe McKinnon, President of the Massachusetts Bass Federation. "The area has great hotels and motels for our anglers to stay. Every time we go there for our Championship or NSF, we are greeted with open arms. This does not happen everywhere bass tournaments go, but in Ticonderoga, we are welcome." McKinnon added that the Knights of Columbus always benefits from his group of fishermen, as they hold their Championship and pairings meeting and dinner at the venue, as well as shopping at local vendors and shops for all other needs while in Ti. "Thank you to Fort Ticonderoga for working with TACC and the Town of Ticonderoga to offer expanded parking for larger tournaments that require overflow parking," Courtright expressed. The next time anglers will be visiting the area is this weekend, June 13 and 14 as Ticonderoga welcomes Greenbush Bass and NY Bass Nation, and Port Henry opens its arms to NE Bassin- Team Trail. For a complete 2026 Fishing Tournament schedule, please contact TACC at 518-585-6619 or stop into their office at 94 Montcalm Street in Ticonderoga.

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Area fishing tournaments bring big revenue

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