2006 TAKE-A-KID FISHING CONTEST RESULTS
Held June 3rd in Clayton-1000 Islands , NY

      
A 28th Anniversary Event
Click on Photos Below for Photo Quality Images
 

12 Yr. Old Hunter Schafer
Becomes The 2006
New York State
IGFA Junior Angler Champion

             For more years than anyone could remember, weather had
        always been great for our annual Kid's Fishing Weekend in Clay-
        ton. Many local people commented that if you have to plan an
        outdoor occasion, plan it on the Kid's Fishing Weekend to be
        insured of good weather. Well, so much for that theory.
 
            Saturday, June 3rd was the date for the International Game
        Fish Association's New York State Jr. Anglers Championship. 20
        young anglers converge on Clayton from across NYS to compete. 10 Young anglers fished with 1000 Islands Fishing Charters Capt. Allen Benas and First Mate Dave Goetz from 7:45 to 11:45 A.M. and the remaining 10 fished from noon to 4 P.M. Fishing was on board A.B.'s Office, the charter services U.S.C.G. Certified 15 passenger fishing boat.
        Having planned on attending for over a month they were excited and ready to show their fishing expertise to their fellow competitors. As I arose that morning I was greeted by raindrops and swaying tree limbs outside my window that a hawk couldn't even grasp on to. "Great" I thought.

By 7:30 all ten scheduled young anglers were on the boat and  we headed out onto a rolling river in search of northern pike. 10 more anglers would repeat the drill at noon with the person catching the largest pike of the day being declared the NYS Champion.

Although islands sheltered us from the winds to a degree, the fishing was awkward. A quick pass along a favorite weed edge produced nothing and a wind change suggested a move. Arriving at the second location the wind was from just the right direction, blowing against the current to slow up our drifting a bit and lines were ordered into the water. In only ten minutes the first pike came to the boat thanks to Alexa Townsend of Dexter. Her 21 3/4" fish put her immediately into first place, for the time being anyway. A few minutes later Steven Sirianni of Utica landed his 21 1/4" fish. Alexa was hanging on by a shoe string.

After completing the first pass on the area our success certainly dictated another.
In only ten minutes the first pike came to the boat thanks to Alexa Townsend of Dexter. Her 21 3/4" fish put her immediately into first place, for the time being anyway. A few minutes later Steven Sirianni of Utica landed his 21 1/4" fish. Alexa was hanging on by a shoe string. After completing the first pass on the area our success certainly dictated another.
Each pass took almost 45 minutes. This was a good place to spend the rest of the morning if the wind stayed where it was and of course, if the fish kept biting.

Half way through the second pass the fish must have woken  up. Within 20 minutes young Jacob Perry of Watertown landed a 15" pike and then another 22" fish that moved him into first place. On that same pass four more fish ranging in size from 18" to 19"  were landed young Massena angler Courtney Woods, Steven Sirianni, Brad Faxon of Sterling and Jacob Perry, the leader. 

Returning for another pass the fish were still on the bite. It wasn't long before Brad Faxon caught his second fish of the day followed by a 21" pike landed by Cassie Blanchard of Hammond. Now about half way through the drift everyone was alerted by the sound of a screaming drag that caught young Clayton angler Hunter Schafer totally by surprise.

 "This is a real contender" I told Hunter as I stood at his side, net in hand. "Take it very easy and just play it out." Hunter handled the big fish perfectly and gently guided it into the net. The fish measured in at 28 1/2",    setting a new standard for the day. Finishing out that pass Kyle Searor of Mexico, NY landed a 21 3/4" fish but it was not big enough for any honors. We headed back to the Clayton dock having caught the most fish ever in four hours of event history.
As we headed back it was obvious that the  wind was changing direction. The afternoon was going to be a totally different story. Although the youngsters were all pretty well soaked and shivering, they persevered better than a lot of adults I've had out.


In the afternoon finding a place out of the wind became difficult in deed.The afternoon anglers endured worse weather than the morning's.We moved from place to place trying to stay ahead of the constantly changing wind spped and direction. Unlike the active morning trip the lack of fish in the afternoon took its toll on the young angler's patience. I guess they were right, if you can't catch fish you might as well have fun doing something else.

In four hours of fishing only one angler, Nolan Reese of Ft. Plain, NY was able to coax a fish to his bait. Young Hunter was the new NYS Jr. Angler Champion.

Deluxe Shakespeare and Quantum fishing outfits from the 1000 Island Bait Store were presented to Hunter, Jacob Perry, Nolan Reese and Hannah Enslow of Freeville. But for Hunter, that was just the frosting on his cake. His grand prize is an all expense paid fishing trip to Key West to participate in the 2007 IGFA Jr. Anglers National Championship next June.

Hunter and his adult traveling companion will fly from Syracuse to Key West where the will stay for three nights at the plush Grand Key Resort, the city's newest and largest resort. They will enjoy two days of competition fishing with one other young angler from somewhere else in the US on board a professionally guided near and off-shore sport fishing boat. All meals are also included.

The IGFA NYS Championship event is made possible by the Clayton Chamber of Commerce, Clayton Lions Club, 1000 Islands Fishing Charters, Thousand Islands Inn and other local contributors. The prize has a cash value in excess of $4,000.

Also making the event a success are the 1000 Island Bait Store which provided live bait, Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. for soft drinks and Gray's Wholesale of Clayton for on-board snacks.


The Clayton event is one of only 34 qaulifying tournaments across the entire U.S. The event was sought out by IGFA due to its longevity and continued success. The event is 28 years in the running, the longest continuous kid's fishing event in the state, if not the country and is the only one of the 34 offering the Key West trip at no expense to the participant.