Rotary International Fishing Classic

40th Annual Rotary International Fishing Classic on Lake Champlain

EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT OFFERED TO FIRST 40 ADULTS, 40 YOUTH ANGLERS TO REGISTER

PLATTSBURGH, NY __ The Rotary Club of Plattsburgh will hosts the 40th annual Rotary International Fishing Classic on beautiful Lake Champlain Friday - Sunday, June 5 - 7, 2026. This is the oldest fishing event on the lake, the earliest each year and features all cash individual and team prizes. 

The annual Rotary Fishing Classic is a fundraising event for the Rotary club and attracts anglers from all over the Northeastern United States and Canada to the shores of Lake Champlain for three days of nonstop competition fishing for the largest fish among salmon, steelhead, brown trout, lake trout, and walleye!

Cash prize amounts are determined by the pool of registration fees – 50 percent goes to the 1st through 5th place winners and the remaining funds raised support charitable community efforts of the Rotary Club of Plattsburgh.

The individual adult registration fee is $50.00, with prizes for fish in three categories: lake trout, walleye and landlocked salmon (including brown trout and steelhead). Adults and youth all compete in the open division. Prizes are based on weight as well as time weighed in.

The team competition is $50.00 for a team of two-to-four anglers. All team members still pay their individual registration fee. Each team will enter fish from two different categories to be eligible to win.

EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT MARKS 40TH ANNIVERSARY

In celebration of the 40th annual Fishing Classic, the Rotary Club of Plattsburgh will offer an "Early Bird Discount." The first 40 adult anglers to register will receive a $10.00 discount on their registrations. As well, the first 40 youth anglers to register will each receive a $5.00 discount on their registrations. 

THINGS TO REMEMBER

• The On-Line Registration Process opens Wednesday, April 15, 2026, for all individual and team competitions. You can register here or by phone at (Toll-free number to be announced). 
  
• Participants in a Boat. All participants in a boat must be registered in the Fishing Classic.  An unregistered individual within a boat will cause all other registered anglers to forfeit their eligibility for prizes. 
• “Registered Witness” category. All fish caught during the event must be witnessed by another person registered for the event (who understands and agrees to event rules). The "Registered Witness" category will be available again for this year's classic. An adult member of a registered angler’s household with the same residential address may register for $25.00 and serve as a "witness-only."
• Weigh Station closing times. Weigh stations hours will be open until 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 on Sunday.
• Online Updates. We will continue to release standings to anglers via marine radio, our toll-free number (Toll-free number to be announced) and FACEBOOK. 
• Receive Standings -- Anglers will be able to "opt-in" to receive standings via text messages when registering online or via phone. Make sure the number you provide is a cellphone, not a landline. 
  
• Merchandise. T-shirts will once again be available: $15.00 per shirt (with a new logo and color) and caps will again be available for $15.00! Shirts and caps ordered by May 23rd will be mailed directly to registrants.
• 50/50 Raffle. We will sell 50/50 tickets for $5.00 at weigh stations all weekend, giving registered anglers and witnesses another chance to win.
• Announcement of awards. The awards ceremony will be held at the Naked Turtle Sunday at 3:30 p.m. (Winners are not required to appear in person to collect their prizes.) Winners will be broadcast on Facebook live, a final FISHLINE recording, a marine radio announcement and press release.  Checks will be mailed to winners who are not present.

Half of the annual tournament net revenue and 25 percent of the team category revenue are returned to the community through academic scholarships for SUNY Plattsburgh, Clinton Community College, and CVPH Medical Center Radiology School; funds to local schools for academic student events, and to assist many worthy causes, such as the Beartown Ski Area, Boys Scouts, Girl Scouts, Plattsburgh Little League, YMCA, and others. 

So, complete your registration before 6 p.m., on Thursday, June 4, 2026. OR you'll have to wait 'til the following year to participate. 

For more information, contact Tournament Chair Robert Swem at 315-286-3148 or by email at rotaryfishclassic@gmail.com.