Finders Keepers

Yeah, we have quite a few. We are in negotiations with several right now and holding off on posting them until things are set. All sponsorships this year will be dual sponsorships for both the IPA events and the Winter Classic. So if you want a taste for this year's sponsor list, go to the IPA website (www.NYSiceroam.com) and you can see most of them. Although we have at least 3 new ones for this year that are not listed yet (have to finalize contracts, acquire logos, acquire sponsored goods, etc.).

If foul play is suspected, lie detector tests can be issued. Same as the LOC - this year you could easily go over to Canada waters and have a better shot at larger kings. Again, it is worth it? You've got the border crossing (which we can request surveilance from) and if someone fails our lie detector test, that person will be on a blacklist for every tournament in the NE (ice and open water) and most across the US. Our network is HUGE. Is that worth the chance at a few thousand dollars? Plus no matter how tight a tournament is, there is always a way to cheat. Most people will not take that chance and hopefully if anyone does, they will get caught and be put out of the game for good. Everywhere. We have a clause built in to all of our tournament events that is simple - if you think there is foul play, put your money where your mouth is for the lie detector to be given. If they fail the test, you get your money back and they are banned for good. If they pass, you helped us verify their honesty.

Hmm... Works for me. Anyone else having issues?

This coming winter there will be a new tournament not only for ice anglers, but also for those fishing the open water, tributaries, rivers, etc. The NYS Winter Classic Tournament (www.NYSwinterclassic.com) will be the largest winter fishing tournament ever run in NYS! Using the current LOC tournaments and old ESLO style formats, anglers will be fishing for 7 different categories of fish (Trout (Browns, Lakers, Rainbows/Steelhead), Northern Pike, Walleye, Pickerel, Yellow Perch, Crappie, and Panfish (Sunfish & Bluegill)), from January 1st through February 22nd, on any waterway in NYS (ice, open water, rivers, etc.), with 14 weigh-in locations spread across the state (see map on website for locations), and a huge prize structure with cash payouts for 5 places in each category. Major sponsors are currently being negotiated and secured funds will be announced once finalized. Entry into the Classic is only $25/angler and $10 to enter the Lunker Pool, which will pay out 3 places per category. This winter every day fishing will be a tourney day!! Registration is now open!! Check it out and feel free to ask questions!!

Yeah, those fleas are unbelievable this year, and I too joined the "dipsy rig lost" club last Friday trying to clean the fleas! Man, if someone had a submersible they could load up!!

Websites are up and the IPA site is currently being updated for the 2015 events: www.NYSiceproam.com www.NYSwinterclassic.com Registration is now OPEN for both tournaments with registration forms able to be printed and downloaded from the sites. Feel free to ask questions and I'll be posting updates as new sponsors are confirmed. We will need 500 anglers statewide by December 16th in order to run the Winter Classic - a tournament based after the current LOC Derbies held on Lake Ontario with a prize structure more like the old ELSO Derbies. I don't foresee 500 as being an issue! Anyone fishing any tournaments this winter or planning on doing any fishing in NYS would be foolish not to get in this one for only $25!! Assuming all goes well this year, we will likely be adding several more weigh stations for future years.

Agreed!! A-TOM-MIK's are hands down the best flies and copper in the market! We like to run our meat rigs, but nothing puts more fish in our boat during the summer months than A-TOM-MIK's!! And as stated, the amount of exposure and work Tom & his crew put into this fishery is nothing short of amazing!! Keep up the great work Team A-TOM-MIK and you will forever have a HUGE following of dedicated anglers!!

How do we sign-up and pay for this Tom? Thanks!

Is there a number we can call to see what the largest fish weighed in is so we can release any smaller fish if we can?

Nice 21 lb'er Nick!! Looks nice out there!!

Nice green monster Nick!! LOL!!

Sharp turns have produced best for us. It has the same effect as adjusting the throttle (outside turn lures speed up, inside lures slow down) but also adds lateral movement as well. However, some days regardless of what you do, if they have lockjaw, unless you have some dynamite you won't see those fish.

Yeah, the lake is running late this year for sure, but they'll show up by and by! We're in for the Pro-Am's and they are a blast!!

It would be great to see more local teams get involved and support this great event in addition to fishing it! We're running the scales and have brought in several of our team's sponsors with product and displays for the event. Any anglers/teams with sponsorships simply ask your companies if they would like to gain exposure by supporting this event through sponsored product, funding, or anything else! We're more than happy to put up banners and/or displays if they want to provide them for us for additional exposure and the ability to get some great promotional pictures from the event! I know someone locally usually does the food at the event (which if that is already set-up that's great), otherwise we may be able to get a BBQ vendor for the event with which we may be able to get a % of the proceeds to go towards the pen project. Let me know if this is something we should pursue!

Definitely going to be a fun week!!