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Daily Gazette,
The (Schenectady, NY) June 7, 2007 $500 fish part of group's efforts to promote area JOE MAHER Gazette Reporter Three lucky anglers have hauled in specially tagged fish worth $500 each in an ongoing contest sponsored by the Great Sacandaga Lake Business Association. When the Great Sacandaga Lake Fisheries Federation was stocking the lake this spring business association members affixed special tags on 50 trout. Anyone who catches one with the tag can bring it to Capt. Carl's Sunset Grill in Edinburg to claim the $500 prize. Proprietor Carl Ward said the two-year-old business association came up with the idea as a way to promote the region and attract people to the area. "We need a little help paying the bills up here. You only make money four, five months a year," he said Wednesday. "It's a fun thing. It's going to bring a little attention up here," added Ward, who is also the vice president of the business association. He said some fishermen have told him they usually fish the river, but after hearing about the contest they figured "Why not come up here and win some money?" Fifty different business association members each sponsored a fish. The first to be caught, by David P. Ottaviano Jr. two Saturdays ago, was sponsored by Wally's Driftwood Park in Mayfield. It was a 15-inch rainbow trout. "The fish was released from Wallyworld," Ward said, invoking the marina's nickname, "and it was caught up by Majestic Mountain Marine, so it went all the way up the lake." Ottaviano said he was happy to land the prized fish. "It was really cool," the 18-year-old Niskayuna student said Wednesday. "We have a camp up there, and we're up there for most of the summer, and we fish pretty much every day," Ottaviano said. Asked what he used for bait, Ottaviano laughed. "That's a secret. I can't give that away," he said. Last Saturday, two more fishermen hauled in $500 fish of their own. Roger Moller of Broadalbin caught a 16-inch rainbow trout sponsored by Edinburg Marina in the bay near Dominick's Sand Bar, and Charles Ladd caught a 14-inch rainbow sponsored by Walt Shults EMC. "He caught that one down by the town of Providence beach," Ward said. An avid fisherman, Moller said he was aware of the contest. "I was fishing off neon worms and I caught a 23-inch, eight-pounder and threw the line back in the water, and all of sudden, about two minutes later, I got a 16 1/2 inch trout with a tag on it. That was the highlight of the weekend," Moller said. Ward said the promotion is good for the area and good for business. While three of the tagged trout have been netted, there's still 47 more in the lake worth a total of $23,500, Ward said, and the contest runs through April 2008. The business association is also sponsoring a fireworks show this year, he said, and is working hard to showcase the area. "All these businesses, it's good when you can work together. Many hands make light work," he said. For more information on the contest and other events and activities, visit www.visitsacandaga.com. Reach Gazette reporter Joe Maher at 725-8412 or jmaher@dailygazette.net.
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