The 2nd annual Catskills Fly Fishing Tournament & Trout Unlimited Fundraiser
Benefiting The Ashokan-Pepacton Chapter of Trout Unlimited
Saturday - June 26th, 2021
Esopus Creel is pleased to invite you to the second annual Catskills Fly Fishing Tournament to be held this June 26th, 2021 on the Esopus Creek in the idyllic Catskill Mountains. Often cited as the birthplace of American fly fishing, the Catskills, with its picturesque views and rich angling history are the perfect setting for such a competition. 25 teams of two anglers will compete for cash prizes in this prestigious event.
Sponsored By:
50% of entry fees will go directly to the Conservation Fund of the Ashokan-Pepacton Chapter of Trout Unlimited, which is dedicated to protecting the Esopus Creek & surrounding waters.
Purse
1st Place - $1500
2nd Place - $1000
3rd Place - $750
Biggest Fish - $750
Entry Fees
$500 per team ($250 per angler)
$250 of each team’s entry fee will go directly to Trout Unlimited
Entry fee includes an invitation to our post-tournament awards ceremony and dinner
Schedule
Friday, June 25th:
Check-in and pre-fish begins Friday, June 25th. Join us for drinks at Woodstock Brewery Friday night.
Saturday, June 26th:
6-6:45AM - Check-in continues
7AM - Tournament launches from the Esopus Creel Fly Shop in Phoenicia, NY
5PM - Teams are due back to report catches
6PM - Dinner and Awards Ceremony begin - Location TBD
Fundraising
We have set a fundraising goal of $10,000 for the Ashokan-Pepacton Watershed Chapter of Trout Unlimited, which has tirelessly fought to protect the Esopus Creek watershed for decades. Now under threat from national energy interests, the proposed flooding and impoundment of two tributaries of Esopus Creek threaten a river entirely inseparable from the very history & foundation of the sport of fly fishing. The Ashokan-Pepacton chapter is working directly with NY State Trout Unlimited who, due to their high profile, have been granted “intervener” status in the proposed power plant construction.
These funds will help Trout Unlimited withstand a 5-year legal battle that threatens not only anglers, but hundreds of families and homes targeted to be torn down and flooded through the use of eminent domain to build yet another reservoir in our beloved Catskill Mountains.
In addition to entry fees, which will generate $6250 for the chapter, we are hosting a 50/50 raffle and online auction to raise the additional $3750 we seek to reach our goal. Please join us in our continuing effort to help protect Esopus Creek and the people of our community.
Rules
- This is a catch & release fly fishing tournament
- Legal catches are reported via photograph with supplied measuring tape. This is why we’ve chosen the team format. Team members should assist each other with proper handling of trout while photos are being taken. Please “keep ‘em wet” and return to the water in a safe and timely manner. No photo, no tape, no fish.
- Minimum legal size is 10 inches. Sizes are rounded down to the nearest inch.
- Total legal inches per team wins.
- One fly at a time. No multi-fly rigs allowed. No articulated or multi-hook flies allowed. Single-hook flies only. Tungsten head flies are allowed.
- 9’ rod length max. Anglers must use a floating fly line to a fluoro or mono leader. No leader length limits. Additional weights are allowed on leader.
- No foul-hooked fish should be reported
- Fish with honor