2022 Fishing Competitions and Events

Feb. 17-20, 2022 - Greater Niagara Fishing and Outdoor Expo at the Conference and Event Center Niagara Falls, 101 Old Falls Blvd., Niagara Falls. Over 200 seminars from 70 different speakers. Great educational event! www.niagarafishingexpo.com.

Feb. 19, 2022-LOTSA Salmon School at the Greater Niagara Fishing and Outdoor Expo, Conference and Event Center Niagara Falls. This full-day workshop sells out so register early at: www.lotsa1.org or www.niagarafishingexpo.com.

Roger Tobey Memorial Niagara River Anglers Steelhead Contest - February 26, 2022 - The Niagara River Anglers Association will be holding their winter steelhead classic at Lewiston Landing in the lower river and Lake Ontario tributaries.

$20 entry plus optional $5 brown trout. Must be a member for $20. For information check out the NRAA Facebook page.

New York State Winter Free Fishing Days 2022- Feb. 19-20, 2022 No license is required by anyone for these two days, resident or non-resident (although all the rules and regulations must be followed), in an effort to promote this popular pastime. This is a great time to get the whole family on the water and see how much fun it can be.

Niagara County Bullhead Tournament

April 8 at 5 p.m. to April 10 at 1 p.m. Entry fee $10 for age 13 and older; free for 12 and under. Best 2 fish.Weigh in the final day at the Wilson Conservation Club. For more info contact Eric at 628-6078.

Lake Ontario Counties (LOC) Spring Trout and Salmon Derby, May 6-15, 2022 -This premier spring kick-off classic, offering a $15,000 Grand Prize for the largest salmon caught overall, also sports over $44,000 in cash and prizes overall. More than 60 percent of allthe winning fish come from the waters off Niagara. For more information, call (888) REEL-2-IN or visittheir website at; www.loc.org

10th Annual Wilson Harbor Invitational Salmon Tournament

May 14 and 15, 2022 (2 days)- The tournament is back for another battle of salmon seekers. Check out facebook for the tournament details. Each day

is a separate tournament plus overall options. $1 Kat day and almon Slam options are set for May 7-13.

20th Annual Don Johannes Memorial Big Fish Contest and 15th Annual Pete DeAngelo Memorial

Fish Contest, June 2, 2022- Finnan Murphy with 26. 1Olb. king This is a precursor to the Pro-Am tournaments to get the teams warmed up for the fishing action. You don't have to be in the pro- am to fish, though. Sign up at The Boat Doctors, Bootleggers Cove or The Gas Shack in Wilson. Call 716-523-1727 for more info.$100 per boat. 100 percent cash payout.

37th Annual Skip Hartman Memorial Lake Ontario Pro- Am Salmon Team Tournament - June 3-June 4, 2022: Back to a two-day event with a third day set aside for weather challenges. Over $40,000 in cash and prizes last year. For more info call (877) FALLS US or log onto the tournament website at: www.lakeontarioproam.net for rules and sign up information. 100 percent payback of entry fees!

New York State Free Fishing Days 2022- June 25-26- No license is required by anyone for these two days, resident or non-resident (although all the rules and regulations must be followed), in an effort to promote this popular pastime. This is a great time to get the whole family on the water and see how much fun it can be.

12th Annual Lake Ontario Counties (LOC) Summer Derby- July 2-July 31, 2022 - Grand prize is $10,000 for biggest salmon. Weekly prizes for the divisions ($1,000 for salmon and$500 for trout), $30,000 overall. Check out the Website for all the details for this new summer event at; www.loc.org or call (888) REEL-2-IN.

19th Annual Lake Ontario Trout and Salmon Assn. King Salmon Tournament - July 16 - Olcott from 6 a.m. to 3

p.m. This event offers 100 percent cash pay back. All participants must be LOTSA members. Deadline to register is July 14 at 6 p.m. For more information, contact; www.lotsa.org. July 15 is the 10th Annual Curt Meddaugh Memorial Fishing Derby to remember an important LOTSA member. Free for anyone registered in the Saturday event. For more information, contact www.lotsa1.org.

30^th Annual Erie Canal Fishing Derby

July 7-17, 2022 -The Erie Canal is spotlighted for this family- oriented fishing competition offering up more than $8,000 in prizes. Eligible waters include from the Niagara River to the Main Street Bridge in Albion (Route 98) - 50 miles of waters. For more information visit their website at www.eriecanalderby.com. (Bass is included.)

Lake Ontario Counties (LOC) Fall Trout and Salmon Derby August 19 - September 5, 2022 - Over $70,000 in cash and prizes including a $25,000 Grand Prize for the largest trout or salmon caught during this 18-day event. Help anglers celebrate the return of the mighty king salmon on Lake Ontario! Sign up in local tackle shops or call (888) REEL-2-IN. You can also visit their website at; www.loc.org for more info or to register.

Reelin' for a Cure Tournament (one day Ladies-Only event) -August 19, 2022 - This 6th annual ladies' event will once again be held out of Wilson and Olcott. It's a great way to celebrate life and pay tribute to cancer survivors. Call Stephanie at (716) 481-6388 and also log onto the event's Facebook page.

46th Annual Greater Niagara "Fall Classic" Derby- 2022: A Fish Odyssey - August 19 - Sept. 4, 2022 - The journey continues with another great event set for 2022 - 46 years of derbies! Last year, over $14,000 in cash and prizes were handed out to winning anglers at Krull Park in Olcott on awards night. Species categories included salmon, rainbow trout, brown trout, lake trout, smallmouth bass, carp, and walleye. All have a chance to win the Grand Prize. For more information, call (877) FALLS US or visit www.FishOdyssey.net. Kids are FREE in a special youth division.

35th Annual NYPA Wildlife Festival - Sept. 24-25, 2022 (tentative) - Held in conjunction with National Hunting and Fishing Day weekend, this event is co-sponsored by the Niagara County Federation of Conservation Clubs and held on the grounds of the Power Authority's Visitor Center in Lewiston. Doors are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Over 10,000 in attendance in 2019. Free admission.

NY's National Hunting and Fishing Day and Free Fishing Day- Sept. 24, 2022 No license is required by anyone for these two days, resident or non-resident (although all the rules and regulations must be followed), in an effort to promote this popular pastime. This is a great time to get the whole family on the water and see how much fun it can be. VETERANS NY Veteran's Day Free Fishing Day Nov. 11, 2022-No license needed to fish for veterans