A local angler, Keith Compton of Brockport, qualified for an In-Fisherman Master Angler Award for 2013. In-Fisherman, the magazine, began publication in 1975 with the Master Angler program being added in 1977. In-Fisherman, also a nationally syndicated television program, is the leading authority on freshwater fishing.
The Master Angler program has two categories for entries, kept and catch and release. The winning entries for 2013 are listed in the July 2014 issue of In-Fisherman magazine and on-line at in-fisherman.com.
Mr. Compton, a lifelong angler, entered a 43” Asian carp to earn his catch and release award. This award was one out of just over six-hundred awarded nationwide for 2013. He landed the trophy near the Park Street Bridge where he used corn for bait.
Mr. Compton fishes the canal often and said, “For a little strip of water, that’s empty half the year, it’s quite the ecosystem harboring a very healthy and diverse fish population. It’s a shame that the Erie Canal’s fishing derby isn’t extended down through Holley, Brockport and into Spencerport. Believe me there is quite the contingent of canal anglers in the Holley/Brockport/Spencerport area who would support the tournament. I believe another positive factor, for expanding the derby, is that local business opportunities are being overlooked and should be examined more closely. If the derby can’t be expanded, New York State offers a “free” fishing weekend, which was the 27/28 of June this year, meaning no fishing license is required for those two days. If the town and the local business community got together on this, Brockport, or any village along the canal for that matter, could hold its own two day tournament. I believe it would turn into quite the event for our town just like the arts and crafts weekend has.”
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