BY JEFF CHUDZINSKI
North Country This Week

MASSENA — The Cabela’s Big Bass Tour is officially coming to Massena, with a tournament scheduled to take place July 28-30.

The Massena Town Board recently signed off on the contract, which has a host fee of $35,000.

Though the deal is for one year only, the contract does include an option to annually renew the deal if both parties agree, officials say.

Officials say the decision to opt into a one-year deal was done out of an abundance of caution because large portions of the tournament expenses have been covered by grants in the past.

Tourism Director Don Meissner spoke to the board about the tournament, saying the new tournament will bring a fresh crop of anglers to the North Country.

Meissner said all professional competitors are not involved with other series that have visited the region. Promotors also told Meissner the tournament is aimed at being a family friendly affair that will attract families from the five-state promotional area they are targeting.

The tournament will include a number of opportunities for children and amateur anglers alike, with instructional days being planned during the tournament.

The New York Power Authority and Department of Environmental Conservation have also stepped in to assist with the tournament, Meissner said.

“We will have teachers there in different spots where the kids can go to learn some of the elements about fishing, and then we’ll have teachers to help these kids learn how to cast or whatever,” Meissner said.

“It’s a great first step and what it represents is the Power Authority taking the awareness and the responsibility that this environment here is special for the people who live here.”

Meissner said getting children involved at an early age is a great way to build on the opportunities provided by similar tournaments that have come to Massena.

Events will also be geared towards younger children, ranging in age from 10 to 12 years old, Meissner told the board.

During the meeting, Meissner also praised outgoing Board Member Tom Miller, who he said played a vital role in developing the fishing tournament scene in Massena.

Meissner said Miller has assisted in every way possible, from marketing to logistics and everything in between to help get the tournaments off the ground and to ensure they run smoothly every year.

“There are no words to express how much he has meant and how valuable I think he is,” Meissner said.