MASSENA – Bass anglers will be on the St. Lawrence Sunday looking for a share of $20,000 in prize money.

The NY BASS Chapter Federation (NYBCF) will fish the St. Lawrence River this Sunday with Massena serving as the host community.

Morning launch and afternoon weigh-in will be held at the Massena Intake located off Route 131. The tournament field of approximately 160 anglers will compete.

The format randomly pairs boaters and non-boaters (two anglers per boat) on an eight-hour clock. Each angler is allowed to weigh in their five biggest fish for the day with the boater winner earning a guaranteed $2,500 and the non-boater $1,500.

Potsdam native and two-time B.A.S.S. Eastern Divisional qualifier Chris Flint described what he sees as the prospects for the weekend. Flint reports fishing an event out of Massena on July 9 where the winning weight was 20.04 lbs., and he brought in 19.62 lbs. which shows the fish are there. Flint believes the fish are setting up on their usual summer patterns and it will take another 20 lb. limit to win with a check weight of around 16 lbs.

While the fishery hosts both largemouth and smallmouth bass, most feel that smallmouth will dominate the event, but largemouth could prove a factor as fish in the 6 lb. range are in the area. Often anglers will secure their five fish limit of smallmouth and then hunt for a kicker largemouth to bump up their total weight.

Morning launch begins at 6 a.m. with weigh-in activities scheduled to start at 2 p.m.

This a B.A.S.S points contest, sponsored by the Town of Massena and the Massena Chamber of Commerce.

For additional details contact Tournament Director Jeff Edgarton (315) 662-7925 or (315) 391-9992, or visit http://www.nybassfed.com/Data/Tournaments/2011/St_Lawrence_Massena_Information_Sheet.pdf.