The Catskill Chronicle

ROSCOE, NY (July 21, 2011) – On Tuesday, July 19, Roscoe, NY had some very special visitors. Representatives of the World Fishing Network came to Sullivan County to present Roscoe with the  Grand Prize in the Ultimate Fishing Town USA contest.

In a ceremony at Roscoe’s Riverside Park, situated along the banks of the famous Willowemoc, Mariko Izumi, host of the network’s popular travel show “Hookin’ Up,” presented Elaine Fettig of the Roscoe-Rockland Chamber of Commerce with a “big” check for $25,000, a trophy and 10 WaveSpin Reels.

The World Fishing Network had come to town the previous day to produce the other prize in the contest, a TV feature about fishing in Roscoe to air on WFN and on the website WorldFishingNetwork.com.

According to Doug Drotman, Public Relations Director for WFN, the station is the only 24-7 cable network dedicated solely to fishing. “Last year,” he said, “we wanted to find the great little special places to fish. We thought of putting out a search across Canada – the network was started in Toronto, and came to US in 2009. A tiny village in British Columbia won. It was so successful that this year the WFN added the United States to the contest. 

Also, like in Canada, two small towns emerged as rivals right from the start. Those towns were Waddington and Roscoe, both in NY. Drotman says it was “a pretty miraculous recovery for Roscoe to comeback on the last day.”

So Roscoe is not only the Ultimate Fishing Town USA, but it’s the first Ultimate Fishing Town USA.

At the ceremony, the crowd heard from Elwin “Woody” Wood – Sullivan County Legislator and hometown boy. He brought praise and thanks for County Manager David Fanslau who pitched in by allowing county employees to help get the votes out. Also present to make remarks were Linda Cellini representing State Senator John Bonacic, Deputy Treasurer and hometown girl Nancy Buck, Mike Sakell from Thunder 102, representatives from the Catskill Fly Fishing Center, Phil Vallone of Rolling V Bus Company who also volunteered his employees to help with the voting, and Roberta Byron Lockwood from the Sullivan County Visitors Association who announced a contest to name the fish representing the Ultimate Fishing Town USA – further details are forthcoming and the winner will be announced around Labor Day.

Before the presentation of the prizes, Itzumi talked about the WFN and said, “Part of my job is traveling to and visiting different communities. It brings me to places like Roscoe and I get to meet the personalities and the passionate anglers. To me that one of the best part of fishing.  … Roscoe is no exception. I’ve met a whole bunch of locals in the 18 hours I’ve been here. They’re all really friendly and welcoming, and all really into your fishing which is why I guess you guys are 2011’s Ultimate Fishing Town, so congratulations.”

Itzumi was amazed that the town in British Columbia has won since their population was only 18,000. “And I then I found out that Roscoe, NY was the 2011 winner, and I find out that you’re a population of 600 people! Very impressed and you guys should all be very proud of yourself,” she said.

Lamenting the fact that she wasn’t going to get to fish while she was in Roscoe, Itzumi announced that she plans to come back.

As the ceremony came to a close, Fettig explained how the contest worked and how Roscoe battled its way to the top. “This was a tremendous effort done by many, many people. Folks pulling together in a way that brings tears to my eyes. …Obviously this is a small town with a big heart.”

That big heart was evident to Doug Drotman, who, in his travels as PR Director for WFN meets a lot of people. “Anyone who goes fishing will tell you that the people make the difference, the experiences you have. This showed that the people really do care and (Roscoe’s) gotta be a great place if the people care about it that much.”

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