Salt City Bassmasters host fishing expo

The Salt City Bassmasters moved their annual fishing expo to a larger venue to accommodate a larger crowd and the higher demand from vendors.

LIVERPOOL, N.Y. — Moving to a larger venue for its fishing expo boosted the fundraising efforts of the Salt City Bassmasters.

The New York B.A.S.S. Nation club hosted its fourth annual fishing expo April 14 to raised funds for the club to cover travel expenses for the New York Nation Club Team Championship (CTC). The club held the expo at the Clay Fire Department station in previous years but decided to move the event to the Holiday Inn conference center this year to accommodate larger crowds and a higher demand from vendors.

“We were trying to get more people involved in fishing so we wanted to get a bigger venue,” said club member Aaron Busch. “We got the community together and a lot of people showed up to hang out with us and talk fishing. We gave away 20 donated rod and reel combos to the first 20 kids 10 years old and under attending the expo.”

Attendance was doubled for this year’s event due to the larger venue, according to Busch. The event also raised $1,500 that was an increase over the fundraising totals of previous years.  

Vendors’ fees paid for the rent of the convention center and the club raised funds through a $3 per person admission fee and selling raffle tickets for rods and reels, a tackle bag full of lures and other items. Busch said the larger venue also allowed 30 vendors from local and national companies to set up booths rather than tables at this year’s expo.