MASSENA - Visitors to this summer’s Bassmaster Elite Tournament, the St. Lawrence River Showdown in Waddington will know their lodging options thanks to the Greater Massena Chamber of Commerce.

Chamber Executive Director Michael Gleason said they’re coordinating with all the local chambers of commerce and putting together a list of all the lodging that will be available. The tournament is scheduled for Aug. 8-11.

““We’ve put together a master list of all the towns. We’ll have a master list for everybody. It’s going out to all the chambers of commerce. We got it out to all the chambers so all fishermen have access (to the list),” Mr. Gleason said.

He said they expect visitors will be staying anywhere from 10 to 12 days, beginning around Aug. 2.

The media hotel will be the Quality Inn, West Orvis Street, Massena. The list of lodging options will include area hotels and motels, cabins, houses and rentals available for the 10 to 12 days.

The St. Lawrence River Showdown Committee said earlier this month that they were looking for property owners to rent their homes to anglers during the August tournament.

Bassmasters reports 102 anglers will participate in the competition. Under contract, the village will provide 60 hotel rooms for production and television crews. However, anglers must find their own housing.

St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce FishCap Coordinator and committee member Donald R. Meissner said it was an opportunity for people to rent their homes to anglers while they were away or on vacation.

During the tournament, anglers will fish along the St. Lawrence River from Massena to Ogdensburg. Anglers will also have an opportunity to fish in Canadian waters with a permit. All anglers, however, must launch from Whittaker Park in Waddington.

Approximately 44 percent of anglers have families with children under the age of 18, according to Bassmasters.

The national fishing tournament is expected to draw thousands of tourists to the area and pump $2 million in revenue into the St. Lawrence Valley economy.

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