HURLEYVILLE, NY — The 23rd annual Morningside Fishing Classic is in the book. At the start at 5 a.m., all was calm at Morningside Lake. Within an hour, the wind picked up and made fishing a chore. 

The water temperature was the same as the air temperature at 71 degrees. The water was clear to a light tea stain in color and clarity. There were not a lot of lily pads to fish—and with the wind kicking up, it was a rough day on the water.

Fifty-four people took to the water and brought 61 fish to the scale.

Tom Clegg of Newburgh brought a bag of five fish to the scale for a total weight of 7.54 pounds to win. Clegg had a 2.27-pounder as his largest. He has placed in the top five in the Morningside Classic for years.

Frank Torres of Greenwood Lake also had a five-bag limit and placed second with 7.51 pounds; his largest was a 2.89-pounder. Torres also has done well in previous classics.

Bill Orr of Youngsville, another perennial winner in this contest, brought three fish to the scale for a total weight of 5.89 pounds for third place. Bill had a 2.37-pounder as his largest.

The big fish (lunker) of the day belonged to Richie Shafer of Livingston Manor. He brought in a 3.35-pound bass.

Steven Bennett of Sparrowbush caught a 3.33-pound walleye—one of the few walleyes caught in recent years.

The Pickerel Division was won by Don Ricciardi with a 17-inch, 0.93-pounder for a score of 17.93. Second place went to Clegg with a 16.5-inch, 1.1-pounder for a score of 17.51; and third went to Nick Milligan with a 16.5-inch, 0.88-pounder for a score of 17.38.

The bass were caught on a variety of lures, from crankbaits to worms of all different colors. There apparently was no pattern for the day.

Some other notable fish: Bob DeGraw caught a 2-pounder, Chris Stangel a 2.11-pounder, John Velde a 2.15-pounder, and Pete Crisci brought in a 3.13-pounder.