Voting is now open in the online Ultimate Fishing Town contest, with at least two St. Lawrence County towns competing against each other for the top prize of $25,000.

As of this morning in the first hours of voting, Waddington was the leader in the Northeast, closing in on 1,200 votes. The number two spot was held by Roscoe, N.Y. with 836 votes.

Ogdensburg was third, at 84 votes.

Many people were unhappy about Ogdensburg's entry, which pitted itself against Waddington. The consternation expressed by the Waddington Chamber of Commerce was over what they hoped would have been a regional effort at promoting St. Lawrence County as the "Fishing Capital of the World," as envisioned by the county Chamber of Commerce.

Fishing events along the St. Lawrence River frequently extend to the waters from Ogdensburg to Massena, with Waddington in the middle and frequently the center of competition.

They are competing in the Northeast against the likes of entrants Annapolis, Md., and Philadelphia, Pa.

Saranac Lake had eight votes in the early tally.

The voting is divided into regions, the Northeast, Pacific, Rockies, Southwest, Midwest, Southeast, and Florida. In the early going, no town in any of the other regions came close to Waddington's margin.

People can vote and get more information at www.wfnfishingtown.com, a web site set up by The World Fishing Network, worldfishingnetwork.com, for the contest.

Voting in the first round ends May 3. Then the first two towns in each region, plus six other towns determined to be worthy to continue by the contest organizers, are up for another round of voting that starts May 10.

The winner will be announced no later than June 6.

First place is worth $25,000; second place, $5,000; and third place, $2,500.