WADDINGTON – After finishing second in the World Fishing Network’s Ultimate Fishing Town contest last year, Waddington is giving it another go this year.

This year, they will not be competing with St. Lawrence River neighbors Massena and Ogdensburg, who are working with Waddington for this round.

Today, Waddington is in the lead with nearly 19,000 votes. In second is Olcott Beach, N.Y, with just over 13,000 votes. In third with 7,100 votes is Cape Hatteras, N.C., a well-known and potentially strong contender.

“We’re all on board again,” said Waddington Chamber of Commerce President John Steele.

“This year Ogdensburg and Massena both ran again, but they both decided to back right out and threw their votes to Waddington. If Waddington wins, we all win,” Steele said, because almost all the fishing events along the river there run from Morristown and Ogdensburg to Massena with Waddington in the middle.

Steele said last year’s second-place prize of $5,000 was largely contributed to organizations that enjoy and promote fishing in the area, including the Waddington Fish and Game Club, FISHCAP, the St. Lawrence River Walleye Association, and the St. Lawrence Valley Sportsmen’s Club.

The top prize in the online contest this year is a $25,000 community donation to be used for fishing related causes and promotion in the winning town. A television feature about the winning town will be produced and broadcast on the World Fishing Network, WFN. And WFN will come to the winning town for a check presentation and media event.

Steele points out that online voting this year will be in one round ending on May 31, not like last year’s preliminary round and then a runoff.

Voters can go to http://www.worldfishingnetwork.com/uft/home.php and vote four times a day, once each between midnight and 6 a.m., 6 a.m. to noon, noon to 6 p.m., and 6 p.m. to midnight. Bonus points can be earned by referring a friend, sharing on Facebook or Twitter, or listing a business.

Complete rules are at http://www.worldfishingnetwork.com/uft/rules.php.