BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

MASSENA -- The Department of Environmental Conservation is slated to implement a fishing tournament registration and permitting system beginning September 1.

The news comes after the DEC finished reviewing public comments from a public comment period that closed on June 10.

The potential regulation would put into place regulations for bass fishing tournaments that would be conducted after Jan. 1.

Regulations are expected to be announced in the near future, DEC officials say.

The permitting process will be utilized on-line, with a system expected to be available in September of this year.

DEC officials say the permit system is necessary to "inform and improve fisheries management and provide, if necessary, protections for black bass populations," the website states.

The new permitting process comes as some locals have vocalized concerns of overfishing from so many tournaments in the area, in particular on the St. Lawrence River.

As a result, DEC officials say the permitting process is needed to truly understand the impacts to local fisheries, including the impact that tournaments may have on fish populations.

Along with the ability to file for permits online, the website will also feature information for anglers who want to learn more about the locations and dates of tournaments, as well as the results of each tournament.

The new system should come at no cost to taxpayers, DEC officials said.

Instead, the system will fall to the DEC to cover, who say the rule making will not exceed "typical administrative expenses."

The expanding rule making will also not result in increased expenditures for other state agencies, local governments or the general public, DEC officials said.

Permits will be the responsibility of fishing tournament directors, which are required for any event “organized competition among anglers or teams of anglers that is based on a measure of fishing success, such as the cumulative weight or length of targeted fish species; is operated on one day or a set of contiguous days, and has a minimum of 10 competitors," according to the DEC.

The only tournaments requiring a permit will be bass tournaments, with no cost to apply for a permit, DEC officials say.

The changes should not have a large impact on local tournaments, though Massena and Waddington in particular have seen a large influx in tournaments in recent years.

Bassmaster Magazine recently recognized the St. Lawrence River and eastern basin of Lake Ontario as one of the top fishing spots in the country.

According to the publication, the region produces some of the best "chunky, hard fighting small-mouth bass" that can be found anywhere in the world.

That came as no surprise to town of Massena Fishing Promoter Don Meissner, who recently told town board members of the honors.

"The rest of the world is finally figuring out what I have known for many years. We have the best bass fishing in the world here," he said.

Meissner said word has gotten out with many professional organizations who want to host tournaments in the area.

"Every week I'm fielding calls from major organizations that want to come to Massena, who tell me they heard from someone else about how great our fishing is," he said.

Most recently, Massena hosted the Major League Fishing Minn Kota Stage Seven Presented by Humminbird tournament of the Bass Pro Tour from Aug. 6-11.

Beginning August 15 the Bassmaster Elite series returns to Waddington once again. That tournament will be held from Aug. 15-18 and will feature the top-ranked anglers in the world as they compete in the season finale tournament.

Coverage of the Humminbird Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River will air on FS1 on Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bassmaster LIVE will also be streaming on Bassmaster.com all four days.