Nominations Underway for the Ultimate Fishing Town
OutdoorHub 03.03.13
WFN: World Fishing Network, the leading entertainment destination and digital resource for anglers throughout North America, presents the 2013 edition of Ultimate Fishing Town. This is the opportunity for one town in both the United States and Canada to win a $25,000 community donation to be used towards fishing-related causes along with an awareness and tourism boost with a special feature produced by and aired on WFN.
“Now is the time for communities – big and small – across the United States and Canada to step up and tell the world why their town is the Ultimate Fishing Town,” said Pam Stinson, senior director of marketing for WFN. “We’re encouraging diehard and casual anglers alike to celebrate their passion for fishing by nominating and voting for their community to give it the chance to win some great prizes, including a $25,000 grand prize to be invested in the future of fishing in the winning community”
The community receiving the most votes in each country will receive a $25,000 grand prize to be invested in fishing-related causes in the community, with eight $3,500 regional prizes also to be awarded for the same purpose.
766 towns in the United States and Canada were nominated in 2012 – with nominations received for every Canadian province and US state – and more than one million votes were cast. Olcott Beach, N.Y. was the 2012 US Ultimate Fishing Town, with Waddington, N.Y. placing second and Cape Hatteras, N.C. third. North of the border, Hastings, Ontario was named Canada’s Ultimate Fishing Town for 2012, followed by Port Colborne, Ontario and Temagami, Ontario in second and third place, respectively. Both Ultimate Fishing Town winners received a $25,000 community donation, while the second and third place winners also received donations to use for fishing-related causes.
The nomination process opened at 12 p.m. MT today and runs through 11:59 a.m. MT on April 15. This is the chance for people to nominate their town or favorite fishing destination at www.UltimateFishingTown.com. As part of the nomination process, the town wall will need to be populated with videos, photos and written comments about why the town should be WFN’s Ultimate Fishing Town for 2013. If a town has already been nominated, participants are encouraged to add additional comments, photos and videos to the town’s wall. Participants are further encourage to promote their town and its town wall by telling your friends, family, fishing buddies, coworkers and townspeople to get more comments, photos, videos and support.
WFN provides a variety of social media tools to help spread the word and encourage participation at www.UltimateFishingTown.com. Participants can ‘LIKE’ WFN on Facebook (www.facebook.com/WFN), tweet questions to @WFN #UFT2013 (www.twitter.com/WFN) and subscribe to WFN’s YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/user/WFNvideos) for Mariko Izumi’s video blogs that will provide tips on making a great town nomination page.
Mariko Izumi, popular host of WFN’s original production, Hookin’ Up with Mariko Izumi, returns as the spokesperson for Ultimate Fishing Town for 2013. “I encourage anglers everywhere to participate and help raise awareness for their local fishing and conservation initiatives, said Izumi.” “WFN’s Ultimate Fishing Town is a great vehicle for communities to publicize the angling opportunities that their town offers, but gives those communities the chance to receive a donation towards fishing and conservation initiatives on the local level.”
The nomination process concludes and the first round of public voting commences at 12 p.m. MT on Monday, April 15. For 2013, Ultimate Fishing Town has been divided into eight regions – three in Canada and five in the United States. Regional finalists, announced Friday, May 3, will be eligible to become the Ultimate Fishing Town for the U.S. and Canada and win the $25,000 grand prize or position themselves to win one of the eight $3,500 donations to be presented to the regional winners. Public voting for those honors begins at 12 p.m. MT on May 3 and runs through 11:59 a.m. MT on Friday, May 24.
WFN will announce the Ultimate Fishing Town for the United States and Canada and the regional winners on Tuesday, June 4.
2013 WFN Ultimate Fishing Town Regions
Canada
Eastern: New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Nunavit and Price Edward Island.
Western: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan and Yukon.
Ontario: The province of Ontario is a standalone region for 2013.
United States
Northeast: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.
Southeast: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.
Central: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
Southwest: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah.
West: Alaska, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming.
