PLATTSBURGH — Kyle Cortiana took his wife to the Warren Zeiders concert at the Clinton County Fair Thursday night and it turned out to be a great omen.
Cortiana bagged 64 pounds and 1 ounce of fish over three days on Lake Champlain to win the Major League Fishing Toyota Northern Series title over an impressive field that included last year’s local champion.
“I guess I’ve got to go to a Warren Zeiders concert before every tournament,” a happy Cortiana said at Saturday’s weigh-in at the Plattsburgh City Marina on Dock Street.
The native of Broken Arrow, Okla., took home a top prize of $40,000 for his three-day efforts.
Cortiana hauled in 20 pounds on the first day on Thursday, 22-3 on Friday and finished strong with 21-14 on Saturday.
“Thank you everybody out here for sticking around and seeing me get excited,” Cortiana said after he was crowned tournament winner.
“I appreciate all you guys.”
Drew Gill of Mount Carmel, Ill., took second with 63-6 to nab $15,500, and Bryan LaBelle of Hinesburg, Vt., grabbed third with 63-1 for a prize of $13,125.
The tournament defending champion Brett Carnright of Plattsburgh, finished 8th with 60-9 for a cash winnings of $6,000.
Carnright, 31, who grew up fishing on Lake Champlain, said the amount of big fish caught during the three-day tournament was impressive.
“I caught some big ones in practice and I knew there was a possibility of like a 22-pound bag every day to be caught,” Carnright said.
“I thought 63 to 66 pounds could win this sucker. I think this will be the highest three-day total ever on Lake Champlain.”
Carnright said the lake has evolved over the years as a bass fishery.
“It’s insane what’s going on off shore,” he said.
“It’s unbelievable what’s living off shore now. It seems like everything I found when I was a kid is no good. All the rock piles, everything I used to fish, no good.”
Carnright said Cortiana deserved the win.
“Since I live here, I’ll go to the boat ramp on a random night, you know, middle of the week in June and there’s no tournaments going on, and I’ll see his truck here,” Carnright said.
“The dude has put his time in. When it’s your time, it’s your time.”
Carnright’s cousin, Ryan Latinville, also of Plattsburgh who came in second place last year, took ninth right behind Carnright on Saturday with 60-6 for $5,000 in winnings.
Cody Abbott of Woodruff, S.C., took top honors in the co-angler division with 57-8 over the three days. Abbott won a boat, motor and trailer.