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Stories Told, Merchandise Sold, everyone is a winner!
Fish Taco
LUCKY WORMS “Fish Love Them!”
with Chipotle Mayo & fresh Pico de Gallo.
Locally Owned and Operated. Guaranteed Fresh
R E S T A U R A N T S
Now Available at
Canadian Tire Gas Bar (Corner of 9th and Sydney) ; AM/PM Store, York St.; MacEwen’s, York and 2nd; MacEwen’s, Lancaster; Charlottenburg Park, Lancaster and Grey’s Creek Marina;
1-704 14 th St W Cornwall, ON
613-936-1028
613-936-0169
From Football to Fishing By Jan Murray
B
y this time of year, die-hard fishermen have been setting their alarms and racing out on the water in the wee hours of the morning for more than a couple months already. Scott Lecky, general manager of the Ramada Hotel and Conference Centre in Cornwall is no different. He is always itching to get out on the water each and every chance he possibly can. Born in Staten Island, New York, Lecky came to Canada when he was about three years old. He spent most of his school age years in Collingwood, Ontario. When he finished high school he played a year of junior football for the Ottawa Sooners and then two years at the University of Guelph. It was while he was there that he was drafted by the BC Lions in 1986 and ended up playing four years in the CFL.
As passionate as he was about football, his heart belonged on the river, with a fishing pole in his hand. In 1994 that chance had finally arrived. He was given the opportunity to manage the then Holiday Inn, developed in 1973 by his father-inlaw, now known as the Ramada Hotel and Conference Centre. Although he had grown up with football and truly loved the game, his true passion in life had always been for fishing.
“I grew up fishing with my grandfather, who had a cottage at Chaffey’s Lock on the Rideau Canal every summer. We would spend
hours out in the boat fishing for bass and pike,” Lecky explains.
If they were not out on the boat, he could be found on the dock, catching Perch or Rock Bass or even Sunfish. Growing up in Collingwood he would fish for Rainbow Trout, or Salmon on Georgian Bay. Even when his life revolved around football, fishing was always his passion. “Even when we were playing football out west in Vancouver I would head out fishing every spare moment,” says Lecky. “We had some great trips out west fishing for Salmon in the Pacific Ocean and Trout in the mountain streams.”
Today Lecky is an avid Bass Tournament fisherman. From midJune through September he, along with his partners competes in events from the Rideau system to Lake Champlain and everywhere in Scott Lecky with Steve Bean. (Lecky is on the right.) They are holding between. “I am so passionate about it it’s crazy,” says Lecky. “I`ve always been a very competitive player. I really enjoy everything about tournament fishing. From getting your boat and equipment ready, to not sleeping the night before, because you’re so excited about the event; to the 4 a.m. wake up, the anticipation of catching a great bag of fish, blasting off at 6:30 a.m. and racing to your first spot at 70 mph on a beautiful summer morning…It`s the best!” This year he will be fishing two circuits, a Pro Bass Canada out of Montreal and an Ultra Bass out of Gatineau. For many years he has had
ning R i D “
four largemouth bass caught on the Ottawa River at a tournament they Submitted photo. won with Ultra Bass in July of 2011.
the pleasure of fishing with two men ever tournament, William gave his he considers both great fishermen, father a run for his money, almost and great friends, Andy Kinstler and beating him! Steve Bean. The family looks forward to getting He speaks very fondly of their away this summer to a cottage on experiences, “Win or lose we always Lake of Bays in the Muskokas. Quiet, have a lot of laughs and of course relaxing family time will be just have a lot of great fishing stories to what the doctor ordered for Lecky to tell.” prepare for September and several of His favorite time of year is mid the area’s biggest tournaments. June when Bass season first opens and the first tournament begins. He enjoys it when his children, William and Ally are able to join him. Earlier this year, when competing in his first
When asked about this upcoming September, Lecky replied that he knows what to expect. “Needless to say there won`t be much sleeping on any of those nights.”
oom Open Nigh tly”
NEW
FISHING CHARTERS NOW AVAILABLE
RAMADA HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTRE 805 Brookdale Avenue, Cornwall, ON • 613-933-8000
See us for all your fishing equipment • www.fencedepotltd.ca
3045 Pitt St Cornwall, ON K6K 1A9 • (613) 932-0717