HISTORY
In 2006, ACS Tournaments, headed by David Moore, started the annual American Carp Society Northeast Regional tournament on the Seneca River in Onondaga County, New York to enable U.S. Carp Anglers to participate in a professionally organized annual event that would focus a well-deserved spotlight on this incredible sport fish. The event was an immediate success, with over 28,000 lb. caught and released by a little over 20 competing teams. The number of competing teams and qualified scores would only increase year over year, with over 36,000 lb. caught and released by 32 teams in the 2009 event. Eventually, the sheer volume of fish to be weighed became a daunting task, and the event was relegated to a Big 10 format in 2015.
In 2010, Wild Carp Companies owners Jason Bernhardt and Sean Sauda took ownership of the event, rebranding it as the Wild Carp Classic and expanding it to a weeklong triathlon entitled Wild Carp Week. In 2014, The pair hosted the inaugural Ed French Open, a event held in the fall and named in honor of a beloved, fallen Wild Carp Club member. Bernhardt would maintain the events until 2017, when fellow Wild Carp Club of Central New York members Paul and Ginny Russell succeeded as the new Tournament Directors.
Working in concert with the local municipality in Syracuse, NY, the Russells increased participation in the event and garnered global attention for the fish, as they were selected to host the 2022 Carp Angling World Championship (that event has since been delayed due to Covid-19). The tournament now has regular participants from teams both in the USA and from across the Globe, many of which have been competing every year since competitive carp angling first took hold of Onondaga County in 2007.
The Wild Carp Classic and the Ed French Open (formerly the Wild Carp Fall Qualifier) have produced some amazing results since their inception in 2010. These events take place annually in May and October--a time when carp are bulking up at the end/beginning of winter--and produce several gorgeous 30+ lb beauties every time. With an above average catch rate and many large specimen common and mirror carp (up to 40 lb) the norm, professional carp anglers regard the Seneca River as one of North America's premiere venues.
ABOUT OUR FRIEND
Ed French was an original member of The Wild Carp Club in New York and was always a joy to be around, often sharing jokes and tales from his life. He was also a mentor to new carp anglers, having loaned his gear to teach others on several occasions. He could be found frequently at his favorite fishing spot at Long Branch Park in Liverpool, where he would fish for carp almost daily in the summer. Despite his ailing shoulders, Ed loved to catch hard fighting carp and spend time with his family and friends whenever he could. It was our privilege to name the annual Fall event in his honor from 2016-2022.
