Outdoors: The Harbor vying for ‘Ultimate Fishing Town’

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David Vargas of Waukegan was at the Waukegan beach Sunday when the winds were whipping the water into frenzy. He captured this shot of the waves hitting Government Pier. Have an interesting outdoors pictures? Send to fabderholden@stmedianetwork.com.

Updated: July 20, 2011 12:15AM

The World Fishing Network is searching for the “Ultimate Fishing Town USA.”

Lake County’s own Winthrop Harbor is trying to get votes for their town so they can win a $25,000 community donation that has to be used toward fishing-related projects.

The town will also be featured on WFN and Wave Spin will donate 10 new reels that can be used as prizes or auctioned off to raise even more money.

They have 4,071 votes as of Friday at 6 p.m. (make that 4072) and the voting ends May 31. You can vote up to four times a day during the designated voting time blocks.

According to their web site ,WFN provides “a daily escape for North America’s 44 million recreational and sport fishing enthusiasts with an entertaining and comprehensive lineup that covers a wide range of programming including American and Canadian angling, saltwater and freshwater fishing, fly fishing, instructional, professional competitions, expert advice, international tournaments, travel destinations and conservation.”

You can find them on channel 394 on Dish, channel 317 on Verizon, channel 1679 on AT&T U-Verse, and on Comcast you have to call 1-800-COMCAST to order it.

“Winning this could be a good marketing tool for North Point Marina and the village,” said David Suthard, general manager of the Marina.

“We are the largest marina on the Great Lakes,” he said, with 1,477 slips, which are the floating type that rise and fall with the level of Lake Michigan.

There also is 350 dry-dock storage units for boats at neighboring Skipper Buds Marina.

“We have boaters who like to fish and boaters that like to cruise,” he said.

Near the fuel docks they have special piers set up for charter captains to park. This year, they have 27 charter captains running out of the marina, a little less than last year.

“You grab your cooler and you go for a morning run or an afternoon run. Typically, people do a half-day run, but some people go out all day,” he said.

There is also a 10-lane launch area that is free that anglers can take advantage of and they have a nice cleaning station where people take pictures with their catch.

Local people notified us of the contest and they’re urging everyone to contact other townspeople, friends, family, co-workers and anyone who loves to fish.

Visit www.WFNFishingTown.com and enter Winthrop Harbor and then vote.

There is also a link on the village’s web page.

Help spread the word. You can blog about it, post on your Facebook, twitter or even bring it up at your next club meeting.

So get out there and vote.

More voting

The Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, the non-profit corporation providing financial and other support to the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, is competing with 100 charities nationwide for a half- million dollars through a Community Giving program.

You can vote on Facebook.

“The Coast Guard Auxiliary Association provides materials to allow the Coast Guard Auxiliary members to teach boating safety around the country. $500,000 will allow the Association to enable the Auxiliary to train more people and save lives,” said Jim Vass, chairman and CEO of the Coast Guard Auxiliary Association.

You can help the Coast Guard Auxiliary Association win up to $500,000 by simply “Liking” the Chase Community Giving program and voting for the association at http://bit.ly/kOK3ZG.

Voting ends May 25.

Birding counts

Lake-Cook Audubon will meet Sunday at 7 a.m. to explore McDonald Woods Forest Preserve near Lindenhurst to search for warblers with leader Adam Sell (847) 910-7813.

The entrance to McDonald Woods is on Grass Lake Road (south side) just west of Route 45 and east of Route 83.

Then, on Wednesday at 7 a.m., the group will go to the Skokie River Nature Preserve (Shaw Woods in Lake Forest) to check out migrating birds with leader Rena Cohen (847) 831-0331.

From Deerpath Rd, turn north on Green Bay Rd., then left (west) on Laurel to its end at Hawkweed Lane.

Parking is limited.

Carefully observe parking signs.

Carpool if possible.