Round Two: Cast Your Vote for Bradford

They say you have to be in it to win it and Bradford’s in it as one of the finalists to win the title “Ultimate Fishing Town USA.”

Bradford collected more than 1,000 votes and was able to garner a “wild card” seat in the tournament that started with hundreds of towns and is now down to 20. The top two vote-getters in each bracket moved onto the second round. Six wild card towns were also selected to advance. The contest is sponsored by the World Fishing Network.

Bradford, the only town in Pennsylvania that made the second round, was up against towns from Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, New York and District of Columbia.
Plenty of good fishing is done here, including two state records.

The Allegheny Reservoir is the best trophy northern pike fishery in Pennsylvania. The state-record pike – a 35-pounder – was caught here. There’s also largemouth bass, bluegill, steelhead and walleye fishing here, too. In fact, another state record – this one for walleye, was caught here.

“We are just thrilled to make it to the second round of voting,” said Linda Devlin, executive director of the Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau, the official tourist promotion agency in McKean County. Devlin’s nomination was the first one for Bradford. Subsequently, Bradford received eight other nominations. “Bradford and this entire region have such a great connection to fishing and outdoor recreation. It’s a natural fit for Bradford to be the Ultimate Fishing Town.”

The Kinzua Fly Fishing School is taught each year at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford and the Lodge at Glendorn, an ORVIS-endorsed lodge, is known for its fishing trips on the Allegheny River.

Devlin added that to receive this honor could lure tourists to the area.
This voting round will last until May 31. The winner will be announced June 6. The winning town will receive a $25,000 community donation.

All of the nominations voiced support for the Tuna Valley Trail Association. The TVTA encourages trail development, access to trails, trail towns and linking local recreation and fishing destinations.

People can vote by logging onto the Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau’s website – www.visitANF.com. A link takes the voter right to the voting page for Bradford.

Those who voted in the previous round do not have to verify their e-mail again. New voters, however, will have to verify their e-mail. Voters are able to vote four times during a 24-hour period. The voting blocks are as follows: 12:01 a.m. to 6 a.m.; 6:01 a.m. to noon; 12:01 p.m. to 6 p.m.; and 6:01 p.m. to midnight.

Voters can use several different e-mail addresses and register more than one vote per voting period.

Pictured, a fisherman wades through one of the creeks in Bradford with his prize catch of the day. Bradford is one of the top 20 towns in the running for the Ultimate Fishing Town USA. Voters can log onto www.visitANF.com which has a link directly to the voting screen for Bradford.
Photo courtesy of Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau