Tom Felton the fisherman

The European-style contest, designed to promote Empire State carp fishing, was conjured with the help of a cinematic wizard.

Fifteen-year-old English actor Tom Felton, who starred in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets as the title character's sorcerer-rival Draco Malfoy, happens to be an avid angler. Last summer, he and his brother Chris spent eight days fishing in the Massena area with local guide Joe Babbitt. They caught nearly 150 carp, including Tom's 38-pounder.

During their visit, the Feltons told St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Karen St. Hilaire about European angling tournaments, and suggested there ought to be a world championship carp contest for kids. "I told them we'd have one right here on the river if they'd come back for it," St. Hilaire said. "They agreed, the members of the Chamber loved the idea, and here we are."

Tom Felton spent Thursday afternoon showing clinic participants how to rig terminal tackle to catch 30- to 40-pound carp. As several starry-eyed teenage girls hovered close by, the lad talked about his inaugural visit to the St. Lawrence.

"My older brother deserves all the credit," he said. "The trip was his idea, and we had a great time. I think I caught 48 carp and he caught around 100."

"Draco," used to paying exorbitant fees to wet a line in privately owned English ponds, marveled at the abundance of public fishing waters in the United States. "Here the river runs right through the town and you can fish just about anywhere," Felton noted.

So what's better, his interviewer asked, being a movie star or catching a big carp?

"Oh, catching a big carp, definitely," he said.