November 4, 2026

By Darcy Fargo
Editor

In addition to following God’s call to follow Him and be a fisher of men, Father Matthew Conger also enjoys competing as a fisher of… fish.

Father Conger, parochial vicar at St. Peter’s Parish in Massena and diocesan director of Vocations, competes in rod-and-reel carp fishing tournaments, often alongside his father.

“I started probably when I was 11 or 12,” Father Conger said. “My dad and I were introduced to it when a world carp tournament was in the area, and people from all over the world were fishing here in the St. Lawrence River,” he said. “I was riding my bike around town, and I sort of stumbled onto some guys who were participating in the tournament. I had never seen or heard of people fishing carp. These gentlemen – they were from England – showed me everything. I went down for three to four days and sat with them and talked with them.”

Father Conger said his youthful excitement for the sport spread to his father, and soon both of them were learning to carp fish. The pair have competed in tournaments together.

“We used to fish all summer long,” he said. “Now that I’m a priest, my time is a bit more limited. But any chance I get, I want to be on that riverbank. We haven’t competed in a couple years, but next year, I plan to do a tournament with my dad.”

The fishing is catch and release. Father Conger said his current personal best is 35 pounds.

“Dad’s best is 41 pounds,” he said. “They can get as big as 60 pounds. So now I’m chasing – chasing to beat my current record and chasing to beat dad’s.”

While they’ve had some tournament success over the years, Father Conger said his enjoyment of the sport isn’t connected to competition or wins.

“It’s all this time on the riverbank with my dad,” he said. “That’s just a great opportunity.”

He also noted that it’s a time to enjoy God’s creation.

“Even in the midst of a tournament when I’m not catching anything or when things aren’t going well, there’s something special about sitting along the river and watching a sunset or a sunrise and being in the midst of God’s creation. It’s very special. And it’s a great way to unwind. You can forget the stress of the week and only worry about the stress of catching a fish.”

His hobby has brought him into contact with “spectacular people,” Father Conger said, and it also occasionally gives him opportunities to share his vocation.

“When I was a young fisherman, a gentleman from Waddington saw my enthusiasm and love for it, an he gifted me my first carp reel and pole,” he said. “And a lot of people don’t know about carp fishing, even people who are from this area. People just come up and talk to you and start asking about it. It often comes up that I’m a priest. So, I get to share about that and have some good conversations.”

Father Conger said he’s grateful his current vocation and proximity to his parents in Ogdensburg give him opportunities to spend that time with his father.

“I think if we’re able to spend time with our mom, our dad or our family members, we shouldn’t pass it up,” he said. “That’s time well spent.”