Changes in store for Brown Trout’s Super Tournament
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ALPENA -- Changes are on the way for the two-day Super Tournament that is held during the Michigan Brown Trout Festival in Alpena this summer.
The new rule changes will reform how the tournament is run, by having two divisions -- one for people with less experience fishing on Lake Huron and another that will include more seasoned anglers, including charter boats and past winners.
There will also be independent observers on some boats to keep people honest and negate any intention someone may have to bend the rules.
The new rules only apply for the Super Tournament during the 10-day festival.
Tournament Director Brad MacNeill said the new Pro-Am will divide fisherman up based on their experience levels and past success.
He said it makes sense because it levels the playing field, especially for fishermen who don't have large boats equipped with all of the latest fishing technology.
MacNeill said rules will remain as they are now for the pro division where boats can catch and weigh 10 fish each day, with no more than six being lake trout.
Boats in the amateur division can weigh five fish with no more than three being lake trout. Boats in the pro division will also be able to travel further out in Lake Huron to fish.
"If you have won the tournament in the past, or are a charter boat, you are automatically in the pro division," he said. "Amateur boats will be from 17 feet to 24 feet, so we're trying to give the little guy a chance. They will only be able to go out 18 miles, but the pros will still be able to go wherever they want."
MacNeill said this year's purse is $10,000 and $5,000 will be allocated to each of the two divisions.
At a recent meeting, some fishermen objected to more stringent rule proposals, which MacNeill said would help preserve the lake trout fishery in Northeast Michigan.
He said one idea was boats would be required to keep the first nine fish they catch and weigh six of those. That meant fishermen would not be able to swap out smaller fish for larger ones once the limit is reached. He said the rule change was seen as a way to help maintain the lake trout fishery in and around Thunder Bay, because the state has cut in half how many lake trout it plants locally.
"We're trying to be responsible and trying to protect our fishery," MacNeill said. "You can go out there now, and catch your limit, on certain days, in an hour or two and then you're going to rifle through a bunch trying to get bigger ones."
Before the start of the tournament, two boats in each division will have observers on the boat to monitor what transpires on the boat and to make sure things are on the up-and-up.
MacNeill said which two boats have observers on the first day of fishing won't be known right away, but on the second day, the two boats on top of the leaderboard in each division will have an observer.
MacNeill said when there are thousands of dollars at stake, some fishermen may be tempted to find a way to beat the system and circumvent the rules.
He said there have been claims over the years that there may be shenanigans pulled by some boats and having an observer will make sure all of the rules are being followed.
"There have been some things done in the past and we're going to deal with it," he said. "This is all about integrity and wanting to protect the integrity of the tournament."
This year's Michigan Brown Trout Festival begins on July 14 and wraps up on July 23.