Officials: COs on site for safety during Brown Trout Festival
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ALPENA -- New rules and checks were put in place for this year's fishing tournaments at the Michigan Brown Trout Festival as a way to deter or eliminate any and all possibilities of anglers bending the rules.
In May, Tournament Director Brad MacNeill told The News that there have been claims over the years that there may be shenanigans pulled by some boats and these new rules are meant to make sure the rules are followed more closely.
Brown Trout volunteer Ernie Butterfield said Friday that he has observed some disgruntled festival and tournament attendees after they have seen Conservation Officers with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources at the festival.
But, Butterfield said, they're only there for safety and to see the festival's traditions, not as an extra precaution to deter rule benders.
"I said to (Conservation Officer Alex Bourgeois), "you should come on down here and see the festival,'" Butterfield said. "They're new to the area, so they should go and see what Alpena's like. And it's just like anyone doing their patrols, they just want to make sure people have licenses just like anywhere else."
Bourgeois has visited the festival on occasion through the 10-day event. Notably, he was present during the weighing of fish for the annual Ladies Classic on Thursday - observing the anglers and the weigh-ins -- and not interacting with any fish.
Bourgeois said he thinks the festival is a "unique thing" to Northeast Michigan, noting that he sees more about salmon fishing on the west side of the state.
"(We need to make sure) they've got the things that they need," Bourgeois said. "That way - with this many people on the water, if there was a boating accident, or even patrolling for people when they're drunk while boating... just let them know that, hey... we're out here, patrolling on the waters and making sure that we're staying safe."
Bourgeois said he understands there are worries of rule-bending and said he'll check for any circumstances if he observes suspicious behavior. Otherwise, he said the main priority is safety.
One of new changes to fishing this year included creating two divisions for the Super Tournament, turning it into a pro-am event.
The 2023 Regular Tournament Rules also include rules for disqualification should anyone complain excessively or exhibit unsportsmanlike behavior and a rule allowing observers to be placed onboard any boat at any time during the nine days of fishing
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.
"There have been some things done in the past and we're going to deal with it," MacNeill told The News in May. "This is all about integrity and wanting to protect the integrity of the tournament."