?Last Chance? offered to fishermen
This weekend’s Last Chance Salmon Tournament, sponsored by the Presque Isle County Tourism Council, might be the first chance anglers have at reeling in the “big one.” The fish in Lake Huron, for most of the season, have not been biting, according to most accounts, but that may have changed over the weekend. Rogers City harbor master Ken Rasche said he wouldn’t rate the fishing as “excellent” but it might be the best of the year so far. This is good news for the tourism council, which was preparing for Friday and Saturday’s tournament.
PRIZES FOR the tournament will be $8,500, based on 100 boats entered. Prizes will be paid to the top 10 teams as follows; first, $3,000; second, $1,500; third, $850; fourth, $550; fifth, $400; sixth, $325; seventh, $275; eighth, $250; ninth, $200; tenth, $150. The entry fee is $150 per boat and will include the captain and up to four additional crew members. Only Chinook salmon will be weighed and tallied for each boat’s daily score. Last year’s winner was Russ Pilette of Clawson. Pilette and his crew reeled in 109.20 pounds of salmon during the two-day event, exactly one pound ahead of Harold King and his crew from Hawks. Pilette won $3,000, taking his total prize earnings to more than $10,000 over the years he has participated.<
TOURNAMENT BOAT inspections will begin at 5 a.m. each day at the harbor parking lot. Boats may begin fishing after they are inspected. All fish to be weighed must be in line at the weigh-in station at Lakeside Park in Rogers City by 2 p.m. each day.
The winners will be determined by the combined weight of the three biggest fish per boat. Ten percent of the proceeds from the tournament go to the Hammond Bay Anglers Association legal defense fund. A 25-pounder salmon caught during last year’s tournament aided both Pilette and King.
The estimated number of boats already entered was between 50 and 60 but expected more as the post-Labor Day work week got rolling. The captain’s meeting, to go over rules and procedures, will be conducted at 8 p.m. tonight. Sunday has been reserved as the alternate fishing day in case of weather conditions which cause the cancellation of fishing either Friday or Saturday. For further information, contact tourism council at 734-4722.