Fishing pros may come for August tourney

Brian Kuhr, president of the Great Lakes Professional Angling Association (GLPAA) of Traverse City, has presented a request to conduct a professional fishing tournament August 15-17. It would not be open to the public and entrants would have to qualify at previous regional tournaments in order to fish at the Rogers City event.

?We are a newly-formed association and are organizing the first-ever tournament trail for trout and salmon on the Great Lakes,? said Kuhr at Monday?s Rogers City Council meeting. According to Kuhr, the trail would tentatively start at Lexington, continue on to Harbor Beach, Oscoda, Alpena and then Rogers City. Kuhr is in the process of securing permission for the tour dates, times, and places.

?There would be a maximum of 80 boats. The tournament would be one week after the salmon tournament and two weeks prior to the Last Chance Tournament,? Kuhr said.

?I didn?t want to conflict with the dates you already have or step on any toes or interfere with your plans,? he added. ?I?ve been fishing the Rogers City Tournament for several years now, and I have to say it?s one of the best in the state. You people do a fantastic job. The facilities at Rogers City are better than Traverse City. I love to come over here and fish,? Kuhr said.

THE LETTER of request presented to the council stated the Rogers City Harbor had been selected because of its facilities including the fish cleaning station, restrooms, electrical hook-ups, and area restaurants. The letter further said the area would be policed afterward for paper, pop cans, and other debris.

some input from the harbor master and the harbor advisory committee before a decision was made.

?The harbor advisory committee will be meeting Monday at 8 a.m. and it would be best if you could present this in person,? Hall said.

?I am trying to coordinate a five-city tour and the time frame is very limited ? I had hoped to get this approved tonight,? Kuhr said. ?I also have a few questions.? Kuhr wanted to know if the group?s $1 million liability policy would be sufficient. City manager Rob Fairbanks said he thought it sounded reasonable, but also said input from the harbor advisory committee was important.

The council granted approval for the GLPAA tournament request subject to approval from the harbor advisory committee following Monday?s meeting.

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