SOUTHERN LAKE ASSESSMENT

SOUTHERN RECREATION PROFILE LAKE Tournaments: OPPORTUNITIES FOR LAKE HURON ASSESSMENT DANO’KEEFE

LEE SHORT LEE SHORT

The Lake Huron coast is a fantastic setting for outdoor exploration. Promoting the region’s natural assets can help build vibrant communities and support local economies. This series of fact sheets profiles different outdoor activities that could appeal to residents and visitors of Michigan’s Thumb. We hope this information will help guide regional planning, business development and marketing throughout the region. Here we provide an overview of fishing tournaments — including the types of events, economic impact, and opportunities for towns and fishing clubs to collaborate on fishing tournaments.

FISHING TOURNAMENTS ON LAKE HURON Great Lakes tournaments offer a unique, competitive fishing opportunity that coastal communities can highlight as an element of their identity. Fishing clubs and towns host at least 40 different fishing tournaments on Lake Huron each year from April-September. Salmon Fest in Detour recently hosted its 25th annual tournament, and the Brown Trout Festival has been running for almost 40 years. The events and tournaments help publicize and celebrate local fishing opportunities. During a fishing tournament, small teams of anglers compete, typically using their own boats and tackle. Each event has its own rules and scoring system for the competition, with cash awards for teams based on the combined weight, size or number of fish caught within a given time frame and area. On Lake Huron, most tournaments focus on walleye, salmon and trout species, but some are expanding to include more fish species or new techniques like . Unlike bass tournaments, which are usually , competitors of these tournaments keep the salmon or walleye caught or donate them to food banks. Fishing tournaments can provide a focal point for tourism, attracting visitors who may be likely to return to the area.

Spending Grand Haven Salmon Festival Economic Impact Type of Expenditure per Team In 2009, researchers evaluated the eco- Tournaments that are part of larger festivals nomic impact that Lake Michigan fishing Accommodations $204 contribute a larger economic benefit tournaments had on host communities. Dock fees $161 to host communities than stand-alone tournaments. For example in 2009, the They surveyed captains at 16 tournaments Fuel for boat $338 on Lake Michigan, including tourna- Grand Haven Salmon Festival included ments that included festival activities like Fuel for road travel $108 a tournament with 63 teams, generating the Grand Haven Salmon Festival. This Groceries $135 $33,000 in sales. However, other festival information is likely comparable to the events attracted more than 4,000 additional Restaurants $155 larger salmon or trout tournaments on people and generated $578,000 of spend- Lake Huron that include professional Fishing equipment $135 ing and 7,709 employment hours. divisions. The economic impact of Lake Other $200 Additional Benefits Michigan fishing tournaments is explored before delving into Lake Huron’s fishing Total $1,436 n Tournaments can expose visitors to the resources of an area and encourage them tournament and festival potential. Average spending by a fishing tournament team on Lake Michigan in 2009. Source: Okeefe and Miller, 2011. to return. Lake Michigan Tournament Trail n Proceeds from many tournaments n Average size of team: 6-7 people, n Average tournament participation: support local non-profit organizations. including one non-angler 64 teams n Tournaments bring people to a harbor n Origin of participants: 80% from n Average economic impact to the during off seasons in the spring and fall. Michigan, 68% traveled more than community (from non-residents n Many anglers support the businesses that 50 miles spenders): $53,257 sponsor events.

PAGE 1 RECREATION PROFILE: Fishing Tournaments PHOTOS:LEE SHORT

n Fishing license sales increase among n Walleye tournaments generally have spectators at fishing festivals. smaller teams of about two people who n Participants can aid in research and fish on smaller boats; Salmon tourna- monitoring by providing fish parts or ments usually have 3-5 people per team collecting samples. and require larger boats. n Hosting meetings with the fishing captains provides an opportunity to Festival Tournaments promote best fishing practices. Some tournaments, such as the Brown Trout Festival and Freeland Walleye LAKE HURON TOURNAMENTS Festival, are at the center of much larger festivals that include more spectators For this profile, 33 Lake Huron fishing than competitors. Festival tournaments tournament websites were reviewed and tend to have larger prize pools (sometimes the people who organize nine of the Lake thousands of dollars), more participants Huron fishing events were interviewed and a larger variety of tournament and surveyed. We found that tournaments categories. The festivals might also include in Lake Huron vary widely in size, prize concerts, poker tournaments, car shows, amounts, and the people that they attract. food and crafts. However, they all similarly benefit from town support. Stand-alone Tournaments Organizing a Tournament The majority of tournaments on Lake Huron are one- or two-day events where n Tournaments are typically organized by the focus is a mid- to large-sized fishing fishing clubs, towns, business associa- competition such as the Salmon Stakes in tions, non-profit festival organizations or St. Clair. The event may include a cook- individuals. out, fundraiser or activities for kids such as n Most events last from one to three days. minnow races. Although participants are n Volunteers and staff are needed to plan, primarily from nearby towns, the events Existing tournaments historically held on Lake Huron. promote and run the event. Tournaments can grow over time. For example, about reported using two to 12 staff and six to 50 percent of competitors at the Can2Can Opportunities to Support and Expand 12 volunteers. Tournament in Harbor Beach travel more Tournaments n Sponsorship contributions and than 50 miles to participate. registration fees provide most of the n Towns and business associations can help operating budget. Club Tournaments promote events and post event informa- n Registration fees range from $10 to Although fishing clubs sponsor many tion online. $1,000, but most are between $150 types of tournaments, some smaller events n Tournament organizers can coordinate and $300. are geared primarily for club members. advertising through a single promotional n Most of a tournament budget is used Entrance fees are typically low, $10 per booklet or website, creating a circuit of for cash prizes. Many events also donate boat for instance, and the prizes might be events that would draw anglers to new to local non-profits. On average, only a trophy, gift certificate or small cash prize. ports. 10-30% of the budget is used to organize The Blue Water Sportfishing Association n Anglers, clubs and the media can spread the event. organizes a club tournament trail that the word about the rebounding Lake n Cash prizes range from $100 to $10,000, includes six half-day events over the course Huron . depending on the number of teams and of the summer, for example. n Tournament planners can continue to entry fees. diversify the competition categories and add events for spectators.

PAGE 2 RECREATION PROFILE: Fishing Tournaments n Towns and marinas can limit docking the schedules and rules to capitalize on the and start fees and provide temporary current fishing opportunities. Lake Michigan Tournament Trail moorings. Many events now include walleye as well as n Towns and businesses can sponsor the Some Lake Huron tournament salmon species, and some events such as the event to increase cash prizes and attract organizers are discussing creating a Blue Water Tournament Trail, now accept more participants. circuit similar to the Lake Michigan fish of any species. Although competitors in Tournament Trail. On Lake Michi- n Most tournaments end by 1 or 2 p.m. the Brown Trout Festival now catch more gan, entrepreneurs Scott and Fred Organizers can encourage participants large lake trout than brown trout, participa- MacDonald created a small but to stay for the evening with suggested tion has remained fairly steady because the growing company that sponsors its itineraries. festival has added new events focusing on own competition (the 333 Champi- n Hotels can offer package deals during a walleye and divisions for women and youth. onship Series) in partnership with 16 tournament weekend. Salmon fishing is often best in the spring different local tournaments. In 2011, n Marinas can provide a place for safely and events are timed to catch the salmon as 41 teams participated in at least cleaning and displaying fish. they migrate north in the spring and early seven tournaments, earning points summer. INDUSTRY OUTLOOK to win a championship jackpot. The Diversifying the species targeted in tourna- Tournament Trail website promotes In the recent past, Lake Huron tournaments ments has a number of advantages. It lowers each of the individual tournament were hurt by the decline in Chinook salmon, the event’s dependence on a single fish spe- websites and encourages anglers to Michigan’s struggling economy and high cies and reduces the fishing pressure on this participate in multiple events. More gas prices. However, interest in competitive fishery. Some event organizers are discussing recently, a Lake Michigan Tourna- fishing has increased in many parts of the a biodiversity category that would reward ment Alliance has formed to create country and the Lake Michigan Tourna- teams that catch the largest number of a more consistent experience for ment Trail is growing. For example, a new species. Such events can raise awareness and tournament anglers, increase sponsor television show, 333 TV, focuses on Lake fishing expertise for other species like bass, support and maximize benefits for Michigan tournaments, drawing attention burbot, carp and catfish that are abundant host communities. The Trail could be to Great Lakes competitive fishing. For a in certain locations. Many tournaments are used as a model for Lake Huron event number of reasons, many of Lake Huron’s diversifying activities for spectators, which organizers to adapt and adopt. tournaments reported improvements in both benefits port towns and the fishing com- catch and participation over the last three munity. years. Traditionally, Lake Huron tournaments fo- SOURCES cused on Chinook and coho salmon, brown David K. Loomis & Robert B. Ditton (1987). Analysis of Motive O’Keefe and Miller (2011). 2009 Lake Michigan Tournament trout and steelhead, which all declined and Participation Differences between Saltwater Sport and Fishing Study. Michigan Sea Grant. Tournament Fishermen, North American Journal of dramatically beginning in 2004. Although Tournament websites including: www.tournamenttrail.net ; Management. salmon fishing is gradually improving, www.bluewatersportfishing.net ; www.alpenami-browntrout.com fishing event organizers have had to change Kerr, S. J. [ed.] (1999). Competitive Fishing in Ontario Workshop Proceedings, WP-O1. Southcentral Sciences Section, OMNR.

The Southern Lake Huron Assessment is evaluating potential opportunities for the coastal region of Contact Michigan’s Thumb. The project and this research summary were sponsored by Michigan Sea Grant College Program, M/PD-44, under: NA10OAR4170071 from National Sea Grant, NOAA, U.S. Lynn Vaccaro Department of Commerce, with funds from the State of Michigan. Coastal Research Specialist This profile was researched and written by Joel DeBoer and Lynn Vaccaro from the Michigan Sea Grant University of Michigan, with assistance from Dan O’Keefe. [email protected]

SOUTHERN Dan O’Keefe LAKE Extension Educator ASSESSMENT Michigan Sea Grant [email protected] SOUTHERN LAKE ASSESSMENT www.miseagrant.umich.edu/research/projects/huron

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