Fishing tournament fees in question
Garrison reps continue negotiations with Game and Fish
BY ALYSSA MEIER
Debate regarding a fee increase for the Governor’s Cup and other fishing tournaments in the state continues, according to one Garrison representative who is working to curb the spike.
McKaila Behles, former CVB director, told attendees of Monday’s Chamber of Commerce meeting that city representatives are continuing discussion with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department in hopes of avoiding a dramatic fee increase. Game and Fish approved a change to tournament guidelines this fall that eliminated the cap for fees on fishing tournaments, which previously were limited to paying $5,000.
The new regulation would require 10 percent of all proceeds to be paid in fees, with no limitation on the potential payment, a change that Behles warned could cost the Governor’s Cup thousands annually.
Behles said it is hard to tell if the negotiations have been successful.
“Some days I feel like we’re making headway, other times it feels like it’s going backwards,” Behles said.
Behles said Garrison representatives have proposed several options for fee schedules regarding both large and small fishing tournaments, and that the Game and Fish department has offered a counterproposal that was rejected.
Behles acknowledged that it was difficult to find a solution that would satisfy everyone, as different proposals tended to aid only certain tournaments while doing harm to others.
“If a little tournament gets hurt, the big tournament doesn’t get hurt,” Behles said. “If a big tournament doesn’t get hurt, the little tournament gets hurt.”
It’s unclear what the goal of the change is, Behles said, noting that answers from Game and Fish representatives has varied.
“Some are saying boat ramps are clogged up … or (the tournaments are) taking up more resources,” Behles said.
