Just as the OPP always are on patrol somewhere on area highways and streets, the OPP Marine Unit is out on Rainy Lake during the summer months—and the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship is no exception.
“For the bass tournament, we’re really out there to monitor and assist bass fishermen when needed,” said Fort Frances OPP Cst. Al MacDonald.
“If there’s a situation, we notify the proper authority, whether that’s the ambulance, or the spotter boat, or Canada Customs,” he added. “We also assure the safety of the participants and other boaters that might be out there.”
He noted police also constantly monitor the marine band, the police band, and the VHF wavelength for any reports of boaters in distress, and always keep their ears open for messages from the tournament spotter boats.
Cst. MacDonald, who’s worked on the marine patrol for several bass tournaments, and this summer is out on the water full-time, said he’s “never had a problem with the anglers” competing in the FFCBC.
“The anglers are compliant with the regulations, they’re professionals,” he remarked. “Not only do they know it’s against the law, they’re putting themselves at risk of getting eliminated from the tournament.
“We have a lot of respect for the fisherman, and they respect us,” added Cst. MacDonald.
Unfortunately, not all boaters are as responsible as tourney anglers.
“The other side of the coin is the other boats we encounter out there,” Cst. MacDonald lamented, noting having no or improper life jackets and personal flotation devices is the most common marine offence seen by police around here.
“The majority of boaters do comply, but I’d like to see 100 percent compliance,” he remarked.
And those who might be breaking the law—whether on boat safety, provincial fishing regulations, or a federal offence—should beware, as the OPP often teams up with Ministry of Natural Resources and Canada Customs officers in vessels bearing markings from any of the three services.
“You never know who will be in the boat,” Cst. MacDonald warned.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
