Tackle box, valuable fishing equipment stolen at LaMarre Park

Alpena — A fishing tackle box valued at over $3,000 was stolen from a car on Friday evening at LaMarre Park but this wasn’t just any old tackle box.

If you’ve been to the Brown Trout Festival, you’ve probably seen the ‘Fish Doctor,’ hoisting up the day’s catch at weigh in. His name is Roger Barc, an avid fisherman known by many throughout the community. He’s been fishing before he could walk. You’ll see a couple of his lines out at LaMarre Park, usually with friends.

Roger and his nephew Ernest Butterfield hit the edge of the water on Friday evening around 5:00pm with some folks. The group fished until about 8:45pm. Roger left his 50lb tackle box in his green Jeep, parked about 20ft or so away from where they were fishing. A ramp obstructs the view to the parking area.

“We got done fishing,” said Barc. “We came up with the cooler, put the cooler in the truck and I asked my nephew, I said “Where’s my tackle box?”

After searching, the conclusion became evident, the tackle box was stolen. Barc left his Jeep unlocked like many do in that area when casting out. It was a shock to the party because Barc and his love for fishing are well-known along the Thunder Bay River.

“The idea of it, I mean you’re sitting right here and somebody just comes and steals it out of your car, I mean come on,” said Nephew Ernest Butterfield.

The Alpena City Police Department is aware of the situation. A few of the officers even fish with Barc from time to time. The thief or thieves can return the tackle box to Clem’s Bait and Tackle in Alpena with no questions asked. The items in the box represented more than just handy tools for the ‘Fish Doctor.’

“People that walk up and take things…they don’t know what they are also taking,” said Barc. “They’re taking memories and stuff you can’t replace.”