Lake St. Clair Muskie Challenge
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Rules & Regulations


    General Rules

  1. Trolling is permitted. Anglers fishing in kayaks are permitted to use gripping devices.
  2. All anglers are required to have either a net and/or cradle large enough to land their expected size fish.
  3. Once the tournament begins, no refunds will be issued to any paying participant for any reason.
  4. All participants are subject to a polygraph at anytime during the tournament.
  5. All participants will have to fill out a sign in/out form.
  6. Everyone must revive fish upon release.

  7. Shore fish must be protected when on shore and unhooked in net if possible.
  8. All fish must be caught from first light to 4:30pm, no fish will be excepted after 4:30pm.
  9. The tournament will not determine any circumstance due to the weather and/or climate.
  10. All fish must be caught on rod and reel. All fish must be caught on artificial baits, no live and/or dead bait is permitted. The use of livewells is permitted. Every fish must be released. Any fish that is snagged, whether intentionally or unintentionally, is not eligible for any points.
  11. All participants fishing in the tournament must abide by Ontario Fishing Laws regulated by the MNR. All anglers fishing in the tournament (both Canadian and American) are required to have the proper fishing licenses required by the MNR (Ministry of Natural Resources). Failure to have proper licenses will result in immediate disqualification and will be reported to the MNR by the Tournament Committee.
  12. The Muskie Challenge Fishing Tournament reserves the right to modify/change any rule up until the captains meeting. Tournament Organizers reserve the right to alter daily start and finish times.
  13. Registration

  14. The entry fee will be $85.00CAD per contestant (entry fee includes dinner). Registration must be paid by November 1st at the captains meeting with the tournament waiver signed and accompanied with a province/state photo identification (Driver’s License preferred).
  15. The tournament will begin on November 1st at 9am EST, and will finish the same day at 4:30pm. Awards will be on the same day at 5p.m. at Park Side Grille at Rochester Place.
  16. The captains meeting will take place Saturday, November 1st, at 5pm ET. The location of the captains meeting will be at Rochester Place. All anglers must attend the captains meeting to fish the tournament.
  17. Rochester Place
    981 County Road 2
    Belle River, Ontario
    N0R1A0

    Scoring

  18. All fish have to be caught and measured during the hours of 9am and 4pm EST on November 1st, 2015. Any fish caught after 4pm will be penalized by half an inch per minute off the overall length measurement of the fish.
  19. All fish that are entered must be over 44 inches to qualify for points. Only one fish can be entered. Once an angler has entered a qualifying fish, they must cease from fishing the remainder of the day, no matter what time the fish was caught.
  20. Scoring will be determined by the overall length (measured from the tip of the snout to the tip of the upper lobe of the tail "or caudal" fin) of each fish. The overall length measurement of each fish will be determined in inches and will be rounded off to the nearest 1/8th of an inch. The contestant with the highest measured overall length will win the event. The final measurement of every submitted fish will be determined by the Tournament Committee.
  21. To submit a fish, each participant must take a photograph of their muskie with the secret item in the photo and the measurement of the muskie CLEARLY VISIBLE (measuring tape must be in the photo). Please submit all photos to muskiechallenge@gmail.com. The photo must be submitted before 4:00pm. The secret item will be given to the anglers at the captains meeting. The photo must be clear enough to read the measurements on the measuring tape.
  22. Angler Rules

  23. No angler is permitted to begin fishing the tournament until meeting with Tournament Organizers.
  24. Anglers are permitted to fish from shore and/or watercraft.
  25. This is a single angler tournament format, no teams are allowed. Competing anglers may fish with one another, as well as with those not participating in the tournament.
  26. All anglers have to be over the age of 18. Any angler interested in fishing the tournament who is under the age of 18, must have a parent and/or legal guardian sign their entry form waiver and have that waiver notarized by an authorized notary.
  27. Anglers are permitted to fish in any desired location as long as it remains within the boundaries of the Detroit River, Lake St. Clair and the Thames River (St. Clair River is not permitted).
  28. Prizes

  29. All prizes stated by Tournament Organizers of the Muskie Challenge are subject to change. 75% of all entry fees will be given as Prize Money. Cash prize payouts will be determined by the number of anglers fishing the tournament. Cash will be paid out to First (1st), Second (2nd), and Third (3rd) place.