2024 TOURNAMENT PACKET

1.) Fishing hours will be from 7:00am to 3:30pm, August 17, 2024.

 (Foul weather date will be Sunday, August 18th, same fishing hours)

*  Should Big Fish Friday be a total loss, deemed unfishable – 80% of the entry fees for this portion of the event will be refunded. Should the Main Event be a total loss, deemed unfishable – 80% of the entry fees for the Main Event will be refunded. All calcutta will be refunded 100%. This will be done at 12:30pm on Sunday, if required.

2.) There will be a shotgun start from the lighthouse at Chadwick Bay, Dunkirk, NY. There will be starting/location device or boat (to be announced at the captain's meeting). The shotgun start will be specifically 7:00am sharp. Monitor VHF Channel 68 for the official countdown and call.

· If you depart prior than our official shotgun start at 7:00am, you will be immediately disqualified.

3.) ALL waters of Lake Erie and the Upper Niagara River are legal fishable tournament waters, this includes Canadian waters.

4.) Each boat will utilize a maximum of up to nine (9) rod/reels per boat - total. All other USA and Canadian laws apply. 

5.) Boats may have from two (2) to (5) anglers per boat.

6.) Two team # signs will be provided (port and starboard); it is the team captain’s responsibility to clearly post them visible to other tournament officials and tournament boats. If these numbers are not visibly displayed, you will not be identifiable therefore disqualified from the competition. Please make sure the signs are posted before your boat is inspected.

7.) Each Team will present up to six (6) walleyes in their box. The largest being identified with the ZIP-TIE provided. The only species allowed in the box are walleyes.    If your team is eligible for the payout, your cooler will be held for pictures and additional inspection if necessary. Familiarize yourself with the cooler handling and weigh-in procedures in the tournament packet. Failure to follow these procedures will be a condition for disqualification. 

· Any more than six walleyes or any other species in the box will immediately disqualify the box and the team for the event. All culling is to be completed prior to entering the cooler check in station.

· The fish will be presented in a cooler with bagged or blocked ice only. No loose ice or water baths allowed.

8.) The walleyes presented must be a minimum of 20” from nose to tail; any fish short of 20” will be removed from the box and a 0.500 lb (one ½ pound) penalty will be applied per short fish. The box weight will be adjusted accordingly. An official tournament measuring board will be on stage to measure any questionable short fish. In an effort to expedite the weigh in show, please do not bring fish smaller than 20” in your cooler. 

9.) Any fish found being altered in any manner is unacceptable and will result in immediate disqualification. Fish should be handled in a manner that does not change the national digression or increase the fish’s weight. This includes but is not limited to water bath, injection of any materials (ice, water, bait, lead, etc.), rubber banding of the fish’s mouth, plugging of the anus, weight clipping of the gills, and clubbing or instantly killing the fish. Bagged or block ice is permissible. A live well (by Webster’s definition - a well for keeping fish alive in a fishing boat by allowing seawater to circulate through it) is permissible, but dead fish cannot be kept in a live well with water in it (this would be considered a water bath).

10.) The team “puck” will be issued upon completion of the morning boat check. EVERY boat will be checked prior to departure at the Clarion Pavilion, 30 Lake Shore Drive E, Dunkirk, NY. Bring your boat check slip to the marina pavilion to pick up your puck. If you depart without your puck, you will not be able to weigh your fish.

11.) The team “puck” is returned to the cooler check in station at the Clarion Hotel Pavilion when you drop off your fish cooler with tournament officials. It would be appreciated if you would please return you puck regardless if you are presenting a cooler for weigh in or not to help with the accountability that the entire fleet has returned safely.

12.) Boat checks will begin at 5:30am, NO boat/team can depart the docks or launch prior to having boat checks completed and team puck in hand. Monitor VHF Channel 68.

13.) Tournament boats cannot make contact with each other at any point or time once your boat check is complete. No boat is allowed to float or pass equipment, fish, bait, ice, coolers, food or drink between them at any point throughout the day after you boat has been checked. This includes at the dock, leaving Chadwick Bay, on the lake during traveling or fishing, or returning back to Chadwick Bay. Any noted or witnessed contact between boats will result in an immediate disqualification for any/all boats involved.

14.) There is NO stop fishing time, HOWEVER, your cooler must be turned in to the check in station by 3:30 PM Sharp! (NO EXCEPTIONS). Once the coolers are dropped off and in the possession of the tournament officials, they will be sealed and labeled. Tournament coolers cannot be re-opened by the team from this point on. If any access to the cooler is attempted by the team, the cooler/team will be disqualified.

15.) Fish will be weighed in at Clarion Hotel Pavilion. Weigh-In will begin at 5:00pm. Teams will be called to get their cooler and present their fish to be weighed.

16.) In the event of a tie for the largest walleye (for Big Fish Friday & Main Event), the respective prize will be split equally. During the main event, if there is a tie in box weight, the big fish weight will be used first to break the tie. If the tie still cannot be broken, the respective prize money will be equally split.

17.) All slip fees, launch fees, lodging fees and all other associated fees are the responsibility of each team.

18.) Liability & Rules Waiver must be signed by all participating anglers. Waivers must be handed in no later than at registration before the captain’s meeting.

Any teams that win more than $599.99 will be required to complete IRS Form W-9 and will receive a 1099-MISC no later than January 31, 2025. See the tournament staff after the weigh-in show to complete the form and collect your prize.

19.) The tournament is an OPEN communication event.

20.) All boats must depart and return under their own power.  Jumping boats or transferring coolers is a violation of rule #13 and therefore not allowed.

21.) As the event will have a professional weigh in, it is mandatory that each team will be properly dressed. Ideally team t-shirts or jerseys are the best choice; as they look professional and show well for pictures and videos.  No Ripped, bloody t-shirts, tank-tops or cut off sweat pants are allowed. No alcohol or smoking is allowed on stage. 

No profanity, unsportsmanlike conduct, actions or deliberate vulgarity will be allowed on stage, this will result in immediate disqualification.

22.) Tournament team registration begins at 6:00pm on Friday, August 16th at Clarion Hotel Pavilion, 30 Lake Shore Drive E, Dunkirk, NY. Each team must be checked in no later than 6:30pm. Additional tournament information will be presented at that time.

23.) Captain's Meeting (Mandatory) - At least one member of each team must be checked-in/registered and be present for the captain's meeting on Friday, August 16, 2024. Captain's meeting starts at 6:30 pm sharp; registration begins at 6:00pm. Registration and captain’s meeting will be at Clarion Hotel Pavilion, 30 Lake Shore Drive E, Dunkirk, NY.  Teams not registered by 6:30pm and present for Captain's meeting will be penalized 2 hours for departure for the day of fishing (9:00 am departure time will be enforced).

24.) Big Fish Friday - Big Fish Friday (BFF) is not part of the payout structure or a requirement of the main event. Our tournament scales will be utilized for weighing of the fish for this portion of the event. Rules are provided separately for Big Fish Friday portion of the fishing. It is each participating team’s responsibility to know, understand and abide by the rules that apply for Big Fish Friday if they so choose to fish this portion. Please reference the Big Fish Friday information sheet provided.

25.) Unsportsmanlike conduct of any kind will not be tolerated. Abuse, verbal or otherwise directed towards the tournament committee members, its volunteers or supporting staff, will result in immediate disqualification, NO Exceptions.

26.) The intent of the rules is to promote good sportsmanship and good competition. Any infraction of the rules in the opinion of the tournament committee will result in disqualification. The tournament committee’s decision will be final for all matters pertaining to the interpretation of the rules.

27.) Protest/Challenge Submittals - In the event a team wishes to enter a protest to formally challenge a competitor conflict, a formal document will be available for submittal. This form, in addition to a charge of $200 will be presented to Tournament Officials. Submittals must be made no later than 15 minutes after the weighing in of the last team on the day of the event. Should the challenge be awarded in favor to the protest submitting team, the $200 fee will be refunded to the challenging team. Should the challenge be invalid, the $200 fee will be forfeited. 

28.) The Innovative Outdoors Walleye Challenge maintains zero tolerance of cheating or misconduct within ANY tournament venue anywhere throughout the USA or Canada. The Innovative Outdoors Walleye Challenge will prohibit participation of any captain or team member(s) documented as cheating or misconduct within ANY tournament event.  Tournament officials will have the final decision. 

29.) Polygraph testing and/or legal deposition will be utilized for winning teams (this could include any or all members of the team) within various portions of the tournament payout structure. This includes Big Fish Friday and the Main Event. Refusal or being unable to participate when called to test will result in automatic disqualification.  All test results will be considered final with no exceptions.  Any form of deception recorded by the test will be considered a failure and result in disqualification.

30.) Teams/boats cannot go ashore once they have departed boat check. All boats must leave the harbor by water and return by water. 

The rules are presented to be clear, understood by teams captain/team members and provide an even playing field for each team. If you have any questions, please see a tournament official at the captain’s meeting for clarification.

The tournament officials have the final decision in any/all reported or identified situations/incidents that require attention. Any no-show or disqualification from the tournament will not result in a refund or credit. The tournament will be considered closed at 11pm on Monday, August 19th.

 · Please return your puck to tournament staff even if you are not weighing in.

· When you receive your puck in the morning, you will receive a tag to place on your cooler.  Please attach the tag to the handle of your cooler prior to checking in. 

· Please place your biggest fish (the one designated with the zip tie) on the top.

· Bring your cooler to the check-in line. See event rules for cut off times.  Your cooler will be taped shut by tournament staff. 

· Tournament staff will add stickers on the tape. These stickers will designate the number of fish in your cooler, if you have designated a big fish to weigh and if you have an estimated total weight of over 30 pounds.

· Weigh in for the main event will start at 5pm (Big Fish Friday – 4:30pm). At this time, at least 2 people from your team should go to your cooler. Please stay with your cooler and move along in the line.

· When it is your turn, present your cooler at the bump station.  Here a tournament official will check your cooler for water and loose ice.  Teams will then place their fish into the bump station table.  A tournament official will check the fish for legal tournament length.  The fish will then be placed into an official tournament basket.

· Take your basket to the "on deck" station and wait to be called to the scale.

· After your fish are weighed, take the basket back to your cooler.  Empty the basket and return it to the bump station.

· If your team is in the payout, your cooler will be held for pictures and additional inspection if needed.    All other teams are welcome to take pictures with their fish at the photo wall. 

· Upon completion of weight-in, winners will be announced, pending polygraph results.

· Teams will need to complete W9 form if appropriate before collecting check.

· No checks will be distributed until after the polygraphs have been completed.