2011 TOURNAMENT RULES

George Wahl Memorial Muskie Fishing Tournament - September 24 - Minneapolis/St. Paul Metro Area

September 24, 2011 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Offical tournament rules will be in your tournament program or you can download them in PDF format.

LAKE MINNETONKA • LAKE INDEPENDENCE • LAKE WACONIA EAGLE LAKE (HENNEPIN COUNTY) • WHITE BEAR LAKE BALD EAGLE LAKE • FOREST LAKE • LAKE ST. CROIX • LAKE OWASSO LAKE HARRIET • LAKE CALHOUN • LAKE OF THE ISLES • CEDAR LAKE

YOU MUST HAVE A COPY OF SATURDAY’S MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE OR ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS (NO WEEKLY PAPERS) WITH YOU TO INCLUDE IN THE DIGITAL PICTURE OF FISH THAT YOU REGISTER.

LAKE MINNETONKA ANGLERS

The Lake Minnetonka Conservation District (LMCD) requires that boats that have been in ANY waters containing ANY aquatic invasive species – especially zebra mussels (Mille Lacs, St. Criox, Mississippi, St. Louis River, Lake Superior) – in the 30 days prior to putting in at Lake Minnetonka, be dry for a minimum of 5 days. A list of infested waters can be found at www.LMCD.org, in your tournament program and in a downloadable format.

Boats must be cleaned and certified by the LMCD if they don’t meet this requirement. Contact the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District at 952-745-0789 to make arrangements to have your boat certified before the tournament if you won’t meet the requirement. The special event certification form in your tournament packet MUST BE filled out and turned in at the Awards Program or mailed back before the tournament, OR you must turn in a LMCD certification form at the Awards. If you don’t turn in any of the forms, any fish registered will not count. A copy of this form can also be download.

These are not rules/regulations set by the George Wahl Memorial Muskie Fishing Tournament or the Twin Cities Chapter of Muskies Inc. They are rules/regulations set by the LMCD.

2011 TOURNAMENT RULES

Boats, equipment, and conduct must comply with all Minnesota State laws. Minnesota State Fishing Licenses are required. If you are fishing Minneapolis city lakes, you must comply with regulations regarding gas motors. All contestants must be wearing an approved life vest when boat is under power. All fish must be caught during tournament hours in the designated waters using legal sportfishing tackle. ONLY ARTIFICIAL LURES/BAIT MAY BE USED.
THERE MUST BE A MINIMUM OF TWO PERSONS IN EACH BOAT. ALL OCCUPANTS IN THE BOAT, INCLUDING GUIDES, MUST BE REGISTERED TOURNAMENT CONTESTANTS WHETHER THEY FISH OR NOT.
All muskies entered must be a minimum of 40 inches in length. Contestants must remain with the muskie until it swims away unaided. Fish must be returned to the water alive in the presence of one witness. Fish may not be transported. Fish that have been taken to a scale will be disqualified. The first muskie registered by each contestant qualifies contestant for an entry into the Grand Prize Drawing.
TOURNAMENT HOURS: 7:00 am to 4:00 pm.
FISH REGISTRATION: To register a fish, contestant must: • Turn in one completed Fish Registration form for each fish by 4:30 pm; • Take one digital photo of you holding the fish (with day’s newspaper visible in photo) and download photo of the fish at the Awards. A fish is not considered officially registered until a Fish Registration form and photo are turned in and they have been reviewed by Tournament Officials.
PHOTO OF FISH: Digital photo must show you holding your fish. It is preferable to hold the fish in a horizontal (not vertical) position. You must have a Saturday newspaper (Minneapolis StarTribune or St. Paul Pioneer Press - no weeky papers). The newspaper must be visible and identifiable in the photo. Phone cameras, film cameras and disposable (one-time use) cameras are not acceptible. Photos will be downloaded at the Awards. You must have the USB cord for your camera available. Downloaded photos will become the property of Muskies Inc.
POINT SYSTEM: You will receive 10 points for each 40 inch muskie released. In addition, you will receive one point or fraction thereof for each inch or fraction over 40 inches measured to the nearest 1/2 inch. 1/2 inch gets 1/2 point. Examples: 40 inches = 10 points 42-1/2 inches = 10 + 2-1/2 = 12-1/2 points
In the case of multiple contestants having the same number of points, the order of place will be determined by the time of the first fish caught by each contestant, with the earlier time getting the better place.
CONTESTANT CONDUCT: All contestants must be courteous to others. The Tournament Committee reserves the right to disqualify a contestant for any obvious misconduct on the water or at a launch site.
Any protest of violation of Tournament Rules must be presented in writing and signed. Protests must be turned in at Awards before 5:30 pm. Issue will be resolved in person with all parties involved and Tournament Judges.
ALL DECISIONS OF JUDGES AND/OR TOURNAMENT OFFICIALS ARE FINAL.
Judges may inspect boats at any time during the tournament.
The Tournament Committee reserves the right to require a POLYGRAPH TEST of any winners at contestant’s expense.
JUNIOR DIVISION: Contestants 17 and under are eligible for the Junior Division. All tournament rules are the same. Junior Division will have 3 places with its own prizes. Junior Division entries are eligible for the Grand Prize