Rules

HURON VALLEY 2008 TOURNAMENT RULES

Any boat participating in a tournament must have at least one Huron Valley Steelheader member, in good standing, on board.  A new member must have joined prior to the starting time of the tournament.

Entry fee will be $10 per person ($5 toward lunch, $5 toward prizes).  Children not needing a license under DNR rules pay no fees.  Mandatory $5 per boat per day BIG FISH JACKPOT.  All fees must be paid to port chairman before weighing in fish.  Joint Salmon/Walleye Tournaments will be $15 per person ($5 food, $5 Salmon prize, $5 Walleye prize and $10 per boat per day BIG FISH JACKPOT split between species).  Optional $5 per boat, 2-day total weight jackpot, one-person limit weighed each day.

Please sign up at the membership meeting prior to the tournament.  Late entries or cancellations for Walleye tournaments can be made PRIOR TO THE STARTING TIME OF TE TOURNAMENT by contacting the port chairman, tournament chairman or other designated contact persons.  For Salmon tournaments, the deadline is the Sunday before the tournament.

If a boat is a no show, a fee of $5.00 per person will be assessed.  Members in arrears will not be allowed to participate in any event until all arrearages are paid.

Participants of Walleye tournaments must leave from and return to a Michigan Port.  The Detroit River Walleye tournament is restricted to the waters of the Detroit River only.  The April Lake Walleye Tournament is restricted to the waters of Lake Erie's West Basin only.  DNR defines the division of the Detroit River and Lake Erie as waters north of Celeron Island are the Detroit River, south are Lake Erie.

Salmon tournaments will start at 5:30am.  Walleye tournaments will start at 7:00am.  (Ladies day -8:00am).  Participants may leave port but MUST NOT SET LINES before the starting time. 

ENDING TIME

Salmon tournaments will end at 1:00pm - Saturdays and Noon - Sundays.  Walleye tournaments will at 1:00pm on both Saturday and Sunday.  (Ladies Day - 2:00pm)  Port chairman can alter times prior to the start of the tournament.

WEIGH IN

Begins one hour after ending time for Salmon tournaments and 1 1/2 hour after ending time for Walleye tournaments.  Only fish caught that day may be brought to the weigh-in except for special fishing period previously noted.  Weigh-in may begin sooner if all participants are present.  Coolers containing fish to be weighed must be in line by the weigh in time.  Tardiness will be penalized at 5 points for each 15 minutes late (unless authorized by port chairman).  More than on hour late (without approval of port chairman) will result in disqualification for that day.

CANCELLATIONS - CHANGES

All decisions will be made by the port chairman with the safety of all participants in mind.  At least 3 boats must fish at least 2 hours to constitute a tournament.  At least 3 boats must fish at least 2 hours of each day of a tournament for fish caught that day to be counted in the tournament results.  Any boat withdrawing due to adverse weather conditions or mechanical failure will be charged no prize fees for that day.  Any boat withdrawing or unable to attend the weigh in will notify the port chairman.

SAFETY

All Coast Guard required equipment must be on board.

SPECIES

Salmon tournaments - Atlantic, Chinook, Coho, Pink, Brown Trout, Lake Trout, Steelhead, Splake, Coaster Brook Trout  - 18 inch minimum for Salmon (except Pink - no size limit)

Walleye tournaments - Walleye only - 15-inch minimum

West Basin and FYAO Tournaments are limited to the waters of Lake Erie west of the Bass Islands and the Detroit River.

All DNR rules apply except a maximum of 9 rods per boat in Salmon tournaments and 8 rods per boat in Walleye tournaments.

SCORING

A maximum of 5 salmon or one person daily Walleye limit may be scored each day.  5 points per salmon or 3 points per walleye plus one point per pound will determine the total score for that day.  This score will determine the order of finish.  In a 2-day tournament, the best one day score will be used to determine position.  In case of a tie in points, the best one day total weight will determine the order of finish.

PORT CHAIRMAN - MAKE SURE TO TURN IN SCORING SHEETS TO DAVE VARITEK

CAPTAIN OF THE YEAR

Salmon captain and Walleye captain of the year will be determined by a skippers finishes in each category.  First place - 1 point will be awarded for each Huron Valley Club participating boat that a Captain finishes ahead in each tournament.  Captain finishing with the most points is CAPTAIN OF THE YEAR in that category.

PRIZES

Will be based on total entries, 100% payback of prize fees.  Distribution of prize money as below.  Big Fish Jackpot - paid to heaviest fish that day (100% payback)

 REGION 3 WALLEYE TOURNAMENT RULES