2020 Official Rules
1. Tournament is from 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm on Saturday, February 22nd, 2020. Participants may enter contest area at 10:00 am. Absolutely NO fishing prior to 12:00 noon. A signal will indicate the beginning of the contest.
2. Entry fee for all participants is $20.00 purchased prior to 8:00 pm, February 21st, 2020. Tickets are $25.00 purchased the day of the tournament. NO refunds will be issued for any reason. In the event of contest cancellation, the contest will be rescheduled for the following Sunday, same time. If for any reason the contest cannot be held this year, tickets will be honored the following year.
3. In the event of a lost, stolen, or destroyed ticket, the contestant must purchase a replacement ticket.
4. Participants are limited to 1 hole and 1 line per ticket with a maximum of 2 tickets per person. All participants must always have tickets visible. All fishing will comply with MN DNR state fishing regulations.
5. Participants may change holes during contest but may not drill or chisel their own holes. Ice augers are NOT allowed.
6. The prizes will be awarded based on the weight and registration time of an individual fish, with the 1st heaviest fish being awarded 1st place and then on down. The earliest registered fish will determine the prize awarded in the event of a tie. Judges’ decision is FINAL. Major prizes will be given for 1st, 5th, 10th, 15th, and 20th place. Other prizes will be determined later and posted the day of the event. Prizes will only be given for fish caught during contest times. In the event that not enough fish are caught, prizes will be held for the following year’s contest.
7. You may register as many fish as you like but only the heaviest fish per ticket will qualify for a competition prize. NO ticket will be eligible for more than one competition prize.
8. Participants are responsible for their own safety, actions, and property at all times. Participants must be visible from all sides, at all times. No shelters are allowed within the contest area. Only see through windbreaks are permitted. The Big Lake Lions Club is not responsible for any personal injuries or property damage. All participants agree to hold Big Lake Lions Club, all volunteers and all sponsors harmless.
9. Depth finders/fish locators and underwater cameras (Vexilar, Marcum, Aqua Vu, etc.) ARE allowed. Panoptix are NOT allowed.
10. All fishing must be done within the contest area and during contest hours to be eligible for prizes.
11. Any participant leaving the contest area after the start will be subject to inspection/search prior to re-entry into the contest area. Contest officials may deny re-entry of any participant at committee’s discretion.
12. Prizes are the responsibility of the winners. Licensing, registration, transportation, taxes, fees, and any incidental or consequential costs are the responsibility of the winners.
13. Upon weigh-in, fish must be alive and legal per Minnesota fishing regulations. Any disputes on the weight of the fish must be settled at time of weigh-in. Fish must be out of the water, visible by the contest official, and in line at the weigh-in station by 3:00 pm. A signal will indicate the end of the contest. Dead or frozen fish are ineligible. NO bait larger than 4” will be allowed into the contest.
14. Participants must abide by all applicable Minnesota and DNR laws. A valid MN fishing license is required to participate. NO licenses will be available on the ice.
15. No unauthorized motor vehicles will be allowed in the contest area. Handicap access and parking will be provided at the public access.
16. NO glass containers will be allowed on the ice and will be confiscated and forfeited to the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Department or the Big Lake Lions Club. ALL containers, coolers, sleds, bags, etc. are subject to search at any time during the contest by contest officials.
17. Members of the Big Lake Lions Club ice fishing committee are ineligible to fish the contest and/or any ice fishing contest random prize drawings.
18. All participants and others consent to the use of any names, photos, or likenesses of themselves to be used in the promotion of our contest, including but not limited to print, radio, television, or any other media.
19. All garbage MUST be removed from the ice and placed in designated garbage containers. The Big Lake Lions Club thank you for supporting our efforts to protecting the environment and request that you remove all refuse and cigarette butts from the ice when you leave.
20. Failure to comply with any of the above rules may result in disqualification from this and future contests, at the discretion of contest officials.
21. All rules are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the Big Lake Lions ice fishing contest committee.
