CSFL Canada US Walleye Rules + Regulations
1. Entry fees are non-refundable.
2. The Boater must be 18 years of age or older. Competitors/Non-Boaters under the age of 18 must have written parental consent from both parents/guardian(s).
3. Polygraph Test: Random testing may take place at any time and competitors must agree to take a lie detector test and pass before receiving their prize. The cost of the test will come out of the payback structure. If a team is protested and wins, the protesting team will pay the cost of the test. Automatic testing will take place for teams who win 2 or more events.
4. No live bait allowed (artificial lures only). Each angler will fish with one rod, one reel and artificial lures only. Any umbrella type rigging or facsimile thereof is not permitted.
5. You are not allowed to have the species of fish you are competing for in your live wells during pre-fish.
6. When competing in the CSFL Canada/US Walleye Tournament event you must only possess that event fish. Any other species of fish must be released. Other species of non-releasable fish must be reported at the check-in boat.
7. Competitors are not permitted to hire guide services or pre-fish with anglers who have won an event on the body of water within 2 years, doing so will result in disqualification. Please contact the Tournament Director at 416-802-2277 for clarification.
8. Event Fish Limit and Size: WALLEYE 4. The legal slot size is between 35 cm (13.8 inches) and 50 cm (19.7 inches), measured tip to tip with a closed mouth and pinched tail. The CSFL Canada/US Walleye Tournament will provide anglers with measuring sticks that all event fish must measure within. Teams must return measuring sticks at the end of the day, teams not returning the measuring stick to the check-in boat or weigh-in dock at the end of the day will not be eligible to fish the event in 2024.
9. The penalty for retaining more than the event limit and/or a fish outside the slot limit is immediate disqualification. Should an angler tamper with fish sizing (i.e. clipping) this will result in immediate and permanent disqualification.
10. When culling you must possess one less the legal of two combined license limits. No traveling with more than the event fish limit.
11. You must have an operating livewell.
12. A 1/2 pound penalty will be applied per dead fish.
13. Fish are determined alive or dead at the “check” table.
14. Cell Phones are for Emergency Use Only, communicating with the CSFL and onsite social media campaigns within the event.
15. You must wear an approved flotation device while the outboard is running. Manual Suspenders/vests or manual inflatable life jackets will not be acceptable. Automatic Suspenders/vests or automatic inflatable life jackets are acceptable however they will be inspected for expiration at the time of check in. If you choose to wear, at your own risk, a U.S. COAST GUARD approved life jacket you must have an approved Department of Transport Canada life jacket within your vessel (if in question, Tournament Official’s decision will stand).
16. A fishing license is required and you may be asked to produce it at any time. Please ensure it is on your person at all times during the tournament. Failure to produce your license will not allow you to fish. Please ensure you have a Sport Fishing License, a Conservation License is not accepted.
17. A boater’s license is required by the Boater and may be asked to produce it at any time. Please ensure it is on your person at all times during the tournament. Failure to produce your boater’s license will disqualify you from competition.
18. All Federal and Provincial fishing, boating and criminal laws must be obeyed at all times.
19. Boundaries are any water accessible by boat except from Trent Severn Lock 33 - Lindsay to the Red Buoy Market CP50 - across from Alpine RV Resort, Emily Creek and Little Bob Channel East of County 24 bridges. Areas legally marked “no trespassing” or “sanctioned” are also restricted. No locking allowed. No fishing within 100 yards of a ministry net.
20. Provided Team Flags (numbers) must be affixed in the light socket and made clearly visible. Team Flags must be returned at the end of the day, should a team not wish to weigh in they can return flags to the check in boat.
21. You must maintain 100 feet of another competitor’s boat. However in circumstances where there are two teams on river systems less than 100 feet, they may cross one another on opposite sides and sportsmanlike conduct will apply in this situation and other situations where there is less than 100 feet.
22. Do not board or approach another vessel during the event unless there is an emergency.
23. If in need of fuel or repairs, one competitor is to remain with the boat at all times and a receipt must be kept to show officials if required.
24. If your boat is deemed no longer functional you may acquire tow by another vessel (competitor or non-competitor). If the towing team feels for any reason that they cannot tow you as it may jeopardize their standings, you must respect their decision and either abort your fish and seek a ride back or wait for another boat.
25. Fish can be transferred to another competitor’s boat only, one of the downed team members must stay with the fish. If you choose to transfer your fish into a competitor’s live well, the live well must be separate or you must use an approved fish friendly perforated sack complete with drawstring ensuring your fish cannot be combined with the rescuing team’s fish. Tagging systems are not acceptable and if fish are combined accidentally or otherwise both weights will not be accepted. No fishing allowed while the rescued competitor is in the boat and you must report directly to the check-in point and proceed to the weigh-in site. Once your fish have been weighed, the downed boat must be brought back directly to the tournament site for inspection. If, after inspection the boat is found tampered with then disqualification may result and the rescuing team questioned. If in payout position, prizes will be held until boats are inspected. Your team is responsible for making sure the rescued angler(s) is wearing a DTC approved life jacket, failure to do so will result in disqualification. Make all efforts in using the CSFL Canada/US Walleye Tournament emergency number in keeping the officials informed.
26. If a broken down team requires a tow by one of the event officials, the competitors must release their fish. The CSFL Canada/US Walleye Tournament acting as the Tournament Official must keep it fair and equal to all competing anglers and therefore cannot act in individual cases as it may conflict and could possibly alter the final results.
27. If a broken down boat returns to the tournament site and the team manages to repair their vessel or are changing boats, prior to transferring fish the boat must be rechecked by CSFL Canada/US Walleye Tournament Officials.
28. YOU MUST REPORT TO CHECK-IN BOAT. You may check in at the tournament site up to 30 minutes prior to the initial weigh in time otherwise you must return to the check-in boat (if different, you will be notified). Any boats arriving after the allowed time will be penalized 1 lb. per minute.
29. Pre-Fishing: Competitors must be off the water by 7:00 pm Friday, May 26, 2023.
30. The official blast-off times (daylight permitting):
· Saturday: First Flight (Team 1 - 25) Trickle-Start 6:00 am, Check In 1:00 pm
· Saturday: Second Flight (Team 26 - 50) Trickle-Start 6:15 am, Check In 1:15 pm
· Saturday: Third Flight (Team 51 – 75) Trickle Start 6:30 am, Check In 1:30 pm
Teams that miss their start position will be held back until the end of their flight. Boats must be out of the water or docked for the day by 7:00 pm Friday, May 26. This also applies 2 hours before check in on the morning of the event. (If time changes are required, notification will be given).
31. If in case of extreme weather conditions, state of emergency or pandemic, the event may be delayed, restricted, rescheduled or cancelled.
32. Boats must be 14’ or greater, canoes and kayaks are not permitted.
33. All boats must carry a minimum of $1,000,000 insurance liability. Proof of insurance must be made available upon request.
34. Horsepower limits are the maximum horsepower rated for your vessel. Kickers are permitted. The CSFL Canada/US Walleye Tournament reserves the right to refuse an unsafe vessel at its discretion.
35. All motors must have a working kill switch which must be worn when outboard is running.
36. Any protest of violations made prior to check-in time must be made at the check-in boat. Any violations occurring after check-in can be made to the Tournament Official. Protest cost is $100.
37. If you witness a rule being broken it is an infraction not to report it to the Tournament Official and may lead to a disqualification.
38. In the event of a disqualification no refunds will be given.
39. Tournament Official rulings are final.
40. Placings that are tied will be resolved by combining the prizes and divided equally.
41. All competitors are required to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy and conservation and to conduct themselves in a manner that will be a credit to themselves, to the Canada/US Walleye Tournament, their respective sponsors, the sport of fishing and the efforts of Canada/US Walleye Tournament to promote the sport. Conduct not complying with these standards includes, but is not limited to, the following:
· Violation of, or failure to comply with, any of the rules for the 2023 Canada/US Walleye Tournament.
· Consumption and/or possession of alcoholic beverages or any kind of mind-altering substance during tournament hours extending through the weigh-in procedure.
· Abuse of, or addiction to, mind-altering substances.
· Suspension/disqualification or ban from any tournament or fishing organization.
· Any other words, conduct or actions reflecting unfavorably upon efforts to promote safety, sportsmanship, fair competition and compliance with tournament rules, or which fail to comply with the standards set forth in the first sentence of this paragraph. In case of any conduct not complying with the standards outlined above, The Canada/US Walleye Tournament shall have the right to refuse an application to compete, to deny a confirmed application to compete by returning the entry fee (minus deposit) or to disqualify a contestant.
42. Prizes: The CSFL Canada/US Walleye Tournament is solely responsible for the provision of the 80% percentage payback based on field size. The CSFL Canada/US Walleye Tournament is not responsible for sponsor donated prizes.
43. Media: To uphold the integrity of the sport, the CSFL Canada/US Walleye Tournament, the event sponsors, the officials and the reputation of competitive sport fishing, it is an obligation of competitors to refrain from comments to news media that unreasonably attack or discredit the integrity of tournaments, tournament officials, sponsors, fellow anglers or the CSFL Canada/US Walleye Tournament organization. Reasonable expressions of legitimate disagreements with policies are encouraged as opposed to attacks upon the integrity of rules or officials. Doing so will result in disciplinary actions.
44. Mandatory Orientation Meeting: The orientation meeting will take place on Friday, May 26 via Zoom Call at 7:00 pm. Login information will be forwarded to participants the week leading up to the event. At least one team member must attend to represent the said team.
45. All rules and regulations apply to all anglers.
46. Winners are responsible to pay any taxes payable for cash or prizes awarded.
47. Registration for the 2024 CSFL Canada/US Walleye Tournament will be open to all competing anglers of the 2023 event beginning on Tuesday, May 30, 2023 in order to retain their 2023 finish position. Remaining positions will open to the public on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Contact the CSFL to secure your position.
48. The CSFL Canada/US Walleye Tournament reserves the right to amend the rules and regulations as it sees fit.
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