2024 LAC DU BONNET ICE FISHING DERBY RULES
1. Fish by the Rules:
a) All provisions of the Fisheries Act of Canada, the Fisheries Act of Manitoba, and the Manitoba Fisheries Regulations must be adhered to. Unruly actions of any kind will not be tolerated. Failure to comply with the Derby rules or other misbehaviours will result in disqualification and removal from the Derby site.
b) All competitive fishing event participants must adhere to Manitoba Fishery Regulations, 1987 and provincial and federal Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) regulations. For more information, please review the Manitoba Angler's Guide.
c) The location of the Lac du Bonnet Ice Fishing derby lies on the Winnipeg River between the Manitoba/Ontario border and the Pine Falls Generating Station. As per the Manitoba Fisheries Regulations and the Manitoba Angler’s guide, this area is closed to lake sturgeon fishing all year. As a result, lake sturgeon are exempt from the competition. Lake sturgeon must not be targeted, will not be measured, and must be released immediately.
d) Manitoba Public Heath Orders of the day will be in effect.
2. Entry fees:
a) Early Bird Prices: purchase your tickets on or before February 4, 2024, and save:
o $60 Adult First Hole
o $25 Youth (age 15 and under) First Hole
o $25 Second Hole
o $175 Family (Includes 2 Adults and 3 Youth age 15 or under, First Hole tickets)
b) Regular Pricing: purchase your tickets between February 5 and February 24, 2024:
o $80 Adult First Hole
o $30 Youth (age 15 and under) First Hole
o $30 Second Hole
o $220 Family (Includes 2 Adults and up to 3 Youth age 15 or under, First Hole tickets)
3. Tickets, Derby Location and General Information:
a) Tickets may be pre-purchased at Eventbrite / Lac du Bonnet Ice Fishing Derby or at the registration desk at the Lakeview Hotel on Park Ave on Derby Day from 8:00 am to 11:30 am..
b) A second hole ticket may be purchased, providing a first hole ticket is purchased and is presented at the time of sale.
c) Tickets are non-refundable. Participants may not angle with entry tickets purchased in the name of other individuals. Tickets purchased prior to the start of the event may be transferred to another individual at the registration desk on the day of the event.
d) Participants must be pre-registered prior to fishing and must enter the fishing area through the main entrance(s) on Park Ave. Participants must present tickets upon entry or you will not be permitted to enter the Derby site.
e) No motorized vehicles will be allowed within the perimeter of the Derby site other than those authorized by Derby Officials. Transportation to and from the main entrance and the Derby site will be provided to those with mobility issues. Off-road vehicle parking will only be allowed outside the derby grid. Those arriving by off-road vehicle must still check in through the main entrance(s) on Park Ave.
f) Only ticket holders, derby officials and volunteers are permitted in the designated fishing area. In circumstances where a participant requires an on-ice escort, arrangements can be made by contacting derby officials prior to the event.
g) All coolers, pails, packs, boxes, portable tents, structures, and other equipment are subject to inspection by Derby Officials before entering Derby site, as well as any time during the event.
h) The Derby will take place from 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. on February 24, 2024.
i) Participants will be permitted on the ice at 10:00 a.m. to secure their angling hole.
j) Only holes drilled in the Derby grid and drilled by the Derby committee are eligible to be fished.
k) No pre-fishing will be allowed in the Derby area 30 hours before the start of the Derby.
l) Angling may not take place prior to the 11:30 a.m. start time and must stop at 2:30 p.m. No fishing line shall go in the water until the beginning of the Derby at 11:30 a.m.
m) Electronic Devices may be used by participants during the Derby. Electronic devices may be used as of 10:00 a.m. for the determination of depth in selecting a hole, as well as to assist in fishing throughout the Derby.
n) Participants are restricted to the use of one fishing line per hole per entry ticket and may occupy or reserve only as many holes as that Participant has purchased tickets (maximum of 2). Only Participants with entry tickets may angle and may not have any other person angle on their behalf at any time during the Derby.
o) If you have to leave the fishing area for any reason, you must exit and enter through the main entrance(s) on Park Ave.
p) Portable tents, portable structures, windbreaks, and barriers may be used by participants. No tent or other enclosed structure shall be erected before the 11:30 a.m. start of the Derby. Structures must be placed over existing holes. Derby officials reserve the right to open and inspect inside any structure at any time.
4. Prize Structure:
§ Hidden Length and Time:
o 1st – $15,000
o 2nd – $5,000
o 3rd – $3,000
o 4th – $2,000
o 5th – $1,000
§ Random Prize Draws for adult ticket holders
§ Kids Random Prize Draws for youth ticket holders
§ Longest Fish – Merchandise Prize valued at $3,000.
§ Early Bird Prize – An early bird prize or prizes, as determined by derby officials, will be awarded through a random draw of all registered tickets purchased by the Early Bird deadline. The Early Bird Prize draw will take place on February 24, 2024.
§ Skunked Prize – a special skunked prize as determined by derby officials, will be awarded through a random draw of all registered ticket holders that DO NOT enter a fish for measuring. The skunked prize draw will take place on February 24, 2024.
§ Various – various other prizes may be awarded as determined by derby officials.
5. Fish Measuring Process:
a) Fish will be measured by Derby Officials only. Derby Officials will be stationed at various event locations.
b) Participants are to announce they have a fish from their location/hole and wait for a Derby Official to go to the Participant.
c) Derby Officials will measure the total length and determine the time the fish was caught. As per the Manitoba Angler's Guide, total fish length is measured from the most anterior part of the head to the most posterior part of the tail laid flat (i.e. not pinched). The total length of the fish will be measured to the longest centimeter. (i.e. A fish measuring 25.0 to 25.9cm will be recorded as 25.0 cm.)
d) The angler’s name & phone number will be recorded by the Derby Official and initialed by the Participant as verification of the information.
e) As all fish are to be released immediately after measurement and will not be in the Participant's possession, all fish are eligible for entry regardless of size, with the exception of Lake Sturgeon as per Rule 1c. Under no circumstances are any participants allowed to keep their fish.
6. Prize Award Procedure:
a) Random Prize Draws will be announced on the ice between the hours of 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on February 24, 2024. Winners may pick up their prizes from the time of announcement until 4:30 pm on the day of the derby. Participants do not have to catch a fish to be eligible for the random prize draws and do not need to be present to collect prizes. Costs incurred in prize delivery will be the responsibility of the winner.
b) The cash prizes will be awarded based on pre-determined randomly selected hidden lengths and times of fish angled in the event, independent of species. The random lengths and associated times are determined prior to the start of the event and are kept in a sealed envelope until the end of the Derby.
c) Winning entries for the hidden length and time will be based on the following priority: length then time. The Chief Judge and the Derby President (or their designate) will review all fish lengths and times to determine the winners of the hidden length and time. In the event of more than one winner, in both length and time, the prize will be divided equally amongst all winners.
d) Each first and second hole ticket is eligible for one prize only (the prize with the higher value) in the hidden length and time category. A "Second Hole Ticket" not only doubles your chances to catch a fish but also qualifies you to win two prizes if you catch more than one fish.
e) Hidden length and time winners will be calculated immediately after the event and will be announced on ice as soon as possible (normally 1-1½ hours after the end of angling.)
f) The longest fish will be determined by length regardless of species, with the exception of Lake Sturgeon as per Rule 1c. In the event of a tie in length, the fish caught first will be determined the winner. Should a tie still exist, tied Participants, if present, will cut cards to determine the winner. If the tied participant is not present the Chief Judge will cut cards on their behalf.
g) Prizes will be based on a minimum of 850 first hole tickets sold (Adult and Child). Derby Officials reserve the right to reduce prizes on a percentage basis should less than 850 first hole tickets be sold.
7. Cancellations and Delays:
a) Derby Officials have the right to delay or shorten the Derby times, subject to weather or safety conditions.
b) Should inclement weather, unsafe conditions, Manitoba Public Health Orders, or any other reason beyond the Derby Officials control, cause Derby cancellation on February 24, 2024, the Derby will be held on March 2, 2024. Should inclement weather, unsafe conditions, Manitoba Public Heath Orders or other reason beyond the Derby Officials control still not allow for the Derby on that date, all prizes in Rule 4 (excluding Longest Fish and Skunked Prize) will be awarded through a random public draw on March 9, 2024. Time and place will be posted on the Derby website.
c) Official cancellation notices and information will be posted on the Derby website ldbice.ca .
8. Disputes and Rule Interpretation:
a) For any area not specifically covered by these rules, the Lac du Bonnet Ice Fishing Derby General Contest Rules will apply.
b) It is the intent of the Lac du Bonnet Ice Fishing Derby Committee to provide an honest sportsman-like Derby. In the interest of good sportsmanship, contestants are reminded that the "spirit of the rule" shall apply. In the event any dispute arises in relation to these rules and the dispute is not resolved by negotiation, the Derby Committee will have the final say.
9. Event Photography and Videography:
a) The Lac du Bonnet Ice Fishing Derby is a public event, and you may be photographed or recorded by other means during the Derby or surrounding activities. The Lac du Bonnet Ice Fishing Derby Committee reserves the right to use photographs, videos, and other recorded media taken during the Derby or surrounding activities for use in their publications, website and other means for promotional purposes. No compensation or remuneration of any kind will be paid for the use of any photography, video, or other recorded media taken as a result of your attendance at the Lac du Bonnet Ice Fishing Derby and surrounding activities.
10. Indemnity:
a) All participants indemnify and hold harmless the Lac du Bonnet Ice Fishing Derby Committee and its' officials with respect to any death, injury, damage, fire, theft, loss or other claims arising before, during, or after this competitive fishing event.