Big 5 Tournament: 2023 Contest Rules

1.      ELIGIBILITY AND ENTRY FEE

a.      The entry fee is $100.

b.      Tickets must be purchased before 12:00am  July 15, 2023

c.      This tournament is open all Salmon-A-Rama participants. You must be registered in Salmon-A-Rama to participate. The Big 5 Tournament is open to Boat, Individual Shore or Kayak anglers. 

d.      For Boat Division registrants, eligible fish must be caught and registered from the boat that has the Big 5 registration only. No sharing of fish from one boat to another. 

e.      For Shore Division registrants, eligible fish must be caught and registered by the Shore Angler that has the Big 5 registration only. 

f.       For Kayak Division registrants, eligible fish must be caught and registered by the Kayak Angler that has the Big 5 registration only. 

2.      DATES AND HOURS

a.      The tournament will be start on July 15, 2023 at 12:01 AM and ends July 23, 2023 at 11:00 AM Central Standard Time.

3.      START AND FINISH

a.      All anglers must fish Lake Michigan Waters

b.      NO lines may be placed in the water before the 12:01am July 15TH. 2023. You are on your honor.

4.      SCORING

a.      All winners will be determined by the Tournament Committee, and their decision will be final.

b.      Winners will be determined on the total accumulation of points.

c.      Points will be assigned as ten points per fish and one point per pound.

d.      The following species shall be eligible for points:

         COHO SALMON, CHINOOK SALMON, BROWN TROUT, STEELHEAD OR RAINBOW TROUT and LAKE TROUT (2 per day).

5.      PRIZES

a.      The prize money pool will consist of 85% of the total entry fees collected plus donations made to the Big 5 Tournament.

b.      Top 3 payouts guaranteed $5,000, $3,500, & $1,500

c.      Refer to prizes section for payout information for additional payout information.

d.      In case of ties, the prize money between the two or more places the participants would have won will be divided equally between the tied contestants.

6.      GENERAL FISHING RULES

a.      All fish entered must be caught on hook and line in accordance with the DNR regulations of the state which has jurisdiction over the waters being fished.

b.      All fish registered must be caught as defined in the Eligibility and Entrance Fee Section by registrants that have a Big 5 registration that the fish is being weighed in on.

c.      Any violation of DNR rules may result in disqualification at the discretion of the tournament committee

d.      Each registrant may weigh up to 5 fish per day. Of the 5 fish only 2 may be lake trout per day.

e.      Results are calculated on your top 5 fish weighed in over the course of the tournament (up to 5 Lake Trout). 

f.       Each team is responsible for choosing which of their fish are to be weighed.

g.      Upgrades to your total are calculated automatically

h.      There are no distance limits as to where a tournament boat may fish as long as all fish are caught in Lake Michigan Waters

7.      WEIGH-IN

a.      Can be completed at any official weigh station.

8.      PROTESTS

a.      Any protests must be made in writing to the Tournament Committee before 10:30 AM CST on July 21, 2023

b.      Any written protest given to the Tournament Committee must be accompanied by a $250.00 deposit, returnable if the protest is judged valid

c.      A panel of three (3) judges appointed by the Tournament Committee will resolve all disputes.

d.      Winners and any person involved in any formal protest may be subject to polygraph testing, prior to the awarding of prizes. Such persons must be available to be tested within 2 weeks of the event.

e.      The decision of the Tournament Committee and/or its duly appointed panel of judges shall be final.

9.      RULE CHANGES

a.      The Tournament Committee may change or modify any of these rules, as necessary. Any changes will be communicated on this website or social media.

10.   LIABILITY EXCLUSION 

a.      Each contestant shall accept responsibility to protect persons and property from injury or damage during the contest, and Salmon Unlimited of Wisconsin shall not be responsible for the safety of persons or property of participants, regardless of cause.

b.      All participants further agree to hold Salmon Unlimited of Wisconsin, its officers, tournament committee, sponsors and volunteers harmless from any liability for damage incurred because of participation in the Tournament, in whatever form or manner said liabilities or damages might be incurred