Kayak Division

Kayak Division - General

The Kayak Division has taken all feedback into consideration, and have incorporated the following as rules for the 2026 event. Thank You to the Kayak division for taking the time to address the concerns, and putting together a plan that benefits the majority. To please everyone is always an endless battle, but the attempt is always made. Please understand again that limited volunteers makes many of these decisions time consuming and extremely difficult.

Salmon-a-Rama Kayak Division Rules Standards

Salmon Unlimited Wisconsin, Inc. (SU) which operates the Salmon A Rama (SAR) event held on Lake Michigan. This

document will serve as the Rules Standards for the Kayak Division. This set of rules is specific to the kayak division and

must be followed in addition to the General SAR event Rules.

1. Participation and Eligibility

Participation:

i. Participants must possess a valid SAR Kayak Division ticket prior to competing in the event.

ii. Kayak Division anglers must be 12 years of age or older by the start of the event.

iii. Entry Tickets:

1. Kayak division anglers must possess kayak division ticket. Kayak Division ticket holders

may only register fish for Kayak Division or overall Grand Prize (largest overall fish).

2. Kayak angler may also possess Boat Division ticket (purchased in addition to Kayak

Division entry ticket).

3. Angler in possession of both a Boat and Kayak Division tickets may not enter the same

fish into both divisions. Anglers possessing both tickets must declare division prior to

weighing fish at an approved weigh station.

Fish Eligibility and Leaderboard

i. Target species: chinook salmon, coho salmon, lake trout, brown trout, and rainbow (steelhead)

trout. Pink and Atlantic salmon will be weighed as coho salmon.

ii. Fish must be landed while fishing from kayak in the water. Angler may be requested to provide

witness to validate catch or photographic proof of a catch occurring from the angler’s kayak.

iii. Kayak division angler can only be on leaderboard once. Standings will be based on the

largest fish entered by each angler; smaller (lighter) fish will be removed from the overall kayak

leaderboard standings but remain in angler’s catch log.

iv. SAR Daily prizes are eligible to the kayak division anglers.

2. Watercraft and Propulsion

a. Acceptable watercrafts include commercially manufactured canoes, kayaks, or SUP intended to be

paddled as the primary means of propulsions. Tubes, inflatable rafts or pontoons, Jon boats, zodiacs, gas

powered boats, sailboats, alternatively fueled vessels, and skiffs are not acceptable watercrafts.

b. If kayak is approved by per manufacturer for 2 anglers, both anglers must have entry ticket for the event.

c. Propulsion is restricted to paddle, pedal, or electric motor.

i. Electric Motors Considerations:

1. Eligibility: Use of electric motors is permitted for anglers who have a medically

documented disability or are approved under Social Security Disability (SSD) guidelines.

2. Medical Limitations: Anglers with a medical condition that does not qualify as a

disability but significantly restricts physical ability may be considered for an exception.

3. Request Process: All requests for motor use must be submitted to the Tournament

Director prior to the start of the event. Requests for medical exceptions (non-disability)

will not be accepted once the event has started.

ii. Anglers must comply with all boating regulations and registration requirements pertaining to

motorized vessels.

iii. Motor thrust may not exceed manufacturer’s labeled recommendation for kayak, or

3hp/155lbs of thrust. Only 1 (one) motor may be installed per kayak.

d. Towing, assistance from a boat, tethering to another kayak, or mother-shipping of a kayak is not

permitted except for instance of emergency in which angler may be assisted until clear of immediate

danger.

e. Angler is responsible for any applicable launch or parking fees.

3. Angler Safety

a. Angler must wear a USCG approved PFD at all times when fishing from kayak. Anglers may temporarily

remove their PFD to change their attire if conditions are safe to allow clothing change.

b. Kayaks must use appropriate navigation lights when required, in accordance to USCG Rules 20-22.

c. Angler should carry appropriate signaling device and a whistle.

d. Angler may not be under the influence of any drugs or alcohol during competition.

e. Angler must use own discretion to determine if conditions are safe for competition. SU and SAR are not

liable or at fault for loss of equipment or injury to the angler due to angler actions.

4. Prizes and Awards

a. Prizes will be awarded to top 3 kayak anglers based on weight of the heaviest fish weighed by each

angler.

b. A Kayak Division angler possessing only a Kayak Division ticket can win overall grand prize (largest overall fish) minus the Yamaha engine.

c. Anglers responsible for applicable taxes as result of prize money won.

d. In-kind product won by the angler that was donated by sponsors will not be considered taxable.