March 2014! ! ! ! Page 1 of 2 Regulation Changes Affecting the 2014 Minaki Walleye Classic! As of January 1, 2014 the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources has changed the walleye fishing regulations on the Winnipeg River System from the Norman Dam in Kenora to the Manitoba Border. This includes the waters we fish on for the Minaki Walleye Classic. The new rules state that only walleyes 35-45cm may now be possessed, and it gets rid of the angler’s ability to posses a walleye over 70cm. Despite our best efforts to keep the Minaki Walleye Classic rules as they have been since 2007, we are forced to change.! ! Over the past 6 weeks, we have been working on developing a new rules set to ensure that these changes have the least amount of impact on the event as well as the anglers participating in it. Our ultimate goal is to keep the excitement of catching big walleyes a part of this tournament going forward. As a result of speaking with anglers as well as those in the tournament field, we have decided to adopt a new “Hybrid CRR” format.! ! What is CRR?! ! With CRR, also know as “Catch, Record, Release” teams measure each walleye on an official tournament ruler and take a digital photograph of the fish on the ruler clearly showing the head and tail, record the length of each walleye on the official scorecard, and then immediately release the live fish. NO Big fish are brought to the “weigh-in” stage. Instead, the tournament anglers select the largest walleye for their final weight. The length of each walleye is converted to pounds and ounces using a standardized formula.! ! The photos of the largest walleyes caught are displayed to the weigh-in fans on monitors that will be set up at the Minaki Walleye Classic weigh-in and Community Centre. Now, because the fish are recorded and then immediately released, tournament anglers are allowed to “weigh” fish outside the new Minaki “slot size” that would otherwise be excluded from the daily bag.! ! How will this be Implemented?! ! The Minaki Walleye Classic has decided to go with a “Hybrid CRR” format. This format will only affect the second part of tournament rule 3e (…with one fish over 70 centimetres allowed for the tournament). This will now change to (…with one CRR fish over 45 centimetres allowed for the tournament). We have decided to keep it as one over fish for the tournament to reduce the amount of administrative work that comes with verifying CRR fish photo accuracy. ! ! March 2014! Page 2 of 2 The “Hybrid” part of the new format means that we will not be using CRR for walleyes 35-45cm (Slot Fish) and will keep the same weigh-in procedure anglers are familiar with. This minimizes the change to the rules that have helped make the Minaki Walleye Classic the fastest growing Walleye Tournament in Canada.! ! The following information highlights the details and advantages of our new Hybrid CRR format that will be used at the 2014 Minaki Walleye Classic.! ! Details! ! • Tournament rule 3e will now state “Only walleye, sauger & saugeye 35-45 centimetres will be • • • • accepted by tournament officials, with one CRR fish over 45 centimetres allowed for the tournament”! Daily limit per team will remain four (4) fish. Each day, teams will be issued a dated official CRR scorecard, an official CRR ruler and a Digital Camera Card for storing CRR pictures. At the end of the day, you will hand in your official CRR scorecard, CRR ruler and Digital Camera Card and let the tournament officials know if you want your longest CRR fish to count for that day. If so, you can then weigh 3 slots and your CRR weight will be added to your total weight for the day. If not, you must still hand in your scorecard and you will be issued a new scorecard for day 2. ! A teams failure to hand in the official scorecard, CRR ruler and Digital Camera Card will result in disqualification for that days weight. ! Teams must provide their own digital camera. It is the team’s responsibility to ensure the camera takes a clear picture. At this time, cell phone cameras are not permitted to be used for CRR.! You can only count ONE (1) CRR fish for the tournament. The CRR fish must be counted on the day that it was caught.! ! Advantages! ! • Your big walleye can be shorter than 70cm. For example, if the biggest walleye you catch is • • • • • ! 66cm, record it with CRR and it counts.! No need to run a big fish to the weigh scale. Use CRR and keep fishing.! Keeps big walleyes in their preferred areas (they were there for a reason!)! Big fish are no longer subject to long rides in live wells which can result in dead and/or stressed fish penalties.! Saves fuel not having to run a big fish to the scale.! The best one of all is you have more time to fish and catch a bigger one!! We appreciate your understanding in working with us on these rule changes and look forward to an exciting tournament. Please contact JP Kennedy with questions regarding this new format.! ! Regards,! ! JP Kennedy! Tournament Director! [email protected]! 204-795-0050
© Copyright 2024 ExpyDoc
