Buffalo Lake, Alberta
Feb 18 - 19 2023
CFE event licence #614376
This event is catch and release ONLY. Harvesting of fish will result in disqualification. Use of barbless hooks only. Maximum of two lines per entrant. All entrants are required to pick up their welcome package prior to fishing on the lake. All entrants will be provided a measuring device in their welcome package.
Tournament boundaries are within the limits of the water body of Buffalo Lake, excluding the Narrows in portion located in 40-22-W4, please observe the boundary markers for Narrows fishing. Any anglers fishing in the Narrows during the tournament will be disqualified.
(The purple portion on map.)
This is a Northern Pike only event. If Burbot or White Sucker are caught, release immediately – only photographs of Northern Pike submitted will be accepted.
In the event of disqualification, any entry fees will be forfeited and not refunded. By registering and participating in the tournament, all participants agree to abide by the rules and regulations as set out in the 2023 Big Jack Classic Fishing Event Rules and Competitive Fishing Event License issued by the Government of Alberta.
Refer to the leaderboard often and do not submit photos of fish smaller than the posted leaders in each category. This will help limit the impact on the fish caught and enhance the chances of survival in catch and release where the fish is put back into the water as quickly as possible.
All rules below must be adhered to.
1. Getting Started
a. The 2023 Big Jack Classic Ice Fishing Tournament is an online tournament run through Angler’s Atlas website and their mobile app MyCatch.
b. Anyone can participate in the 2023 Big Jack Classic Ice Fishing Derby, and it is for all ages. Registration is currently only able to support individual registration. For those participants sharing a mobile device, participants must login to their own account to submit their catches.
c. There is a $35.00 registration fee to enter the tournament. Links can be found at www.BigJackClassic.ca
d. Catches must be submitted through the MyCatch app for judging anytime during the listed tournament times (see below - 3 b).
e. For catches to be sent properly, you must use the same login email and password for both the Angler’s Atlas website and the MyCatch app.
f. All participants must first go to www.BigJackClassic.ca to register and pay their entry fee. Anglers will need to set up a free Anglers Atlas account if they do not have one yet - this can be done here: https://www.anglersatlas.com/sign-up Then all contestants must then also register for the tournament via this URL: https://www.anglersatlas.com/tournament/619/buffalo-lake-2023-big-jack-classic-2023. You may register for only one division in this event, 17 years of age and under or compete as an open competitor 18 years of age and older.
g. You will receive an automatic email confirming that you have entered the tournament and that your payment has gone through.
h. Once accepted into the tournament, download the free MyCatch mobile app which is available for both iOS (Apple App Store) and Android (Google Play Store) and login to activate the tournament on the app again using the same login email and password that you used to register in the tournament. (https://www.anglersatlas.com/mycatch)
i. Protecting anglers’ privacy is a priority, and any location data collected during the tournament will not be released to the public. Our promise to anglers is “Secret Fishing Spots Stay Secret”. See below for further details.
J. By participating in this event your name may be publicly visible.
k. By registering and participating in the tournament, all participants agree to abide by the rules and regulations they have received as set out in the Big Jack Classic Fishing Tournament Event Rules and Competitive Fishing Event License issued by the Government of Alberta.
l. A great resource to refer to is the How to Register For A Tournament video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7o3PzcIoGo4&t=8s
2. Catch Reporting Rules
a. This event is catch and release only. Northern Pike is the only eligible species. Recognize fish species using the information below: https://albertaregulations.ca/pdfs/fishing-regs/Sport-Fish Identification.pdf https://albertaregulations.ca/2021-Alberta-Guide-to-Sportfishing Regulations.pdf
b. Burbot, white sucker and are ineligible. If a burbot or White Sucker is caught, it must be released immediately. Any submitted photos of burbot will result in disqualification.
c. For each catch to qualify, a photograph of the fish with a measuring device (instructions below) must be taken using the MyCatch app (i.e. photos cannot be uploaded from a photo gallery or other source).
d. All contestants must have GPS/location services enabled on your cell phone for their catches to qualify. Your location data will be protected. For more information, see details below.
e. This is a total length measurement tournament. NOT fork length. See pic for reference. The total length of a fish is measured from the tip of the nose or jaw to the tip of the tail with the tail pinched. See attached photo.
f. The nose of the fish must be at the start or zero mark on all measuring devices and the total length is taken where the longest length of the tail crosses the measurements on the measuring device
g. Fish must be measured with the right side down (the right side of the fish must be facing down or touching the board) and the left side of the fish facing upwards.
h. When you measure your fish entry on a commercially produced bump board or provided bump board, the measurement rules are as follows. The nose of the fish must be visibly touching the bump end of the board, the fish must be placed on top of the board and the entire fish showing the head and tail and past the tail must be visible in the measurement photo. A legal measurement ruler will be provided in your welcome bag.
i. No home-made bump boards or tape measures will be accepted, the use of a commercial bump board or the provided bump board are the only acceptable measuring devices.
j. The photo must be taken from a birds-eye view looking down on the fish.
k. A photo that does not clearly show the overall length of the fish, including head and tail, on the ruler WILL NOT BE SCORED. More than one attempt to get a valid scoring photo is allowed. The app will prompt you to either accept the photo or retake a photo.
l. The mouth is allowed to be open, closed, or anywhere in between, so long as the fish meets the other above requirements.
m. There are to be no fingers placed in the gills or mouth of the fish. Any fingers in the gills or mouth of the fish will disqualify that fish.
n. A second photo, often called the Hero Shot, is to be used as a hero shot and is optional for this event.
o. A live video release prompt in the entry process will come up and this is required as proof of releasing the fish for this event.
p. The app works out of cell range, and catches will synchronize with the server once the user opens the app when back in cell range, or via a Wi-Fi signal. Photos are date, time, and location stamped to the moment that they are taken. If the catches are not synced by the prizing deadline, they will not qualify for prizes. All entry photos are now tagged with an individual QR tag for additional security purposes.
q. Catches that are submitted will be reviewed for approval often throughout each day of the event. Once the submissions are reviewed and approved, they appear immediately on the appropriate leaderboard(s). DO NOT EXPECT to see entries show up immediately after you log them and are located on the website you registered on.
r. A great resource is the MyCatch video that shows how to complete an entry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqwbAFFQE-w
3. Tournament Location and Times
a. Tournament boundaries are within the limits of the water body of Buffalo Lake, excluding the Narrows in portion located in 40-22-W4, please observe the boundary markers for Narrows fishing. Any anglers fishing in the Narrows in portion located in 40-22-W4 during the tournament will be disqualified.
b. The 2 Day tournament runs from:
o Saturday Feb 18, 2023, from 7am – 6pm
o Sunday Feb 19, 2023, from 7am – 6pm
o Optional Monday (if weather is inclement on Saturday or Sunday or both), Feb 20, 2023, from 7am – 3pm
c. All catches made within the start and end times must be synchronized with the Angler’s Atlas server within the event times to qualify.
d. Entrants can expect visits from Committee members/Rules enforcement throughout the derby. Be respectful if they wish to enter your shack or inspect your fishing gear during the event.
e. At the discretion of the tournament director, tournament days may be shortened, postponed, or canceled due to unsafe weather or water conditions.
f. All Covid-19 Public Health orders and Gathering Restrictions at the time of the event must be followed by all participants.
g. This is an ice fishing tournament. Practice ice safety at all times! Only walk and fish where it is safe to do so. For tips on ice safety please see:
https://www.lifesaving.org/public-education/water-smart-tips2/ice-safety-tips
4. Awards & Prizes
a. Proceeds from the tournament will be distributed as prizes in accordance with the prizing categories below.
$2000 - Longest Catch Overall
$750 - Second Longest Catch Overall
$250 - Third Longest Catch Overall
$400 - Longest Catch Junior Division (17 years of age and under)
$200 - Second Longest Catch Junior Division (17 years of age and under)
2 x $100 - 2 Random Draws from all Registered Entrants on Saturday, February 18, 2023
2 x $100 - 2 Random Draws from all Registered Entrants on Sunday, February 19, 2023
b. Payouts for each paid position will remain the same regardless of the number of tournament entries. Prizes will be awarded through cheque from the Stettler Board of Trade.
c. Prize amounts listed are a minimum payout per category. Payouts may increase depending on the level of sponsorships and or number of entrants. No additional categories will be created as part of the tournament.
d. A participant can only win for one prize category. One participant cannot win multiple prizes. Where a participant places first in two categories simultaneously, that participant will be awarded the highest dollar value prize and win in that category.
e. Awards will be announced by Wednesday February 22, 2023, and anglers will be contacted directly using the contact information provided in the tournament registration process.
f. In the case of a tie, the tie break will go to the person with the first reported fish.
g. Tournament organizers reserve the right to adjust entries.
5. Other Rules
a. By registering and participating in the tournament, all participants agree to abide by the rules and regulations they have received as set out in the 2023 Big Jack Classic Ice Fishing Tournament event rules and Competitive Fishing Event License issued by the Government of Alberta (CFE No. 614376).
b. This tournament is a catch and release ONLY. Harvesting fish will result in disqualification. Use only barbless hooks. Eligible species include Northern Pike only, Burbot and White Sucker are ineligible. If caught, release immediately – any submitted photographs of Burbot or White sucker will result in disqualification.
c. Anglers can only submit catches that they have caught themselves. This is an individual tournament, so you cannot enter as a partnership or team, and under no circumstances can you share fish with any other angler. Anglers are free to fish alone or with other tournament or non tournament anglers, but each registered angler may only enter their own fish.
d. All fish entered for this event must be caught via angling i.e. using hook, line, rod and reel. At no time will fish caught by non angling (i.e. use of traps, trap nets or cages) be allowed to be entered.
e. This tournament falls under the Family Fishing Weekend for Alberta Residents and visitors. https://mywildalberta.ca/fishing/family-fishing-weekends/default.aspx
f. Each contestant must conform to the fishing rules and regulations that are in place for the jurisdiction in which they are fishing.
g. Promoters and organizers assisting in the tournament operation are not responsible for death, injury, damage, liability, theft, fire, or any loss to any contestants.
h. Any angler found to be cheating will be disqualified from the tournament. Angler’s Atlas also reserves the right to ban anglers from competing in future events.
i. All rules have loopholes. It is our intention to provide an honest sportsmanlike tournament. In the interest of good sportsmanship, contestants are reminded the spirit of the rule will prevail in all judgments.
j. All questions or concerns relating to the rules of this tournament are to be referred to the Organizer or their designated Authorized Tournament Protest and Appeals Committee. Their decision will be final in all cases. No other person can be considered a spokesman for the rules during the tournament. The contact person for this event is The Organizer and can be reached at https//www.bigjackclassic.ca
k. Any contestant has the right to make a protest against another contestant by contacting an Organizer through email and must be completed and presented within 1 hour of the close of the tournament. Their decision will be final in all cases. A $75.00 dollar protest fee may need to accompany the protest. The fee will be returned if the protest is found to be valid.
l. In the event of disqualification, any entry fees paid will be forfeited and not refunded.
m. To ensure the best chances of survival for the fish, all participants are to handle fish safely. See guidelines for safe fish handling below: https://mywildalberta.ca/fishing/safety-procedures/fish-
handling/default.aspx#:~:text=When%20handling%20a%20fish%20that,removing%20it%20fro m%20the%20water.
n. Refer to the leaderboard often and do not submit photos of fish smaller than the posted leaders in each category. This will help limit the impact on the fish caught and enhance the chances of survival in catch and release where the fish is put back into the water as quickly as possible.
o. This is an ice fishing event. Practice ice safety at all times! Fishing is only allowed on a minimum of at least 4 inches of ice. Only walk and fish where it is safe to do so. For ice safety information, pleases see: https://mywildalberta.ca/fishing/safety-procedures/fish-handling/default.aspx
p. Measure fish inside tents or ice shacks whenever possible, especially when temperatures dip below -10 degrees Celsius
q. Wet your boards/rulers prior to measuring fish in cold conditions to help prevent freezing the fish to the board, especially if you are using aluminum/metal boards
r. For Ice Fishing events - ice on the eyes or in the gills etc. are a reason for disqualification.
s. All photo submissions may be used by MyCatch by Angler's Atlas for future use.
t. Please show respect for the overall cleanliness of the lake. We ask that each angler be responsible for picking up any litter or garbage from your site once you have completed fishing for the day. Together we can work towards leaving the lake in a better condition by picking up garbage if found.
u. Porta potties will be provided at several locations around the lake, see map in your welcome bag for locations.
v. Weather permitting drone photography will take place, ensuring safety, compliance, and camaraderie. Please be respectful if you encounter a drone.
6. Data Privacy and Fisheries Research
“Secret Fishing Spots Stay Secret” — This is our primary commitment to anglers who report their catches through MyCatch. So, what does this mean in practice?
a. Angler’s Atlas does not release MyCatch GPS data to the public. It is treated as confidential and is provided to fisheries researchers under strict conditions.
b. Every research team we work with must sign a data sharing agreement that sets the terms of use for the data.
c. Data is anonymized before it is provided to the researcher.
d. Researchers agree not to share the data with anyone else.
e. Researchers cannot use the data for any purpose other than the research specified in the agreement.
f. Exact location data cannot be published as part of the scientific research. Instead, it must be generalized to a larger region so the location cannot be reverse engineered.
g. Angler’s Atlas may release data to a law enforcement agency if compelled to do so under court order.
These data privacy rules are designed to protect our angler’s private data, to conserve the fisheries, and to make sure we maintain a trusting relationship with our anglers into the future. If anyone has any questions, please feel free to reach out to Angler’s Atlas President directly by email ([email protected]).
7. Schedule A Competitive Fishing Event Conditions - Specific Rules as set out by Alberta Environment & Parks AEP & CFE license:
Advertising is not permitted until a licence number has been issued. All event advertisements shall include the Competitive Fishing Event (CFE) licence number in the advertisement.
This CFE shall take place as per the event rules specified in the Big Jack Classic CFE application submitted to Alberta Environment and Protected Areas on November 22, 2022 and updated on December 2, 2022.
This CFE only permits the use of photography; fish must not be killed, retained, transported or weighed.
Organizers shall ensure that participants only photograph fish species listed as Eligible Species on the CFE licence.
The organizer must maintain a list of all participants that are registered for the event and noting that each participant was issued a registration package, whereby the participants understand and agree to follow all CFE rules and licence conditions.
The organizer shall clearly post a copy of the CFE licence conditions along with directions on how and where to contact the organizers.
The organizer shall ensure that all participants understand that photographed fish shall be handled in a manner that causes them least harm and released back into the waters from which they were taken.
Organizers are responsible for enforcing all event rules. A copy of the CFE licence and conditions as well as the organizer’s event rules shall be provided to all registered participants.
The organizer shall complete and return a Competitive Fishing Event Reporting Form and associated worksheets within 14 business days from the conclusion of the event.
The reporting form for this CFE is due no later than: March 13, 2023
The report shall also include a list of all rule infractions relating this event.
The report shall also include a break down of all monies collected, awarded for prizes and used to defray reasonable expenses.
Fizzing of fish is prohibited.
Fizzing refers to the practice of releasing, or attempting to release air from the air bladder of a fish caught from deep water.
All participants in the licenced CFE must possess a valid Alberta Sportfishing Licence (except those legally exempted from the Alberta Sportfishing Licence requirement i.e. under 16 years of age, an Alberta resident aged 65 or older, or a First Nations person who is defined as Indigenous under the federal Indian Act, or during a designated Family Fishing Weekend) and follow all angling regulations unless otherwise specified in this Schedule A.
Participants in this CFE must practice catch-and-release for all fish species caught during the event.
Fish shall not be marked, cut or physically altered in any way.
All participants must use barbless hooks only. For the purposes of interpreting this condition:
A hook means a single, double or triple pointed hook on a common shaft, and includes hooks attached to a line or lure, and;
Barbless hooks includes hooks with barbs removed or hooks with pinched barbs lying flat against the shaft of the hook such that they are not functional.
This license is subject to cancellation at any time and shall be surrendered to the issuer upon written notice of its cancellation.
This license is non-transferable. This license is only valid for the listed licence holder and/or individuals listed on the licence.
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