The Great Squamish River Creel 2023-2024

 

Anglers will be eligible to win over $5,000 in prizes just by recording daily catches in the MyCatch App. This is a catch and release creel program and all species open to angling in the Squamish River Watershed are eligible. Please follow rules and regulations outlined in the 2021-2023 Fishing Regulations Synopsis for Region 2. Continue to do your due diligence by checking online for any updates to the regulations that are posted as rules to your region are subject to change and anglers are expected to know and abide by all rules and regulations before fishing. A link to the Freshwater Fisheries Regulations Synopsis can be found here: 

 

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/sports-recreation-arts-and-culture/outdoor-recreation/fishing-and-hunting/freshwater-fishing/fishing_synopsis.pdf

 

All logs are private, so the “secret spots” stay secret. All fish species and size classes captured through The Great Squamish River Creel tournament should be recorded to increase your odds of winning. All prizes and tournament details will be available at Highwater Tackle in North Vancouver. Highwater has been proudly serving the North Vancouver, and Sea to Sky angling community for over 30 years. Owned and operated by Gillian Steele and her Family, we are happy to have them as a partner in this research program.

 

We are also supported by Clint Goyette, a local angling guide and owner/operator of Valley Fishing Guides. With over 20 years of guiding experience in the Sea to Sky, and a dedication to conservation and science, we are happy to have his support.

 

Anglers should also be aware that there are tagged Bull Trout in the Squamish River Watershed. If you capture a tagged Bull Trout, safely remove tags with clippers or scissors, and call the number on the tags to claim your reward of up to $125. 

Here is a quick video to explain how to remove a Floy Tag from a tagged Bull Trout!..
https://www.facebook.com/InStreamFisheriesResearch/videos/3360584924182512

CATCH – RECORD – WIN

July 25, 2023 - May 31, 2024

Event Rules

 

1. Getting Started

1. The Great Squamish River Creel -2023/2024 is an online event run through Angler’s Atlas website and their mobile app MyCatch.

2. Anyone can participate in The Great Squamish River Creel - 2023/2024 and it is for all ages. 

3. 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 through the manage accounts feature.

4. Catches must be submitted through the MyCatch app for approval.

5. You must use the same login email and password for both the Angler’s Atlas website and the MyCatch app.

6. All contestants must register for the event via this URL: https://www.anglersatlas.com/tournament/608/squamish-river-creel-2022

7. You will receive an automatic email confirming that you have entered the event and that your payment has gone through.

8. Once accepted into the event, 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 event on the app using the same login email and password that you used to register in the event.

9. By participating in this event your name may be publicly visible.

10. Protecting anglers’ privacy is a priority, and any location data collected during the event will not be released to the public. Our promise to anglers is “Secret Fishing Spots Stay Secret”. See below for further details.

11. A great resource to refer to is our “How To Register For A Tournament” video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7o3PzcIoGo4&t=8s

 

2. Catch Reporting Rules

1. This event is a pilot project to help the province of BC and Habitat Conservation Trust

Fund gain a better understanding of freshwater fisheries catches in the Squamish River

Watershed. Anglers are expected to follow all seasonal species closures and regulations outlined in the Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis. A link to which, can be found here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/sports-recreation-arts-and-culture/outdoor-recreation/fishing-and-hunting/freshwater-fishing/fishing_synopsis.pdf

 

Recognize fish species using the information below: https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/identify-identifier-eng.html

2. Photos of all species captured should be submitted for entry as it will provide fisheries

biologists with very important data. In order for each catch to qualify, use the MyCatch App to take a clear photograph of this fish for identification purposes. A measurement is not necessary for an entry to qualify, and anglers are encouraged to handle fish as little as possible to reduce stress. 

3. 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.

4. Event organizers reserve the right to adjust entries. Organizers also reserve the right to limit entries.

5. A photo entry should clearly show identifying features of the species captured. The app will prompt you to either accept the photo or retake a photo.

6. 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.

7. A second photo, often called the Hero Shot, is not necessary for entries to qualify. Anglers who choose to use this feature are encouraged to do so quickly with the intention to release the fish immediately after one attempt. 

8. A third video option is available to record a live video release of the fish and is optional for this event. There may be prizing associated with best handling/release videos.

9. 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 wifi 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.

10. Catches that are submitted will be reviewed for approval on a timely basis. All entries once submitted must be verified. 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.

11. A great resource is the MyCatch video that shows how to complete an entry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fS65wMakQHA

 

3. Event Location and Times

1. Event boundaries will be the Squamish River watershed as highlighted on the map for this event. 

2. The event will run from:

Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at 6:00:00 am to

Wednesday, May 31, 2024 at 11:59:00 pm

3. All catches made within the start and end times must be synchronized with the Angler’s Atlas server within the event times to qualify. A great reference on how to manually sync your catches can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YU-AwLc8OLY&t=4s

4. At the discretion of the Event Director, event days may be shortened, postponed or canceled due to unsafe weather or water conditions.

 

4. Awards & Prizes

1. There will be $5,000 in prizes awarded throughout the event. 

2. Awards will be announced and posted to the event site and anglers will be

contacted directly using the contact information provided in the event registration

process.

3. Anglers have up to 60 days to claim their prize. Anglers that do not claim their prize within this period forfeit their prize.

4. Additional prizing may be added during the event.

 

5. Other Rules

1. By registering and participating in the event, all participants agree to abide by the rules and regulations they have received as set out in The Great Squamish River Creel -

2023/2024 event rules. 

2. To ensure the best chances of survival for the fish, all participants are asked to handle

fish as little as possible. Netting is highly recommended, and measurements should be taken with every effort to keep the fish in the water. All species are catch and release unless otherwise stated by the guidelines in the Freshwater Fisheries Regulations Synopsis of British Columbia. 

3. Anglers can only submit catches that they have caught themselves. This is an individual event, 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 anglers, but each registered angler may only enter their own fish on their own app.

4. 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. Usage of a landing net to land a hooked fish is encouraged. 

5. Bait Ban – No bait is permitted to be used in any river within the Squamish River

Watershed and there are no exemptions for participants in this tournament.

6. Each contestant must have in their possession a valid fishing license for their respective jurisdiction or be exempt under regulations of their jurisdiction.

7. Each contestant must conform to the fishing rules and regulations that are in place for the jurisdiction in which they are fishing. You must follow all regulations pertaining to possession limits and closures.

8. Promoters and organizers assisting in the event operation are not responsible for death, injury, damage, liability, theft, fire or any loss to any contestants.

9. Any angler found to be cheating will be disqualified from the event. Angler’s Atlas also reserves the right to ban anglers from competing in future events.

10. In the event of disqualification, any paid entry fees will be forfeited and not refunded.

11. All rules have loopholes. It is our intention to provide an honest sportsmanlike event. In the interest of good sportsmanship, contestants are reminded the spirit of the rule will prevail in all judgments.

12. All questions or concerns relating to the rules of this event are to be referred to the Organizer for this event. Their decision will be final in all cases. No other person can be considered a spokesman for the rules during the event. The contact person for this event is Addy Menican and can be reached by email at [email protected]

13. Any contestant has the right to protest another contestant by contacting an Organizer through email and must be completed and presented within 1 hour of the close of the event. Their decision will be final in all cases. A $100.00 dollar protest fee may need to accompany the protest. The fee will be returned if the protest is found to be valid.

14. All participants must follow boating safety regulations in your jurisdiction.

15. All photo and video submissions may be used by MyCatch by Angler's Atlas for future use.

 

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?

1. 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.

2. Every research team we work with must sign a data sharing agreement that sets the terms of use for the data.

3. Data is anonymized before it is provided to the researcher.

4. Researchers agree not to share the data with anyone else.

5. Researchers cannot use the data for any purpose other than the research specified in the agreement. 

6. 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. 

7. 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]).

Prizes for the event will be distributed to anglers that keep clear accurate creel logs using the MyCatch App. Additional prizes will be determined as the event gets underway and participants begin posting more catches. 

 

Anglers are encouraged to carry a net with “fish friendly” webbing appropriate to for the size of fish they are targeting while keeping in mind the potential to bycatch any species that may be present in the river at that time. 

 

Please keep fish handling to a minimum to help reduce stress and every effort should be made to always keep the fish in the water.