2024 Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg 13th Annual Fish Derby
May 30 – June 2, 2024
Official Rules
Getting Started
A. The 2024 Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg 13th Annual Fish Derby is an online tournament run through Angler’s Atlas website and their mobile app MyCatch. There will be support offered to assist anglers at the Community Dock Station to upload their catches, should they need assistance.
B. Our Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg 13th Annual Fish Derby is exclusive to Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg First Nation band members, their spouses and the band member’s immediate family. The eligibility is extended to the staff members of Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg. There is no minimum age for participants, however minors must be with a parent or guardian at all times during the Derby. Participants who are 13 years or younger will have their admission fees waived, however, participants must still be registered to qualify for prizes. Registration is currently only able to support individual registration. For those without a personal cell phone (such as children) the participant will need to submit through a parent’s account regardless of whether the parent is participating in the tournament or not. Participants can also seek assistance for uploads at the Community Dock Station.
C. At time of registration proof of fishing licenses must be shown before registration fee will be accepted. For Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg Band members – must present their status card, non-band members to show their Robinson-Superior treaty card, and non Robinson-Superior treaty members to present a valid Ontario fishing license with an Outdoors card.
D. Prices for registration are as follows:
Adult Category (14+) $20
Youth Category (13 -) Free Entry
Youth still need to register to be eligible for prizes and fish entries!
E. Catches must be submitted through the MyCatch app for judging anytime during that period.
F. In order 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.
G. All contestants must register for the tournament via this URL: https://www.anglersatlas.com/event/786/2024-netmizaaggamig-nishnaabeg-13th-annual-fish-derby-2024
H. You will receive an automatic email confirming that you have entered the tournament and that your payment (even if it's free) has gone through.
I. 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.
J. Protecting anglers’ privacy is a priority, and any location data collected during the tournament will not be released to the public or on-site organizers. Our promise to anglers is “Secret Fishing Spots Stay Secret”. See below for further details.
K. 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
Catch Reporting Rules
A. Eligible species primarily include Northern Pike and Walleye as well as others for the Most Species (all fish entered in this must be considered Game Fish i.e. no minnows) entered category. All fish entered must be at least 12 inches or 30.48 cm long to be entered in the event. The only exception to this will be for Perch which have a minimum of 6 inches or 15.24 cm.
B. In order for each catch to qualify, a photograph of the fish on a measuring device must be taken using the MyCatch app (ie. photos cannot be uploaded from a photo gallery or other source).
C. 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.
D. 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.
E. 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.
F. All 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.
G. If you measure your fish entry on a bumpboard, 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.
H. If you measure your fish using a tape measure, the measurement rules are as follows. The fish nose and the start of the tape must be butted up against a solid edge. The fish’s nose must be aligned with the zero mark on the tape, the fish cannot be on top of the tape measure or cover it in any way, and the entire fish showing the head and tail and past the tail must be visible in the measurement photo. Do not use fabric or paper measuring tapes.
I. The photo must be taken from a birds-eye view looking down on the fish.
J. 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.
K. The mouth is allowed to be open, closed, or anywhere in between, so long as the fish meets the other above requirements.
L. The app will work without WiFi or any or strong cell service. If you submit a fish without any or strong enough service, the app will tell you that the fish has been recorded, and that it will sync up to the server once you return to service. Every fish you log (whether in good service or not) will appear in your app’s Log View (2nd icon from the left at the bottom). If you have fish “awaiting sync,” it will indicate this here. The submissions will eventually come through on their own once you return to service, but you can help speed up the process by “manually syncing” those pending logs (see how here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YU-AwLc8OLY) once you’re in service. The logs are time/date/location stamped to the moment that they were taken, so even if the submission is delayed, the time on that submission will still be accurate.
M. Catches that are submitted will be reviewed by the Organizer Committee. Once the submissions are reviewed and approved, they will be immediately visible on the appropriate Leaderboards.
N. A great resource is the MyCatch video that shows how to complete an entry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fS65wMakQHA
O. We highly encourage you to practice using the app before the event starts!
Watch all four videos available at this link to familiarize yourself with the app: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1Yp9OqZ6saBgaKklT5jh6DkuTbai3NeJ
Test the app before you go fishing (note: the app allows you to record fish for your own personal logbook while not in an active tournament. Some features will appear slightly different when you are not in an active event, so please make sure you watch the YouTube videos at the link above).
Tournament Location and Times
A. The tournament boundaries for this event are within the Watersheds of Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg. Please refer to the map attached to this event.
B. Early Bird Registrations will open April 22nd, 2024 @ 8:30 a.m.
C. Early Bird Registration deadline date is Friday May 10th, 2024.
To qualify for the Early Bird Draw, registration must be complete and fee must be received by 4:30 pm May 10th, 2024
D. Derby registrations will be accepted until 4:00 p.m. Monday, May 27, 2024.
E. The tournament runs from:
Thursday, May 30th, 2024, starting at 1:00 pm through to
Sunday, June 2nd, 2024, at 1:00 pm
F. All catches made within the start and end times must be synchronized with the Angler’s Atlas server within the event times to qualify.
G. At the discretion of the Derby Organizer Committee, tournament days may be shortened, postponed or canceled due to unsafe weather or water conditions or any unforeseen circumstances.
Awards & Prizes
A. The tournament prizing will be based on the prizing categories below.
Largest Overall Northern Pike (14 years of age and older)
Largest Overall Northern Pike for Youth (13 years of age and under)
Largest Overall Walleye (14 years of age and older)
Largest Overall Walleye for Youth (13 years of age and under)
Total Number of Species Caught (for all age groups)
B. Prizes will be awarded upon availability.
C. Prize ceremony will be held at the Cultural Center and virtually, and winners will be contacted to claim their prize.
D. In the case of a tie, the tie break will go to the person with the highest number of fish reported. If a tie still exists, the first fish entered will be used as the tie break.
E. Shall a registered participant enter two fish which both hold a top place within the same category; the largest fish for that category will only be entered.
F. Tournament organizers reserve the right to adjust entries.
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 2024 Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg 13th Annual Fish Derby event rules.
B. A valid fishing license is required for those who have no Certificate of Indian Status, and for individuals who may be outside of their respective Treaty Area.
C. APS and MNRF Enforcement Branch will be notified of Derby times.
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. Usage of a landing net to land a hooked fish is allowed.
E. Eligible fish to enter into the Derby must be freshly caught.
F. No fish smaller than 12 inches shall be entered into the Derby (except perch which must be longer than 6 inches)
G. You can fish from a boat or from shoreline.
H. All fish entered into the Derby are subject to inspection for foul play (i.e. gill net marks etc.)
I. There will be no tag in / out system implemented this year. Use the buddy system with a family or friends to ensure your own safety.
J. Each contestant must conform to the fishing rules and regulations that are in place for the jurisdiction in which they are fishing.
K. Promoters and organizers assisting in the tournament operation are not responsible for death, injury, damage, liability, theft, fire or any loss to any contestants.
L. 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 on their own app.
M. 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.
N. In the event of disqualification, any paid entry fees will be forfeited and not refunded.
O. 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.
P. 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: Jesse Gaudette and can be reached by email at: [email protected]
Q. Any contestant has the right to make a protest against another contestant by contacting an Organizer or an Authorized Tournament Protest and Appeals Committee 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 $100.00 dollar protest fee may need to accompany the form. The fee will be returned if the protest is found to be valid.
R. An infraction witnessed by a competitor can be reported to the Organizer or the Authorized Tournament Protest and Appeal Committee. In the event that an infraction is reported or a protest is entered, the Organizer or the Committee, appointed prior to the tournament; may convene.
S. To ensure the best chances of survival for the fish, all participants are to handle fish safely.
T. All participants must follow Provincial safety standards for PFD and boating safety..
U. All photo submissions may be used by MyCatch by Angler's Atlas for future use.
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 very 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 a 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 has to be generalized to a larger region so the location cannot be reverse engineered.
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