2024 Midwest Fall Walleye Classic 

September 28 - October 31 2024

Official Rules

1. General Information

1. This is a MyCatch mobile app event held in the Midwest from September 30 to October 31, 2024. Please refer to the official map boundaries shown on the 2024 Midwest Fall Walleye Classic

2. Anyone can participate in the 2024 Midwest Fall Walleye Classic and it is for all ages.

3. Anglers can participate in one of two categories:

1. The paid entry fee of $25.00 allows participants to qualify for all prizing including cash payouts.

2. The free entry only entitles participants to qualify for non-cash prizing.

4. Anglers 15 and younger must be fishing with an adult.

5. Each contestant must have a valid fishing license for the region they are fishing in or otherwise be exempt from needing one.

2.Getting Started

1. This event only supports individual registrations, not teams. 

2. Participants must use their own account when submitting their catches.

3. The app supports multiple accounts on the same device so a single phone can be used for multiple participants. 

4. Participants must use the same account login email and password when registering for an event and when submitting catches. 

5. All catches must be submitted through the MyCatch app to qualify for this event, which is available on Google Play Store and Apple App store.

6. First time users must set up an Angler’s Atlas account before entering an event, either through the app or on AnglersAtlas.com/sign-up. Here is a helpful video.

7. You can register for this event online at 2024 Midwest Fall Walleye Classic or directly through the app. Here is a quick YouTube video for more information. Once entered, you will receive an automatic email confirming that you have entered the event. 

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

9. 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 Section 7 below for further details.

3. Catch Reporting Rules

1. This event is for Walleye, Sauger & Saugeye. 

2. 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). Each photo is tagged with a unique QR code for backup purposes. 

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 section 7 below for details. 

4. Each fish must be entered only once.

5. Fish should be entered at the fishing site, and as soon as possible after catching them.

6. All fish must be measured with the right side down.

7. This is a total length measurement event, measured from the tip of the nose or jaw to the tip of the tail. The tail may be pinched to the width of the board or left unpinched. 

8. All catches will be measured to the last physical line on the measuring device that the tail touches or crosses. If a fish is longer than the angler's bump board or tape measure, the longest measurement on the board or tape measure will be counted.

9. The mouth of the fish is allowed to be closed, open, or anywhere in between, so long as the upper and/or lower jaw of the head of the fish is clearly touching the bump of the measurement board or vertical surface. 

10. The photo entry must be taken from a birds-eye view looking down on the fish. 

11. Anglers can only submit catches that they have caught themselves. Under no circumstances can you share fish with any other angler.

12. If you measure your fish entry on a commercially produced bumpboard, these rules must be followed:

1. The nose of the fish must be visibly touching the bump end of the board, 

2. The fish must be placed on top of the board,

3. The entire fish showing the head and tail must be visible in the measurement photo and we must also see past the head and tail in the photo; and 

4. Expandable (sliding) bump boards may not be permitted if the fish is longer than where the slide starts on the board.

13. If you measure your fish entry on a homemade bumpboard, these rules must be followed:

1. The measurement rules are the same as above.

2. You must provide a photo to the organizer of the empty board to verify proof of measurement accuracy, which includes a measuring tape alongside the bumpboard measurements for verification. This photo must be sent to [email protected]. 

3. Homemade bumpboards must have a solid edge or "bump" for the fish to be set against and it must line up with the 0 mark on the tape. 

4. Unverified boards may not be accepted

14. If you measure your fish using a tape measure, these rules must be followed:

1. The fish nose and the start of the tape must be aligned by placing both against a solid edge. 

2. The fish's nose must be aligned with the zero mark on the tape, 

3. The tape measure must be beside the fish, not on top of the fish. 

4. The fish cannot be on top of the tape measure or cover it in any way

5. The entire fish showing the head and tail and past the tail must be visible in the measurement photo. 

6. Do not use fabric or flexible measuring tapes. Note: Rapala roll out tapes will be treated as a tape measure

15. If an entry submission comes in where a measuring rule is not followed, such as the nose is not touching the bump or at the zero mark, the fish may still be approved but a length penalty may be applied. A one inch penalty will apply to the observable length of the fish at the discretion of the organizer. The entry may also be rejected. 

16. Event organizers reserve the right to adjust entries. They also have the right to ask for a picture sent to them of your measuring device.

17. Fish only appear on leaderboards after they have been reviewed and approved by the organizer. To see if your fish was recorded successfully, check the Log View of your app (2nd icon from the left at the bottom). Here is YouTube link showing how to submit a catch on the app.

4. Event Location and Times

1. Tournament boundaries are water bodies within the 14 listed participating State and Province waters that are legal to be fished. This event is intended for "inland waters" only. For this fall event, the Great Lakes and major "flow through" rivers are not part of the event. Refer to the map attached to this event and zoom in to see if particular water bodies are applicable. For example, the St. Lawrence River, the Niagara River, the Detroit River, Lake St Clair, the St Clair River, the St. Mary's River and water bodies between Lake Superior and Lake Huron, the Fox River - just to name a few are NOT part of this event.  Where the states/provinces border has a shared water course with another state/province, angler's can fish the full width of the water body. Anglers should be aware of and follow all regulations of adjacent states/provinces per reciprocal agreements where applicable when fishing any border rivers.

2. The tournament runs from:

Saturday September 28, 2024 starting at 6:00:00 am Central time through to

Thursday October 31, 2024 at 6:00:00 pm Central time

3. To qualify, all catches made must be synchronized with the Angler’s Atlas server within the event times. It is the angler's responsibility to ensure all cathes are uplaoded prior to the end of the event. 

4. Once the event concludes, a full review process of the catches will be managed by the organizer. Results will be announced no later than Thursday November 7, 2024 and will be final.

5. At the discretion of the organizer, the duration may be shortened, postponed or canceled due to unsafe weather or water conditions.

5. Awards &  Prizes

1. Proceeds from the tournament or equivalent gift cards will be distributed as prizes in accordance with the prizing categories below. Prize payouts will be adjusted if the event does not fill to the expected number of participants - see 4B    REMEBER to record all your catches so you have a better chance of winning prizes! 

i. Paid Entry - Eligible Cash Prizes:

• Week # 1 - Longest Fish Entered wins $100

• Week # 2 - Longest Fish Entered wins $100

• Week # 3 - Longest Fish Entered wins $100

• Week # 4 - Longest Fish Entered wins $100

• Week # 5 - Longest Fish Entered wins $100

• Week # 1 - Most Water Bodies Fished wins $100

• Week # 2 - Most Water Bodies Fished wins $100

• Week # 3 - Most Water Bodies Fished wins $100

• Week # 4 - Most Water Bodies Fished wins $100

• Week # 5 - Most Water Bodies Fished wins $100

• Week # 1 - Shortest Fish Entered wins $50

• Week # 2 - Shortest Fish Entered wins $50

• Week # 3 - Shortest Fish Entered wins $50

• Week # 4 - Shortest Fish Entered wins $50

• Week # 5 - Shortest Fish Entered wins $50

• Week # 1 - Hidden Length wins $50

• Week # 2 - Hidden Length wins $50

• Week # 3 - Hidden Length wins $50

• Week # 4 - Hidden Length wins $50

• Week # 5 - Hidden Length wins $50

• Week # 1 - Random Draw wins $50

• Week # 2 - Random Draw wins $50

• Week # 3 - Random Draw wins $50

• Week # 4 - Random Draw wins $50

• Week # 5 - Random Draw wins $50

• Week # 1 - Tough Luck Draw wins $50

• Week # 2 - Tough Luck Draw wins $50

• Week # 3 - Tough Luck Draw wins $50

• Week # 4 - Tough Luck Draw wins $50

• Week # 5 - Tough Luck Draw wins $50

• Overall Most Water Bodies Fished - 1st Place wins $500

• Overall Most Water Bodies Fished - 2nd Place wins $300

• Overall Most Water Bodies Fished - 3rd Place wins $100

• Overall Longest Walleye - 1st Place wins $800

• Overall Longest Walleye - 2nd Place wins $500

• Overall Longest Walleye - 3rd Place wins $250

ii. Additional Prizing for PAID and FREE events will be:

• Longest Walleye Entered - Illinois wins $100 Discount Tackle E-gift Card

• Longest Walleye Entered - Indiana wins $100 Discount Tackle E-gift Card

• Longest Walleye Entered - Iowa wins $100 Discount Tackle E-gift Card

• Longest Walleye Entered - Kansas wins $100 Discount Tackle E-gift Card

• Longest Walleye Entered - Manitoba wins $100 Discount Tackle E-gift Card

• Longest Walleye Entered - Michigan wins $100 Discount Tackle E-gift Card

• Longest Walleye Entered - Minnesota wins $100 Discount Tackle E-gift Card

• Longest Walleye Entered - Missouri wins $100 Discount Tackle E-gift Card

• Longest Walleye Entered - Nebraska wins $100 Discount Tackle E-gift Card

• Longest Walleye Entered - North Dakota wins $100 Discount Tackle E-gift Card

• Longest Walleye Entered - Ohio wins $100 Discount Tackle E-gift Card

• Longest Walleye Entered - Ontario wins $100 Discount Tackle E-gift Card

• Longest Walleye Entered - South Dakota wins $100 Discount Tackle E-gift Card

• Longest Walleye Entered - Wisconsin wins $100 Discount Tackle E-gift Card

• First 200 NEW anglers to this event who did not enter any of the 2024 Spring / Summer Midwest Walleye Events and report a walleye are eligible for a $20 Discount Tackle E-gift Card

 

 

iii. Special Prizing:

• 5 x Referral prizes draws of $100 each - A paid entrant refers a friend to sign up and if that friend enters a catch, be eligible for one of 5 draws for $100 

 

2. Cash prize amounts are based on a full field of 250 anglers. If the tournament doesn’t fill, the payout percentages for each paid position will remain the same but may be adjusted according to the number of paid participants. Cash prizes are awarded through E-transfer (Canada), PayPal (US States) or Amazon e-gift cards.

3. A participant can only win one prize placing per species, and one prize in the weekly categories.

4. Awards will be announced on or by November 7, 2024 and anglers will be contacted directly using the contact information provided in the tournament registration process.

5. In the case of a tie, the tie break will go to the person who entered the tied fish first. If a tie still exists, the tie break will go to the person with the highest number of fish reported.

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

6. General Rules

1. By registering and participating in the 2024 Midwest Fall Walleye Classic, all participants agree to abide by the rules and regulations they have received as set out in these event event rules. 

2. 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. Fish cannot be snagged, netted, speared etc. Usage of a landing net to land a hooked fish is allowed.

3. Each contestant must have in their possession a valid fishing license for their respective jurisdiction or be exempt under regulations of their jurisdiction. As well, each contestant must conform to the general sport fishing rules and regulations that are in place for the jurisdiction in which they are fishing. 

4. You must follow all fishing regulations pertaining to possession and bag limits. For this event, we encourage catch and release fishing but it is not mandatory.

5. All federal, state, provincial and local laws must be abided by. 

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

7. All questions or concerns relating to the rules of this event are to be referred to the organizer or designated representative. The organizer for this event is MyCatch and can be reached by email at [email protected] (please include the name of the event in your email). Their decision will be final in all cases. 

8. The interpretation and enforcement of the rules is at the sole discretion of the organizer. The organizer may change rules or impose sanctions as they deem appropriate, including but not limited to disqualifications, forfeiture of prizes, and prohibition from competing in future tournaments.  All decisions made by the organizer are final. 

9. Abuse of event officials and volunteers will not be tolerated.

10. Failure to comply with any event rules subjects participants to possible disqualification from the event.

11. Any angler found to be cheating or breaking the law will be disqualified from the event, and may result in future bans for any MyCatch events.

12. Any protest against another participant not complying with the rules must be brought to the organizer’s attention before the end of the tournament, and 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.

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

14. It is our intention to provide an honest sportsmanlike tournament, and contestants are reminded the spirit of the rule will factor into judgments by the organizer.

15. Participants are responsible for their own safety, actions, and property at all times.

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

17. All photo and video submissions may be used by MyCatch by Angler's Atlas in the future.

7. 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 only provided to fisheries researchers under strict conditions.

2. Every research team we work with who receives location data must sign a data sharing agreement that sets the terms of use for the data consistent with 7A.

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 has to 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]).