Buffalo Lake, Alberta
Feb 15 - 16 2025
CFE event licence #623872

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. 

Derby boundaries are within the limits of the water body of Buffalo Lake, excluding the Narrows in the purple portion located in 40-22-W4, please observe the boundary markers for Narrows fishing. Any anglers  fishing in the Narrows during the derby will be disqualified. 

(The purple portion on the map under the Red X) 

 

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 derby, all participants agree to abide by the rules and regulations as set out in  the 2025 Big Jack Classic Fishing Event Rules and Competitive Fishing Event License issued by the  Government of Alberta. 

Save our fish, 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 for catch and release where the fish can be put back into the water as quickly as possible. 

2025 Event Waiver Form
(form must be filled out and sent to: [email protected])

Click here for 2025 WAIVER FORM

All rules below must be adhered to. 

1. Getting Started 

a. The 2025 Big Jack Classic Ice Fishing Derby is an online derby run through Angler’s Atlas website  and their mobile app MyCatch. 

b. Anyone can participate in the 2025 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 derby. Links can be found at www.BigJackClassic.ca

d. Catches must be submitted through the Mycatch app for judging anytime during the listed derby 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 contestants must register for the derby via this URL: https://www.anglersatlas.com/event/833/2025-big-jack-classic-buffalo-lake-ab. 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 derby and that your payment has gone through. 

h. Once accepted into the derby, 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 derby on the app again using the same login email and password that you used to register in the derby.  (https://www.anglersatlas.com/mycatch) 

i. Protecting anglers’ privacy is a priority, and any location data collected during the derby 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 derby, all participants agree to abide by the rules and  regulations they have received as set out in the Big Jack Classic Fishing Derby Event Rules and Competitive Fishing Event License issued by the Government of Alberta. 

l. A great resource to refer to is our how to register for a derby 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/2024-Alberta-Guide-to-Sportfishing-Regulations.pdf

b. This event is catch and release only. Northern Pike is the only eligible species. Burbot and white sucker and are ineligible. If a burbot or White Sucker is caught, it must be released  immediately. Any submitted photos of burbot or White Sucker will result in disqualification.

c. Recognize fish  species using the information below: https://mywildalberta.ca/fishing/fish-species.aspx

d. For each catch to qualify, a photograph of the fish with a provided measuring device (instructions  below) must be taken using the MyCatch app (ie. photos cannot be uploaded from a photo gallery or  other source). 

e. 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 derby. 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 the provided measuring device 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 with the head to the left of your  screen. 

h. When you measure your fish entry on the 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 other bump boards or tape measures will be accepted, the provided bump board is the only acceptable measuring device. 

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. A second photo, often called the Hero Shot, is to be used as a hero shot and is optional for this  event. 

n. 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. The fish will be only released down an open hole with no lines in it.
o. 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.

p. 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. 

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

 

3. Derby Location and Times 

a. Derby boundaries are within the limits of the water body of Buffalo Lake, excluding the Narrows in the portion located in 40-22-W4, please observe the boundary markers for Narrows fishing. Any  anglers fishing in the Narrows in portion 40-22W4 during the tournament will be disqualified. b. The 2 Day derby runs from: 

o Saturday, Feb 15, 2025, from 7am – 6pm 

o Sunday, Feb 16, 2025, from 7am – 6pm 

o Optional Monday (if weather is inclement on Saturday or Sunday or both), Feb 17, 2025, 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 derby director, derby 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 derby. 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 

https://mywildalberta.ca/fishing/safety-procedures/ice-safety-tips/default.aspx#

4. Awards & Prizes 

a. Proceeds from the derby entry will be distributed as cash prizes in accordance with the prizing  categories below. 

• $2000 - Longest Catch Overall (Open Event) 

• $1000 - Second Longest Catch Overall (Open Event) 

• $500 - Third Longest Catch Overall (Open Event) 

• $1500 - Longest Catch Junior Division (17 years of age and under) 

• $750 - Second Longest Catch Junior Division (17 years of age and under) 

• $250 - Third Longest Catch Junior Division (17 years of age and under) 

• Random Draws from all Registered Entrants on Saturday, February 15, 2025
• Random Draws from all Registered Entrants on Sunday, February 16, 2025 

b. Cash prizes will be awarded through etransfer. 

c. Cash prize amounts listed are a minimum payout per category. Payouts may increase depending on the  number of entrants.  

d. A participant can only win for one cash prize category. One participant cannot win multiple cash  prizes. Where a participant places first in two categories simultaneously, that participant will be  awarded the highest dollar value cash prize and win in that category only. 

e. Awards will be announced by Wednesday February 19, 2025, and anglers will be contacted directly using the contact information provided in the derby registration process. 

f. In the case of a tie, the tie break will go to the person with the first reported fish. g. Derby organizers reserve the right to adjust entries. 

5. Other Rules 

a. By registering and participating in the derby, all participants agree to abide by the rules and  regulations they have received as set out in the 2025 Big Jack Classic Ice Fishing Derby event rules  and Competitive Fishing Event License issued by the Government of Alberta (CFE No. 623872). 

b. Anglers can only submit catches that they have caught themselves. This is an individual derby, 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 derby or non derby anglers, but each  registered angler may only enter their own fish. Any derby contestant submitting fish they did not  catch themselves will be disqualified.

c. 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, arrows, forks, spears, trap nets or cages) be  allowed to be entered. 

d. This tournament falls under the Family Fishing Weekend for Alberta Residents and visitors. https://mywildalberta.ca/fishing/family-fishing-weekends/default.aspx 

e. Each contestant must conform to the fishing rules and regulations that are in place for the  jurisdiction in which they are fishing. 

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

g. Any angler found to be cheating will be disqualified from the derby and any future derby.  Angler’s Atlas also reserves the right to ban these anglers from competing in future events. 

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

i. All questions or concerns relating to the rules of this derby are to be referred to the Organizer or  their designated Authorized Derby 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 derby. The  contact person for this event is The MyCatch Approval team and can be reached at [email protected] 

j. 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  derby. Their decision will be final in all cases. A $100.00 dollar protest fee needs to accompany the  protest. The fee will be returned if the protest is found to be valid. 

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

l. 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

m. Save our fish, 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 for catch and release where the fish can be is put back into  the water as quickly as possible. 

n. This is an ice fishing derby. Practice ice safety at all times! Fishing is only allowed on a minimum  of at least 8 inches of ice. Only walk and fish where it is safe to do so. For ice safety  information please see: https://mywildalberta.ca/fishing/safety-procedures/ice-safety-tips/default.aspx

o. Measure fish inside tents or ice shacks whenever possible, especially when temperatures dip  below -10 degrees Celsius. 

p. Wet your boards/rulers prior to measuring fish in cold conditions to help prevent freezing the fish to the board. 

q. For this Ice Fishing Derby - ice on the eyes or in the gills etc. are a reason for disqualification. 

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

s. 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. 

t. 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 - Specific Rules as set out Alberta Environment & Protected Areas EPA CFE license: CFE 623872