This is a length-based fishing event to be held within the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Fishing Regulations Zone 10 boundaries. Refer to the map attached to this event for the official boundaries.
The 2025 Ontario Zone 10 Winter Fish Off - is an online event run through Angler’s Atlas website and the mobile app MyCatch. The app is available for both iOS (Apple App Store) and Android (Google Play Store).
Anyone can participate in the 2025 Ontario Zone 10 Winter Fish Off - and it is for all ages. For those participants sharing a mobile device, participants must login to their own account to submit their catches.
Event organizers are permitted to participate in the event but will have any fish entry submissions verified by an independent third party.
There is a $40.00 registration fee to enter the event. All entry fees minus cost of service fees per angler required by Angler Atlas / MyCatch for the online tournament setup and use of the My Catch up will go towards prize awards in both categories.
This event is limited to the first 150 participants to sign up
Anglers 15 and younger must be fishing with an adult.
Each contestant must have a valid Ontario fishing license or otherwise be exempt from needing one.
Catches must be submitted through the MyCatch app for approval.
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.
Contestants must register for this event through the Angler’s Atlas website or the MyCatch app. We recommend anglers practice using the app before the event begins. Here is a link to some helpful videos to familiarize yourself with the app.
You will receive an automatic email confirming that you have entered the event and that your payment has gone through.
If you enter after the event starts, you must wait 24 hours before you can submit a fish for entry.
By participating in this event your name may be publicly visible.
Protecting Anglers' privacy is a priority. Organizers DO NOT and WILL NOT have access to location data collected during the event. This information is only accessible to select individuals at Angler's Atlas / My Catch App (located in BC Canada) and will not be released to organizers or any members of the public. Angler’s Atlas promise to anglers is “Secret Fishing Spots Stay Secret”. See below for further details.
Eligible species include only Walleye and Lake Trout. Submissions of any other species will be disqualified and rejected. Catch and release is suggested but not mandatory if the regulations allow for harvest in the entry location.
Recognize fish species using the following information: https://files.ontario.ca/environment-and-energy/fishing/198234.pdf
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).
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.
This is a total length measurement event, not fork length. The total length of a fish is measured from the tip of the nose or jaw to the tip of the tail (see picture below) The tail can be naturally pinched to the width of the measuring board.
Each fish must be entered only once. Fish should be entered as soon as possible after catching and catches must be recorded at the fishing site.
The nose of the fish must be at the start or zero mark on all measuring devices.
The entry photo must be taken from a birds-eye view looking down on the fish.
The mouth is allowed to be open, closed, or anywhere in between, so long as the fish meets the other above requirements.
All fish must be measured with the right side down and the nose of the fish must be visibly placed against a solid edge.
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. This rule applies to the Measurement photo only.
If you measure your fish entry on a commercially produced bumpboard, these rules must be followed:
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;
The entire fish showing the head and tail must be visible in the measurement photo. We must also see past the head and tail in the photo.
Expandable (sliding) bump boards may not be allowed if the fish passes the expandable section.
If you measure your fish entry on a homemade bumpboard, these rules must be followed:
The measurement rules are the same as above.
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]
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.
Unverified boards will NOT be accepted
If you measure your fish using a tape measure, these rules must be followed:
The fish nose and the start of the tape must be aligned by placing both against a solid edge;
The fish's nose must be aligned with the zero mark on the tape;
The tape measure must be beside the fish, not on top of the fish or covering it in a way that obscures the measurements;
The entire fish showing the head and tail and past the tail must be visible in the measurement photo.
*Rapala roll out tapes will be treated as a tape measure*
Soft fabric or flexible measuring tapes will not be allowed for use.
Sliding/Expandable Bump boards will be allowed if it can be shown in the length submission photo that the board is fully extended.
If an entry submission comes in where a measuring rule is not followed, the fish may still be approved but a length penalty will be applied. The penalty will apply to the observable length of the fish at the discretion of the Organizer. The set penalty amount will be 7.5 cm or approx 3 inches. The entry may also be rejected.
Fish will be approved for length only to the last physical mark crossed. Event organizers reserve the right to adjust entries.
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.
The Approval Team reviews and judges all fish. Once a submission has been approved, it will appear on the appropriate leaderboard. Entries will not show up immediately after you sync them.
During the entry process, a second photo, called the Hero Shot, consisting of the angler holding the fish, will be prompted in the entry procedure and is optional but encouraged for this event.
A third option you will be prompted with is a video of the release of your fish and this is also optional but encouraged for this event.
The app will work even when out of cell range, however for catches to qualify they must be synced with Angler’s Atlas server. To learn how to submit a catch into the event you can watch this MyCatch video for more information: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fS65wMakQHA
Event boundaries include lakes within the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Fishing Regulations Zone 10 boundaries. All fish must be caught and entered on a frozen waterbody that lies within the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Fishing Regulations Zone 10 boundaries. See the map attached to this event
The event runs from Saturday February 1, 2025 starting at 5:00:00 am EST through to Friday February 28, 2025 at 10:00:00 pm EST.
All catches made within the start and end times must be synchronized with the Angler’s Atlas server within the event times to qualify.
At the discretion of the event director, event days may be shortened, postponed or canceled due to unsafe weather or ice conditions.
Prizes - Prizes for the event will be distributed in accordance with the prizing categories below.
Overall Longest Walleye 1st Place - wins
Overall Longest Walleye 2nd Place - wins
Overall Longest Walleye 3rd Place - wins
Overall Longest Lake Trout 1st Place - wins
Overall Longest Lake Trout 2nd Place - wins
Overall Longest Lake Trout 3rd Place - wins
Cash prize amounts are based on a full field of 150 anglers. Guaranteed $1000 First Place Prize in each category when the tournament reaches 100 anglers registered. Cash Prizes for 2nd and 3rd places in each category will be determined by # of participants registered.
Fish DO NOT show up on any of the leaderboards until they have been approved by the Organizer’s Team, so don’t expect to see them reflected on the leaderboard immediately. If you want to ensure that your fish was recorded successfully, check the Log View of your app (2nd icon from the left at the bottom). If your fish is there, it logged successfully.
A participant can only win one prize placing per prize category.
In the case of a tie, the tie break will go to the first fish recorded by time. If a tie still exists, the tie break will go to the person with the highest number of fish reported.
Awards will be announced after a review process on or by Wednesday March 5th, 2025 and anglers will be contacted directly using the contact information provided in the event registration process. Cash prizes are awarded through e transfer. Prizes will be paid out after the conclusion of the event.
By registering and participating in the event, all participants agree to abide by the rules and regulations they have received as set out in this 2025 Ontario Zone 10 Winter Fish Off event rules.
For this event, we encourage catch and release fishing but it is not mandatory. You must follow all limits pertaining to possession and bag limits at all times.
All fish entered for this event must be caught via ice fishing angling i.e. using hook, line, rod/reel, tip-up etc. Fish caught by non-angling practices (i.e. use of spears, traps, etc.) will not be permitted.
Anglers can only submit catches that they have caught themselves. This is an individual event, so you cannot enter as a partnership or team. Anglers are free to fish alone or with other event or non-event anglers, but each registered angler may only enter their own fish.
To ensure the best chances of survival for the fish, all participants are to handle fish safely. Blatant abuse to fish or the resource may be reason for disqualification.
Each contestant must have in their possession a valid fishing license for their respective jurisdiction or be exempt under regulations of their jurisdiction.
Each contestant must conform to the general sport fishing rules and regulations that are in place for the jurisdiction in which they are fishing.
All federal, provincial and local laws must be abided by.
Promoters and organizers assisting in the event operation are not responsible for death, injury, damage, liability, theft, fire or any loss to any contestants. By participating in this event, you waive all liability on the organizers in the event.
All questions or concerns relating to the rules of this event are to be referred to the Organizer. Their decision will be final in all cases. No other person can be considered a spokesman for the rules during the event. The contacts for the event are the Co-Organizers and can be reached by email at [email protected]. When contacting the organizers, please include the name of the fishing event in the subject title.
The interpretation and enforcement of the rules is at the sole discretion of the Organizer. The event 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 events. All decisions made by the event Organizer are final.
Abuse of event officials and volunteers will not be tolerated.
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.
In the event of disqualification, any paid entry fees will be forfeited and not refunded.
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 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.
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.
All participants are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety, and conservation. Any participant who displays poor sportsmanship, violates these rules, or brings unfavorable publicity to the sport of fishing could be disqualified.
Participants are responsible for their own safety, actions, and property at all times.
This is an ice fishing event only. Practice ice safety at all times. Organizers are not responsible for unsafe ice conditions within the boundaries of the tournament. Only fish where it is safe to do so.
All photo and video submissions may be used by Angler's Atlas or our event partners for future use.
The following are not rules - they are simply a reference to best practices of handling fish.
We highly encourage conservation and the proper handling of all fish caught. To ensure the best chances of survival for all released fish, all participants are to handle fish safely.
Whenever feasible, keep the fish in the water while handling as long as possible
Cut the line as close to the hook as possible if a swallowed hook can’t be easily removed
Have the camera ready prior to landing fish to minimize air exposure
Hold large fish horizontally and support its body to avoid damage to the internal organs
Do not hold or support the fish by its gills, gill covers or eyes.
Use wet hands when handling a fish. Handle the fish quickly and as little as possible.
When releasing a fish, never throw it into the water.
“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?
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.
Every research team we work with must sign a data sharing agreement that sets the terms of use for the data.
Data is anonymized before it is provided to the researcher.
Researchers agree not to share the data with anyone else.
Researchers cannot use the data for any purpose other than the research specified in the agreement.
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.
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]).
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