2026 Castlegar Invasive Fish Out Derby

Columbia River, BC

August 14 - 23 2026

Official Rules

1. General Information

1. This is a length-based fishing event to be held in the Columbia River in BC below the Hugh Keenleyside Dam. Refer to the map attached to this event for the official boundaries. 

2. The 2026 Castlegar Invasive Fish Out Derby - 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).

3. Anyone can participate in the 2026 Castlegar Invasive Fish Out Derby - and it is for all ages. For those participants sharing a mobile device, participants must login to their own account to submit their catches

4. There is a $40.00 registration fee for both adults and Youth (15 & under) to enter the event.

5.  NEW! Registrations will be shut down on Friday August 14th at 12:00 noon.  

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

7. Each contestant must have a valid BC fishing license or otherwise be exempt from needing one.

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

9. 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.

10. 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. 

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

12. If you enter after the event starts, you must wait 1 hour before you can submit a fish for entry.

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

14. 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.

2. Catch Reporting Rules

1. Eligible species include only Walleye and Northern Pike only.  

2. Recognize fish species using the following information: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/plants-animals-ecosystems/fish/aquatic-species/bc-fish-species

3. 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). 

4. 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.  

5. 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.  

6. 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.

7. The nose of the fish must be at the start or zero mark on all measuring devices.  

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

9. The mouth is allowed to be open, closed, or anywhere in between, so long as the fish meets the other above requirements. 

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

11. 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. We must also see past the head and tail in the photo.

    4. Expandable (sliding) bump boards may not be allowed if the fish passes the expandable section.

12. 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 will NOT be accepted

13. 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 or covering it in a way that obscures the measurements;

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

5. *Rapala roll out tapes will be treated as a tape measure*

14. Soft fabric or flexible measuring tapes will not be allowed for use.

15. Sliding/Expandable Bump boards are not allowed except if fish measured on the sliding boards are under 19” or at the point where the device is to be slid out for longer measurements. Credit for over sized fish will only be given to 19 inches. 

16. 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 2.5 cm or 1 inch. The entry may also be rejected. 

17. Fish will be approved for length only to the last physical mark crossed.

18. 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.

19. Fish DO NOT show up on any of the leaderboards until they have been approved by the Catch Approval 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.

20. During the entry process, a second photo, called the Hero Shot, usually consisting of the angler holding the fish, will be prompted in the entry procedure. For this year, use this to show the fish has been dispatched.  

21. You will also be prompted with a third option which is a video of your fish. This is voluntary. 

22. 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

3. Event Location and Times

1. Tournament boundaries are within the limits of the Columbia River system In BC as per the following. The upstream boundaries are the Hugh Keenleyside Dam on the Columbia stem and the Highway 3A bridge on the Kootenay River stem. The downstream boundary is the downstream side of the Waneta Dam on the Pend Oreille River stem and the Canada / US border on the Columbia stem. Refer to the map attached to this event. 

2. The event runs from Friday August 14, 2026 starting at 6:00:00 am Pacific time through to Sunday August 23, 2026 at 6:00:00 pm Pacific time.

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. It is the angler's responsibility to ensure all catches are synched up in time. 

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. Prizes - Prizes for the event will be distributed in accordance with the prizing categories below.

• Early bird prize pack. The first 50 people to completely register win a prize pack assembled by Destination Castlegar

• Overall Total Length Combined of 10 Longest Walleye - 1st Place Only - $750
  
  

• Overall Longest Walleye 1st Place - $750

• Overall Longest Walleye 2nd Place - $500

• Overall Longest Walleye 3rd Place - $300

• Random Draw Prize #1 (Must enter at least 1 fish) - $100

• Random Draw Prize #2 (Must enter at least 10 fish)- $100

• Random Draw Prize #2 (Must enter at least 10 fish) - $100

• Hidden Length Walleye Prize #1 - $100

• Hidden Length Walleye Prize #2 = $100

• Hidden Length Walleye Prize #3 = $100

• 1 Prize for Northern Pike Entered (awarded by random draw)  $100

2. Cash Prizes above are guaranteed! All cash prizing has been sponsored by the following sponsors: Fortis BC, Okanagan Nation, Regional District of Central Kootenay Area I, Regional District of Central Kootenays Area J & Columbia Basin TrustA participant can only win one prize placing per category. For this event, there are 5 categories. 

3. Once the tournament concludes, a full review process will begin between the Organizer and their team. Results will not be confirmed, announced, or made public until the morning of Wednesday August 26th, 2026 and no cash prizes will be awarded or sent until after the winner’s announcement has been made. Following this review process, the results will be final. 

4. 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.

5. Cash prizes may be awarded through e-transfer or mailed check.

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

5. General 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 this 2026 Castlegar Invasive Fish Out Derby event rules.

2. All fish entered for this event must be caught via angling i.e. using hook, line, rod and reel. Fish caught by non angling (i.e. use of traps, trap nets or cages) is not permitted. Usage of a landing net to land a hooked fish is allowed.

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. Anglers are free to fish alone or with other event or non-event anglers, but each registered angler may only enter their own fish.

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

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

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

7. 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 contact for this event is The MyCatch Approval team and can be reached by email at [email protected] (please include the name of the event in your email).

8. 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. 

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

10. 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.

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

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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. 

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 Angler's Atlas or our event partners for future use.

6. Liability Waiver and Assumption of Risk

1. By registering for and participating in this event, participants acknowledge that fishing and boating activities involve inherent risks, including but not limited to injury, illness, death, property damage, adverse weather, water hazards, equipment failure, and the actions of other participants.

2. Participants voluntarily assume all risks associated with participation in this event and related activities.

3. To the fullest extent permitted by law, participants hereby release, waive, and discharge Angler’s Atlas, MyCatch, event organizers, sponsors, partners, volunteers, and their respective officers, directors, employees, and agents from any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, or expenses arising out of or related to participation in the event, including claims arising from negligence.

4. Participants agree to indemnify and hold harmless the above parties from any claims brought by third parties arising from the participant’s actions or conduct during the event.

5. Participants are solely responsible for their own safety, equipment, compliance with all laws and regulations, and for securing appropriate insurance coverage if desired.
   
   

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 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 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]).