For a downloadable document of all tournament rules for 2024 click here.
The Emo Walleye Classic will be once again awarding the Nevin Bonot Early Bird award. It is a random draw available to all anglers who have signed up by February 29, 2024 by 12:00 Noon.
The Emo Walleye Classic will also be awarding the Elmer Haglin Family award to the Top finishing team meeting one of the following criteria (Parent/Child, Grandparent/Grandchild, etc). After signing up please email the tournament at emowalleyeclassictournament@gmail.com with the names of the participants and their relationship to be eligible for this award.
Prizes based on a 30 Team field and subject to change, payout will be 100% less fees.
The tournament is open to Canadian and American anglers. However, all anglers must fish the Canadian side of the Rainy River only.
Required License
Each Contestant 18 years of age or over and must possess a valid Ontario fishing license in order to fish the Canadian Side of the Rainy River.
All Ontario 2024 Recreational Fishing Regulations apply for all Teams.
Only one rod per angler may be used at any time during the tournament as per Ontario Fishing Regulations and this will be in effect for the American teams as well.
Tournament Dates
The Tournament will run three days in total, one day for rules and two days for fishing. The official rules day will be held on May 23rd, 2024 at 7:00pm, all teams are required to have at least one team member in attendance. Day One of fishing will be held on May 24th and have two flights and Day Two of fishing will be held on the subsequent day, May 25th, and have two flights as well.
Day One: Day Two:
Flight 1 – 8:00 am – 4:30pm Flight 1 – 8:00 am – 3:30pm
Flight 2 – 8:30 am – 5:00pm Flight 2 – 8:30 am – 4:00pm
Boundaries
Tournament boundaries will be from the dam in Fort Frances to the mouth of the river at Lake of the Woods (there is a wind sock located at Wheeler’s Point which will be used as the boundary).
All creeks and rivers flowing into the Rainy River are out of bounds.
Fish Sizes
Walleyes and saugers are the only fish that will be weighted in by the official weightmaster. Anglers are allowed to submit 4 fish per day for weigh in, only two are allowed between the sizes of 12-18 inches, and only two are allowed over the size of 18 inches. Any fish smaller than 12 inches will not be weighted.
Bait
Live bait, frozen bait, or artificial lures shall be used. All bait shall be the responsibility of the contestant.
All boats must follow all Federal, Provincial, and State boating and fishing regulations.
On Step
- Instant stop switches, kill switch, tether switches must be attached to driver and boat kill switch
- All contestants must wear approved personal flotation device when the main combustion engine is running and the boat is on step (if so equipped).
Seating
All boats tiller and console must be equipped with a seat for the passenger and at least one handle device for passenger to secure themselves, if fishing out of a skiff the benches will be considered seats.
Use of any drugs, Marijuana or alcohol or possession thereof (other than those prescribed by a licensed physician) during the tournament hours is prohibited.
Fishing locations
Non-Contestants will not be allowed to hold a spot in the river for a contestant.
Two-person Team
There must be a team of 2 persons per boat. The same 2 competitors who start the tournament must finish, except in the case of an exceptional circumstance.
Tie Breaking
In the case of a tie, the team with the biggest single day catch during the two days of the tournament fishing will be declared the winner. If the teams are still tied at that point, the winner will be determined by a coin toss.
“Spirit of the Rule”
All rules have “loopholes”. It is the intention of the Tournament Director to provide an honest, sportsman-like, tournament. In the interest of sportsmanship, contestants are reminded that “the spirit of the rule” will prevail in all judgment cases and the decisions of the Tournament Director are final.
Violations and Fines
- It is the discretion of the Tournament Director to decide the severity of the violation and the fine to be served
- Competitors may be fined any amount or disqualified for any violation of the tournament rules and will not receive a refund of their entry fee.
Tournament Director
Your Tournament Director is Colleen. If you need to reach your director, their contact info is listed here as well as the other committee members.
Interpretation and Enforcement of the Rules
The interpretation and enforcement of the rules is at the discretion of the rules committee. The rules committee 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 tournament director are final.
Sportsmanship
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 unfavourable publicity to the sport of fishing could be disqualified. Encroachment is considered a sportsmanship rule.
Body of Water
Tournament boundaries will be from the dam in Fort Frances to the mouth of the river at Lake of the Woods (there is a wind sock located at Wheeler’s Point which will be used as the boundary). All creeks and rivers flowing into the Rainy River are out of bounds.
Inclement Weather/Cancellation
Keep mobile phones on throughout the tournament in order to receive communication from the director in the event of postponement or cancellation. Due to the nature of tournament fishing, no refunds will be issued. This is at the discretion of your tournament director.
Tiebreakers
The tournament director will consider options for determining a tie, which could be 1) time of entry 2) the exact measurement instead of the ¼” measurement 3) the next largest fish submitted by each angler. A tie could also result in shared prizes.
Laws and Regulations
You must abide by All federal, state, and local laws and all fishing and boating rules.
Failure to comply with any tournament rules subjects participants to disqualification and removal from the competition, as determined by the tournament officials. The right to refuse sale and/or revoke a competition ticket to anyone is hereby reserved.
Cheating
- All protests must be brought to the director’s attention before the end of the event.
- Anyone caught breaking the law or disobeying the rules will be disqualified.
- Fish must be hooked and caught live in a conventional manner. Fish cannot be snagged, netted, speared, etc.
- Participants may be required to take polygraph exams as part of the tournament requirements. If deception is detected or the participant refuses to take the exam, the prize will be forfeited and the participant will be disqualified. Anglers taking a polygraph examination may be responsible for any and all costs incurred.
Safety
Participants are responsible for their own safety, actions, and property at all times.
Questions?
If there are any questions about the rules, ask the tournament director.
