King Fisher Walleye Tournament Ice fishing Manitoba 2023
4 PRELIMINARIES & 1 GRAND FINALE TO BECOME
THE CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS!
About Us
ICE WALLEYE TRAIL – WE ARE ICE FISHING
The Ice Walleye Trail is a series of Tournaments where the largest Walleye Angler wins and becomes the Champion of Champions. Get the Rules, check out the FAQs and learn more about the IWT Tournament today.
ICE WALLEYE TRAIL – WE ARE ICE FISHING
The Ice Walleye Trail (formally known as Kingfisher Walleye Tournament) is a series of ice fishing tournaments you don’t want to miss. With four Preliminary IWT Events, one Grand Finale, and up to $80,000 in cash and prizes, this premier tournament provides Anglers prime fishing, action, and a challenge.
2023 DATES & LOCATIONS
The Ice Walleye Trail is a series of Tournaments where the largest Walleye Angler wins and becomes the Champion of Champions. Get the Rules, check out the FAQs and learn more about the IWT Tournament today.
ICE WALLEYE TRAIL – WE ARE ICE FISHING
- January 21, 2023 – Gimli
- February 4, 2023 – Matlock
- February 18, 2023 – Winnipeg Beach
- March 4, 2023 – Powerview/Pine Falls
- GRAND FINALE March 18, 2023 – Hecla
The Ice Walleye Trail is a series of Tournaments where the largest Walleye Angler wins and becomes the Champion of Champions. Get the Rules, check out the FAQs and learn more about the IWT Tournament today.
The Ice Walleye Trail is a series of Tournaments where the largest Walleye Angler wins and becomes the Champion of Champions. Get the Rules, check out the FAQs and learn more about the IWT Tournament today.
The Ice Walleye Trail is a series of Tournaments where the largest Walleye Angler wins and becomes the Champion of Champions. Get the Rules, check out the FAQs and learn more about the IWT Tournament today.
Manitoba Fishing Rules And Regulations
- 1). All provisions of the Fisheries Act of Canada, the Fisheries Act of Manitoba, and the Manitoba Fisheries Regulations must be adhered to.
- 2). All competitive fishing event participants must adhere to Manitoba Fishery Regulations, 1987 and provincial and federal Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) regulat
Manitoba Fishing Rules And Regulations
- 1). All provisions of the Fisheries Act of Canada, the Fisheries Act of Manitoba, and the Manitoba Fisheries Regulations must be adhered to.
- 2). All competitive fishing event participants must adhere to Manitoba Fishery Regulations, 1987 and provincial and federal Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) regulations. For more information, please review the Manitoba Angler’s Guide.
- 3). Per the Manitoba Competitive Fishing Event Licence, the Ice Walleye Trail Tournament is a catch-and-release Event.
- 4). All anglers must have a valid Manitoba Fishing Licence or a Treaty Status ID card. Per the Manitoba e-licensing regulations, fishing licenses must be printed, signed, and carried on when fishing.
Entry Fees
- 5). First Hole Tickets – $100.00 for Preliminary Tournaments.
- 6). Second Hole Tickets – $50.00 for Preliminary Tournaments.
- 7). Grand Finale Two Hole Combo – $75.00 for qualified Grand Finale Tournament Anglers.
- 8). The ticket seller may subject all tickets purchased online to a processing fee.
General Ticket Information
- 9). Tickets are non-refundable.
- 10). Anglers may not angle with entry tickets purchased in the name of another individual.
- 11). Tickets purchased may be transferred to another individual before the Tournament Event by calling 204-407-2767. A transfer fee of $20 will apply and must be paid at the time of the Transfer.
- 12). All Anglers must have Event Tickets visible upon entry. Individuals without an Event Ticket will be denied access to the Tournament Site.
- 13). An adult must accompany all Anglers under the age of 18.
Ice Walleye Trail Tournament Event Rules
- 14). Live bait is allowed.
- 15). Portable ice shacks or structures are permitted; however, they can not be set up until the IWT Tournament starts at 11:00 AM.
- 16). IWT Tournament Officials reserve the right to open and inspect any structure at any time during the event.
- 17). All coolers, pails, packs, boxes, portable tents, structures, and other equipment are subject to inspection by IWT Tournament Officials before entering the Tournament site and at any time during the event.
- 18). Only ticket holders, IWT Tournament Officials, and volunteers are permitted on the Tournament Site.
- 19). In circumstances where an Angler requires an on-ice escort, arrangements can be made by contacting the IWT Tournament Officials before the event at 204-407-2767.
- 20). No motorized vehicles will be allowed within the perimeter of the Tournament Site other than those authorized by the IWT Tournament Officials. Off-road vehicles must park in the designated parking areas.
- 21). Anglers who leave the IWT Tournament Site for any reason must exit and enter through the main entrance(s).
- 22). No pre-fishing of the IWT Tournament Sites will be permitted 30 hours before the IWT Tournament start time.
Locations And Times
- 23). Four Preliminary IWT Tournaments will take place prior to the Grand Finale:
a. Gimli, Saturday, January 21, 2023, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
b. Matlock, Saturday, February 4, 2023, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
c. Winnipeg Beach, Saturday, February 18, 2023, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
d. Powerview-Pine Falls, Saturday, March 4, 2023, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. - 24). Grand Finale Tournament, Hecla, Saturday, March 18, 2023, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
- 25). Anglers competing in the IWT Tournament will be permitted to claim their holes on the ice at 9:00 AM (2 hours prior to the IWT Tournament’s start).
Holes And Lines
- 26). Only holes drilled by the IWT Tournament Officials may be fished.
- 27). Anglers may fish any unoccupied hole.
- 28). All holes are predrilled the night before the IWT Tournament Event. Anglers may require an axe or chip bar to re-open holes that may freeze overnight.
- 29). Anglers are restricted to using one fishing line per hole per entry and may only purchase a maximum of two holes.
- 30). Each Angler may only occupy or claim as many holes as they have tickets (maximum two per participant). Anglers must physically be present to claim a hole.
- 31). Only Anglers with an IWT Tournament Ticket may fish and cannot have any other participant fish on their behalf at any time during the Tournament.
- 32). Angling may not occur before the IWT Tournament starts at 11:00 AM (a horn will sound at the start of the Tournament). Angling must stop at 3:00 PM (a horn will declare the end of the Tournament).
- 33). Anglers may use electronic devices as of 9:00 AM to determine depth while selecting a hole and assist in fishing throughout the Tournament.
Tickets For The Preliminary Tournaments
- 34). 400 First Hole and 400 Second Hole Tickets will be available for sale for each Preliminary Tourament in Manitoba.
- 35). Tickets may be purchased online at www.mbfish.ca or at the event check-in area should IWT Event Tickets be available.
- 36). A Second Hole Ticket may be purchased at a reduced rate, as set out by Tournament Officials. A First Hole Ticket must be presented at the time of purchase of a Second Hole.
- 37). A Second Hole Ticket must be used by a First Hole Ticket holder.
Tickets For The Grand Finale Tournament
- 38). The top 100 participants from each Preliminary Tournament in Manitoba will advance to the Grand Finale.
- 39). The top 25 anglers from each Preliminary Tournament in Manitoba will be awarded free entry into the Grand Finale Tournament.
- 40). Angler’s ranked from 26 to 100 from each Preliminary Tournament in Manitoba will be eligible to enter the Grand Finale at an admission price of $75.00 for two holes.
- 41). If not enough fish are caught during an IWT Preliminary Tournament Event to qualify 100 Anglers for the Grand Finale Tournament, the following process will be enacted:
a. Anglers who caught a fish but did not qualify for the Grand Finale (i.e. Placed 101 or lower at any of the four Preliminary Tournaments) will be collected and ranked in order of fish length. Grand Finale participation will be offered to those Anglers, from highest rank to lowest, until 400 First Hole spots have been filled.
b. In the event that 400 First Hole spots have still not been filled, tickets to fill the remaining spaces will be made available for $75.00 to the IWT Tournament Angler Participant List on March 6, 2023. Participants will be notified by email.
c. If by March 10, 2023, there are still remaining First Hole spots available, tickets to fill the remaining spaces will be made available for $150 to the general public via the website store www.mbfish.ca.
Fish Measuring, Photo Documenting, And Fish Handling Process
- 42). The IWT Tournament will use Manitoba Conservations’ Best Practices for all fish handling and measuring procedures to reduce the mortality rate of fish caught during IWT Tournament Events. As such, the process of measuring fish will be Catch, Photo, and Release, as follows:
a. Anglers will be responsible for measuring their fish on a valid measuring board.
b. Fish caught should remain in the hole until Anglers are ready to measure them. Once the fish is removed from the hole, fish measurements should be recorded immediately, with the goal of returning the fish to the hole in 60 seconds or less.
c. The CPR Fish Tag portion of the IWT Tournament Event Ticket must be placed on the fish for the picture. The picture must include the entire length of the fish. - 43). To Measure fish, close the fish’s mouth. Place the nose of the fish at the bump of the measuring board with the fish’s belly facing you. Place the CPR Fish Tag on top of the fish and photograph the entire fish on the board. Per the Manitoba Angler’s Guide, total fish length is measured from the most anterior part of the head to the most posterior part of the tail laid flat (i.e. not pinched).
- 44). The total length of the fish will be measured to the closest ¼ inch. If the tail touches the graduation line on the board, that is the exact measurement. The measurement will be recorded to the next ¼ inch if the tail crosses a graduation line.
- 45). IWT Tournament Officials must validate the photo at the IWT Tournament Validation Centre, located at the centre of the IWT Tournament Site. Image validation, length, and image time stamp will be recorded by IWT Tournament Officials and initialled by the Angler to verify the information.
- 46). Only Walleye are eligible for entry.
Measuring Boards
- 47). All measuring devices must be commercially made.
- 48). Anglers must have a board with a 90-degree bend which marks ZERO “0” and at least ¼” lines.
- 49). No handmade measuring boards, stickers, or tape measures are allowed.
- 50). Large fish can be challenging to measure with a bump board and photographs. If an Angler pulls a large fish, video can be used to document the measurement. Bump the nose of the fish against a verticle surface and use a commercial measuring tape to measure the fish. Video from nose to tail, covering the complete length of the fish.
Prize Structure And Award Procedures
- 51). Prizes will be awarded as follows for each of the four Preliminary IWT Tournament Events:
a. 1st Place – $5,000
b. 2nd Place – $3,000
c. 3rd Place – $2,000
d. 4th Place – $1,000
e. 5th to 10th Place – $500 each - 52). Prizes will be awarded as follows for the IWT Tournament Grand Finale Event:
a. 1st Place – $10,000
b. 2nd Place – $5,000
c. 3rd Place – $3,000
d. 4th Place – $2,000
e. 5th Place – $1,000
f. 6th to 10th Place – $600 each - 53). Prizes will be based on a minimum of 400 First Hole Tickets sold per IWT Tournament Event. IWT Tournament Officials reserve the right to reduce prizes on a percentage basis should less than 400 First Hole Tickets be sold.
- 54). Each First and Second Hole Ticket is eligible for one prize (A Second Hole Ticket not only doubles your chances to catch a fish but also qualifies you to win two prizes if you catch more than one fish).
- 55). Winners will be determined immediately following the event and announced as soon as all recorded Measure-ins have been verified and ranked.
- 56). In the event of a tie, the fish Measured-in first, as recorded on the photo time stamp, will be awarded the higher place ranking and the higher prize.
- 57). Anglers do not need to be present to be awarded prizes; however, IWT Tournament Officials are not responsible for the delivery of prizes. Arrangements to claim prizes may be made with IWT Tournament Officials at the expense of the Angler (i.e. shipping or delivery fees).
- 58). Any prizes unclaimed after six months remain the property of IWT Tournament Officials and will be used as prizes for subsequent IWT Tournaments.
Cancellation And Delays
- 59). IWT Tournament Officials have the right to delay or shorten any scheduled Tournament Times due to weather or safety concerns.
- 60). Should inclement weather, unsafe conditions, Manitoba Public Health Orders, or any other reason beyond the IWT Tournament Officials’ control cause any of the IWT Tournament Events to be cancelled on the scheduled date, the planned Tournament will be held on an alternate date as follows:
a. Gimli, Saturday, January 28, 2023, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
b. Matlock, Saturday, February 11, 2023, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
c. Winnipeg Beach, Saturday, February 25, 2023, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
d. Powerview-Pine Falls, Saturday, March 11, 2023, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
e. Grand Finale Tournament, Hecla, Saturday, March 25, 2023, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. - 61). Official cancellation notices and information will be posted on the IWT Tournament website fishmb.ca.
Event Photography And Videography
- 62). The IWT Tournament is a public event, and Anglers may be photographed or recorded by other means during the IWT Tournament or surrounding activities. The IWT Tournament reserves the right to use photographs, videos, and other recorded media taken during the Tournament or surrounding activities for use in publications, websites, and other means for promotional purposes.
- 63). No compensation or payment of any kind will be paid for the use of any photography, video, or other recorded media taken as a result of your attendance at the IWT Tournament and surrounding activities.
Indemnity
- 64). All participants indemnify and hold harmless the IWT Tournament and its’ officials with respect to any death, injury, damage, fire, theft, loss, or other claims arising before, during, or after this competitive fishing event.
Disputes And Rules Interpretation
- 65). The IWT Tournament intends to provide an honest, sportsman-like Tournament. In the interest of good sportsmanship, Anglers are reminded that the “spirit of the rule” shall apply.
- 66). If any dispute arises in relation to these rules and the dispute is not resolved by negotiation, the IWT Tournament Officials will have the final say.
- 67). Failure to comply with IWT Tournament Rules will lead to disqualification.
- 68). The IWT Tournament Official’s decision is final.
The IWT Tournament has up to $80,000 in cash to award the top 10 Walleye Anglers from each of the IWT Tournament Events. Get the prize breakdown and stay up-to-date with any additions here!
The Ice Walleye Trail is a series of Tournaments where the largest Walleye Angler wins and becomes the Champion of Champions. Get the Rules, check out the FAQs and learn more about the IWT Tournament today.
The Ice Walleye Trail is a series of Tournaments where the largest Walleye Angler wins and becomes the Champion of Champions. Get the Rules, check out the FAQs and learn more about the IWT Tournament today.
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