Michigan Brown Trout Festival 2008 Rules

1. Fishing tournament will start at 6:00 am Saturday, July 19, 2008 and ends at 3:00 pm, Sunday, July 27, 2008.  Weigh station and scales open 7:30 am and close at 9:00 pm each day.  Persons with fish to be weighed on any given day must be in line for the weigh station no later than 9:00 pm each day (except Sunday, July 27^th).  Registration Trailer will open Friday, July 18^th at noon.
2. Every person seventeen (17) years of age and older on board must be REGISTERED (those under 17 may register for “Kid’s Fishing Tournament” – see separate rules).  To be eligible for any tournament prize, persons must be registered, no matter the age.  All registrants shall carry their registration card at all times.  Cards are non-transferable.  All boats are subject to “card check”.  Entry fee is $35.00 per person or $175.00 per boat.  Each entrant will be given a hat.  Each boat entrant will be given 4 hats.  EXCEPTION:  one day pass available, one time only $10.00 – no hat given.  (Only issued at registration trailer.)
3. Each entrant, upon registering to compete in the Festival agrees to hold the sponsors; their agents; or employees harmless from any liability of any nature and kind, for any injuries and/or damage suffered by the entrants during the period that the Festival is being held.
4.  
1. All Trout, Salmon, and Walleye must be caught in Lake Huron.  NO rivers or streams are considered legal fishing waters except the Thunder Bay River from 2^nd Ave. Bridge to the lake. Boats must leave out of Alpena County, Michigan.
2. All fish must be transported to the official weigh-in station at the City Boat Harbor by waterborne boat.  NO FISH TRANSPORTED BY VEHICLE will be accepted.
3. Transfer of any items from boat to boat or physical contact with another boat will disqualify both boats for that day.  In case of an extreme emergency situation, Tournament Control must be notified as to determine if disqualification is required.

5. Each contestant is entitled to only one final prize in each division.

6. Winners will be determined by the weight of the fish.  All fish entered must be whole,                                                and contain no foreign matter; no gaffed or snagged fish will be eligible for any prizes.  Fish must be opened for inspection after weighing if it qualifies for a prize.  First place fish in each division must be left on display until 9:00 pm on day of catch to qualify for prize.  Failure to have fish inspected or displayed may cause disqualification.  Any tallied displayed fish remaining AFTER 10:00 pm will be disposed of by Brown Trout Officials.

7. In the interest of conservation and in attempt to conserve our fishery we will not accept any fish under 20” to be weighed in.  Lake Trout = 22”.

8. Prizes awarded for Largest Brown Trout:

1^st prize - $3,500.00
2^nd prize - $1,500.00
3^rd prize -  $  800.00
4^th prize -  $  500.00
5^th prize -  $  350.00
6^th prize -  $  250.00
7^th prize -  $  200.00
8^th prize -  $  175.00

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