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FISHING RULES & REGULATIONS

Havre Chamber Ag Committee
2008 Big Money Ice Fishing Derby

1. DATE: January 26 & 27, 2008

2. TIME:  8:00 AM TO 2:00 PM EACH DAY

3. The Havre Chamber Ag Committee fishing derby is designed to win cash and at the same time protect the FISHERY, Raise Scholarship Funds and have FUN!!!!

4. All participants will abide by Montana fish regulations.  You must have a valid and current Montana Fishing License.  Youth 13 and under must be accompanied by an adult Licensed participant.  Beaver Creek Park Permit not required for participants.  The participants may purchase additional poles by paying additional entry fees.  No spearing is allowed.  You  may drill as many holes as you want.

5. Each participant must be registered and have in possession the official flag number assigned to the participant and must be displayed when the official asks.  Participants fishing with non-participants, who are fishing, will be ineligible to measure fish and ineligible for any cash prizes.

6. No fishing hole will exceed TEN (10) inches in diameter either drilled or chiseled.  If hole is more than 10 inches, you will be DISQUALIFIED!  This is a safety factor.  There will be a 20-foot rule, which means if fishing within 20 feet of another participant, you will need to obtain permission of the participant that is fishing already in the area.

7. FISH less than fourteen (14) inches in length are not eligible for prizes unless it is one of the tagged fish. THEREFORE:  if possible, return fish to the water unharmed.  Only Northern Pike, Walleye and Trout caught from Beaver Creek Reservoir are eligible for Contest Prizes.  Only LIVE fish are eligible to be measured.  There will be designated Officials on the Reservoir ice at all times. They will measure your fish and take your Derby Name and Number and pass the information to the Derby Headquarters.  You do not have to leave the ice at anytime.

8. NO VEHICLES (Cars, Pick-up’s) will be allowed on the Reservoir by the DERBY PARTICIPANTS.  ATV’s or Snowmobiles may be used for hauling gear but must be parked during derby fishing hours of 8:00am to 2:00pm each day.  If an official sees an unmarked ATV or snowmobile operating during the fishing derby, they will be asked to leave the ice, unless they are moving to a different location.

9. Prize eligibility – Each hour we will pay for the three (3) longest eligible fish caught (no matter the species).  If only one fish is caught in an hour, the prize money will be the total hourly prize money for that hour.  If only two (2) fish are caught in an hour, the third place (3^rd) prize money will be split between first (1^st) and second place (2^nd) prizewinners. 

   • Eligible fish – Northern Pike, Walleye, and Trout will be the only fish that will be measured.

   • Each day there will be a cash prize for the longest Northern Pike, Walleye and Trout.

   • There will be a cash prize for the longest Northern Pike, Walleye and Trout of the derby.

   • If one species of the eligible fish is NOT caught for the longest fish of the derby, the money will be divided between the other fish species.

   • The hourly cash prizes will be determined by the number of entrants in the ice fishing derby.

   • The Derby officials and participants will determine what hour a fish will be entered for the hourly prize if it is being measured during the first 15 minutes after the hour.

10. There are five (5) tagged fish: one valued at $2,000 and $1,000, two at $750 and one at $500.   Tagged Fish will be exempt from the overall and the hourly prizes, but will be counted in the catch limit. Catch and release is encouraged BUT ALL TAGGED FISH MUST BE KEPT.  Each of the 2008 tagged fish (5) will have one of the above values assigned to it prior to the derby and the identity of each fish will be posted at derby headquarters.  There are 8 tagged fish remaining from the 2007 derby, if caught, they are worth $50 each.  We paid out $350 throughout the summer on 7 tagged fish that were turned in.

11. Any violations of the contest rules or violation of Montana Fish and Game Regulations will result in immediate disqualification and forfeiture of fishing prizes and entry fees.
12. If any participant is considered to be disruptive to the harmony of the derby they will be asked to leave the derby at the discretion of the FISHING DERBY OFFICIALS and will result in immediate disqualification and forfeiture of fishing prizes and entry fees.

13. The FISHING DERBY OFFICIALS decision shall be final in any protest during the fishing contest.

14. THIS FISHING CONTEST IS DEDICATED TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF OUR FISHERY, RAISE MONEY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP FUND, MEETING NEW PEOPLE, SEEING OLD ACQUAINTANCES, AND ABOVE ALL…HAVING FUN!  ALL RULES AND REGULATIONS ARE FOR YOUR SAFETY AND TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE FUN!

15. I, for myself and on behalf of my heirs, assigns, personal representatives and next of kin, HEREBY RELEASE AND HOLD HARMLESS Havre Chamber Ag Committee, the Hill County Commissioners, and the Hill County Park Board., their officers, officials, agents, and/or employees, other participants, sponsoring agencies, sponsors, advertisers, and if applicable, owners of premises used to conduct the event (“RELEASEE”), WITH RESPECT TO ANY AND ALL INJURY, DISABILITY, DEATH, or loss or damage to person or property, whether arising form the negligence of the “releasee” or otherwise.  I have read this release of liability and assumption of risk agreement, fully understand its terms, understand that I have given up substantial rights by signing it, and sign it freely and voluntarily without any inducement.

16. There will be a rules meeting starting at 7:00 A.M. at the fishing headquarters on Saturday, January 26^th.

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SPECIAL NOTE:  Participants can set SHELTERS prior to the derby and can leave the shelters, but the participants do so at their own risk.