Format and eligibility

  • Individual angler heaviest one-day bag series of tournaments.
  • Catch, Photo, Video release format competition
  • All competitors must possess and have on their person a valid Manitoba or Ontario Angling License or Treaty Card for the body of water the competition is on.
  • All competitors are equal and will abide by Manitoba Sportfishing regulations and specifically all rules put in place for the Central Canada Kayak Trail.
  • Anglers must be eighteen (18) years of age or over. Youth competitors will be permitted with written consent from a parent/guardian.

Entry

  1. $200 per tournament entry fee.
  2. No requirement to enter all tournaments.
  3. No prior kayak angling experience necessary. Open entry to the public.
  4. Official confirmation of entry via email from the Trail Director will be sent once funds are received.
  5. Entries for each tournament will continue to be received until the Wednesday evening leading up to each event (all tournaments are on Sundays).

Logistics

  • Tournament Schedule
    • Stop #1 – May 19, 2024 – Lac Du Bonnet – Bass
    • Stop #2 – June 23, 2024 – Pelican Lake – Walleye
    • Stop #3 – August 18, 2024 – Shoal Lake – Bass
    • Stop #4 – September 1, 2024 – Longbow Lake  – Bass/Walleye
  • Mandatory attendance online Rules Meeting will take place on the Friday before each event at 8:15pm via meeting link that will be sent out to all anglers.
  • Pre-fishing will cease at 6:00pm on the Saturday before each event. No angler shall travel tournament waters or actively fish after this time until take-off time the following morning. Persons travelling to and from accommodations/property on the river after pre-fishing has ceased must only do so for the purpose of commuting and not to actively locate fish or conditions.
  • Inspections and Check-In will commence at 6:15am at the specified Muster Area for each event.
  • Tournament fishing hours will be from 7:45am to 3:45pm. All times are based on GPS.

Kayaks and equipment

  • All Ketch Products measuring boards are the official mandatory measuring devices for the Central Canada Kayak Trail. The Ketch Keeper ID Tag Holder that affixes to the ruler is strongly suggested to be used but is not mandatory. Anglers who enter and pay entry fees for all four tournaments in advance will receive a Ketch Keeper ID Tag holder at no cost.
  • Watercraft that are manufacturer identified and sold as kayaks are permitted, including inflatable kayaks and modular kayaks. Stand-up paddleboards are permitted.
  • Boats, canoes, fishing pontoons, float tubes, personal watercraft, and other vessels that are not specifically sold as kayaks or SUP by the manufacturer are not permitted.
  • Watercraft propulsion is restricted to paddle, pedal, pole, or electric motor.
  • Electric motors must be attached to the kayak in a safe manner for operation. No more than one electric motor may be attached to a kayak.
  • Electronic depth finders/sonar/underwater cameras/forward-facing sonar are all permitted.
  • Coolers and crates for carrying/storage of food, drink, supplies are permitted.
  • The use of manual or motorized anchor systems are permitted.
  • Tournament Directors reserve the right to refuse entry or disallow use of any kayak, motor, or equipment deemed unsafe, unsuitable, or contravening of tournament rules.
  • Anglers must have a cell phone with camera and cell service for use in the tournament
  • The Whatsapp will be the official method of communication between the Weighmaster and the Angler.

Check-in Process

  • Tournament Officials will perform mandatory general equipment inspections at the Muster Area prior to each angler being ‘released’. Inspection checklist:
    • Transport Canada approved PFD
    • Ketch ruler (intact and unmodified)
    • AIS, standing water, plant matter.
    • Whatsapp test message confirmation on phone
    • Angler ID Kit
  • Anglers will receive their Angler ID Kit from Tournament Officials during check-in. Angler ID Kits will under no circumstances be distributed beforehand.
  • Failure to attend check-in will result in ineligibility for that tournament. Late check-ins are permitted provided the Weighmaster is notified and arrangements made for check-in to take place.

Take-off, Launching, Permitted waters

  • Anglers will be provided with official designated launching points specific to each event.
  • Anglers can launch/take-out at more than one (1) official launching point during a tournament day.
  • Anglers do not have to take-out at the same launch that they put-in provided that the take-out launch is also an official launching point.
  • Anglers are responsible for any associated launch fees and/or park passes if required.
  • Anglers can fish anywhere on tournament waters available to the public.
  • Portaging is not permitted unless otherwise communicated. Kayaks must be able to float in and out or through an area during tournament day for it to be considered legal water. If the kayak bottoms out and becomes completely or partially immobilized while navigating, they are no longer considered floating and cannot pass over (portage).
  • Boundaries or restricted areas may be enacted specific to each event. These will be communicated to anglers well in advance of each tournament.
  • Ride coordination, shuttling, and assistance from others with carrying kayaks to the water’s edge or to vehicles is permitted.
  • Anglers are released from the Muster Area as soon as they have completed check-in. They may proceed to their chosen launch location and unload. Anglers may not ‘take-off’ until 7:30am. Anglers can start fishing at 7:45am.
  • Anglers are required to send a ‘selfie’ photo to the Weighmaster with the launching point reasonably identifiable in the background prior to taking off. Launching selfie must be sent prior to take-off for every launching instance during the tournament day.

Fishing

  • Only artificial lures may be used with the exception of pork trailers and biodegradable soft baits.
  • Only one (1) fishing rod may be used at a time. At no point shall two separate lines with lures be in the water at the same time.
  • Trolling as a method of fishing is permitted.
  • Fish gripping devices are permitted to temporarily hold fish in the water.
  • Anglers must not come into contact with any other watercraft on the water whether they be other competitors or not.
  • The passing of items from one kayak to another will result in disqualification.
  • Anglers will be respectful and sportsmanlike in regard to other competitors and property on tournament waters.
  • A fifty (50) foot radius shall be respected between kayaks during the competition. Exceptions may be made to assist in an emergency situation.
  • Shore Breaks: Anglers may pull up on shore during tournament hours and disembark their kayak for the sole purpose of taking a break, emergency situations, or in cases of extreme weather. Any and all ‘breaks’ on shore will require the angler to send a selfie photo on shore to the Weighmaster. A message stating that you are back on the water is required at the end of the break as well.
  • Anglers are strictly not permitted to fish when not physically in their kayak.
  • At no time may an angler leave their kayak to land a fish or photograph a fish. Anglers may beach their kayaks to take safe photos but this must still be done from inside/on the kayak.
  • Kayaks are not permitted to tie-up, tether, or moor to anything (buoys, signs, docks, boats, trees, rocks, etc) during tournament hours. Exceptions in cases of emergency situations.
  • Manual and electric anchor systems, drift socks, and electronic trolling motor spot-lock are permitted.
  • Anglers must abide by all provincial angling regulations in the jurisdiction of each respective event.
  • Only fish caught by angling hook and line in a normal manner will be permitted for inclusion in bag limit. Competitors are permitted to use only one (1) line in the water at a time.
  • Fish shall not be altered or purposefully deformed in any way.
  • All care for the well-being of any/all fish caught during the tournament shall be of the utmost priority of each competitor.
  • Citations issued by Conservation Officers/Natural Resources Officers to a competitor during tournament hours or reflecting actions taken during tournament hours will result in disqualification of that competitor from that event.

Scoring

  • Catch, Photo, Video Release format competition
  • All scoring will be in inches recorded in ¼ inch increments. Lengths will be converted to weight using the official CCKT conversion chart for bass and CCKT conversion chart for walleye.
  • Each angler’s best five (5) fish will comprise their Daily Bag Weight. Bass, Walleye, or both target species are designated for each event (see individual event rules below).
  • There are no length restrictions – minimum, maximum, or slot.

Required photo/video elements:

  • Hero photo (not mandatory) will be a selfie photo taken with the angler and the fish in the same frame. Whenever possible, and especially with notable catches, a hero shot would be appreciated for use in articles, social media, results reporting, and general promotion of the CCKT.
  • Measurement photo will be taken with the fish laying flat on its right side, belly to the angler, head to angler’s left butted against the bump of the ruler (0″) with its mouth closed (see Judging below). Tail may be pinched to achieve maximum length. Angler may hold the fish in place for the photo. Angler ID Card must be visible in the photo. Photo must be taken from above and not at an angle. Entire fish from head to tail must in the frame. Measuring device markings must be clearly visible. Hand and/or fingers must not be in the gill plate. Fish must be clear of any holding devices in the measurement photo (lip grips, lure/hook).
  • Release Video will commence from the same framing and fish position that the measurement photo was taken. Fish will then be taken off the ruler and held in the water to assist with recuperation. Fish will swim away under its own power. Video may end once angler is no longer physically touching the fish and the fish has swum away healthily. Fish may be held in a landing net in the water at any point in the scoring process for the purpose of aiding recuperation/health of the fish.
  • Angler will submit the photo/video elements to their private Whatsapp chat with the Weighmaster for verification and official approval. The quality of the submitted photo/video elements are the responsibility of the angler.

Judging

  • Penalties or disqualification of individual fish may be levied if all required photo and release video conditions are not adhered to.
  • Half inch (0.50″) penalty: Mouth open in Measurement Photo with discernible advantage (discretion of the Weighmaster. Judging process will be explained at each Rules Meeting).
  • Individual fish disqualification:
    • Release Video – none submitted; unsuccessful release (dead or stressed fish)
    • Measurement Photo – none submitted; photo missing Angler ID tag; wrong side of fish facing camera; head not touching bump board, tail not flat on ruler.
  • Official CCKT Length-to-Weight Conversion Charts published on kickerfish.ca will be used to calculate the score of each individual fish.
  • Each angler’s heaviest five (5) fish will comprise their total Daily Bag Weight.
  • Official recording of fish and Daily Bag Weight shall be in pounds to two decimal point places.
  • Measurements surpassing a quarter inch line will round up to the very next quarter inch line for scoring purposes. The final determination for this will be the sole discretion of the Weighmaster.
  • All measurements and weights declared by the Weighmaster are final.

Safety

  • Competitors are not permitted to consume alcohol directly before and during tournament hours.
  • Competitors are required to wear a Transport Canada approved Personal Floatation Device when on their kayak at all times.
  • Emergency contact number will be the declared tournament Weighmaster.
  • All anglers must adhere to safe boating practices while participating in the tournament.
  • For the purpose of accounting the safe return of all competitors, all anglers are required to check-out at the conclusion of tournament hours at the designated Muster Area. Failure to do so may affect the eligibility of your Daily Bag Weight and/or further participation in the Trail.

Tournament Awards

  • The Main Prize Pool will be awarded based on heaviest Daily Bag Weight with the top weight winning first place. Prize placing spots will descend to the fifth (5th) best finishing angler for a field of twenty (20) teams. Organizers reserve the right to adjust prize placing spots as needed for each event to reflect at minimum the top 25% of the field winning a prize.
  • All prize placing spots in the Main Prize Pool will be cash awards broken down by proportional percentage of each respective event’s total entry fees.
  • Tiebreaker Rule – In the event of a tie (same exact official weight), the higher placing angler will be determined by each angler’s longest scored fish of the tournament. If still tied, then the higher placing angler will be determined by each angler’s next longest scored fish and so on until the tie is broken. Anglers will combine award values of placings and split the award evenly if the tiebreaker rule cannot break the tie.
  • The Big Fish Prize Pool will be awarded based on the angler who scores the heaviest individual fish at each event. The Big Fish prize will be a cash award based on a proportional percentage of each respective event’s total entry fees.
  • Tiebreaker Rule – In the event of a tie (same exact official measurement/weight), the higher placing fish will be determined by the next longest fish scored by each angler on that day. If still tied, then the higher placing fish will be determined by the third longest fish and so on until the tie is broken. Anglers will split the Big Fish Award if tiebreaker rule cannot break the tie.
  • Other prizes may be awarded to subsequent prize placings based on sponsor support of each event. Individual tournament prizes and cash awards will be finalized and made public at the latest during the Friday Rules Meeting of each event.
  • Prizes must be accepted as awarded.

End of Season Award

  • Angler of the Year standings will be determined by each angler’s best three (3) finishes. The angler with the highest total points will win the Angler of the Year award. Points are awarded to each angler for every placing in the Final Standings at each tournament using the following scoring format: 1st place – 100 points, 2nd place – 99 points, 3rd place – 98 points, and so on until the last place standing of each event. Anglers must have physically competed (completed check-in process) at a tournament in order to earn a place standing. Disqualifications will result in no points being awarded.
  • Angler of the Year prize TBA. Will include a take-home plaque and a nameplate on the CCKT AOY Trophy.

Other

  • Anglers must register for each tournament by filling out the entry form online at kickerfish.ca
  • Registration for each event is not final until the entry fee has been received.
  • Upon filling out the entry/waiver form, competitors are permitting the use of their name and image on all media coverage relating to the promotion and reporting of the Central Canada Kayak Trail. Competitors also free the organizers, volunteers, sponsors, and other agents involved in the above-named event of any responsibility for death, injury, damage, theft, or related loss as a result of participating in the Central Canada Kayak Trail howsoever caused.
  • Tournament Directors reserve the right to delay, shorten, or cancel a tournament in the case of severe weather or unsafe conditions.
  • Competitors who have been disqualified will not be entitled to a refund of their entry fee.
  • Any protests of contravention of rules must be submitted directly to the Tournament Organizers accompanied with $200 cash before one hour has lapsed from the end of the tournament. Fee will be refunded if allegations are found to be justified and result in a change in the final standings.
  • It is the goal of the Tournament Directors to organize a fair and sportsmanlike competitive event, in all cases the ‘spirit of the rule’ will apply.

Stop #1 – LAC DU BONNET – Tournament specific rules

  • TBA

Stop #2 – PELICAN LAKE – Tournament specific rules

  • TBA

Stop #3 – SHOAL LAKE – Tournament specific rules

  • TBA

Stop #4 – LONGBOW LAKE – Tournament specific rules

  • TBA

CENTRAL CANADA KAYAK TRAIL – MAIN CONTACT

Call or Text ERIC LABAUPA 204-995-6583