The Rules

 

1. All laws, rules and regulations of the Idaho and Nez Perce Tribal Fish and Game Departments shall be observed. The official Derby area will be any area open to legal fishing for Steelhead on Idaho waters from the Oregon border north, including the Clearwater River and Snake River Confluence.

The Derby area DOES NOT include any Washington waters WEST of the Clearwater River and Snake River Confluence. Participants entering fish caught in the restricted areas will be disqualified from the competition.

2. It is the responsibility of each participant to read, be aware of and observe all Derby Rules and Regulations.

3. The Derby will begin at 12:01 AM on Saturday November 7, 2009. Weigh in cutoff each day will be at 5:30 PM. Any fish that is weighed in after 5:30 PM will be applied to the following day’s prizes. Final weigh in will close 12:00pm (noon) on Saturday November 14, 2009.

4. It is the responsibility of each participant to bring his or her Steelhead to a weigh in station.

5. Any Steelhead mauled, mashed, frozen or injected with fluids, or other foreign weight will be disqualified and may be prosecuted under the law. Any Steelhead showing extreme loss of color may result in disqualification at the discretion of the tournament judge.

6. At weigh in, each Steelhead caught during The Snake Clearwater Steelhead Derby will be marked to identify it as a registered fish. In the event of a tie, the first Steelhead weighed in is the winner. Any entered Steelhead competing for prizes may become the possession of the Derby officials until all cash awards have been presented.

7. Any protest must be made prior to the close of the tournament in writing and be accompanied by a $30.00 protest fee. If the protest is upheld, the fee will be returned. The tournament judge’s decision is final in all cases. Disqualification for any reason will automatically forfeit entry fee(s).

8. The FishSkins prize competition is a separate contest requiring an additional $20 registration fee. The FishSkins grand prize will be awarded to the angler that has the highest combined weight of three (3) Steelhead chosen by the participant at the time of weigh in. Participants may enter four fish into the FishSkins competition, the three heaviest will be considered for the combined weight. All FishSkins competitors must be registered participants in The Snake Clearwater Steelhead Derby. A person may enter the FishSkins competition at any time prior to, or during the Derby. Those entering the FishSkins competition after 9 p.m. on Friday, November 6, 2009 must wait twenty-four (24) hours before being eligible to enter a fish. Once a fish has been entered into the FishSkins competition, another fish can not replace it at a later date or time. All four fish entered in the FishSkins contest must be caught by the person who is registering the fish. This is not a team competition. The FishSkins prizes will be $500.00 for 1st place, $250.00 for 2nd place, $100.00 for 3rd place and $50.00 for fourth place.

9. Mystery fish will be randomly selected weights up to 18 lbs. There will be four total mystery fish per day.

10. Any person under the age of eighteen (18) years old must have their entry form signed by their parent or legal guardian.

11. Youth participants registered for the $10 entry fee must be thirteen (13) and under and are eligible for merchandise prizes only. NOT ELIGIBLE FOR CASH PRIZES.

12. Derby officials may check participants and their fish at anytime during the Derby.

13. Entrants may qualify for only one winning fish per day during Derby.

14. Monetary Derby prizes will be awarded as cash or official checks from the Lewiston Chamber of Commerce.

15. Daily entries into the Derby may be kept at weigh in station for verification, and publicity purposes.

16. Late entries (after 9:00 PM - November 6, 2009) must wait twenty-four (24) hours before qualifying to enter any fish.

17. Each participant acknowledges and agrees that tournament directors, officials, participants, and any other organizations assisting in the tournament operation, their agencies, etc., are not responsible for death, injuries, damages, disability, theft, fires, or any other loss of any kind to entrants.

18. The awards presentation will begin at 5:00 PM on Saturday, November 14, 2009 at the Lewiston Elks Lodge , 3444 Country Club Drive, Lewiston, ID.