Eastern Beaches Development Corporation (EBDC) OFFICIAL 2024 ICE FISHING DERBY RULES

Rules

1. Fish by the Rules:

a) All provisions of the Fisheries Act of Canada, the Fisheries Act of Manitoba, and the Manitoba Fisheries Regulations must be adhered to. Unruly actions of any kind will not be tolerated. Failure to comply with the Derby rules or other misbehaviours will result in disqualification and removal from the Derby site.

b) 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.

c) The location of the 2023 EBDC Ice Fishing derby is at the discretion of the EBDC. As per the Manitoba Fisheries Regulations and the Manitoba Angler’s guide, sturgeon are exempt from the competition. Lake sturgeon must not be targeted, will not be measured, and must be released immediately.

d) Manitoba Public Heath Orders of the day will be in effect.

2. Entry Fees:

Early Bird Prices:
➢ $30 Adult First Hole
➢ $20 Second Hole
➢ $60 Family Pack (2- adults 1 – 3 children 15 and under, Includes 3 holes)

  • All tickets purchased online may be mailed to the purchaser for a fee of $3.00.


  • Mailing of tickets will end as of February 15, 2024 to ensure tickets are received in advance of March 4, 2024.


  • Online Ticket orders received after February 15, 2024, can be picked up from Registration at the Grand Marais Rec Centre (90 Matilda Avenue In Grand Marais Mb. on Derby Day after 9:00 am).

3. Tickets, Derby Location & General Information:

  1. a) Registration, Ticket sales, Prize Awards and Derby wind up will be located at the Grand Marais Rec Centre 90 Matilda Avenue in Grand Marais Mb.
  2. b) Fishing site and Ice entrance located at Grand Marais Blvd in Grand Marais Mb.
  3. c) Additional holes may be purchased, providing a first hole ticket is purchased and is presented at the time of sale.
  4. d) Tickets are non-refundable. Participants may not angle with entry tickets purchased in the name of other individuals. Tickets purchased may not be transferred to another individual.
  5. e) Participants must be pre-registered prior to fishing and must enter and exit the fishing area through the main entrance on Grand Marais Blvd. Participants must present tickets upon entry or you will not be permitted to enter the Derby site.
  6. f) No vehicles i.e. cars and trucks will not be allowed on the ice within the perimeter of the Derby site, However, Snowmobiles and Off-road will be allowed.
  7. g) Only ticket holders, derby officials and volunteers are permitted in the designated fishing area. In circumstances where a participant requires an on-ice escort, arrangements can be made by contacting derby officials prior to the event.
  8. h) All coolers, pails, packs, boxes, portable tents, structures, and other equipment are subject to inspection by Derby Officials before entering Derby site, as well as any time during the event.
  9. i) The Derby will take place from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. on March 4th, 2023.
  10. j) Participants will be permitted on the ice at 10:00 a.m. to secure their angling hole.
  11. k) Only holes drilled in the Derby grid and drilled by the Derby committee are eligible to be fished.
  12. l) Groups of 15 participants or more who wish to fish together may pre-reserve an area by contacting the Derby General Manager prior to the event.
  13. m) No pre-fishing will be allowed in the Derby area 30 hours before the start of the Derby.
  14. n) Angling may not take place prior to the 11:00 a.m. start time and must stop at 2:30 p.m. No fishing line shall go in the water until the beginning of the Derby at 11:00 a.m.
  15. o) Electronic Devices may be used by participants during the Derby. Electronic devices may be used as of 10:00 a.m. for the determination of depth in selecting a hole, as well as to assist in fishing throughout the Derby.
  16. p) Participants are restricted to the use of one fishing line per hole per entry ticket and may occupy or reserve only as many holes as that Participant has purchased tickets Only Participants with entry tickets may angle and may not have any other person angle on their behalf at any time during the Derby.
  17. q) If you have to leave the fishing area for any reason, you must exit and enter through the main entrance on Grand Marais Blvd
  18. r) Participants may use portable tents, portable structures, windbreaks, and barriers. No tent or other enclosed structure shall be erected before the 10:30 a.m. start of the Derby. Structures must be placed over existing holes. Derby officials reserve the right to open and inspect inside any structure at any time.

4. Fish Measuring Process:

  1. a) Derby Officials will measure fish only. Derby Officials will be stationed at the Derby entrance.
  2. b) Participants are to announce they have a fish from their location/hole and wait for a Derby Official to go to the Participant.
  3. c) Derby Officials will measure the total length and determine the time the fish was caught. As 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). The total length of the fish will be measured to the longest centimeter. (i.e. A fish measuring 25.0 to 25.9cm will be recorded as 25.0 cm.)
  4. d) The information will be recorded by the Derby Official and initialled by the Participant as verification of the information.
  5. e) As all fish are to be released immediately after measurement and will not be in the Participant's possession, all fish are eligible for entry regardless of size, with the exception of Lake Sturgeon as per Rule 1c. Under no circumstances are any participants allowed to keep their fish.

5. Prize Award Procedure:

  1. a) The longest fish will be determined by length regardless of species, with the exception of Lake Sturgeon as per Rule 1c. In the event of a tie in length, the fish caught first will be determined the winner. Should a tie still exist, tied Participants if present, will cut cards to determine the winner. If the tied participant is not present the Chief Judge will cut cards on their behalf.

6. Cancellations & Delays:

  1. a) Derby Officials have the right to delay or shorten the Derby times, subject to weather or safety conditions.
  2. b) Should inclement weather, unsafe conditions, Manitoba Public Health Orders, or any other reason beyond the Derby Officials control, cause Derby cancellation on March 16, 2024, the Derby will be held on March 23, 2024. Should inclement weather, unsafe conditions, Manitoba Public Heath Orders or other reason beyond the Derby Officials control still not allow for the Derby on that date, all prizes will be awarded through a random public draw on March 23, 2024. And winners will be contacted.

7. Disputes & Rule Interpretation:

  1. a) For any area not specifically covered by these rules, the Derby General Contest Rules will apply.
  2. b) It is the intent of the EBDC to provide an honest sportsman-like Derby. Contestants are reminded that the "spirit of Good Sportsmanship rule" shall apply. In the event any dispute arises in relation to these rules and the dispute is not resolved by negotiation, the EBDC will have the final say.

8. Event Photography & Vidoegraphy:

The EBDC Derby is a public event, and you may be photographed or recorded by other means during the Derby or surrounding activities. The EBDC Ice Fishing Derby Committee reserves the right to use photographs, videos, and other recorded media taken during the Derby or surrounding activities for use in their publications, website and other means for promotional purposes. No compensation or remuneration 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 EBDC Ice Fishing Derby and surrounding activities.

9. Indemnity:

All participants indemnify and hold harmless EBDC Ice Fishing Derby Committee 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.