Northern Lakes Walleye Club Rules

Annual Membership Fees:

1-person teams:  $60.00 per team.

2-person teams:  $60.00 per team and are allowed up to 2 alternates per season without paying an additional fee.  If a new alternate is used for a 3^rd tournament the team must pay an additional $30.00.  Also, if a single nonmember fishes their 3^rd event they must pay $30.00 and fill out a membership form.

3-person teams:  $90.00 per team.  If there are any substitutes to the original team then those individuals must pay $30.00.  As soon as any team fishes with 3 adults in any single tournament, they will be considered a 3 person team for the rest of the season.

Youth program:  The NLWC wants to encourage youth to fish and will allow teams to add as many youths on their boats as they wish within legal limitations.  A youth is considered anyone 16 years of age or younger before the first tournament of the season.  A youth will not count towards the “team count” above.

General Guidelines:  All Michigan DNR fishing rules and regulations are to be followed at each event.  All fish must be caught on hook and line (no spearing, netting, or bow fishing).  No passing of fish from one boat to another is allowed without prior consent from a board member.  The entry fee for each event is $30.00 per boat and must be paid before you fish any event.  An optional $10.00 per boat side bet will be done for largest walleye.  Registration and a livewell check will be done from 6:00 am to 6:45 am the day of the event.  There is a maximum of six (6) lines allowed in the water at any time for all teams.  All events (tournaments) start at 7:00 am and end at 3:00 pm unless otherwise specified by the Board.  Be sure to monitor the countdown on channel 68 and watch for the flagman to drop the flag before takeoff or fishing.  All contestants must return to the weigh-in site and be within close proximity of the launch by 3:00 pm or their catch will not be counted.

Late arrival:  If you are late, BEFORE you begin to fish, you must contact a board member for your boat to be signed in, registered, and your livewell inspected.  You may  contact a board member by cellphone or via vhf radio channel 68.  Failure to contact a board member and gaining authorization to begin fishing will result in disqualification and the team will score no points for that event.  It is your responsibility to be on time and accommodations for late arrivals are not guaranteed depending on the logistics of the tournament and other factors.

Foul/Bad Weather:  The board makes the final decision to cancel or shorten/extend an event due to weather conditions.  The board reserves the right to change this rule in the event this situation occurs.  Monitor channel 68 for announcements during tournament hours.  The NLWC board will determine if any tournament will or will not be rescheduled.  Teams are individually responsible to take all necessary safety precautions to protect themselves and others during NLWC events.

Weigh-in procedures:  There is a five (5) fish limit per boat.  Dead fish are permitted.  Fish that are caught, weighed, and released alive will be worth one additional point per fish.  The weighmaster will make the call of the weight of fish and will determine whether the fish are legal and alive or dead.  If you have a fish that is close to the legal limit of 15 inches, you may check in with the weighmaster and have him measure that fish prior to the official weigh-in to determine if that fish is legal size.  Once the official weigh-in begins, any team submitting sub-legal fish will be disqualified and their entire catch will not be counted.  We are a catch and release club and all live walleyes caught during a tournament are to be released.  Do not bring more than five (5) fish to the weigh-in.  In the case of a tie in overall weight at an event, the team with the heaviest (one) fish will win.  In the case of a tie in points at year-end, the team with the heaviest (one) fish throughout the year’s events will win.

Disqualifications:  The club officers/board will make the final determination in any condition not covered above.  If any rules are broken, the board will review the incident for a determination.  Protests may be filed by any team, but must be submitted to the board BEFORE the end of the day’s event weigh-in.  The board will review the protest and its decision will be final. 

Points system:

Overall finish             Limit out             Show up points                  Catch and release

1^st – 16 points         Each team that         All teams that pay                 Each team will

2^nd – 14 points        weighs a five (5)      and show up to an                 receive one (1) 

3^rd – 12 points        fish limit will            event will receive                 additional point

4^th – 10 points        receive three (3)        five (5) additional                for each fish 

5^th – 8 points          additional points       points                                    released alive

6^th – 6 points

All others with

Fish – 4 points

Payout schedule for individual events (100% of entry fees paid out)

1^st place                   55% 

2^nd place                  27%  

3^rd place                  18%

Largest walleye 100% of side bet pot

Payout schedule for overall season points (90% of membership fees)

1^st place                   42%

2^nd place                  20%

3^rd place                  16%

4^th place                  12%

5^th place                  10%

Cabelas National Team Championship Slot Allocations

The NLWC will grant spots given to the club to teams for NTC based on the final

standings of the previous season.  The team captain listed on the membership form

may arrange a substitute partner according to NTC rules.

-- Edited by J Mac on Friday 13th of April 2018 07:07:39 AM

-- Edited by J Mac on Friday 13th of April 2018 07:08:48 AM