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ONEIDA LAKE WALLEYEFEST DERBY 2024 OFFICIAL RULES & REGULATIONS

 

1. Eligibility:

   1. All competitors under age 18 must be supervised at all times during competition by either a parent or guardian, or an adult designee.​

   2. By registering for this event, you agree that you have read, understand, and agree to abide by the terms, conditions, and provisions of the WalleyeFest Oneida LakeFishing Derby and event specific rules on this rules page. WalleyeFest Oneida Lake Fishing Derby terms and conditions are authoritative, taking precedence over all information presented in social media, oral presentations, and other information sources.

   3. Any winner under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian execute the release waiver and accept the prize on their behalf, including any and all tax requirements.

   4. Cash prize winners are solely responsible for all applicable Federal, State, and Local taxes.

   5. Winning a prize constitutes permission for WalleyeFest LLC. and it's sponsors to use the prize winners Name, address (city & state only) voice, and/or likeness for purposes of advertising, promotion, and publicity for this WalleyeFest Oneida Lake fishing derby without further compensation, unless prohibited by law. 

2. RULES:

   1. Entry ticket – only one name per ticket, must be purchased before 11:59 PM May 3rd, 2024

   2. All prize winners are subject to a truth verification test. If anything is found, it will be an immediate disqualification from the current derby, and lifetime ban from any and all future Walleyefest Derby’s. Failure to comply with taking a truth verification test will result in forfeiture of award and entrant will be disqualified, and banned from all future WalleyeFest derbies.  

   3. All walleyes must be caught after 12:01 AM May 4th, 2024 in Oneida Lake or its tributaries/estuaries with boundaries as follows:

      • Oneida River upstream from Caughdenoy Dam

      • Oneida River cut to Lock 23

      • Chittenango Creek 1 mile upstream from Route 31 bridge

      • Fish Creek downstream from East and West branch conversion

      • East barge canal 1 mile east of Fish Creek

      • Scriba Creek upstream from State Route 49 bridge to the Dam

      • All other creeks or streams within 1 mile upstream from Oneida Lake

      • The derby officially closes noon Sunday, May 5, 2024

   4. Measuring stations are ONEIDA SHORES BOAT RAMP, SOUTH SHORE BOAT RAMP, GODFREY POINT BOAT RAMP, CANAL WALL SYLVAN BEACH (NORTH SIDE) they are also indicated on the website which is available online at www.oneidalakewalleyefestderby.com

   5. All walleyes must be ALIVE for entry at measuring station

   6. All fish measured at measuring stations or virtually will be measured on a commercial bump board ONLY, with left side of fish facing up, mouth closed, left hand on fish not covering the eye, tail pinched, and length at tail clearly visible in photo submission. All fish are measured to the NEAREST quarter of an inch (.25).

   7. Size contest: Prize money for the main leader board #1 is based on 50% of ticket sales.  All optional leader boards payout 60% of ticket sales for each individual Optional Leader Board (OLB). The number of places is based on number of entrants into each optional leader board. The payout chart is on the leader board menu on the home page of the website.

      • The official derby leader board will be maintained on the website above until 11:59am, at 12:00 PM Sunday, May 5th, 2024 the leader baords will be locked and no other entries will be accepted.

      • All walleyes will be measured until the derby main leader board has 25 entries. Optional Leader boards for Walleye, Yellow Perch, Panfish will all be measured until each optional leader board has the number of places each optional leader board will payout filled in. Walleyes must be the minimum NYS angling length of 15” or longer to enter.

      • The official cutoff size for the main leader board #1 is determined by the 25th position on the main leader board. All optional leader boards cutoff size is determined by the last place fish that the individual leader board pays out. 

      • Entrants can check the official leader board on the website above until 12:00 PM Sunday, May 5th, 2024 to ensure their qualified walleye is listed. Report any errors to headquarters officials prior to 12:00 pm Sunday May 5th 2024. No changes to the official derby leader board will be accepted after 12:00 PM Sunday, May 5th, 2024 unless by disqualification.

      • An entrant may enter a larger walleye than previously entered at any time during the derby. The Anglers largest walleye will automatically populate the main leader board and any Optional Leader Boards that Angler is entered in if it qualifies. Anglers can win in multiple leader boards that they are entered in.

      • Winners are determined by LENGTH to the NEAREST quarter (.25) of an inch. In the event of a tie, the tie breaker is the time the fish was entered in the system. Contest results are not final until 12:30 PM May 5th, 2024

   8. Tagged fish: The Oneida Lake Walleyefest Derby 2024 has tagged and released 20 walleyes into Oneida Lake.  The tag numbers will be disclosed on Saturday morning, May 4th, 2024 at 12:00 am on the derby website above. Claimants must present a valid 2024 digital ticket and the walleye, with tag still attached, at a measuring station to be eligible.

   9. Entrants will have the ability to win a prize from any leader board they have entered. Entrants can only win one prize per leader board. Entrants can win prizes from the Main Leader Board (MLB), any Optional Leader Board (OLB) they enter, and the tagged fish prize. 

   10. Oneida Lake Walleyefest Derby Officials will review all photographic entries from the measuring stations and virtual entries, and accept or decline each fish. Furthermore WalleyeFest reserves the right to have any walleye examined by DEC, Fisheries Biologist or Derby Officials. ALL prize winners are SUBJECT to a random truth verification test. Failure to consent will result in immediate disqualification and forfeiture of all prizes and a lifetime ban from any further WalleyeFest sanctioned derbies. 

   11. Decisions of the Oneida Lake Walleyefest Derby Officials will be final. Any official protest must be registered with a WalleyeFest official no later than 12:30 pm on May 5th 2024.​

   12. WalleyeFest Oneida Lake fishing derby may prohibit an entrant from participating in the WalleyeFest Oneida lake fishing derby, or winning a prize if, in it's sole discretion, it determines that said entrant is attempting to undermine the legitimate operation of the WalleyeFest Oneida Lake fishing derby by cheating, deception, or other unfair playing practices, (including fish not caught during the 36 hour derby, or fish caught outside the stated derby boundaries), or intending to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass any other entrant or derby employees or officials.

3. CAUTION:

   1. Any attempt by a person to deliberately damage or undermine the legitimate operation of the WalleyeFest Oneida Lake fishing derby may be in violation of criminal or civil laws and should such an attempt be made, WalleyeFest LLC. reserves the right to seek remedies and damages (including Attorney fees) from any such person to the fullest extent of the law, including criminal prosecution. WalleyeFest  LLC's failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of these provisions.​

4. NO LIABILITY"

   1. By participating, each entrant and the prize winner agrees to release, discharge, indemnify, and hold harmless WalleyeFest LLC and WalleyeFest Oneida Lake fishing derby entities, and sponsors, and each of their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents (collectively the "released parties") from and against any claims made by an entrant, prize winner, or any third parties, related in any way to the operation of the WalleyeFest Oneida Lake fishing derby as well as other claims, damages, or liability due to any injuries, damages or losses to any person (including death) or property of any kind resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from receipt, acceptance, possession, misuse or use of the prize or participation in this WalleyeFest Oneida Lake fishing derby.​