2026 WALLEYEFEST EVENT OFFICIAL RULES & REGULATIONS

 

1. Eligibility: 

   1.  There is (1) one LEADERBOARD in 2026. Every ticket holder (men/women/ kids under 18) competes against each other. One leaderboard, paying the TOP 25 place fish by length to the closest (.25) quarter of an inch. 

   2. EVERYONE in your boat, fishing party, group or otherwise, must be entered into the EVENT.

      • Having a person with you during the event who is not entered will result in immediate disqualification from the event.

   3. RULES are for 2026 WalleyeFest on Oneida Lake May 2 & 3, 2026

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   5. Updated leaderboard will be visible on  WWW.WALLEYEFEST.COM during the event.

   6. All competitors under age 18 must be always supervised during competition by either a parent or guardian, or an adult designee.​

   7. By registering for this event, you agree that you have read, understand, and agree to abide by the terms, conditions, and provisions set forth by WalleyeFest LLC and event specific rules on this rules page. WalleyeFest LLC terms and conditions are authoritative, taking precedence over all information presented in social media, oral presentations, and other information sources.

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

   2. Winning a prize constitutes permission for WalleyeFest LLC. and its sponsors to use the prize winner’s Name, address (city & state only) voice, and/or likeness for purposes of advertising, promotion, and publicity for this WalleyeFest LLC sanctioned event without further compensation, unless prohibited by law. 

3. RULES:

   1. Entry ticket – Each participant may purchase multiple tickets for other people by filling out the name on each ticket they buy so that person can be verified the measuring station

   2. All prize winners are subject to a truth verification test. If any discrepancy is found, it will be an immediate disqualification from the current event, and lifetime ban from all future Walleyefest LLC events. 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 LLC events.  

   3. All walleyes must be caught and entered during the allotted time of the specific WalleyeFest LLC event. All Walleyes must be alive upon presenting to a measuring station. Any walleye that is not alive will not be entered into the contest.

   4. Boundaries are as follows:​

      • Oneida Lake

        1. Oneida River upstream from Caughdenoy Dam

        2. Oneida River cut to Lock 23

        3. Chittenango Creek 1 mile upstream from Route 31 bridge

        4. Fish Creek downstream from East and West branch conversion

        5. East Barge Canal 1 mile east of Fish Creek

        6. All other tributaries upstream 1 mile or the first impassible barrier whichever occurs first.

4. All fish are measured on a commercially made bump board with QUARTER INcH (.25) declination ONLY (a bump board has a right angle on the ZERO end that the fish's nose must BUMP against). All fish are measured to the NEAREST quarter of an inch (.25). If the tail breaks a (.25) Quarter inch line but doesn’t make it to the next quarter inch line, then the fish's length is rounded up to the next longest quarter inch increment.​

   • Tail pinched together, and length at the longest part of tail.

   • In the event of a tie in length, the tie breaker is the time it was presented at the measuring station.

5. Decisions of the Walleyefest LLC event Officials will be final. Official protest must be registered with a WalleyeFest official within 1 hour of the end of the event in question. Cost of filing the protest is $100. If your protest is upheld the money will be returned to you along with a $250 reward from WalleyeFest LLC. If the protest is without merit the fee is non-refundable.​ This rule is in place to eliminate unfounded accusations, and to encourage Anglers to speak up if they know and can prove cheating has or is taking place.

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

7. CAUTION:

   1. Any attempt by a person to deliberately damage or undermine the legitimate operation of a WalleyeFest event 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.​

8. NO LIABILITY"

   1. By participating, each entrant and the prize winner agrees to release, discharge, indemnify, and hold harmless WalleyeFest LLC, 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 event 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 event.​