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☀ Summer ❄ Winter
Winter 26-27 · Nov 1, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027 · Registration open · back to current (Summer 2026)

Rules & scoring

Showing Winter 26-27 details · use the season toggle above

Site rules

  1. Valid fishing license and a registered website account are required to enter the tournament.
  2. Rod and reel only. No nets, traps, snagging, bowfishing or hands.
  3. Catch and release. Fish caught with bait that is consumed (or fish kept/eaten) don't count.
  4. Freshwater only.
  5. Every fish needs a photo showing scale, weight and the angler. One photo per fish; the same photo can never be used twice.
  6. Public waters only. No private ponds or stocked fee-fishing pits.
  7. State regulations apply (seasons, size and creel limits, closed waters).
  8. Stamp species need proof. Trout, for example, require the trout stamp/permit in your License Vault.
  9. Out-of-state fishing requires that state's license for the dates fished, uploaded to your vault.
  10. The date/time of a catch is set by the server when you submit; photo EXIF data is checked and suspicious photos are flagged for admin review.

How scoring works

  • 1 point per whole pound, capped per fish by category: Catfish 10 points; Bass, Panfish, Toothy and Other 5 points. A fish must weigh at least 1 lb to score.
  • Only verified tournament catches score.
  • Category winner = most points in that category. Ties: biggest fish in that category, then most fish in it, then total points.
  • Champion = wins a majority of the winter categories (both). If nobody is champion, the highest total points wins.
  • Diversity bonus: +1 point for every category in which you have at least one scoring fish.
  • Ribbons are awarded when the season closes: Winner, Runner-up, Biggest Fish, Most Species and Category Champion.

Winter 26-27

Dates: Nov 1, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027
Registration opens: Oct 1, 2026 (about 1 month before)

Categories

Panfish max 5 pts/fish

Crappie, Yellow Perch, Sunfish

Toothy max 5 pts/fish

Walleye, Northern Pike, Muskellunge, Chain Pickerel, Northern Snakehead, Alligator Gar

Winter is Panfish and Toothy only.

Prizes

Placeholder prize pool: trophy + gift card for the Winter Champion, plaque for the runner-up, and a bonus for the biggest fish of the season. (Admin can edit this text.)

License expiry rules

The vault calculates expiry from your purchase date. You may always enter an explicit date.

  • PA: PA license year runs Dec 1 through Dec 31 of the following year.
  • NY: NY licenses are valid for 365 days from purchase.
  • OH: OH license year runs Mar 1 through the last day of February.
  • All other states: Default: expires Dec 31 of the issue year (enter an explicit date if your state differs).