Frequently Asked Questions

Q: HOW IS THE GRAND PRIZE WINNER DETERMINED?
A: THE ANGLER WHO REGISTERS THE LARGEST GAME FISH BY WEIGHT REGARDLESS OF SPECIES WILL BE AWARDED THE GRAND PRIZE.

Q: HOW MANY PARTICIPANTS ATTEND THE CONTEST?
A: ALTHOUGH NUMBERS VARY YEAR TO YEAR TYPICALLY WE EXPECT BETWEEN 1700 AND 2000

Q: IF I CATCH A FISH THAT DOES NOT MEET THE DNR MINIMUM LENGTH REQUIREMENTS CAN IT BE REGISTERED?
A: NO, ALL FISH MUST MEET DNR REQUIREMENTS FOR MINIMUM SIZES, FOR EXAMPLE: THE MINIMUM LENGTH FOR BASS IS 14" ANY BASS UNDER 14" CANNOT BE REGISTERED AND SHOULD NOT BE BROUGHT TO THE REGISTRATION BOOTH. IT MUST BE RELEASED IMMEDIATELY TO HELP PROTECT THE FISHERY.

Q: ARE TIP- UPS ALLOWED
A: YES, TIP UPS CAN BE USED (NO BAITFISH OVER 4" ALLOWED)

Q: WHAT HAPPENS IF 50 FISH ARE NOT CAUGHT?
A: ALL PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED, IF NOT ENOUGH FISH ARE REGISTERED WE WILL DRAW NAMES  FROM ALL REGISTERED CONTESTANTS AND DISTIBUTE ANY REMAINING PRIZES.

Q: WHAT TIME CAN I START FISHING?
A: 12:00 P.M., WHEN THE ANNOUNCER GIVES THE START SIGNAL.  IF FOUND FISHING PRIOR TO START SIGNAL YOU WILL BE DISQUALIFIED.

Q: CAN I USE A SONAR OR UNDERWATER CAMERA?
A: SONAR UNITS SUCH AS VEXILARS AND MARCUMS ARE ALLOWED, CAMERAS ARE NOT ALLOWED.

Q: DO I NEED TO BRING AN AUGER TO DRILL HOLES?
A: NO. ALL HOLES ARE DRILLED THE MORNING OF THE FISHING CONTEST BY CONTEST VOLUNTEERS. NO ADDITIONAL HOLE DRILLING IS ALLOWED BY ANY CONTESTANT. YOU MAY WANT TO BRING AN ICE CHISEL AND ICE SCOOP TO CLEAR ANY ICE THAT MAY FORM PRIOR TO THE CONTEST STARTING.

Q: CAN I CHECK THE DEPTH?
A: YES, BUT ONLY WITH A SONAR, DEPTH FINDER OR A LINE WITHOUT A HOOK. ALL LINES MUST BE OUT OF THE WATER BY 11:45 AM UNTIL THE OFFICIAL START.

Q: WHEN DOES THE CONTEST END?
A: AT 3:00 PM. THE ANNOUNCER WILL SIGNAL TO CONTESTANTS THE ENDING OF THE CONTEST. YOU WILL HAVE UNTIL 3:00 PM TO GET IN LINE WITH A FISH TO HAVE IT REGISTERED. REMEMBER: FISH MUST BE BROUGHT TO THE WEIGH IN STAND IMMEDIATELY WHEN CAUGHT AND ALIVE. DEAD OR FROZEN FISH WILL BE INELIGIBLE.

Q: WHEN CAN I ENTER THE CONTEST AREA?
A: PARKING AND REGISTRATION BEGINS AT 9:00 A.M., AFTER YOUR REGISTRATION IS CONFIRMED YOU MAY ENTER THE SITE AND "CLAIM" THE HOLES YOU INTEND TO USE.

Q: CAN I PRE-FISH?
A: NO. YOU WILL BE DISQUALIFIED.

Q: WHAT TYPE OF FISH CAN I WEIGH IN?
A: ONLY GAME FISH ARE ELIGIBLE TO BE WEIGHED IN FOR CONTEST PRIZES. THESE INCLUDE; NORTHERN, WALLEYE, CRAPPIE, BLUEGILL, SUNFISH, PERCH AND ANY BASS SPECIES. ROUGH FISH, INCLUDING BULLHEAD AND CARP ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FISH TO BE WEIGHED IN.

Q: CAN I FISH USING A WINDBREAK?
A: NO. WINDBREAKS OR SET UP SHELTERS ARE NOT ALLOWED.

Q: CAN I PULL CANVAS OVER MY HEAD FOR PROTECTION?
A: NO. ALL CONTESTANTS MUST REMAIN COMPLETELY VISIBLE WHILE FISHING.

Q: CAN I FISH MORE THAN 1 HOLE?
A: YES, DEPENDANT ON THE AMOUNT OF HOLES YOU HAVE REGISTERED FOR,    (WISCONSIN LAW ALLOWS UP TO THREE). YOU MAY JUMP TO OPEN HOLES AND FISH A DIFFERENT HOLE DURING THE CONTEST.

Q: WHERE CAN I BUY BEER AND FOOD ON THE ICE?
A: CONCESSION CARTS FOR FOOD AND BEER ARE CONTINUOUSLY  ROAMING THROUGHOUT THE CONTEST SITE, OR IF YOU CHOOSE TO LEAVE YOUR HOLE A CONCESSION TENT IS LOCATED AT THE CENTER OF THE SITE.

Q: CAN I BRING MY OWN BEER OR POP INTO THE CONTEST AREA?
A: BEVERAGES INCLUDING STRONG BEER ARE AVAILABLE AT THE CONTEST. WE APPRETIATE YOUR  PATRONAGE AT OUR CONCESSIONS BOOTH.

Q: CAN WE BRING OUR OWN FOOD?
A: BRINGING YOUR OWN FOOD IS HIGHLY DISCOURAGED, OUR CONCESSIONS OFFER HOT FOOD ON THE LAKE AND THE PROCEEDS GO DIRECTLY TO THE SOMERSET HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PROGRAM.

Q: DO I NEED A FISHING LICENSE?
A: YES. ALL WISCONSIN FISHING LAWS REGULATE FISHING DURING THE CONTEST. WI DNR OFFICERS MAY BE PRESENT AND HAVE THE RIGHT TO QUESTION ANY CONTESTANT. LICENSES WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE ON SITE.

Q: CAN I PARK ON THE ICE?
A: YES ALL PARKING IS AVAILABLE ON THE ICE. YOU MUST PARK IN THE DESIGNATED AREAS. HANDICAP OR SPECIAL NEEDS PARKING IS AVAILABLE  NOTIFY ONE OF THE PARKING PERSONNEL AND THEY WILL DIRECT YOU TO A PARKING SPOT. ALL PARKING IS DONE AT YOUR OWN RISK AND THE SYAA IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGE OR THEFT TO VEHICLES.

Q: CAN I BRING A LARGE TACKLE BOX OR COOLER ONTO THE ICE?
A: WE DISCOURAGE THE BRINGING  OF OVERSIZE CONTAINERS, ALL COOLERS, TACKLE BOXES AND BAGS WILL BE SUBJECT TO A MANDATORY SEARCH.

Q: I CAUGHT TWO FISH. SHOULD I REGISTER BOTH?
A: YOU MAY REGISTER AS MANY FISH AS YOU LIKE. ONLY THE LARGEST FISH CAUGHT PER CONTESTANT IS ELIGIBLE TO WIN A PRIZE.. 

Q: DO YOU HAVE BAIT FOR SALE?
A: NO, YOU MUST BRING YOUR OWN BAIT. B&J HARDWARE IN SOMERSET, RUSSELL'S SPORT AND BIKE IN STAR PRAIRIE, AND BURKARDT CO-OP SELL BAIT AND ARE WITHIN A FEW MILES OF THE CONTEST SITE.

Q: WHERE ARE RAFFLE TICKETS FOR SALE DURING THE CONTEST?
A: THERE WILL BE TICKETS BEING SOLD THROUGHOUT THE CONTEST FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO PURCHASE ADDITIONAL TICKETS FOR THE MANY RAFFLES THAT WILL BE HELD.

Q: ARE TICKETS AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE PRIOR TO THE CONTEST?
A: YES. TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE ON THIS SITE OR AT B&J HARDWARE IN SOMERSET.




SEE OFFICIAL RULES PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION