2025 Official Rules

Sections 1: Rules and Regulations

1.1 The rules and regulations set forth herein are the Official Rules (“Rules”) of the event and the raffle drawing, as that term is defined further below.

1.2 Participants shall be subject to all applicable licensing requirements, as well as any local, state, and federal laws. Licenses are not sold on the lake.

1.3 These rules may be changed by Brainerd Jaycees, Inc., a Minnesota non-profit corporation, or by its delegated agent (hereinafter, the “Jaycees”), at any time with or without notice to the participants. Interpretation and enforcement of these rules will be left exclusively to the Event Director. In the event of a discrepancy between the printed version and any digital version of the rules, the rules posted on the official website (http://www.icefishing.org/about/official-rules/) at the time of the event shall prevail.

1.4 By purchasing a ticket, and participating in the event, all participants acknowledge and agree that they have reviewed, understand, and will abide by the Rules as posted on our official website. Participants willingly agree to comply with the Rules for participation in the Event.

Section 2: Event Participation and Eligibility

2.1 The contest is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.- 3:00 p.m. February 1, 2025 on Gull Lake’s Hole-in-the-Day Bay. Should the contest not be held for any reason on February 1, 2025, it will be held on February 15, 2025.

2.2 Entry fee for the contest is $50.00. No refunds or exchanges will be given for any reason.

2.3 Participants are not allowed to enter the fishing contest area prior to 8:00 a.m. on the day of the contest. Any item found within the contest area prior to 8:00 a.m. on the day of the contest will be confiscated and become the property of the Brainerd Jaycees.

2.4 All bait fish must be four inches or smaller. Any bait fish more than four inches long will not be allowed within the contest area.

2.5 Participants must enter the contest area through an inspection point. All bags, bait, buckets, containers, and sleds, etc. must be inspected prior to entering the contest area. Contest officials and police personnel have the right to inspect any and all items brought through the inspection point, including outerwear.

2.6 Only participants are allowed to fish within the contest area. Each participant must have a contest ticket, which must be visible at all times.

2.7 Absolutely no lines are allowed in the water from 11:30 a.m. to the start of the contest. Baited lines in the water are prohibited until the start of the contest. Participants are allowed to check their depth prior to 11:30 a.m. Any contestant with one or more lines in the water prior to the contest for any other purpose than checking depth will be immediately disqualified. Any contestant with one or more lines in the water between 11:30 a.m. to the start of the contest will be immediately disqualified.

2.8 Participants must fish only in the contest area during the contest and use only the holes provided. No spears or ice augers are allowed. Ice chisels are recommended as holes are pre-drilled.

2.9 Each contestant will be allowed to fish one pole per hole, per ticket, two holes maximum. Each contestant may reserve no more than two holes.

2.10 Participants less than 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or adult with written parental permission. (Written parental permission must be provided to event staff prior to the start of the event) Participants under the age of 18 years may not fish alone in the Event.

2.11 Participants are allowed to move to and fish in other unoccupied holes in the contest area.

2.12 Participants and holes must be in plain view from all sides at all times. No erected shelters will be allowed. Any person or thing on the ice is subject to search. Contest officials and police personnel have the right to remove any person, thing or item from the contest area.

2.13 Each contestant may register as many fish as the contestant wants, but only the heaviest fish per contestant will qualify for a contest prize.

2.14 All fish entered into the contest must be caught from a hole located in the contest area during contest hours. All fish entered into the contest must be brought to the weigh-in station immediately and must be alive. Please bring fish to weigh-in station in a bag or bucket, as the contest is live release. Dead or frozen fish are ineligible. Judges shall have the right to verify all fish are legally caught. The decision of the judge is final.

2.15 All prize winners may be required to take a polygraph exam as part of the contest requirements. In the event deception is detected or the contestant refuses to take the exam, his/her prize will be forfeited. Participants are responsible for verification of weight of fish at time of weigh-in. All fish registered have been legally gifted to the Brainerd Jaycees.

2.16 Heaters, chairs, bait pails, live scopes, depth finders, and underwater cameras are allowed.

2.17 Participants may leave the contest area between Noon-3:00 p.m.; however, they must re-enter through an inspection point.

2.18 All Participants must be in the weigh-in line at or before 3:05 p.m. on the day of the contest.

2.19 Any Participant attempting to manipulate the outcome of the Event or defraud the Jaycees will be disqualified and may be subject to prosecution.

2.20 No motorized vehicles are allowed in the contest area other than those of contest officials and police personnel.

2.21 Participants are not allowed to park within the contest area. Violators will be towed.

2.22 Contest results remain unofficial until verified by the head judge.

2.23 The top 150 prizes are determined by largest weight and time registered. In the event of a tie, the first fish registered takes priority.

2.24 Event tickets must be purchased by noon on the day of the contest.

Section 3: Interpretation and Discipline

3.1 Participants agree to abide by the rules and any decisions of the Event Director and/or Event Staff.

3.2 Interpretation and enforcement of the rules shall be left to the sole and exclusive discretion of the Event Director and/or his/her designee at the event. In the event a participant violates any rule set forth in the rules, as determined in the discretion of the Event Director, the Event Director may impose a penalty and/or sanction on the participant (including but not limited to disqualification from the event and future events and/or forfeiture of event winnings and/or prizes).

3.3 Each participant agrees to report to the Event Director immediately any violation or infraction of the rules.

Section 4: Safety

4.1 Contestants are responsible for their own safety, actions, and property at all times.

4.2 Participants understand and are aware that the weather in Minnesota can be severe. Participants are aware that participating in the Event may subject participants to adverse conditions, which can be dangerous and cause injury if the participant is not properly prepared. Although particular rules, equipment, and personal discipline may reduce the risks associated with participating in the Event, the risk of serious injury does exist and cannot be completely eliminated. In the event of significant weather conditions during competition, the Event Director will advise regarding any change, delay, suspension and/or cancellation of one or more hours or day(s).

4.3 Participants are permitted to consume alcoholic beverages while fishing. Participants are aware they are participating in a physical activity in the sport of fishing on ice, which may be dangerous and can cause injury, especially if the participant is consuming alcoholic beverages. Participants understand and acknowledge the consumption of alcohol impairs a person’s ability to walk on all surfaces, including those that are especially slippery, like ice. Consuming alcohol and walking on ice subjects the participant to certain risks including, but not limited to, death, serious neck and spinal injuries resulting in complete or partial paralysis, brain damage, and/or serious injury to virtually all bones, joints, muscles and internal organs, and property damage. Although particular rules, equipment, and personal discipline may reduce the risks associated with participating in the Event, the risk of serious injury does exist and cannot be completely eliminated.

4.4 No firearms will be allowed in Event Site during Event hours unless the carrier has an active licensed concealed carry permit or is a credentialed law enforcement officer.

Section 5: Polygraph Examination / Disputes

5.1 At the sole discretion of the Event Director or his/her designee, random third-party administered polygraph examinations may be administered before the event, on site during the event, or at any time after the event. All Participants agree to submit to any such third-party administered polygraph examination upon the request of the Event Director and further agree to provide truthful and honest responses as to be determined by the third-party polygraph examiner.

5.2 Any participant determined by the polygraph examination and/or other Event Staff to be intoxicated and/or under the influence of any type of illegal drug(s) at the time said participant is required to take the polygraph examination, may, in the discretion of the Event Director, be asked to submit to a subsequent third-party administered polygraph examination, or, in the sole discretion of the Event Director, may be disqualified from the Event.

5.3 Refusing to take a polygraph examination, or the failure to do so for any reason, whether requested during or after the event, will result in immediate disqualification and/or forfeiture of any prize won at the event.

5.4 By participating in the event, each participant agrees to submit for a third-party administered polygraph examination. Each participant shall abide by the conclusion reached by the third-party administrator administering the polygraph examination and, specifically, whether the participant provided honest and truthful responses.

5.5 Participants acknowledge and agree that event coordinators may disclose the results of the polygraph exam. Whether disclosure occurs is at the sole discretion of the Brainerd Jaycees.

Section 6: Protests and Disputes

6.1 All protests or disputes relating to any matter involving the Rules and/or the Event must be registered in writing with the Event Director no later than 3:15 p.m. the day of the Event. Protests made after the deadline will be disregarded. This section does not apply to reporting suspected cheating.

6.2 Any protest filed by a Participant shall be heard by the Event Director and/or a delegate of the Event Director. After reviewing the protest submitted, the Event Director and/or delegate shall inform the protesting Participant of the Event Director’s decision. The Event Director’s decision is final and not subject to further appeal.

6.3 The interpretation and enforcement of the rules will be the sole responsibility of the Event Director.

Section 7: Other Raffles and Drawings

7.1 The contest ticket and random drawing tickets are two separate items. Random drawing tickets are available for $10.00 and need not be purchased in conjunction with a contest ticket. No refunds will be given for any reason. Random drawing tickets must be purchased with cash only and by an adult over 18 years of age. A limited supply will be printed and available for purchase at designated ticket outlets and on the ice. Telephone and online orders cannot be accepted for random drawing tickets. All Minnesota gambling control regulations are abided by. Random drawing prize winners need not be present to win.

7.2 Contest and random drawing prizes are the responsibility of the winners. Licensing, registration, transportation, taxes, and all incidental or consequential expenses incurred are the responsibility of the winners. Random drawing prizes must be claimed within 90 days of notification. Contest prizes must be claimed by Noon on Sunday (the day after the contest).

Section 8: Miscellaneous

8.1 The Rules shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Minnesota in all respects, including matters of construction, interpretation, validity, and enforcement.

8.2 The favorable public reputation of the Jaycees and the Event, the integrity of its members, officers, and directors, and the reputation of its media properties are valuable assets and tangible benefits for Jaycees. Accordingly, all participants agree to refrain from comments to the news media that unreasonably attack or disparage the integrity of tournaments, tournament officials, sponsors, fellow members, fellow anglers or the Jaycees organization. Competitors are encouraged to express themselves and have the right to question the application of the rules and are obligated to report suspected violations of the rules. Responsible expressions of legitimate disagreement with Jaycees policies are not prohibited, but attacks upon the integrity of the Rules or Event Staff or the Jaycees will harm the reputation of Jaycees, the Event, and Event Staff may result in legal action.

8.3 Event officials reserve the right to refuse entry to anyone at their sole discretion.

8.4 Glass containers are not allowed in the contest area and will be confiscated by Event Staff.

8.4 All drones must have prior authorization. Any unauthorized drones will be removed and the owners may be disqualified from the contest.

8.5 Members of the Brainerd Jaycees are ineligible to fish the contest.

8.6 All contestants and other spectators hereby consent to the use of any names, photographs or likenesses of themselves to be used in the promotion of our contest, including but not limited to print, radio, television or any other media.

8.7 The Brainerd Jaycees thank you for supporting our efforts to protect the environment and request that you remove garbage—including cigarette butts— from the ice when you leave. Waste containers are provided.

8.8 Failure to comply with any contest rules subjects contestants to disqualification and removal from the contest area as determined by contest officials. Contest officials reserve the right to refuse sale and/or revoke a contest ticket to anyone.