2020 CATFISH DERBY DAYS FISHING TOURNAMENT - Sponsored by the Franklin Lion's Club

• Fishing registration and contest begin at 3 PM Friday, July 24th and closes at 12 NOON on Sunday, July 26th. 
• Angler's MUST register before fishing
• Registration fee is $10.00 ($10.25 for online orders)

BOUNDARIES:

• The Minnesota River - From Vicksburg County Park to the HWY 4 Landing (South of Fairfax)
• Angler's who register online will be provided a digital registration ticket and will be required to have their digital ticket printed, or available at all times. You will NOT be able to register a fish without first showing a tournament official your digital ticket and/or ticket printout. 
• Angler's who register at 1 of the 3 locations (Longbranch Saloon, Franklin Depot, or the Bait & Tackle Shop in North Redwood) will be provided with a white registration card. Please keep this on you at all times, as you will NOT be able to register a fish without first showing a tournament official your registration card. 

BOAT ACCESS LOCATIONS:

1. Vicksburg County Park Landing
2. Morton Landing
3. Franklin Landing
4. Kettner's Landing (located between Franklin and Fairfax)
5. HWY 4 Landing

WEIGH-IN STATIONS / TIMES:

Vicksburg County Park 

• Saturday : 7:30 - 10:00 AM AND 6:00 - 8:00 pm
• Sunday : 7:30 - 11:30 AM

Morton Landing

• Saturday : 7:30 AM - NOON 
• Sunday : 7:30 - 11:30 AM

Kettner's Landing

• Saturday : 7:30 - 10:00 AM 
• Sunday : 7:30 - 11:30 AM

Franklin Landing

• Saturday : 7:30 AM - 8:00 pm
• Sunday : 7:30 AM - NOON

During the day, if angler's catch fish outside of the designated weigh-in hours, please contact Tom Ness at 507-430-1408 to see if any accommodations can be made.

FOR ON-SHORE ANGLERS:

• 3 tournament boats will depart at 7:30 am each day to patrol the river and register catfish.

BOAT 1: Vicksburg County Park to Morton Landing

BOAT 2: Morton Landing to Franklin Landing

BOAT 3: Franklin Landing to HWY 4 Landing

RULES: 

• All Minnesota fishing regulations apply
• No dead fish will be accepted
• All fish will be released immediately following weigh-in. 
• Boat anglers shall observe a no-wake rule where shore anglers are fishing
• Catfish must NOT be transported off of the Minnesota River. There will be tournament boats weighing fish and there will be designated landings where angler's may bring their catfish to be weighed by boat only. 
• Any fish transported by any means other than by a boat live well system will be disqualified!
• Contestants 12 years and under can register in the main contest OR the junior division but NOT both.
• All judges decisions will be final.
• In the event of any ties, there will be a coin flip. 

 IN AN EFFORT TO ADHERE TO THE STATE OF MINNESOTA'S EXECUTIVE ORDER 20-74, THAT LIMITS GATHERING SIZES FOR UP TO 25 PEOPLE, CERTAIN PRECAUTIONS WILL BE MADE IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE SAFETY OF ALL PARTICIPANTS AND TOURNAMENT OFFICIALS : 

• Pre-registration before the tournament will allow participants to register in advance (at 3 different locations), so everyone does not have to register at once and at the same place. 
•  Starting July 5th, registration will be open online, allowing participants to register and gather all needed info while still maintaining social distancing. 
• No gatherings before, during or after the tournament of groups of 25 or more. 
• There will be no awards ceremony. Prizes will be handed out individually after the tournament. Winners will be notified by phone with instructions on how to collect their prize. 
• With the use of this website, participants and those interested may check out live results periodically during the 3 day fishing tournament, preventing the need to gather. Phone numbers of tournament officials will also be provided at the bottom of the homepage, so that contestants may call to get leaderboard updates. 
• Fisherman will be asked to use basic common sense with the 6-foot social distancing guidelines AT ALL TIMES. During the weigh-in process, tournament officials will instruct anglers on the proper process of weighing fish while still maintaining this 6-foot social distancing rule. We encourage the use of face masks/ protective face coverings during this process. 
• Fisherman with ANY symptoms of COVID (see CDC for list) MUST refrain from participating in the fishing tournament.
• Hand sanitization is highly encouraged before interacting with tournament officials (wash the cut-bait juices off your hands please).