Minnesota Bound invites all anglers that will be fishing during the Minnesota Fishing Opener on Saturday, May 9, 2020 to participate in a digital fishing event that will raise money for our front-line health care workers battling against COVID-19.

All proceeds raised from this event will go to The U of M Caregiver Emergency Fund to support the needs of physicians, nurses and other front-line caregivers during the COVID-19 crisis. Your donation will support their health and well-being as well as supplies and equipment for patient care.

Contest Information

WHEN: May 9, 2020 (12AM - 11:59PM)
WHO: Minnesota Anglers (all ages)
WHERE: Minnesota Lakes & Rivers
COST: $20 per angler
BENEFICIARY: U of M Caregiver Emergency Fund

How to Register:

Step 1. Download the FISHDONKEY app on your mobile device.
Step 2. Sign in and create your own account.
Step 3. Search “Fishing for our Frontlines” in the app and join our event.
Step 4. Review the rules and procedures so you’re ready to record your fish catches on opening day!

CONTEST DETAILS: All anglers fishing Minnesota waters during the Minnesota Fishing Opener on Saturday, May 9, 2020 with a valid Minnesota Fishing License are eligible to enter the contest.  Anglers under the age of 16 years of age do not need to purchase a Minnesota fishing license. Anglers must sign up for the contest through the FISHDONKEY app. All proceeds will go directly to the U of M Caregiver Emergency Fund to support Minnesota’s healthcare workers fighting on the front-lines of the COVID-19 crisis. 

Anglers fishing during the Minnesota Fishing opener should fish at a safe social distance and register any/all of their fish catches for a chance to win one of several prizes. Prizes for the largest fish in each category will be determined by the length of the fish, measured to the nearest ¼ inch.  In the event of a tie, the winner will be determined based on the first fish entered.  All fish must be correctly entered in the FISHDONKEY app to be eligible. 

HOW TO PARTICIPATE: Download the FISHDONKEY app. To sign up click on the “Fishing for our Frontlines” link and follow the instructions.  Follow the FISHDONKEY instructions during the contest to correctly enter each fish.

HOW THE GRAND PRIZE WINNER WILL BE DETERMINED: Prior to the event, the tournament director will choose a secret fish length.  The first angler to catch and record a fish in any of the categories (walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, or smallmouth bass) that matches the secret length will be the grand prize winner. In the event of a tie, the winner will be determined by the first person that catches the fish that matches the secret length.      

Prize Categories:

GRAND PRIZE: $3,000 FISHING PRIZE PACK!

A Fishing Trip for (4 anglers) to Border View Lodge on Lake of the Woods + a Lowrance Hook Reveal 7 + $200 Fleet Farm gift card + 2 rod & reel combos + Rapala gear

LONGEST WALLEYE: $500 Fishing Gear Prize Pack
$200 Fleet Farm gift card + 2 Rod & Reel combos + Rapala gear

LONGEST NORTHERN PIKE: $500 Fishing Gear Prize Pack
$200 Fleet Farm gift card + 2 Rod & Reel combos + Rapala gear

LONGEST LARGEMOUTH BASS: $500 Fishing Gear Prize Pack
$200 Fleet Farm gift card + 2 Rod & Reel combos + Rapala gear

LONGEST SMALLMOUTH BASS: $500 Fishing Gear Prize Pack
$200 Fleet Farm gift card + 2 Rod & Reel combos + Rapala gear

Get Started:

Official Rules

All registration and payment must be completed using the app. The FishDonkey App will be used to photo document fish and will generate live leaderboards. The leaderboards will update throughout the event as fish are submitted. All entries will be considered unofficial until verified.

MEASURING & PHOTO DOCUMENTING

• All photos must be taken through the FishDonkey app and measurements must be on a valid measuring board.

• Fish should be recorded immediately and measurements noted by length.

• All submissions must include at least two photographs: 1) A pic of you holding the fish (fish selfies accepted) 2) A pic of the fish on the measuring board that accurately shows the length.

• When measuring your fish, close the fish's mouth. The nose should touch the bump or the zero on the measuring board (the belly is facing you). The measurement photo needs to include the entire fish on the board.

• Each fish must be documented to the nearest 1/4 inch. If the tail touches a 1/4" line but does not reach the next line, anglers must round down 1/4". Example if a fish is 23 3/8" long, it will qualify as 23 1/4".

• All participants must have their fish submitted before the end of the contest.

• Anglers may keep their fish or choose to release them.

PRACTICE ON THE FISHDONKEY APP AHEAD OF TIME

Watch a 1-minute tutorial on the FishDonkey app “How to Enter a Fish”

TEST THE APP BEFORE YOU GET OUT ON THE WATER

1. Download the app

2. Join "Practice Entering a Fish"

HOW TO USE FISHDONKEY IN POOR RECEPTION AREAS

The app will work without internet. Open the app before heading out to poorly covered areas. Tap on the name of the tourney. Once you see the button ‘Enter a Fish’, head out and fish away. Fish should be entered as normal in bad reception areas. Your Digital Livewell® (fish icon) will show you if there are fish waiting for an internet connection to get pushed into the leaderboard. When you get back to a well connected area, open your Digital Livewell® and leave that screen open/active until all fish are “Received”. If your pictures are missing from the leaderboard, this is what you need to do. Until your pictures are received, do not delete or alter the photos on your phone, as the software will not accept your photos as originals.

MEASURING BOARDS

All measuring devices must be commercially made. No handmade measuring boards, stickers, or tape measures allowed. If your measurement is not clearly readable in your submission photo, it may not be accepted.

Extra large fish are difficult to measure with a bump board and photographs. For example, sturgeon can be measured more accurately by using video. Bump the nose of the fish against a vertical surface and use a commercial measuring tape to measure the fish. Video from nose to tail, covering the complete length of the fish.

TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR

Your Tournament Director is Travis Frank from Minnesota Bound. If you need to reach your director, their contact info is in the “ i “ Info icon within your tournament in the app.

The interpretation and enforcement of the rules is at the sole discretion of the director. The tournament director may change rules or impose sanctions as they deem appropriate, including but not limited to: disqualifications, forfeiture of prizes, and prohibition from competing in future tournaments. All decisions made by the tournament director are final.

SPORTSMANSHIP

All participants are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety and conservation. Any participant who displays poor sportsmanship, violates these rules or brings unfavorable publicity to the sport of fishing could be disqualified. Encroachment is considered a sportsmanship rule. All participants are expected to follow Minnesota's social distancing guidelines that are in place during the event.

BODY OF WATER

Participants may fish in any Minnesota waterway that is open to public fishing. Fishing has to be legal and in public waters only: no private ponds, streams, lakes or rivers.

INCLEMENT WEATHER/CANCELLATION

Due to the charitable nature of this event, and the fact that opening day will not be postponed by weather, this event will not be postponement or cancelled due to weather. Due to the nature of this event, no refunds will be issued. This is at the discretion of your tournament director.

TIEBREAKERS

In the event of a tie, the tournament director will use the time of entry to determine the winner. The first fish entered into the app will win a tiebreaker.

CLAIMING PRIZES

Ensure that your correct address, email, and mobile number appear in your app profile for prize announcements and delivery. Prizes are the responsibility of the winners. Transportation, taxes, and incidentals are the responsibility of the winner.

LAWS AND REGULATIONS

All federal, state, and local laws and all fishing and boating rules must be abided by. Anglers 16 years of age and older must have a valid MN fishing license.

Failure to comply with any tournament rules subjects participants to disqualification and removal from the competition, as determined by the tournament officials. The right to refuse sale and/or revoke a competition ticket to anyone is hereby reserved.

CHEATING

• All protests must be brought to the director’s attention before the end of the event.

• Anyone caught breaking the law or disobeying the rules will be disqualified.

• Fish must be hooked and caught live in a conventional manner. Fish cannot be snagged, netted, speared, etc.

• Participants may be required to take polygraph exams as part of the tournament requirements. If deception is detected or the participant refuses to take the exam, the prize will be forfeited and the participant will be disqualified. Anglers taking a polygraph examination may be responsible for any and all costs incurred.

SAFETY

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

QUESTIONS?

If there are any questions about the rules, ask the tournament director - travis@mnbound.com