Schedule of events

The Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center and Musky Clubs Alliance of Wisconsin, Inc. are pleased to announce the 24th. Annual NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP MUSKY OPEN TOURNAMENT on August 21, 22, and 23, 2009.

Our door prizes and raffle prizes will be better than ever! The Grand Door Prize is a Mercury powered Ranger Boat with a RangerTrail Trailer and a Minn Kota Electric Trolling Motor. Other prizes have been supplied by St. Croix Rod, MotorGuide, Fittante Taxidermy, H3O, Enticer Tackle, Super Slayer, Wild Eagle Lodge, Ducktail Lures, Minn Kota, Northwoods TV 34 WYOW, M & J Marine, Sea King Ultra, Miller Beer of the Northwoods, UP Musky Products, Musky Hunter, and Shimano.

Our tournament headquarters will be at the Vilas County Fairgrounds on Highway 70 West, just blocks from downtown Eagle River. Registration and orientation will be held at the headquarters where you will receive your registration packets.

Pease note the registration hours, briefing times, and fishing hours. All contestants MUST attend a briefing BEFORE fishing and MUST register in person. Please arrange your schedule according to these times.

The entry fee this year will be $50.00. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL WALK-IN ENTRY FEES AT THE TOURNAMENT HEADQUARTERS WILL BE $55.00 CASH. We would like as many entrants as possible to pre-register before August 1. This makes it easier for the tournament committee to have the proper number of hats, T-shirts, and goody bags available for all entrants. To be eligible for the Early Bird Drawing, you must enter before May 15, 2009. Our Early Bird Prize is two nights lodging donated by Wild Eagle Lodge (subject to availability). You will receive a confirmation card in the mail. Please keep your confirmation card to present at tournament registration.

Please note on your registration form the INSURANCE WAIVER. This MUST be signed and returned with your registration form and payment. Each entrant must complete and sign their own registration form. We're looking forward to seeing you in August.

HELP FIGHT HUNGER : Get a chance to win a Shimano Reel by donating a non-perishable food item. For each food item you donate, you will receive one chance in the Fight Hunger drawing. All food donations will be donated to the Vilas County Food Pantry.

GUARDIAN AND YOUTH TROPHY : A registered adult and child (6-15 years of age) can enter to win this category by catching the most fish in inches. The winners of this category will receive a trophy for their efforts. This category is just like the Husband/Wife category.

It's going to be a GREAT tournament! Remember a portion of proceeds always goes for fish stocking and habitat improvement! If you have any questions regarding the tournament, please call the Eagle River Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center at 1-800-359-6315.

Eligibility
     A. All persons are eligible to enter the National Championship Musky Open on August 21,22, & 23, 2009. All persons under 18 years of age must be           accompanied by a parent or guardian. Due to safety issues, children under the age of 6 are not eligible for this tournament.
     B. Entries will be accepted by mail until August 1, 2009. Contestants whose entries and $50.00 entry fees are accepted prior to May 15, 2009, will be           eligible for an Early Bird Drawing which is a two night stay at the Wild Eagle Lodge in Eagle River, Wisconsin. All pre-registration entry fees are $50 per           person.
     C. No pre-registration entries will be accepted after an August 1, 2009 postmark. After August 1, 2009, all entry registrations need to be done on-site at the           tournament headquarters, Vilas County Fairgrounds. All on-site registrations are $55 per person and must be paid in cash.
     D. Cancellation. No refund can be given should you need to cancel your entry into the tournament after August 1, 2009. Credit for entry can be transferred to           the 2010 tournament.
     E. Registration is available on-line at muskyopen.com

Requirements
     A. Each boat and contestant will be required to abide by all of the State of Wisconsin's boating and fishing laws.
     B. Each entrant must personally sign their own attached insurance waiver form along with the registration form. A parent/custodian must sign for a minor.
          No Exceptions.
     C. All partners must be listed on the registration form.
     D. All contestants must register in person at the tournament headquarters and must attend one mandatory tournament rules briefing before           fishing. Report your attendance of a briefing to your lake family.

Boats & Equipment
     A. All boats must meet U.S. Coast Guard and State of Wisconsin boating rules and safety standards and must be registered in accordance with regulations of           the home state of the contestant owning the boat.
     B. All boats must be clean and free of Aquatic Invasive Species prior to leaving and entering another lake.
     B. Camera's are recommended.

Fishing
     A. Registered participants who immediately release muskies which are 34" and over will be counted and scored on ALL Tournament lakes. Measure to the           nearest 1/4".
     B. No fishing from bridges, piers, docks, or shore.
     C. Only muskies caught legally on a hook and line will qualify for scoring.
     D. Each person fishing is allowed only one (1) line in the water at any time. NO live bait allowed.
     E. Row trolling is permitted. No motor trolling is allowed.
     F. There shall be no less than two (2) registered contestants per boat at all times while fishing and all contestants must be entered in the tournament.
     G. Tournament hats MUST be worn while fishing.
     H. Only muskies caught and released on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday during tournament hours will be accepted in scoring. Verification catch slips will be           issued to each contestant.
     I. All muskies caught must be verified and released immediately. Verification catch slips may be done by fellow contestants from a different boat or the nearest          person not in your boat. All slips must be turned in to tournament headquarters as soon as possible. Fish caught and released on Friday and/or          Saturday must be registered by 8:00pm on Saturday night and Fish caught and released on Sunday must be registered by 12:30pm on          Sunday. Failure to do so will result in fish being disqualified from scoring.
     J. This is a total catch & release tournament. Contestants may resume fishing upon successfully verifying and releasing their musky. If a musky is killed, the          contestant must cease fishing for that day, as the legal bag limit is one (1) fish per day.
     K. In case of a tie, the winner will be determined by earliest fish registration time on verification slip. Any disputes will be settled by the Official Tournament          Committee and their decision is final and binding.

Fishing Awards
    A. Trophies only, to be determined on a point basis by length in inches.
    B. Trophies as follows:
        1. Most points accumulated - trophies awarded for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th places.
        2. Largest musky registered for each lake family
        3. Husband/Wife trophy
        4. Guardian/Youth trophy
        5. Youth trophy.
     C. Largest fish released of total tournament will receive a graphite replica mount.

Alcoholic Beverages
     No alcoholic beverages may be consumed while fishing by contestants or tournament officials.

Tournament Results
     Tournament results and raffle winners will be available online at www.muskyclubsalliance.org.

Boundaries
     A. There are seven (7) "lake families" available to fish. These families can be requested and will be assigned on a first-come-first-serve basis. You must fish           your assigned lake family. No changes or exceptions.
     B. The "lake families" are:
     1. The Eagle River Chain
            - 10 lakes of the Eagle Chaina from dam to dam, Lower Ninemile, Sevenmile, and Kentuck.
         2. The Three Lakes Chain
            - All lakes in the Three Lakes Chain from dam up river.
         3. The "Big Lakes Family"
            - North Twin Lake, South Twin Lake, Long Lake, LacView Desert, Big Sand Lake,
               and Pioneer Lake.
        4. The "Western" Family
            - Big St. Germain Chain, Star Lake, Found Lake, Laura Lake, Big Muskellunge, Irving Lake,
              Ballard Lake, White Birch Lake, Little St. Germain Lake, Plum Lake, Razorback Lake, and
              Lost Lake.
        5. The Sugar Camp Chain
            - The five lakes in the Sugar Camp Chain, Gilmore Lake, Pickerel Lake (Off Hwy J),
               Rainbow Flowage, Little Arbor Vitae, Big Arbor Vitae.
        6. The "Eastern" Family
            - Pickerel Lake (off Hwy. G), Upper and Lower Buckatabon, Muskellunge Lake (off Hwy.
              G), Snipe Lake, Boot Lake, and Stella Lake.
        7. The "Northern Lakes" Family
            -Fishtrap Lake, High Lake, Palmer Lake, White Sand Lake, Tenderfoot Lake, and Wildcat
             Lake.

Door Prizes
To be eligible to win any door prizes, YOU MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN.

Thursday, August 20
    Registration                        5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
    Musky Seminar                  6:00 p.m.
    Briefing                              6:30 p.m., 7:30p.m., and 9:00p.m.

Friday, August 21
    Registration                        6:00 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
    Briefing                              6:30 a.m.,        6:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m., and 8:00 p.m.
    Fishing Hours (Optional)    6:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday, August 22
    Registration                        6:00 a.m. to 6:30 a.m.
    Briefing                              6:30 a.m.
    Fishing Hours                     6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
    Fish Registration                 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
    Fish Verification Slips of fish caught and released on Friday and/or Saturday must be
    registered between 6:00pm and 8:00pm. (If registered at a later date/time, these
    fish will be disqualified from scoring.)
    Door Prizes                      6:30 p.m. (Must Be Present To Win)

Sunday, August 23
    Fishing Hours                    6:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
    Fish Registration                11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
    Fish Verification Slips of fish caught and released on Sunday must be registered
    between 11:00am and 12:30p.m..
    Door Prizes and Grand Prize Drawing 1:00 p.m. (Must be present to Win)

Saturday Evening Door Prizes - must be present to win (begins at 6:30pm). Many valuable door prizes to be given away!

Sunday Tournament Program - must be present to win with program starting at 1:00pm. Grand Prize: Mercury powered Ranger Boat, Ranger Trail Trailer, an Electric Trolling Motor. Drawings for other valuable door prizes.
     - Tournament Prizes Awarded
     - Drawings for other valuable prizes
     - Grand Prize Drawing: Mercury Powered Ranger Boat, Trailer, and Trolling Motor (Must Be Present to
        win)

Fish Verification Slips must be registered as soon as possible at Tournament Headquarters, Vilas County Fairgrounds. Fish caught and released on Friday and Saturday MUST be registered by 8:00pm on Saturday night and fish caught and released on Sunday MUST be registered by 12:30p.m. on Sunday.

For more information and to obtain an
official registration form go to www.muskyopen.com
or contact:

Eagle River Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center
P.O. Box 1917-MT, Eagle River, WI 54521