2026 Big Fish Bigger Dreams

Official Walleye Derby Tournament Rules

The Fall Walleye Derby will be here before we know it. Find important information on official weigh in rules, shore and kayak rules, prize rules, and more.

Official Weigh In Rules

The event is held in the U.S waters of Lake Erie, and registered fish must be caught in U.S. waters of Lake Erie.
Canadian waters are off-limits.
Fish will be weighed and measured to the nearest 1/4th inch.
The winning fish will be determined by weight.
Ties will be broken using length first, and then the second tiebreaker will be first entered.
Fish must be weighed in by the deadline: Sunday, November 29th, 2026 @ 11:00am.
Participants can weigh in as many fish as they like; they will only have one fish, their biggest fish, on the leaderboard. (No multiple fish entries on the leaderboard).
A participant weighing in a fish owns and is fully responsible for that fish.
All participants must have a valid fishing license if required by the state they are fishing in and catch the fish. Fish must be legally caught in accordance with all state fishing laws.
All registration forms must be legible, completed, signed, and dated by the contestant to be valid.
We reserve the right to refuse registration.
If fishing from a boat, only registered participants may be on board. Boats must be legally registered, legally equipped with all required equipment and safety devices, and must be legally operated.
The Walleye Derby and Walleye Fall Brawl will use the same lie detector company and questions. Participants disqualified in the Walleye Fall Brawl will also be disqualified in The Walleye Derby. When weighing in a fish, the fish will be scanned by a metal detector.
Fish will be scanned with a metal detector during weigh-in. Organizers may seize any fish for further inspection. If a fish is held, its weight and length will be honored pending results.
Media personnel may be allowed on a boat to film with prior approval by The Walleye Derby. They may not catch fish, net fish, have any use of rods. Only allowed to film on a boat.

Kids Rules

Official weigh in rules apply.
To register under the kids category, you must be under 15 years of age.
Must be 15 years old and under to qualify by the end of The Walleye Derby on November 30, 2026. Must not turn 16 years old before that date.

Women, Veterans, Shore, and Kayak Rules

Official weigh in rules apply.
These divisions are optional side pots.
Participants who finish in the top 10 are not eligible for the side pot prizes.

Calling all anglers October 16th - November 29th

Register for the Fall Walleye Derby

Register today for the Big Fish, Bigger Dreams Fall Walleye Derby. Make your Lake Erie casts count with a $40 registration fee and numerous prize opportunities.

NEW: Family Side Pot

Judged by the highest combined weight of 2 fish per immediate family member.
To register under the kids category, you must be under 15 years of age.
Included in the standard $40.00 entry fee.
All fish are also eligible for the main event.
Top 10 overall participants are not eligible for side pot prizes.
Standard immediate family members include: a spouse (husband, wife, or legally recognized domestic partner), parents (biological, adoptive, or stepparents), children (biological, adoptive, stepchildren, or legal wards), siblings (biological, adoptive, half, or step), grandparents, grandchildren, and in-laws (such as a mother-in-law or father-in-law).

Prize Rules

The Grand Prize Warrior 238 boat package will be awarded at the Awards Party.
Boat, motor, and trailer titles will be transferred afterward.
Cash prizes will be awarded in 2026 after a successful lie detector test and submission of a W-9. All tax responsibilities fall on the winners.
Ties (by weight and length) will be broken by the earliest registered participant.
For ties between 3rd–10th place in cash prizes, the prize amounts will be totaled and evenly split among those tied.

Catch the Right Crowd

Become a Sponsor

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque faucibus ex sapien vitae pellentesque sem placerat. In id cursus mi pretium tellus duis convallis.

Learn More