Minnesota’s current six-walleye limit was established in 1956. “Walleye populations now face new obstacles, including pressure increases, food web changes, spawning timing mismatches, and habitat alterations,” Mort writes
The Walleye Alliance Inc. Fall Walleye Classic will be held on Saturday, September 26th, 2026 from 7:30 am to 3:00 pm. The fishing tournament has been authorized and permitted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. All participants must comply with all terms and conditions of the permit. A copy of the permit is available upon request. All participants must comply with all Minnesota boating and fishing laws and regulations, as well as the following tournament rules:
1. The Walleye Alliance Inc. Fall Walleye Classic is restricted to Pelican Lake and any contiguous waters accessible by boat. Tournament weigh-in will be located at the Breezy Point Resort on Pelican.
2. Winners will be determined by total weight of up to five (5) walleyes caught by a team within the tournament time. A qualifying team’s catch will be weighed and recorded by the tournament judges at the tournament weigh-in site when each team returns. The total registered weight of each qualifying team’s catch will be ranked in relation to the total registered weight of the catch of each of the other qualifying teams. The team with the highest total registered weight will be ranked number one and declared the winner of the first (1st) place prize. The team with second highest total registered weight will be ranked number two and will be declared winner of the second (2nd) place prize and so on. The teams will awarded cash prizes as specified on the attached prize list. Additional prizes may be awarded, if prizes are available. All prize amounts listed are based on 50 teams, prize amounts will be adjusted for higher or lower participation, maximum of 70 boats.
3. A team must have a two person team fish from one boat. One (1) team per boat. One-person teams are also allowed. Entry fee per team is $300.00. This amount is non-refundable; however, the entry fee may be applied to future Walleye Alliance Inc. Tournaments at the discretion of the Walleye Alliance Board of Directors. Registration will be based on availability and tournament size limitations. Registration applications may be accepted up until the time of the rules meeting on Friday, September 27th, 2024. Each team member must sign an official entry form in order to participate in the tournament.
4. Rules and registration meeting is 6:00 PM sharp, September 27th, 2024 at Breezy Point Resort.
5. One team member of each team must attend the rules meeting; both are encouraged.
6. Lifejackets must be worn when main motor is above idle speed.
7. Teams will depart in numerical order in flights starting at 7:30 AM on September 28th, 2024. Teams will return by 3:00 PM in flights as specified at the rules meeting.
8. Each boat must display the official tournament sticker or marking.
9. All boats must be checked in by a tournament official before the start of the tournament at tournament headquarters.
10. All storage compartments and livewells must be accessible to tournament officials prior to tournament start.
11. Five (5) live walleyes (able to move gills) per 2-person team will be weighed. No more than one (1) walleye over 20 inches will be allowed per team. If more than one (1) walleyes are brought to the scales that exceed 20 inches, the team will be disqualified. Fish that are not able to move their gills will not be eligible to be weighed AND the team will be assessed an additional 1lb. penalty subtracted from their bag weight. No walleye under 14 inches will be weighed. Any walleye under 14 inches brought to the scale will be removed from the 5-fish limit and will not be allowed to be replaced.
12. The longest straight-line measurement, using closed mouth and pinched tail, will be used to determine length.
13. No pre-fishing after 5:00 PM on Friday, September 27th, 2024 is allowed and no fishing may start until after 7:30 AM on September 28th, 2024.
14. No alcoholic beverages may be consumed during tournament hours or until that team’s fish have been weighed and certified.
15. No marine radio, cell phones, or other electronic communication is allowed during tournament hours except for emergency.
16. At no time during tournament hours are contestants to leave their boats until they return to tournament headquarters and permission is granted by a tournament official. Use safe judgment during inclement weather. If there is a need to clear the lake, the fishing tournament will resume when the tournament director deems the lake safe. All fish will be weighed.
17. When returning at your scheduled time, each boat must pass in front of the start/finish boat and display your boat number to the start/finish boat to signify you are in. Check in is mandatory, fish or no fish!
18. If you are 1-15 minutes late, you will be penalized 50% of your weight. After 15 minutes, your fish will not be weighed.
19. A protest of any kind must be filed with the tournament director before the weigh-in is completed. A $200.00 fee will be required: refunded if found to be valid. A protest committee will consist of two (2) tournament officials and three (3) randomly selected contestants. The committee findings will be final. If the committee recommends a polygraph test, moneys will be withheld until the results of the polygraph test are known.
20. The violation of any rule, as determined by the judges in their sole discretion, shall result in automatic disqualification from the tournament and ineligibility of prizes or awards. All judge’s decisions will be final and may not be challenged.
21. All contestants competing in this event are expected to act in a sportsmanlike manner at all times towards non-competitors and competitors alike. Violators of this rule will be disqualified.
22. Promoters, tournament directors, organizations, and sponsors are not responsible for death, injury, damage, liability, theft, fire, or loss of any kind to entrants.
23. The Walleye Alliance Inc. Fall Walleye Classic reserves the right to refuse entry to any individuals who have been barred or disqualified from any tournament for rules violation.
24. FAILURE TO RETURN ASSIGNED BOAT NUMBER CARD WILL RESULT IN DISQUALIFICIATION FROM THE TOURNAMENT.