2017 Grand Championship Rules

Note Rule Change: This year the Grand Championship tournament end date is June 30th and you must report your catch no later than July 1st.

MBC GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT RULES:

ELIGIBILITY- Anyone catching a Bowfin in the State of Minnesota including Border Waters.

SPECIES - Only Bowfin (Dogfish) caught in Minnesota waters are used for determining the season's Grand Champion.

TOURNAMENT HOURS/SEASON - All hours from ice-out through June 30th are open for competition.

TOURNAMENT WATERS- All MN bodies of water with a population of bowfin are eligible from their individual date of ice out.

LIVE RELEASE - All fish must be returned to the water alive and unharmed after measuring.

FISHING METHOD - Only artificial lures may be used to take fish.

OTHER SPECIES - Any other fish caught, which is not in season, must be returned to the water immediately. It is expected that MBC members and tournament participants will within reason try to minimize the odds of catching fish that are not yet in their open season.

MEASURING FISH - Fish must be measured with the mouth (closed) to the tip of the tail.

REGISTRATION - Send your name, the length of the fish, the date caught, and the lure used to basspastor@hotmail.com
Optional: Include body of water caught from.

Registration must be in before midnight on July 1st unless the deadline is extended.

GRAND CHAMPION - The longest fish reported before July 1st determines the overall Grand Champion.

LEADING FISH- In an effort to encourage reporting of bowfin catches the length of the leading fish will NOT be communicated until the tournament is over.

Past MBC Grand Champions with winning fish length since Club founding in 1999:

1999 Ken Fields 25"
2000 Chuck Fields 23.75"
2001 Guy Henkensiefken 23"
2002 Dean Sauer & Tom Swanson (tie) 26.5"
2003 Dan Quinn 31"
2004 Dave Maas 30"
2005 Alan Steinbauer 28.5"
2006 Dave Maas 30"
2007 Chuck Steinbauer 26.5"
2008 Dennis Lothspeich 26"
2009 Scot Zeidler 26.5"
2010 Chuck Fields 28"
2011 Dennis Lothspeich 27.75"
2012 Nick Jacob 25"
2013 Adam Henkensiefken 24.5"
2014 Joe Torbert 30"
2015 Chuck Steinbauer 26"
2016 Barry Mowers 26"