2025 Summer Walleye Tournament

**January 19, 2025**
**Tournament Anglers:**
All contestants from the 2024 Barnes County Wildlife Fishing Derby will receive a one-week advance notice to enter the derby before it opens to the public. Please submit your application promptly, as the tournament is likely to fill up quickly due to higher prize money. Flight priority will be given to teams based on their sign-up date. Flights will be determined in the order of applications received unless a request for a 2nd or 3rd flight is made. A registration link for your team will be sent in another email at 7 PM on February 3rd.
The entry fee this year is $250.
The tournament headquarters will be at the Sodbusters Club in Sibley, ND. Your $250 entry fee covers the derby only. Food will be available both nights, and we need to have accurate numbers for meal preparations. On your entry form, please indicate whether you will participate in the meals for Friday and Saturday nights. Saturday’s meal will require prepayment at the time of registration. Mike Heinze will have limited primitive camping available; to make reservations, call 701-490-1344.
We are moving towards email communication and electronic registration. Online registration and payment options will be available; however, you may still pay by check and request a paper application. To request a paper application, text Josh at 701-840-5269 or email bcwsummerderby@gmail.com.
We are no longer requiring fish to be tagged. Teams will have the option to pay an additional $20 for the weekend to have two “bonus” fish in their livewell, allowing a total of seven fish. You are still only permitted to weigh in five fish per day, and the anglers must choose which five to weigh in. After weighing in five walleyes, the team must conclude their fishing for the day. The boundary for Baldhill Creek has been extended to the Hwy 19 Bridge. More random boat inspections will be conducted this year, so please remember to review the rules on the signup form when registering.
We continue to strive for improvements in the tournament. This year’s total payout is set at $22,500, with a guaranteed $5,000 for first place. We’ve added a sponsor-funded side pot for teams not using Livescope/forward-facing sonar, as well as for mixed couples teams. Additionally, we will offer a side pot for day money again, which you will need to sign up for when registering your team. A Calcutta will be held on Friday night before the tournament. We ask all teams to purchase a fish/weigh-in bag to keep in their boat to expedite the weighing process and improve results for catch and release.
Thank you, and if you have any questions, please give me a call at 701-490-1797 or email me at pskapaun@msn.com.
Perry Kapaun